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Kevin Fischer is a veteran broadcaster, the recipient of over 150 major journalism awards from the Milwaukee Press Club, the Wisconsin Associated Press, the Northwest Broadcast News Association, the Wisconsin Bar Association, and others. He has been seen and heard on Milwaukee TV and radio stations for over three decades. A longtime aide to state Senate Republicans in the Wisconsin Legislature, Kevin can be seen offering his views on the news on the public affairs program, "InterCHANGE," on Milwaukee Public Television Channel 10, and heard filling in on Newstalk 1130 WISN. He lives with his wife, Jennifer, and their lovely baby daughter, Kyla Audrey, in Franklin.
If you don't care, don't vote
Last week, I blogged that I don’t mind low voter turnouts in elections if they keep uninformed, uneducated voters home.Most readers, save one naïve blogger on this website understood clearly that I wasn’t telling people not to vote. I just don’t want them voting if they don’t know what the hell they’re voting about.
In today’s Orlando Sentinel, I found this letter to the editor that sums up my feelings nicely.
OrlandoSentinel.com
OPINION Reader Views WHY LOWER TURNOUT ISN'T A PROBLEM
Don't vote unless you care
November 20, 2007The Sentinel asks where the voters are and has a suggestion to get them out:Schedule local elections to coincide with national races that attract more interest.
Sounds good, but it would mean low-profile issues would be lost in the glare of the glamorous races. Some people would show up to vote for president and also cast a ballot for dogcatcher of some town they didn't even know had dogs.
Low turnout is not really a problem, because officials should be chosen by those who care enough to show up. I don't want my carefully considered vote offset by someone who gives his to a guy he never heard of because his name is listed first on the ballot. With a multitude of polling places open for 12 hours on Election Day and absentee ballots available for weeks before that, voting is already more convenient than going to a movie. People who care less about an election than the latest Hollywood feast of blood (laughs, music, sex -- whatever) should just go on to the show.
Those who do care will not be kept from voting by movies, wild horses, rain, sleet or snow. The problem is not too few voting, it's too few caring.
DOUG MURRAY
ALTAMONTE SPRINGS
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