Putting the presidential election in perspective
Why the down-ballot races are just as important
September 8, 2020
The 2020 election cycle has been consumed with the upcoming presidential election between former Vice President Joe Biden and President Donald Trump.
The eyes of the world are on this consequential race, and from now until Nov. 3, 95% of the political focus will be on which man will occupy the White House for four years.
However, lost in the discord is the importance of the down-ballot races, the races that truly have an effect on your day-to-day life.
Now, that’s not to say the presidential election isn’t important and that electing a president has no influence in your life. The president, after all, is the chief policy maker, commander of the armed forces, maintainer of the bully pulpit and the figurehead whom many look to in times of crisis and distress.
All of those aspects influence our lives to some degree.
Yet, the races that dictate how much funding your roads get, how much grant money your local schools get and how much business growth occurs in your local community come from the local down-ballot races.
The races for the state House, state Senate, Congress and others are the races seldom talked about but carry much weight.
It wasn’t President Trump who got Erie-based organizations $300,000 in state funding to help local residents with housing costs; that was instead spearheaded by Erie’s state house delegation featuring Rep. Ryan Bizzaro, Rep. Bob Merski and Rep. Pat Harkins.
It wasn’t Joe Biden who acquired nearly $3.5 million in water and sewer grants for Erie municipalities; that was state Sen. Dan Laughlin.
It wasn’t even our governor who sought and obtained grants from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for the Erie-based Community Health Net to assist the health care provider in combating COVID-19; that was Rep. Mike Kelly.
But do you know what all these elected officials have in common? They’re all on the ballot in November.
These are the elected officials who are closest to you as individuals and hear your concerns, fears and desires as both voters and constituents.
These are the people who take the ideas and input and craft it all into potential law.
But unfortunately, many voters can’t identify these offices or these officeholders. Whatever the reason may be, many are unaware of the role these individuals play in ensuring money comes back to the region, and the role they play in speaking for the communities they represent both on the state and federal level.
It’s important this election that even as you make the all-important decision of who to vote for for president, you also take the time to become an all-around informed voter.
Learn about the candidates, both Democrat and Republican. Learn about the issues, learn where the candidates stand, learn about what they have said and done and what they intend to do if elected. You as the voter have the power to determine if these people remain in office or get elected to office.
This November, cut through the noise and make your educated, informed voice heard at the ballot box.
MICHAEL GUIDO
[email protected]
Linda MacMonagle • Oct 21, 2020 at 4:08 pm
I agree with Mr. Guido’s statement at the end of his article: cut through the noise. What is important to you? Money for funding roads and schools? Money for water and sewer grants? Money for Health Net? Oh, come on!
Put on your big-boy pants and ask yourself the big questions:
Are you renouncing the role of God and the greatness of America? Then vote for Joe Biden and the democrats, because that’s what they believe.
Are you rejecting the Catholic Church’s teachings regarding respect for human life and the rights of the unborn? Then vote for Joe Biden and the democrats, because they want to overturn any federal or state law that opposes or places limits on abortion, and make taxpayers foot the bill.
Do you believe that the constitutional religious freedom-rights of The Little Sisters of the Poor should be dismissed? Then vote for Joe Biden and the dems.
Do you believe that you are a bigot if you support the traditional role of the family in this country? Then vote for Joe Biden and his party.
Do you believe that people’s rights come from law and not from God? Then vote for Joe Biden,because that’s what he believes.
Do you want to live in a Marxist-socialist country, or a constitutional republic based on capitalism where any person can succeed if they work hard? If you want to live in a country whose ideals are inspired by Karl Marx, then vote for Joe Biden and the democrats.
But if you believe in the greatness of the United States as founded, and you believe in the rights of the unborn, and the constitutional rights of all citizens as stated in the Declaration of Independence, and the foundational role of the family in society, and the role of God in the creation and maintenance of this country, then you’d better vote for the other party – and I mean all the way up and down the ballot. Even if you don’t like the person, vote for the VISION.
This is a difficult time. Archbishop Vigano, former Papal Nuncio to the United States (i.e., the Vatican ambassador) encouraged faithful Catholics to soldier up. “With the unction [anointing] of the sacrament of Confirmation, a Catholic becomes a soldier of Christ,” he said, warning that a “soldier who does not fight for his King but allies himself with the enemy is a traitor, a renegade, a deserter.”
Do you want to be a traitor, a renegade and a deserter? I didn’t think so. Soldier up.
Linda MacMonagle, B.S. ’88
Adjunct Professor of Philosophy (ret.)
Fairview, PA
Chloe Forbes • Oct 27, 2020 at 12:49 pm
Thanks for your input, Linda! Did you know Joe Biden would only be the 2nd practicing Catholic to ever be in office? Food for thought 🙂