A Call for Action

Two years ago, I wrote these words for a blog published by the company I worked for. It was my attempt to articulate my feelings about those who vote and consider their duty finished for two or four years. There is so much more to do, and I looked for ways to engage my audience. 

I wrote:

Elections do more than determine who will be our next President. Governors, city and county commissioners, state senators, and legislators are selected in this process. Judges are retained through elections. Elections determine local decisions about education, public safety, and how state and county tax dollars are spent. The quality of our roads, the effectiveness of our schools and an efficient and dedicated police and fire department are all affected by the policies of the officials we elect to local offices. It matters almost as much to us who a city or county commissioner is as who the President will be—at least in terms of community services. Voting gives us results we can see.

As political figures go about their business, it’s easy to feel as if our job as citizens is concluded once our vote is cast. It is natural to believe that we’ve done all we can, and now it’s time for those we elected into office to do what they promised during months of campaigning. We can adopt that point of view and wait four years to become involved again, or we can consider another path. We can work toward starting a better world, supporting causes we believe in and know to be right. We can harness the energy and enthusiasm of the political campaign and focus it on other goals. We can concentrate on things we can affect right now.

We must not be complacent! Don’t wait for elected officials to bring about the change you wish to see happen. Make it happen yourself. Join with me to champion causes that align with your interests and beliefs and make this the starting point of your efforts. The availability of good jobs, affordable housing, food and health care are issues that affect millions each day. To be great isn’t about the number of zeroes in your bank account. It is living a life with purpose and force. It is making a difference.

I heard the late Coach Jim Valvano in a speech quote Reverend Bob Richards, who once said, “Every day, in every walk of life, ordinary people accomplish extraordinary things.” The words were powerful and explain much about how we succeed in life. We do things. We accomplish things.

Start today by voting. But don’t stop. Make it just the beginning.    

Mike Lickteig 2016 / 2018