For 23 years I've advocated for children and their right to live healthy,
secure and productive lives. As both a parent and professional advocate, I understand that every child's well-being is directly hinged on the ability and willingness of parents to take responsibility. Children are not able to survive on their own either physically or emotionally.

I now realize, too, that children cannot survive on their own politically.
They are totally dependent upon responsible adults to act on their behalf by voting and holding elected officials accountable.

In reality, however, parents are not active partners in politics. Just one
of six parents who works outside the home is a frequent voter—defined as voting in three of the past four elections. This may be one of the prime reasons that so many children are at risk. Far too many children in Florida, and throughout the nation suffer in areas of health, safety, education and violence because those responsible for their care have left politics up to others.

Too Busy to Vote?
I know that parents are busy. Every parent's day is a frenzy of crisis
management. As time speeds by, the flurry of matching socks, packing
lunches, checking homework, racing around to work, running errands, and cleaning up after the little ones seems never-ending. What parent has time to think about politics, candidates and platforms, let alone become an active participant?

The challenge is magnified by the reality that election laws are blatantly
anti-parent. Election days are always on a Tuesday, a workday. The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., but most parents are busy from pre-sunrise to bedtime. Plus, we vote where we live, not where we work. Even if there were such a thing as a lunch hour, voting during that break would take three hours for some commuting parents.

Given these obstacles, it's no wonder that politics are nowhere near the top of many parents' priority lists. As a result, on many politicians' priority lists, parents and children are too often near the bottom.

Will Rogers said it best: "Smart politicians know where there's a parade, and get in front of it." Parents can make a parade, by voting in every election, assisting others to register and vote, and putting children first when considering who to support.

Making Voting Easy
Here are a few ideas to promote politically responsible parenting:

• This election day—Tuesday, November 5th—there
  will be long lines at most polling places during morning and evening peak hours. Avoid the rush by voting absentee through the mail, or participate in early voting.
• Child care directors, school principals, religious leaders and
  family service agency executives can encourage parents to vote by putting upcoming election date notices in parent bulletins and newsletters.
• Ask ten friends and relatives whether they will commit to voting this year as a personal pledge to you and the children.
• To help parents avoid the 5 to 7 p.m. time crunch, child care
  centers can stay open extra hours on election day, with some parents volunteering to help with supervision. Centers can host "I'm voting for my children" parties, with a special gift for those who arrive with an "I voted" sticker.

Now more than ever, decisions about health care, quality early care,
education and public safety will be made at the state and local levels. Will children be treated fairly? Their only hope is if those with direct
responsibility for their care—parents and grandparents—vote for
candidates who will vote for kids.

Worry and regret are part of every parent's life. We worry that bad things may happen, and we often regret the things we could have done but didn't do for or with our children. I hope the 2002 election cycle will be a time when our earnest worry for our children will motivate political action on their behalf. This year, to prevent future regret, we should vote as if our children's lives depend on it.

 

Talk Back

If you've got comments or questions about this story, we'd like to hear them. Send your response to Susan Phillips.

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Jack Levine is the president of the Center for Florida's Children (www.floridakids.com).