There are lots of elections coming up. In all likelihood, there is one in your area.
Not many are worthy of the front page at Kos or Huffpo. But they are going to be occurring anyway.
This site exists in part to elect Democrats to office. So, it is fair to discuss why you should mark your calendar now, and vote this year.
The ultimate strengths of the Republican Party are 2: their ability to turn out their voters and to hold local and county level offices.
These two strengths are related. Because they hold the small offices, they are able to know and turn out their voters, and because they are able to turn out their voters, they are able to control local governments.
If you live in the great suburbs or exurbs of this nation, or if you dwell in one of its rural areas, this pair of Republican strengths are probably harming you, and have been harming you for a long time, by winning elections and then governing as R's do, namely by favoring low wages whenever they act, by looking the other way on environmental issues, by empowering bigots and narrow minds, by conflating social solutions with murderous historical epochs in far away lands, and generally warping the intellectual environment around you with their paranoia and reactionary fervor.
There are several ways that you can fight the red rot that thrives in rural and suburban and exurban America.
First and foremost: you can vote on November 3, 2009.
Don't think it doesn't matter because it does. It matters far more than not voting ever could. So, you must vote. Even if the election features only water boards, county commissions, ward commissions, judges or head librarians. If there is a D to vote for, go out there and vote for him or her. If there is an issue to vote on, go out and vote on it. How could not doing so be more important than doing so?
Second: you can turn your Democratic friends out to vote. Call them. Tell them they need to help you by voting this year. Make it personal. Tell a teenage voter you need his or her help and that the only way to help you is to vote for D's this year.
Get yourself and others registered now if you need to. But take responsibility for voting and creating at least one more vote.
Third: volunteer.
The Republicans EXPECT to win all sorts of elections this year. Hundreds upon hundreds of small elections -- for mayor, judge, sheriff, school board, water board, county clerk, clerk of courts, county recorder, ward commissioner, county commissioner, chief of police, coroner, and more.
They win them on turnout alone.
Volunteers are needed across the country. Please join them. Make Calls. Knock Doors. Drop off a case of water or some food at your local dem party office.
The only way to stop the red rot is to take local and county government away from them. So, get out there and stop them now!