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October Commentary from George Spiro Dibie One Vote Can Make a Difference The idea that one person can make a difference is as old as the history of civilization. Some 2,000 years ago, the Roman poet and philosopher Horace wrote, "The man who is tenacious of purpose in a rightful cause is not shaken from his firm resolve by the frenzy of his fellow citizens clamoring for what is wrong." Let us never forget that George W. Bush lost the popular vote and was elected president by a slim majority consisting of one supreme court justice who made an incalculable difference in all of our lives and in the future of the United States. Senator Jim Jeffords also made a huge difference in our lives and in the future of our country when he changed his lifelong political affiliation from Republican to Independent. Senator Jeffords explained that he had a responsibility to do what he felt was in the best interests of the country. The stakes have rarely been higher. Just a little more than a year ago, our country was viciously attacked by terrorists who had been taught to hate our way of life by the billionaires and religious zealots who run the oil monarchies and dictatorships. Despite the empty promises made by our politicians, the main perpetrators and financiers of the September 11, 2002, attacks on our way of life still haven't been caught and punished. During this past year, we have learned that some of our biggest corporations were run by charlatans and crooks. Millions of Americans have lost their savings and pensions. Their future security is in jeopardy. It is fair to ask why so few of those crooks have been prosecuted and why their ill-gotten fortunes haven't been forfeited? During the past decade, the super rich have gotten richer, and the middle class has lost ground. The national debt is soaring, unemployment is rising, health care costs are climbing, and millions of people are no longer adequately covered by private or government insurance programs. The future of our own industry, which is so important to our democracy and national economy, is being jeopardized by greedy corporations. We are just a few weeks away from electing congressmen/women and senators, state and local officials, and yet none of these issues are being vigorously debated or even discussed. Instead, our attention is totally focused on the United States unilaterally declaring war on Iraq and our politicians tell us if we disagree we are unpatriotic. It doesn't matter whether you consider yourself a Democrat, a Republican, an independent or apolitical. You can and must make a difference. It all begins with registering to vote. It begins with each of us understanding that we are members of the middle class, which is the foundation of democracy. It begins with each of us letting our local, state and national political candidates know what we believe are the important issues of our times. It begins with each of us supporting our Guild and the labor union we are affiliated with, because they represent and fight for the values that we believe in. In 1645, one vote gave Oliver
Cromwell control of the English government. In 1649, one vote caused Charles
I of England to be executed. In 1845, one vote made Texas part of the
United States. In 1868, one vote kept President Andrew Johnson from being
impeached by Congress. In 1875, one vote converted France from a monarchy
into a republic. In 1876, one vote made Rutherford B. Hayes President
of the United States. In 1923, one vote made Adolph Hitler leader of the
Nazi party. In 1941, just one vote in the United States Congress preserved
the Selective Service Act just a few weeks before Pearl Harbor was attacked.
Individually and collectively we can make a difference. If we aren't part
of the solution, we are part of the problem. As always, I look forward to your comments and suggestions. Please e-mail them to me. George Spiro Dibie, ASC
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