Election thoughts

Last week I filled in my ballot and dropped it off at the Bureau of Elections. I appreciate being able to vote this way. I know there are people like to vote in person. That’s fine. I’m good with avoiding the polls, the crowds, the campaign workers looking for last minute votes, and more.

As you consider who you are voting for in the variety of state and federal level elections, I want to encourage you to consider a few things. Elections are not just about what you want for yourself. They are about the larger community. We have to consider the greater good, not just our own desires and wants.

In a way, voting has the same focus as public education. The “client” in public education is not the parents or even the student. It is the public. The public education system is designed to make citizens who can actively participate in the wellbeing of the society in which they live. Voting is about considering the larger society, rather than just your own wishes.

Here’s a truth we all need to deal with when it comes to voting — you aren’t always going to like the results of any given election. I have a long history of campaign work. There are plenty of elections that I went to bed disappointed because the people I was supporting didn’t win. And that’s ok. Our system is designed to deal with us all not getting everything that we want. Sometimes you win and sometimes you lose. That’s what democracy is about. It’s messy. It requires us to have give and take, to compromise, to work with people we don’t agree with.