The Great American Vote Blackout 2006

Its extremely disheartening to see U.S. politicians put so much effort and consideration concerning the rights of illegal immigrants, when matters concerning the rights and lives of American citizens sit in the backburner, still waiting to be addressed and/or rectified.

These issues include (but not limited to):

- Many American citizens in the South have been displaced due to these natural disasters such as Hurricane Katrina and our government has failed to assist these people in getting their lives back together. Nearly 9 months later, still nothing has been done to rectify this matter.

- Struggling American citizens are regularly denied access to social services that is paid with by our tax dollars such as Medicaid, food stamps and reduced lunch programs, while many illegal immigrants receive these benefits without question. This is not right.

- Though nearly five years have passed since 9/11, we are still facing the threat of terrorism in this country. If 11-12 million people can sneak into the U.S. illegally with our government just NOW taking notice, only one can wonder how many amongst that population could be terrorists or criminals? We must be mindful of the kinds of element that cross our borders.

- Due in part to the "No Child Left Behind" law, the academic performance of American public schools are at an all-time low. How it that some third-world nations have a higher quality education system and even higher literacy rates than that of the wealthiest industrial nation in the world?

- There are currently 30 million Americans (barely) living on the current federal minimum wage. In many cases there are people raising entire families on only $5.15/hour. It's been nearly 10 years since the minimum wage has been raised, and the cost of living has gone up significantly since then. When will the minimum wage follow suit?

- Many American citizens are struggling financially due to astronomical healthcare costs. This is a growing problem that has yet to be addressed. There are currently 46 million Americans without health insurance. Many of them are working-class and working-poor people who arent eligible for services like Medicaid because even on their less-than-prosperous salaries, they still "make too much".

The most common reason for American citizens filing bankruptcy is due to overburdening healthcare costs, and something must be done about this.

- The American woman's right to choose is currently at risk. Abortion is already outlawed in the State of South Dakota and other states are considering following suit. Pharmacists across the nation have refused to fill contraception prescriptions and can do so within the law. How can we discuss freeing other nations when our own freedom is at peril?

How is it that American politicians can so easily ignore the issues that concern the very people they are supposed to represent? Does the life of the American citizen matter much anymore or are we just little more than votes and tax money to you?

Until both Democrat and Republican politicians address and put forth action towards the plethora of issues and concerns of American citizens, we have decided to exercise our right NOT to vote in any elections this coming November. This includes any Gubernatorial, Mayoral, U.S. State Attorney General, State Assembly, U.S. Congress and U.S. Senate elections that may occur nationwide. If by the year 2008 there are no suitable candidates running for President, we will gracefully bow out of that election also.

Should we decide to vote anytime in the future, it will no longer be out of loyalty to one party or candidate who has done absolutely nothing to serve the very people he, she or they are supposed to represent. In short, each and every U.S. politician will have to actually do something to EARN their votes. Until there are more politicians out there who care more about the people and less about the vote running for office, we will no longer throw our votes away.

We are more than just the tax money that pays your salary. We are human beings who deserve to live decently within our own homeland. And no longer shall we sit quietly and continue to allow our rights slowly fade.