FROM THE BACK PORCH by David Sadler, President Vermilion County Farm Bureau
Ask anyone who knows me and they’ll tell you I’m not a political person. I don’t care for the “politics” involved (that’s really a descriptive word with a bad connotation), the deal brokering that takes place or the shady tactics often employed. But just because I don’t like politics doesn’t mean I’m not interested in politicians. Contradiction in terms you say. Perhaps, but only if you give up your right to vote. If you don’t vote or haven’t voted in some time, then, it’s true; you’re part of the problem not part of the solution. When you give up your right to choose the people to represent you, whether it’s in your home town or in the White House, you’re in effect saying “I don’t care.” It’s one thing to say “I hate all politicians. Throw the bums out” but sometimes it IS a matter of the lesser of two evils and wouldn’t you rather have the lesser of the evils making decisions for you? Sometimes doing less harm can bring about comforting results. Our fathers and grandfathers, and theirs before them, fought many bloody battles on many distant battlefields to preserve the freedoms created for us by our founding fathers. Not the least of these freedoms is the right to vote. We don’t experience gunfire in the streets on our way to the polling places. We don’t face reprisals against our families if we vote. We don’t need to dip our fingers in dye to prove we voted and we won’t end up in a mass grave if we choose an unpopular candidate. If all this is happening in faraway countries, then why don’t more of us, American citizens 2
all, exercise our right to vote for the candidates of our choosing? Could it be we don’t have time? No, because employers are supposed to give employees time off to vote. Could it be we don’t have transportation to get to our polling places? Surely not since we could take the bus, call a friend or call a candidate’s office for assistance. Could it be we’re self-employed and work during polling hours or will be away from home on Election Day? No, because we can always use an absentee ballot in any election for any reason. These are all poor excuses not to vote. Those who wish to vote will find a way to make it happen. Should we debate possible changes to the voting process, say changing from a weekday to weekend or voting electronically somehow? These methods have and will be talked about as long as the process continues. The problem is not the method of voting but the motivation to do so. Without boring you with statistics, I will tell you that more people voted in a recent Pepsi Fresh ad campaign than voted in the most-recent election for the U.S. President. People, this is SAD no matter how you slice it. I know demographics are driving this particular phenomenon; millions of teens are texting Pepsi Fresh to 81818, whatever that means. But come on. Everyone gets to share this great nation and if we want to share the benefits, we must all share the responsibilities. Paramount in the responsibility column is “GO VOTE.” So, take it from our big-city brethren - “vote early and vote often.” You can thank me later.
David Sadler, president of the Vermilion County Farm Bureau, received the Ag Leader of the Year award at the 2010 Vermilion Advantage Farm-City Gathering. The program, sponsored by the AgriBusiness-Natural Resources Council, annually brings together urban and farm communities to meet and discuss issues. David’s shown on the right with Chris Poggendorf of Bunge, the award sponsor. Sadler has served as president of Farm Bureau since December, 2006. He and his wife Linda live on the family farm northwest of Fithian. He is representing District 12 on the IFB Resolutions Committee this year. He is also president of the Indiana Whips and Wheels horse carriage driving club. Other awards presented include: Ag Educator - David Brown, owner and general manager of WITY; Ag Business - Bryant Industries; Special Award - given in memory of DL VanBuskirk, a longtime supporter of Georgetown Fair.
Calendar of Events October 21.......................Candidates Forum on State Budget Board of Directors November 7...............................Daylight Savings Time Ends November 11.................. OFFICE CLOSED – Veterans’ Day November 18.............................................Board of Directors Deadline for Annual Meeting Tickets November 22..........FARM BUREAU ANNUAL MEETING & SILENT AUCTION November 23..................... Illinois Commodities Conference November 24.......................... Citrus & Nuts Order Deadline November 25-26............. OFFICE CLOSED - Thanksgiving December 4-7........................................IAA Annual Meeting December 13..............................Citrus & Nuts Delivery Day December 16.............................................Board of Directors December 24-27........ OFFICE CLOSED – Merry Christmas December 31............. OFFICE CLOSED – Happy New Year January 7-9........................................... Illini Farm Toy Show January 9-12.......................................AFBF Annual Meeting For further information on any of these activities, contact the Vermilion County Farm Bureau office at (217) 442-8713 or visit us on the web at www.vcfb.info. BOOSTER