Wednesday, October 27, 1999
PTC resident, mayor spar over rights of non-voters

As a long time resident of Peachtree City, and one who has voted in every election except one, I have to vehemently disagree with you that “If you didn't vote - you don't count and you don't have a voice.”

I agree with you that everyone should vote, and to do otherwise is a disservice to the city, county, state and nation. However, we live in a free country and a citizen has the right to not vote. Just because a person does not vote in a given election does not mean that he or she does not have a voice in the running of government. Tell me, Mayor Lenox, does a resident alien, who pays property tax, have a voice and does he or she count?

As an elected official, you have no right to say who does and who does not have a voice. A taxpayer has the right to be heard and his opinion is just as valid, or invalid, whether he voted or not in any given election.

You and [Fayette County Board of Education Chairman] Debbie Condon appear to be alike in your opinion of the taxpayers of this county, since the both of you display a degree of arrogance that I and many of my fellow tax payers find insulting.

Richard D. Downing
Peachtree City

 

Dear Editor:

Attached is Mayor Lenox's reply to my e-mail.

From: “Bob Lenox” BLenox@cfcmail.com Subject: Re: No Vote - No Voice

Dear Mr. Downing — Thank you for your e-mail. Since you do vote I am happy to respond. First, two general comments: 1) I spoke at Council for myself, not for the City and not for the Council as a whole.

2) The strength and viability of any democracy lies in an involved, informed electorate. When 25 percent of the people vote, 13 percent of the people decide the future of the community — or nation. This is intolerable and no representative democracy can sustain itself under these conditions.

A few remarks relative to your comments: 1) Any person in Peachtree City, resident or not, taxpayer or not, voter or not, is entitled to the very best governmental services we can deliver. That's our basic job — and we do it well.

2) Any citizen can decide not to vote. All decisions have consequences. For me, if you decide not to vote, you have decided that your opinion is unimportant and not worth taking the time to register. Why should I then be obligated to listen to it later when you yourself have deemed it of no value?

3) As an elected official I have every right to choose the voices I will listen to and to decide what weight I will give to their input. That is the essence of representative democracy and what you elect me to do. If you want me to hear you well, I do not ask that you contribute to my campaign fund, agree with me, like me, or even that you be a taxpayer. I only ask that you vote.

4) Are only taxpayers opinions valid? I myself find this a little bit arrogant. I believe that all citizens' opinions have validity - whether they pay lots of taxes or no taxes at all.

5) What you see from me is not arrogance — it is utter disgust. I don't care how you vote, but I passionately believe that everyone should vote.

6) We all pay our taxes because we must. No honor accrues to a man who only does what the law requires. I value much more highly the person who also meets their moral and ethical obligations to society — including voting.

I'm sorry if you were offended by my comments. I purposely stated my position in a controversial manner because that's the only way to get your message heard nowadays. If the turnout in the November Council election is above 30 percent, I will cheerfully take all the flak you and anyone else can dish out.

Thank you for voting regularly — and for taking the time to take me to task. Ask your friends what they think, and whatever their response, encourage them to vote too.

Regards,
Bob Lenox


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