I am Jack Straley, a patriot, an American and a devoted voter. Today I am very concerned about the state of our country and all the people that call it home. We are becoming an uninformed populace that is complacent with our current political state and are comfortable with the erosion of our rights. Voting is the one right we can never afford to lose or to allow one party or group of people to control. It is our solemn duty to vote at every opportunity.
The only way to be a part of the answer to our problems and offer corrective measures is to become involved. The way to become involved is twofold, first through self-education and second to participate in the election process. It is imperative we start participating at the most basic level. In reference to the most basic level, can you name the members of your local school board? This important group, when doing their job, set the agenda for what our children are being taught.
For over sixty years we have not educated our younger generations in the true history of our country, or our government and how it works. We pay more attention to political correctness. One of the reasons we are experiencing growth in our area is the education system we have. We boast that North Alabama has the best schools in the state and Madison County has the best in North Alabama. I disagree and offer two examples as to why. I have a son that is just turning 20, when in sixth grade, he came home showing the answer page to a test he had taken at school. Question number 6 was: What president was the first to send troops to Viet Nam and cause the escalation in that war? The multiple choice answers were: A) Nixon, B) Eisenhower, C) Carter, D) Reagan. My son answered B, Eisenhower and was marked wrong. The teacher stated the correct answer was A, Nixon.
I communicated with the teacher and gave her the dates of the activity of each president from Eisenhower forward through the withdrawal of troops in Viet Nam. After review she responded that my information was not what was in her teacher guide and she would have to follow that. Her mind was closed to facts and the instruction material she had was approved by the school board. The second example is: I have recently had two children graduate from James Clemens High school in Madison. One required course for graduation was Government. The class was very in-depth and intense, it lasted a whole nine weeks. This class covered the Constitution and our government its branches, responsibilities and functions. Both kids passed the class and graduated. Many of the participating students were not able to name the three branches of government, the numbers of congress people and how that number is determined. They did not know how the election process worked and the Electoral College as a part of this process, but all that attended were registered to vote while in the class if they were eighteen or older before the next election. My kids knew these answers because we discuss these and other questions at the dinner table regularly.
The point is we all need to be educated on the candidates and the issues then we must educate others. We must have educated voters voting. Forget parties and prejudices and vote for the most qualified and capable people. Voting is the single most important right we have. Our constitution, through the Bill of Rights, guarantees us certain rights. We are now sitting back letting extreme factions in both parties take our rights and freedoms away, one by one. Complacency toward voting will destroy our democracy and with it all our freedoms.
To build a solid base of educated voters we must convince the younger people or the next generations on the importance of voting. Uneducated voters can do more damage to our way of life than people that simply don’t vote can do. Bring back dinner time as a family affair. Talk to children and let them talk, we often don’t. We usually have no idea of the propaganda they are being indoctrinated with and the pressures peers place on them. Education is a two way street. Make the best of every opportunity to educate and be educated. Voting is a serious process.
Our undereducated or ill-informed Millennials are now publicly protesting and rioting to have our rights taken away. The rights for assembly, free speech, unfair arrests, bail and self-government by the states have already suffered at the hands of power greedy unpatriotic politicians. To these individuals, the Millennials, our freedom has come too easy and our rights are misunderstood and taken for granted. Too many have paid too much while others have not paid enough for our country’s freedoms.
There was a time that people publicly discussed the issues and sought people of good moral fiber and upright character to fill the elected offices. These quests have been replaced by the influence of social media, popularity contests and positive coverage by mass media, whether true or not. Most people are afraid to talk about others character or flaws due to peer pressure and bad feelings. Your vote counts more now than ever before.
As of 2021 there were 226 million people that met the requirements to be a voter in the United States. Of these, 190 million were actually registered, which is a new record in both percentage and raw numbers. That leaves 36 million not participating. Of the 190 million only 154 million actually voted. Really, 81% voted, but still another 36 million didn’t, I don’ believe it. This exceeds the normal turnout of 52 to 53 percent. We are happy and call it success for a turnout in the 50’s but in other countries 85 to 90 percent is expected, yet we are world leaders and expect all others to follow our example. We had 72 million people that could vote that didn’t. We send poll watchers and election monitors to other countries to ensure fair and honest elections but we can’t even guarantee our own. Your vote and the voters you influence count more than ever before in our history and can control the outcomes.
We turn on the news, almost any night, almost any channel, and hear the talking heads telling us that the congress is going to have a red wave wash over it. The Republicans will easily win every possible opening and leave the Democrats behind. Believing these stories can reverse the outcome. We become complacent and let the biased media decide the election before the first vote is cast. If you want to make sure your candidate or your issue wins or passes you have to vote. Don’t believe what others tell you, learn the facts on your own.
I revert back. Can you name the members of your schoolboard and why you did or didn’t vote for them? How about your county commissioners, city council or any other higher office. Every politician started out seeking office at the lower levels and graduated up the ladder. We need not send incompetence back to do more bad. We need to be educated and vote the bad ones out and demand strong clean leadership. We must eliminate any signs of or accusations of unfair voting, outside influence of elections and demand fair and honest elections at home.
The swamp really does exist and it provides safe harbor to the deep state. The deep state does not recognize political parties nor does it separate liberal from conservative. It does nothing more than protect itself and increase its own power, control and influence over others. This divided nation must come together with all factions and differing opinions and as one civilized group of educated, patriotic, well informed voters take our country back.
I write a blog on no particular schedule concerning politics and my views and for any that may desire I have some copies of a couple of my BLOG posts. My blog is read and shared by people in 17 countries and approximately 1100 individuals at intermittent times. I invite you to visit www.justplaintalkwithjack.com at any time. Feedback is always appreciated.
I thank you for the time I have taken and plead that any who have heard will become educated, involved and vote.
God bless America, and all Americans.
This talk was given at the G.I.A.N.T. meeting January 3, 2022. This is a new group founded by Ricardo Jaramillo who has spent endless hours researching voter information that he shares with us. It is a grassroots, non-partisan group promoting voting and involvement to everyone. For more information on G.I.A.N.T. contact Ricardo at rjaramillo.frc@gmail.com.
The thoughts and ideas expressed above are exclusively those of Jack Straley and www.justplaintalkwithjack.com We may agree, and that’s fine, or we may disagree, that’s okay too. My sole purpose is to encourage others to think, study, and become involved. Exercise your freedom and above all, when presented the opportunity, please vote.
Jack Straley
256.990.2394
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