VOTE!!!

Election Day

Today is Election Day in the U.S., which means millions of people will turn out to vote on local, state, and sometimes national measures. Here are some facts about Election Day:

• Elections were given a uniform date in 1845: first Tuesday in November.
• Tuesday is believed to have originally been appointed for elections after considering the needs of America's many farmers – it didn't interfere with the Biblical Sabbath or market day, which was Wednesday in most towns.
• A common misconception is that absentee ballots are counted only if they might determine the outcome. In fact, all votes are counted whether or not they affect the outcome, unless they are cast incorrectly.
• In federal elections, which occur every two years, voter percentage hasn't topped 60% since 1964, when i6t was 61.9 percent. In recent years, midterm elections have brought around 36 percent of voters, and presidential elections have brought out around 52 percent.

NOW, GET OUT THERE AND VOTE!!!

Constitution Day

September 17
Today is Constitution Day

Every September 17,
unless it falls on a weekend or another
holiday, Constitution Say is celebrated to mark the
anniversary of the ratification of the document.
It's the newest federal holiday to be
established by Congress. before
2004, it was Citizenship Day.

However, the roots of citizenship day stretch back to
1940 when I am an American Day was initiated
by Congress for the third Sunday in May.

Today, we consider Constitution Day as a birthday for
our country, and it serves as a means for all American
citizens to express their pride in their citizenship.


Constitution Day also designates a time to honor
the Constitution of America and learn more
about this famous piece of legislation.


The act that passed the holiday also states that federally
funded schools are required to provide lessons on
the U.S. Constitution on this holiday...

We will be having Constitution lessons at our school today.
However, I would like to point out that even though
it's a federal holiday, school will be in session.
It is no holiday for the teachers and students!!

Update: One of our first-grade teachers gave a wonderful
lesson to her students on the constitution. At the end
of the day, she asked the kids one more time what
day it was. One girl piped up and answered:
It's constipation day...

(and people wonder why we teach)

County Convention Today

Today was my first experience as a County Delegate at the
Republican Convention. I was looking forward to the
experience, but after spending the morning at
Orem High, I was very disillusioned...

Believe it or not, the big political machine is alive and well
here in good old Utah Valley! I felt as if being there made
no difference at all. Everything is very orchestrated,
and there is no chance for anyone, who has not
been selected by the Republican powers that
be, to get elected, let alone force a
Republican Primary...

We need more courageous and patriotic people like Jefferson Smith,
played by Jimmy Stewart in Mr. Smith Goes to Washington...

Caucus

Dennis, Todd, and I attended our Precinct Caucus meeting
last night. I was chosen to be a County Delegate, and
Dennis was selected to be a State Delegate.
Thanks for the votes, Todd!


This is a whole new adventure for me,
that I'm looking forward to...