• The Publisher’s Notebook •

Malibu Should Vote As If It Matters

BY ANNE SOBLE

The only vote that counts is the vote that is cast at the polls, so we encourage every registered voter to reaffirm the concept of participatory democracy and makes themselves heard. That women and people of color now see themselves projected on the presidential campaign screen seems almost unbelievable when one reads the campaign rhetoric of only a dozen years ago, when it was automatic to refer to presidential choices only as male, and males, though it was usually unspoken, who were white. Though women and those of color—black, brown, red, yellow and the myriad shades in-between that now make up our communities—still face obstacles in the political and economic arenas, their presence now on the national stage is proof that other barriers also will fall if the will to make that happen perseveres. Children now paying attention to election news coverage are being sent a powerful message that they should tolerate no gender or color barriers to striving for the highest political office in the land or any other achievement or accomplishment they hope to attain.
As artificial barrier after artificial barrier is swept away, and they will be, society then can tackle the task of removing the odious taint from those who are engaged in politics. If campaign finance reform can be realized, the pool of prospective ethical candidates for public office will grow. This will result in an expanded and an enthused electorate, and diminish the cynicism that is so pervasive in the declining voter turnout at this time. Voting always matters, but when citizens are excited about casting their ballots, the process sings.