Editor,

In choosing not to vote, Mr. David Coleman, who wrote a Nov. 22 letter to the editor, does not make our society better.

He simply makes it easier for an oligarchy to undermine one of the foundations of a representative democracy.

Politicians not worthy of his vote couldn’t care less about him if he does not exercise that right in a consistent fashion.

Indeed, they craft their campaigns around likely voters, not the ones who, for whatever reason, choose not to vote.

If a growing number of citizens choose not to vote, then the politicians’ task of getting elected becomes substantially easier.

They are also more likely to be influenced by wealthy individuals and special interests whose agendas are apt to be very narrow in scope.

While voting is an option in this country, paying taxes is obligatory.

If Mr. Coleman would not borrow money to pay off a debt, why would he entrust the expenditure of his tax money to elected officials who would ignore his spending priorities?

That approach hardly seems prudent.

Skipping the election process also means that he doesn’t weigh in on ballot questions, such as initiatives, which give a decisive voice directly to the people on issues that matter.

The solution lies in more voter participation, not less.

Elections take on a whole new dimension when a large and varied electorate becomes involved in the process.

Candidates have to broaden their message and make their platform appeal to a greater number of voters, thus benefiting a larger segment of society.

Citizens have an obligation to be engaged politically because, like it or not, they are dependent upon each other to make a society work.

They cannot abrogate that responsibility.

Marshall F. Goldberg

Oak Harbor