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 Need to get involved -- now Vote in Tuesday's U.S. elections November 4, 2002 The Iranian In a relatively free electoral democracy such as the US of A, it is customary for the advocates of citizen awareness and public involvement to promote voter turn out. It is argued that regardless of whom you're going to vote for, if you don't get out and vote on Election Day, then you won't have the right to complain and whine about the outcome. If for no other reason, I would use this same line of reasoning and ask each and every fellow Iranian-American to get out on Tuesday, go to the polling place and vote. We need to get involved and voice our opinion -- now. Having fulfilled my duty as a good citizen to recommend using your public policy control levers, I must attend to my own political persuasion and give you a reason to go out and try to create a political balance. I am not making my arguments here for any specific brand of politics. Listen to me as a person who considers himself to be "in the middle" -- not rich or poor, not a religious zealot or ignorant of religious concerns, not Republican or Democrat, not a Green Party enthusiast or a Libertarian -- right in the middle and away from every radical tendency is where I stand when making my simple recommendation. Many commentators and political analysts have argued that when the President and one or both houses of the legislature are from opposite political parties, Washington descends into an inherent state of indecision and deadlock and usually cannot make decisions over issues and matters of significance. They call this "gridlock"! I am writing today to argue that in Tuesday's elections, we must aim for gridlock! The fact of the matter is that if the Republicans win the US Senate, reversing the Democrats' narrow majority, and if they manage to hold on to their comfortable majority in the House of Representatives, we will then have a government that is completely overtaken by people and forces belonging to the farthest right of the American political spectrum. This will be quite unprecedented and without a doubt have major consequences for this country and the rest of the world! As an average, non-radical and moderate kind of a citizen, I have a major problem with that possibility. The unchallenged control of the judicial selection process and further radicalization of the U.S. Supreme Court are a likely outcome of such a complete Republican takeover at this juncture. In that case, most of the controversial laws regarding women and minority rights can be expected to be impacted negatively. For example, if you are at all concerned about the continuation of a woman's right to choose regarding abortion, then you must almost certainly vote against Republicans in this election. Or, if you have a concern about a relative or friend's future ability to come and visit you in the States, then you must consider not voting Republican at all! The other major concern with a complete takeover of the legislature is the hawkish attitude and tendencies of the group currently helping the President decide whether or not to go to war! This, along with the President and Vice President's interests and ties with oil and military industries, makes it almost certain that we will not only be in full and all out war with Iraq, but based on policy statements such as Bush's recently announced strategic doctrine, it will not stop with Iraq.  In fact, the possibility of finding ourselves engaged
in a world war is very real and near. A non-Republican majority in the Congress will
most likely reduce the possibility of such a disasterous outcome! Another factor
to consider is the President's strong and radical affiliation with the religious
right, especially the Evangelical Christian concerns.This is a man who invites other world leaders to kneel down and pray with him in the Oval Office. Now, don't get me wrong. I don't think there is anything wrong with praying or engaging in other religious practices. But if the most powerful man in the world is possibly making critical decisions with an eye on what Jerry Falwell or Billy Graham have to say about it, then I want the House and Senate to watch him like a hawk, rather than being a rubber stamp approval chamber. I don't think that religion and politics have ever mixed well but I'm not convinced that President George W. Bush believes as I do. So, most importantly, get out there and vote. For one thing, all statistics I have seen show that if the voter turn out is high, the Republicans will do poorly. So, be sure to vote! But please vote moderately and think of all that is hanging in balance! Think of the children!
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