Home > Opinion > Editorials

[EDITORIALS]Score big by voting

Published: 05 Jan. 2003, 23:38

Never underestimate the power of one vote. Divert your attention from the World Cup games and cast your vote in the June 13 local elections, and you will find that the excitement and pleasure one vote brings is as good as the thrill and joy of one soccer goal. You will experience a catharsis from helping kick corrupt and bribery-ridden bad guys out of office. With your deft and cool footwork toward the ballot box, you will assist honest, hard-working scorers who will not waste your tax money and provide you with a better living environment.

This is your chance to punish law-breaking candidates who slandered and lied up to elections day. With your vote, you hold the power to influence mighty teams like the Grand National Party and the Millennium Democratic Party before their super match in December in the presidential election.

We have already shown the world what we can do in the World Cup. We experienced good feelings from seeing our good manners and orderly discipline in cheering for victory, but we feel disgusted by our politics. Who wants to bother with boring local elections anyways, people might be asking. But not casting your ballot would be like leaving the goal without a goalkeeper to protect you from unqualified local government officials and city council members. Indifference and a low voter turnout will provide all the holes in the defensive line these quack candidates need.

Pour a little bit of your World Cup fever into your vote and give those low-life politicians the red card. If you are a voter who has the Korea versus Portugal game on June 14 on your mind as you read this, think of the leadership and management of Guus Hiddink, our coach. Think of the wonders for your home region if you had local leaders like him.

According to polls, the majority of voters still do not know who is running in their local election, let alone the candidates' campaign promises. Voting well requires knowledge of who is running. Read the campaign pamphlets and see what the candidates are promising before heading for the polls Thursday. You can always look up more on these candidates on the Web site of the local election commission. Take time to carefully evaluate before making your choice. Have twice the fun watching the World Cup games after you cast your vote.