Student Driver Night is tonight at 6:00 in the school Library. I really hope everyone attending leaves with a better understanding of the importance of voting in local elections, and how it affects drivers, their pocketbook (Gas $) and their vehicles wear-and-tear. For example: You have an average person driving their average fuel efficient car to-and-from work, and to-and-from school (parent), and to-and-from various activities. This is a person who occasionally drinks a beverage while driving. (People get thirsty.) This person does not have time to study all the items for the election, even though they have had the information for two months. They also can't remember to register for the absentee ballot in time to vote in the next election, and their polling place is nowhere near where they work.
Well, as time goes on the roads age and crumble, and the car ages and does not ride as smoothly or comfortably. An election comes around and the voting population gets to choose - raise taxes to repair crumbling roads, - or vote for toll roads so only the people using the roads pay for road maintenance, - or vote against road improvements because they are a tight-wad. All of a sudden, this average person gets a huge promotion and pay raise for all their hard work. They are so busy with their success; voting is forgotten, but they managed to arrange a lease on their dream car with every imaginable luxury.
Meanwhile,,, the election is over and some toll roads will be established, but it will cost this average person with a luxury car $5.00 each day in traffic tolls just to get to work. A few months later the toll booths are in place and the roads established. There is another road they can use to get to-and-from work, but it is not well maintained and very busy. It is also a longer, slower drive. This average person figures out the cost of using the toll road each month: $10.00 a day (going to-and-from work) for an average of 22 work days in the month. This $220.00, vs. using the toll road only to get to work for a month - $110.00, vs. using the slower, unmaintained road for free. The average person decides to use the free road and just leave home earlier to get to work in order to save money and still be able to afford a morning beverage. Life is good for the average person, leaving earlier for work but not getting to see their family in the morning. Driving on a pothole riddled road, not realizing the damage it is doing to their expensive luxury car. Then one day, the road begins attacking the cars with bits of road kicked up by tires and - denting and chipping the exteriors, and cracking windshields, even causing accidents. It would have been much cheeper for the people to use the toll road or pay a road use tax to maintain the roads, but it's the accidents that you do not see that occur inside these vehicles that are the most costly. They cost drivers their self confidence. What you do not see from the outside is the anger and fear the average driver has because their bladders are full from the beverage they consumed on the long ride over the bumpy unmaintained road. Then the stress of watching and listening to their vehicle get pummeled by loose gravel and potholes takes its toll. Finally, they have to react suddenly to avoid an accident. There goes the contents of their bladder into their heated luxury seat. OOPS! Shocking isn't it?
If only they had voted and encouraged others to vote as well. Then they and their car could still be intact. Do you know how expensive a driver side seat with a heater is to replace? All the wiring and electronics, not to mention the customizer who knows what you did? Then there is the shame. I don't know about you, but I would not want to find out. It is better to vote, than loose your contents.
Vote November 06!
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