Time to vote

Election articles ... from the 11/01/2002 Compass: • On the record with Wisconsin's candidates for governor • Right to Life continues fight • Eye on the Capitol: Let's debate state job cuts before election from the 10/25/2002 Compass: • Part seven -- Environment and agriculture from the 10/18/2002 Compass: • Part six -- Criminal Justice and Corrections • Eye on the Capitol: Faithful Catholic citizens called to get involved in elections from the 10/11/2002 Compass: • Part five -- Budget Shortfalls and Taxation from the 10/04/2002 Compass: • Part four -- Health Care from the 9/27/2002 Compass: • Part three -- Help for Families from the 9/20/2002 Compass: • Part two -- Human Life and Dignity from the 9/13/2002 Compass: • Part one -- Intro. and overview • Helping faithful Catholics decide

Next Tuesday -- Nov. 5 -- citizens will have an opportunity to help shape our state and nation by casting a vote in the general election. Wisconsin voters will select a governor, attorney general, secretary of state, treasurer, state and congressional representatives, county office holders and, in some districts, state senators.

While The Compass does not tell people how to vote -- for one thing, federal regulations make that illegal -- The Compass does urge people to seriously and prayerfully study the issues and the candidates and then vote.

Sadly, selecting a candidate usually means making compromises, weighing and balancing issues to determine not only what is most important -- both for oneself and the common good -- but also what is possible. Often that means choosing between the "lesser evil."

Also sadly, the number of people who vote continues to decline. There are many reasons for that, some going back to laws passed in the first part of the 20th century to contain minor parties and candidates and discourage their supporters from voting.

It seems that long ago, candidates and their parties learned that the best way to win an election is to keep overall voter turn-out low and concentrate instead on getting their supporters to the polls. One way to bring that about is mud-slinging campaigns that turn-off many voters and convince them to stay home instead.

The best response to that cynical attitude is to vote. Then begin working for reforms in the system, including recruiting and helping candidates whose interest is the common good, rather than the special interests.

All this will take time, but the end result should be candidates who better reflect the voters.

To see where the four major candidates for governor stand on a variety of issues, go to www.gbdioc.org and follow the links for The Compass [or click here to go directly to the article].

And be sure to vote on Nov. 5 for the candidates of your choice.