Ari Siletz

Democracy and community participation are one and the same. Among other NIAC emails encouraging me to get involved in American politics is the following which I have included at the end of this blog. Sadly one piece of legislation that did not make it to the California ballots this round is the "Reduce prison funding, increase university funding" proposal. I figure Iranian-American kids are more likely to go to college than to jail, so I would have liked the opportunity to vote in the guaranteed 10% of the state budget funding for universities. There were some issues with the wording of this proposal that needs to fixing before it is a viable proposal. This means more participation by Iranian-Americans whose children are about to enter college. The point is, it is not just about US invading Iran or trade sanctions; encouraging Iranian-Americans to take an interest in American politics is a positive action helping all of us in our day to day lives. If that doesn't motivate you to go vote, how about a proposition that did make it to the ballot. Prop 19: Allows people 21 years old or older to poessess, cultivate, or transport marijuana for personal use. I figure university students are more likely to have smoked pot at least once than not. Why not let parents advise their offspring on such choices instead of prisons? The jail money can be better spent on hiring top notch professors, helping our future generations achieve even greater successes. Or you may feel strongly otherwise.But VOTE!

Text of email from NIAC:

Dear Ari,

Tomorrow is the big day … Election Day!  Are you ready to cast your vote?  If you need to find your polling place, click here.  Also, many states require you to show an ID, like a driver’s license, before voting. To find out what’s required in your state, click here.

While it is often taken for granted, we must realize the importance and responsibility that comes with the right to vote.  By exercising our right to vote, we’re making sure our voices are heard.

Regards,

Nobar Elmi

Director of Community Outreach & Programming