FINALLY!!!

One of my kids shared this 2004 article with me:

It's up to you: 20 reasons to vote

Here are 20 reasons why you should vote: 

By KEN FUSON 

REGISTER STAFF WRITER 

November 2, 2004 

1. Because you're for somebody. 

2. Because you're against somebody. 

3. Because you'll make your sixth-grade social studies teacher happy. 

4. Because Iowans may never again wield this much power. Iowa is one of a handful of swing states in what's expected to be a close election. It's why President Bush and Sen. John Kerry campaigned here what seemed like every other day. 

5. Because the next time you read abumper sticker that says, "If you don't vote, don't complain," you can stop the driver and gripe to your heart's content. 

6. Because sometimes a single vote does count. Four years ago, Al Gore defeated Bush by 4,144 votes in Iowa. That's two votes per precinct. 

7. Because there are no television sets in the voting booth, which means the odds are great you will not hear the phrase, ". . . and I approved this message." 

8. Because millions of people around the world don't have the chance. 

9. Because Americans have died so you can. 

10. Because, for some strange reason, it just makes you feel good. 

11. Because you'll balance out somebody you really, really disagree with. 

12. Because, despite all their wealth, Bill Gates, Warren Buffett and Donald Trump get to vote only once. Just like you. 

13. Because the experts can poll you and spin you and spend millions of dollars trying to influence you, but they still can't tell you what to do behind that curtain. 

14. Because even if it's only an illusion to think you are making your voice heard, that's still better than knowing with absolute certainty that you remained silent. 

15. Because your neighbor will. And you don't want HIM choosing your leaders, do you? Hmmm? 

16. Because it's free. 

17. Because your children will notice. 

18. Because you'd stand in line that long for good concert tickets. 

19. Because our soldiers in Iraq, Afghanistan and other dangerous places deserve to know you cared enough about them to help choose their commander in chief. 

20. Because of United Airlines Flight 93. An amazing thing happened on the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, on that hijacked airplane. The 33 passengers knew, from cell phone calls to loved ones, that two other hijacked planes had struck the World Trade Center. Unless they acted, they realized that they, too, were doomed. And do you know what those strangers did? 

From the 9/11 report: "According to one call, they voted on whether to rush the terrorists in an attempt to retake the plane. They decided, and acted." 

What a remarkable act. With their lives at stake, with their country facing peril, these 33 men and women of diverse backgrounds did a most American thing: They took a vote. They decided to rush the cockpit. And a plane that might have destroyed the White House or U.S. Capitol crashed instead in a Pennsylvania field. 

Why vote? Choose your reason. 

Honoring their sacrifice will do just fine