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Speak Out
Low voter turnout is ominous sign
The record low voter turnout of 31percent in Santa Clara County and California, is an ominous sign for whatever freedom we have left in the United States.
This lowest voter turnout ever comes on the heels of the greatest curtailment of our civil liberties in United States history. Our constitutional freedoms have been eroding for years, but the USA Patriot Act has crystallized this erosion and converted it into an elimination. The 4th Amendment has been obliterated, and the others sharply reduced.
These primary elections provided the first opportunity to send a message to our elected representatives that we value freedom. Instead, the clear message sent was that the electors do not care and no longer want a say; that voting is a nuisance and a bother.
Among other reasons, the primary elections were important because they provide the choices for the general election in November.
Voting used to be viewed as a civic duty, a sacred responsibility. I wonder how those who do not vote can look their children and grandchildren in the eye knowing that they are bestowing to them a servile society in place of the more libertarian and egalitarian society which was bequeathed to them.
Thomas Spielbauer
Former candidate for Seat 16 Superior Court of Santa Clara County
San Jose
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Campbell, California
