Registration Please

 It's midterms year.  
Things have moved forward largely as predicted.  
Gerrymandering is in full swing, a public health crisis was politicized, wars rage, and nature does as it will.  

Voting this year will be more difficult in previous years.  
Those that would have voting suppressed  have done, and continue to do, everything in their power to stack things further into their favor.  

So what can we do.  
We can Bar-b-q. 
We can roast.
We can sing
We can dance. 

Here's the plan.  
We get voter turn out to rival that of the 2020 election.  
How?  
See above. 

Here's the thing, and my challenge to politicians that really want a reminder, and to set an example, as to what it means to hold a public office. 
To be a public servant.  

You pass out water. 

On voting days, when the polls are open, at the voting locations.  You set up a little table, maybe a tent, handful of chairs.  Hell, I'll loan at least one of you both just to see it done.  
And if someone raises their hand you bring them a bottle of water.  
No signs, no buttons or pins, no slogans, no handshaking, no speeches.  
Just take them a bottle of water then go back to your seat.  
And at the end of the day, you stay, help clean up the garbage.  
Then you pack up and head home.  
Simple as that.  

Because if there is no more literal metaphor as to what it means to be a politician it's that right there. 
The people don't vote politicians in so a politician can tell them what to do, they don't vote politicians in to makes themselves rich.  
They vote politicians in so that when they turn the faucet on they know there will be water coming out of it.  They vote politicians in so that when they flip the light switch the lights come on.  So that when the storms come there is an ambulance or a fire truck that will show up to help.  
People vote politicians in so that they know that what they are paying for...
What they are paying taxes for. 
What they are providing their personal information for.
What they are providing their time and energy for.
Will help them have a home to go to, or a drink of water when they need it.  


So to everyone out there.  
Now is the time to start getting the cook outs organized.
Quietly ask the politicians and political parties how much and/or what they want to donate to put them together. 

'cause here's the cook out. 
After someone has voted, and they show up with their little "I voted" sticker, or equivalent.   
You give them a plate and turn them loose on whatever is there. 
Play music, dance, have a good ass time. 
Get everyone to request the day off.  
Let's get this turned into a proper holiday.
And if they bring the kids, ask the kids, "Why would you vote?"  and, no matter their answer, give them a "I will vote" sticker.  Because there are no wrong answers about voting. 
When the day is done, you pack up the leftovers and you take them to the shelters, you pass them out to the refugees and the immigrants.  The people that couldn't take the day off. 
Then, after the polls are closed and all of the votes are counted, you or the political parties, politicians,....whoever...helped fund the cookouts can reveal all or none of it.  

Because here's the lesson in all of it. 
Voting. 
Is.
Work.
You have to do  your homework on the issues.  Who's running for what offices.  What that office is.  You have to make a decision then you have to file the paper work on it.  
You have to plan ahead, register...all of it is work. 
And if you can't put in a days work and earn some water, and a meal, some entertainment and have a little left over...what's the point of working?  

And for the politicians and elected officials, the lesson is fairly simple as well. 
You, work for the people.  
Not the other way around.
That's the whole concept of the Republic.
The entire idea behind Democracy. 

Stay safe. 
And now is the time, when the taxes are being filed, and the results of the previous elections fully seen should people start registering and putting together their voting plan.  
Time to start picking places for the Cook Out.