Sedona AZ (March 16, 2010) – The following is a letter to the SedonaEye.com editor:

I seem to recall in history classes during those long hours in grade school and high school that there were 100s of thousands of men and women who gave their lives so that we may be free. Free to elect who we wanted to represent us and protect our republic at all levels of government.

Sedona just completed an election, hard fought by those who cared enough to devote their time and talents for little to no pay, just because they believed in a better Sedona. The ballots are in, and whether your candidate won or not is not the issue. The issue is that we have 6778 registered voters in Sedona, and there were 3630 votes cast as of 5 PM on the 11th.

53.6% – do you not find that disgusting? The lowest turn out since the city has been doing mail in ballots (2002).

The RIGHT to vote, is a cherished right, or should be. People around the world TODAY risk their lives for that right, one that many in this town take for granted. I have always been of the opinion that you should get off your butt and go to a polling place, unless you are handicapped, and if so, arrangements can be made. But here in Sedona, the amount of effort you exert to vote is SO great. To vote in Sedona, you have to walk ALL THE WAY TO YOUR MAILBOX, or to your PO Box, open your ballot, mark a whole 5 “Xs”, place it in a PREPAID envelope, and take it BACK TO YOUR MAILBOX. WOW. Aren’t you glad your fellow citizens have DIED so you can exercise that right?

Some may have been out of town, and don’t know how to use an absentee ballot. Naw, not buying that. Apathy, laziness, taking your voting rights for granted, which is it?

You know it was Karl Marx who said that all he needed was 20% of the population to control the country. What percent of the Sedona population needs to be controlled so a council can control a city?

There were dozens of ways for you to learn the issues and make a choice based on your research. And even if you did not want to take that effort, pick up the phone and call a friend. I had 6 phone calls from people asking who they should vote for and why. A little effort for the future of the city? Too much to ask? Apparently so.

To those of you who made the effort – my hat is off to you. For those who did not – I feel sorry for you as you do not understand the country that you live in and the sacrifices that have been made so you can have that freedom of choice on how you are governed.

Mike Schroeder
Sedona, AZ 86336

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