Does my vote matter?
This is my first post on LinkedIn in the two decades I’ve been a member. I’ve always been a bit shy about sharing my views, but I feel compelled to do so now. In a recent conversation with some friends, the topic came up of whether our votes matter, given that none of us live in any of the seven swing states. So I had to ask myself, “does my vote count”?
Before getting to the answer, a minor preamble. I want to start by expressing how grateful I am to have grown up in the USA. I was fortunate to attend engaging public schools and to have an idyllic childhood in eastern Washington State. I spent my formative years in Seattle, attending another fantastic public school, the University of Washington. I have since had the opportunity to study and work at some of our nation’s most prestigious academic and professional institutions. I don’t ordinarily like to toot my own horn, but I take pride in my achievements and am sincerely grateful that I had the opportunity to grow up, learn, and develop my professional career in our country.
And here is where I perhaps stray into the too political for LinkedIn. Because not only am I proud to have studied at prestigious American institutions, proud to have worked at some of the largest names in American industry, and proud to be currently working towards our nation’s interests in aeronautics and space research, I am also proud to be an immigrant. I am proud of my parents, who took a chance and came to America with two young kids in tow. I am proud of their contributions to this nation, my dad having been on the cutting edge of computer science since we arrived in the early 80s, and my mom having touched innumerable lives as a high school teacher for thirty years. I am proud of my sister who started her career as a civil servant and now works to provide economic analysis to America’s captains of industry. I am proud to have studied and worked alongside a great many immigrants, all of whom have contributed greatly to the academic and industrial might of our country. And as of 1999 when I took the Oath of Allegiance at my naturalization ceremony, I am proud to be an American citizen.?
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And now that I’ve ventured down the path of somewhat political rhetoric on this platform, I may as well go a little further. My first presidential election was Bush v Gore in 2000, which was certainly a memorable first. I’ve voted in every election since. For me, the franchise is not just a right granted along with my naturalization certificate, but a privilege and a responsibility. Though I can’t speak for all naturalized citizens, I can’t help but think that for many who come from democracies-in-name-only, oligarchies, or autocracies, the chance to have our voices heard carries that much more weight. I urge my natural born American friends and colleagues to not take this right, privilege, and responsibility for granted.
Despite the vagaries of the electoral college (a topic for another time and another forum), every vote does count. Every vote is a voice added to the chorus, and a message to our leadership. American democracy is an imperfect, messy thing (another topic for another time) but it’s our imperfect, messy thing to nurture and improve. Our nation’s system of government has a built-in feature for effecting change, but it only works if we make our voices heard. I leave you all with one last plea. My fellow Americans, natural-born and natural-ized alike, please make your voices heard on November 5th.?
Executive in Cloud, Networking and Security
4 个月Arturo - so well penned! You speak for all of us - zeroth generation Americans like me who had to earn a scholarship for graduate studies in the US or first generation like you who saw the hard work and sacrifice of your parents to give you and your sister a better life. It is shocking that the foundation this country is built on - Immigrants - has become a dirty word in this election. That is not to suggest an open-door, unfiltered, and unvetted immigration or asylum policy to be taken advantage of. Let’s please look at the stats ourselves as related to immigration over the last five years - from economic contribution to crime - before we cast our vote. But let’s please vote so that every voice is heard. Shouting from the sidelines is a futile exercise regardless of the color of the field, blue or red, despite our archaic, pseudo-democratic electoral system.
Engineering Staff Principal at NFAC - World's Largest Wind Tunnels
4 个月I think it's easy for people to get disenchanted with the vague nature of how we elect Presidents and use that conclude that the whole system doesn't matter. Congressional races matter and margins matter even when the outcome isn't in question. Local races matter. Propositions and measures matter. Thanks for taking a stand and reminding everyone why voting is important, even if your personal vote for the top position isn't likely to influence the outcome.
Staff Scientist at Gulfstream Aerospace
4 个月On the contrary, Arturo. This post was not “political” at all. It was merely about the pride you take in exercising your civic responsibility to participate in our democracy. Congratulations!