While collecting signatures this summer on the jail petition, it became apparent to me that the younger generation of county residents showed little or no interest in County politics.  Certainly there were exceptions, but for the most part the younger folks just walked by busy with their shopping.  Some stopped to talk about the new jail and asked insightful questions, but, we soon realized they could not sign the petition because they had never bothered to register to vote.

                The majority of petition signers were their parents and grandparents.  These generations knew the importance of what was occurring and in many cases sought out the circulators to sign their names calling for a vote.

                Registering to vote is free and is a very simple and painless process.  Contrary to popular belief registering to vote has nothing to do with jury selection any longer in Michigan.  Your mail box will not be flooded with junk mail, and believe me the information you will be asked to provide, your identity and address, are already known to the government.  I know some people haven’t registered because they feel their vote won’t matter anyways.  But, what would Al Gore say if he were asked about the importance of voting, the State of Florida and hanging chads.  What road would this nation have taken in the after math of 9/11 and how many lives could have been spared and if a few more people had just voted the previous year.  History has proven time and time again that every vote counts in this Country.  2008 will be no exception.

                I believe 2008 will be the most important election since 1968.  Ask your grandparents about that year.  In 1968 we were neck deep in Vietnam with no end in sight.  The 1968 election changed the course of this nation, gave us stability, new direction and more importantly it gave us hope.

                In 2008 the national issues are the Middle East, jobs and the economy.  Locally the issues we all must deal with are the current Board of Commissioners, some other county positions and the jail situation. 

               After four years of discussion and debate over the jail issue, with tens of thousands of dollars wasted and nothing resolved, the hour is near for sweeping change in Sanilac County.

                So, to all the unregistered residents of Sanilac County, please get involved.  Register at the local Secretary of State office, educate yourself about the issues and vote for someone, anyone, in 2008.  Have a hand in determining your own future, you will be glad you did.

“That, to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed; that, whenever any form of government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to alter or to abolish it, and to institute a new government…….”

               Philadelphia, July 4^th, 1776