BEST REASON TO VOTE

Because it’s a right and a privilege

The vote-counters profess themselves perplexed: How can something be both a right and a privilege? With most other things, it is one or the other. Driving, for instance – that’s a privilege, and if you think it’s a right, try racing around at 90 mph without a valid license and see how long you stay out of jail. Staying silent, that’s a right, as Sgt. Joe Friday tells suspects before he hauls them to the hoosegow. Voting, however, is unique. Of course it is a right. If it was not, this wouldn’t be a democracy – think how different the United States would be if, for example, only people who earned more than $100,000 a year were allowed to vote. At the same time, it is a privilege in the sense that we should all be thankful that we get a chance to throw the rascals out on a regular basis. So make sure to vote this year. You can’t make a living at it, at least not in Springfield, but it’s not a bad way of life.

Runner-up: To have a say