Keeping up with politics important; LWV offers firm assist

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Politics is a fact of life.

It has negative connotations, draws disdain from many who claim no interest, and can be rough and tumble.

Politics is a fact of life.

We can find some joy, however, above all, we should understand it is the grist which can advance our democracy and always look for the better angels in those who run for political office. It is not always a daunting task. Or, it can bring us down if we let the negative sides have their say.

Understanding the issues is central to having a grasp on our political natures. Keeping up is omnipresent. Politics is more than elections.

Politics is a fact of life and always will be a fact of life. It is too essential to be dismissed.

That premise and fact are why we should be advocates for the League of Women Voters (LWV), an organization which has existed since 1920, the same year that the 19th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution was ratified to allow women to vote. We are celebrating, literally, a 100-year anniversary. Progress may be slow at times, however, equality, fairness, and advancement of society move forward when given the opportunity.

The League of Women Voters plan candidates’ forum in a non-partisan way to give all contested races visibility to help voters make decisions in their votes. The first candidate forum this year will be Thursday, Jan. 30 at the Batavia City Hall, 100 N. Island Avenue in Batavia. There will be discussions, questions, and information, vital to serious voters, in the 14th Congressional District, 25th State Senate, 49th State Representative, and 65th State Representative. Much of northern Illinois should have an interest in the forum.

Earlier this week we received notice from Carol Tidwell, president of the recently-formed League of Women Voters Aurora Area. that the planned forum in Aurora at the Aurora Police Department February 12 has been canceled. That forum was for voters in the 83rd State House to listen to candidates Barbara Hernandez and Juan Thomas, both from Aurora.

According to the press release from Carol Tidwell: “Candidate Barbara Hernandez is unable to participate. Candidate Juan Thomas agreed to participate, but, the League of Women Voters, a nonpartisan organization, does not hold single candidate forums.”

Another opportunity to hold a nonpartisan forum should be the aim of the candidates and the Aurora Area League of Women Voters (LWV).

The Illinois primary election date, Tuesday, March 17, will allow voters to choose in all contested State races. It is an embarrassment when election turnouts are low, especially in races between the two major parties. In essence we receive the democracy and the republic we deserve. That is why paying attention is essential. We owe it to ourselves and our families.

Politics is a fact of life!

• Long ago the New Year’s resolution here was not to make any New Year’s resolution. Then, none can be broken. Just weeks ago that tradition was broken. My decision was to simply stand firm this year as an advocate for correct syntax, correct usage of nouns as nouns, correct usage of verbs as verbs. Although the vow was greater than within the confines of my job in reading all material which becomes text in The Voice, it did not mean the aim was to interrupt the flow of life. Many individuals have no interest. However, examples: Host is a noun, not a verb; partner is a noun, not a verb. Incorrect usage is a threat to become acceptable because of a lack of information and an advocacy to create incorrect sentence structure: That sheds syntax. Bad habits form bad structures.

Each element has a lexicon, word usage. In sports, a missed basketball shot is missed because it was too hard, or, too soft, not too strong, or, too weak. Minimal difference? Not really, when word usage is understood. Anybody still reading? Let’s us be correct.

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