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Participant government is the foundation of democracy. The chance to be heard and be counted makes a democratic government viable. Part of that process includes primary elections and in states such as Idaho, caucuses.
The chance for Idaho Democrats to be a part of this process is today. Republicans here will have their turn in late May. And as long as you will be registered by the November general election, you are invited.
If you haven’t made plans to go to the Latah County Fairgrounds and have your voice heard, get off your couch now and get moving. That means Republicans, too. You can go and watch and talk to other concerned citizens, you just don’t have your head counted at the end.
Days like Super Tuesday serve as a reminder that our early electoral history was written in town hall meetings, forum discussions and friendly chats with neighbors. Discussions can be heated, as each side attempts to convert the other, but for every passionate voter there is an undecided voter hoping for a candidate to rise above the rest.
Think of it as a civic duty and a community responsibility. Not only does every American have the right to be heard, they have the responsibility to make something of it. Putting a bumper sticker on your car won’t mean a thing if you don’t cast your ballot.
While at the caucus, expect to disagree and be disagreed with. Even within political parties there are divisions. Caucuses are a great place to bridge those gaps, find some consensus and move forward toward the general election.
Go into it as informed as possible but expect to learn new information. That is the major distinction between caucuses and ballot-based primary elections. You get to talk to people, specifically your neighbors. Take the opportunity to be taught by them.
If you don’t know your neighbors, use today as an icebreaker. Even if they belong to a different political party, they can still go. Or, if your neighbor is a Democrat and you are a Republican, offer to baby sit the kids so that those who want to participate are not left out.
Can you think of a better way to “cross the aisle” than that? Just be sure your neighbor marks May 27 on their calendar and is ready to repay the favor.
Perhaps this caucus idea isn’t so bad. You get to meet your neighbors, hear their opinions, share yours and come away with a greater understanding of the political process and your community.
So why are you still sitting down?
— TJT
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