537

Five hundred and thirty-seven. That was the number of votes that decided the 2000 election between Al Gore and George W. Bush. 537.

Many people refuse to vote because they believe that one vote won't make a difference. In 1977 the mayoral race in Ann Arbor, MI was decided by a single vote. A single vote. Ann Arbor is home of the University of Michigan. It's not a small town.

This is the third presidential election I've been able to vote in. I've voted in every primary/special/mayoral/congressional/gubernatorial/presidential race that I've been eligible to vote in. I've voted in 3 elections just this year.

Don't believe that your vote won't change anything? Don't tell me it doesn't matter. There are very few things that are more important than this. There are very few times when you get to have a say in how this country operates and have someone actually listen.

You have a choice to make.Will you sit there all day willing to play the cards that everyone else deals you, or will you go out and make yourself heard? Will you go out and vote because you're sick of jobs being shipped overseas? Will you go out and vote because you're sick of choosing cars that don't even meet China's fuel efficiency standards? Will you go out and vote because you're sick of our health care and educational systems ranking behind third world countries? Will you go out and vote because you feel that we all should have the same rights regardless of who we fall in love with? Will you vote for science? Will you vote for math? Will you go out and vote because you want to see America stop depending on nonrenewable energy sources? Will you vote your conscience? Will you vote your heart?

Look, I don't care what it takes for you to go. Stop on your way home from buying Cheetos at 7-11. Go before work. Go at lunch. Get a ride from a neighbor. Offer to drive a neighbor. Just go vote. Find a reason. Just go vote. Wait in line if you have to. Make yourself heard.



537.