| 13 Reasons Why Pagans Should Vote |
| "Decisions are made by those who show up" Aaron Sorkin * Because Voting is Very Pagan! Many of us come from proud traditions that used a Council and other forms of the voting process to make decisions. Native Americans, Vikings, the Greeks, and other Pagan cultures valued this right highly, and fought to keep it. Voting is an ancient Pagan tradition. Apathy, on the other hand, is a modern invention - it suits those in power very well indeed, but it disempowers you! * Because Pagans Know Our History: It's easy to say, "Never again the burning times", but actions speak louder than words. Let them know we mean it. Vote! * Because The Opposition Votes...A Lot: Our government was designed for citizen participation. If you don't vote, other people are going to make the decisions for you. There are people out there who hate us, and who want to take away our rights and freedoms. They are organized, they are active, and they vote. What about you? * Because Pagans Honor Our Ancestors: They fought long and hard for the freedoms we have today. Let us respect this heritage and use the rights they won for us all. * Because Pagans Have Strong Opinions: If you are eligible to vote, but choose not to, no one should ever have to listen to you whine about the laws and policies of this country. Don't vote? Don't Complain! * Because Lighting a Candle Isn't Enough: The last Presidential Election proved that every vote matters. * Because "The Supremes" Matter: The next President will appoint the next (2 - 3) members of the U.S Supreme Court. They dictate what freedoms stay and what freedoms are eliminated by their interpretation of the Constitution. These people have a direct (and final!) say in issues that affect us all (See Issues List below). * Because "Everything She Touches, Changes": Most politicians think that Pagans are a bunch of apathetic wing nuts who never vote. Why then, should they listen to us? But they watch "voting trends" the way a hawk watches a rabbit. Groups who are known to vote on certain issues (like the so-called "Soccer Moms") have political power which they can use to promote positive change for other like-minded citizens. That said, Pagans do not all have to vote the same way or even vote as a group. What matters is that they know we're out there and that we vote. * Because the Personal is Political: Elected Officials make decisions on things that matter to us personally like the environment, jobs, reproductive freedom, education, and health care. Voting is your chance to tell them what you want. * Because "As Above, So Below" is Also True in Politics: The Federal & State government decides who gets to benefit from the tax dollars we all pay. Politicians control these purse strings, and they hand down money from above for things like collage loans, animal shelters, libraries, breast cancer research, and more. Make sure that the causes and services you care about get funded. Vote! * Because Voting = The Power To Make Social Change: Don't believe us? Take a look at women's lives before they had the power of the vote, and see how different things are now. Then look at the struggle for civil rights (including the right to vote) by people of color No one handed their rights to these folks - they had to demand them. And many were beaten, jailed, and killed in the process. Today, people in other countries are literally dying for the chance to vote because they know how important it is. Social change is only possible when we stand up to be counted. So stand up! * Because We Want "No Taxation Without (Equal) Representation": In Congress only 13 percent of the members are people of color, and only 14 percent are women. Want to change that ratio? Vote! * Because That Sound You Hear is a Culture Clash: Right now, there are two major political parties in the U.S. These parties see the world in very different ways and each will make different decisions. Their choices will directly affect your future. Meanwhile, minority opinions still struggle to be heard. Question: Who gets to decide what direction we take? Answer: Only voters decide. ISSUES THAT DIRECTLY EFFECT US Privacy and Technology Religious Liberty Health Care Reproductive Rights Jobs The Environment National Security Free Speech Marriage Laws The Protection of Endangered Species & National Forests Lesbian & Gay Rights Drug Policy Energy Policy Student's Rights Women's Rights Racial Equality HIV/Aids Criminal Justice Child & Elder Care Rights of the Poor Voting Rights War, Peace and the Draft The Death Penalty The Separation of Church (sic) and State Gun Laws Water Rights Drilling on Public Lands Food Safety The Treatment of Prisoners & Suspects Regulating Polluters Stem Cell Research & Genetic Engineering Laws Animal Rights Tax Policy Hate Crimes Oversight of Big Corporations Media Ownership The Homeless Preserving Open Space Please Note: Web Builders are welcome to post these 13 Reasons on their website - We ask only that they give proper credit to FCE, and that they add a link to The Pagan Voting Project. Writers: Sia & Laurel |