Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, November 7, 1995 TAG: 9511070046
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Virginia candidates for the state legislature and local elected offices have raised and spent record-breaking sums of money this year - to talk. They've jabbered at us incessantly, on radio, television, in slick mailings, in newspaper ads, on billboards, at press conferences - trying to get us to see things their way.
That is to say, their political opponents are - God save the commonwealth - liberals, soft-on-crime tushes, ineffective dolts, malignant liars, lazy do-nothings, neo-Nazis, anti-family, arrogant jerks hopelessly out of touch with their constituents and the political mainstream.
Yakety-yak. Enough already.
Today, Virginia's 3,040,296 registered voters finally get their turn to talk back - to say what they think. The candidates, many of them at least, will be fortunate if voters judge them on grounds other than the superficial substance and nasty tone of many of their ads.
In the blessed quiet and privacy of polling booths throughout the state, the people can take back this election from the politicians and pollsters and media. They can reaffirm that what matters is not the candidates' egos or the prattle of campaign spinmeisters or the party leaders' bragging rights. What counts is the will of the citizenry with respect to the future of our communities and the commonwealth.
Of course it matters which party wins control of the General Assembly's House and Senate today. But who gets to win and who gets to lose matter considerably less than the impact on the quality and direction of government.
Educating our young people, reducing crime in our neighborhoods, fostering a business climate that spawns jobs and raises incomes, protecting the environment and our quality of life, helping the poor and the elderly and the ill survive, maintaining responsible levels of taxation and spending - these aren't just playthings for politicians to kick around in hopes of defeating the opposition. The means and outcomes of these endeavors touch the lives of all Virginians, today and tomorrow.
To send your own message, you don't need to spend thousands of dollars on radio ads and direct mail or hire consultants to think up new ways to sling mud or mislead.
But you do need to vote. Indeed, a big turnout for today's legislative and local elections would amplify your voice.
Polls are open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. There's no more important thing to do, no more important place to be. The candidates, finally hushed up, will be waiting to hear what you think.
by CNB