Frank Komola retired in 2012 following a 23 year career at UPS. He belongs to the retirees chapter of Local 25, International Brotherhood of Teamsters in Boston. He and his wife, Lisa, live in Haverhill.
Everyone can agree that the election process in our country needs a tune-up. Thousands of voters across the country gave up on waiting in long lines at the polls and walked away without voting.
It’s on life support right now, as officials try to add technology to the process, in the hope of getting us to vote in the midst of longer work weeks, increasing obligations to our children and parents and the many other demands placed on our time. To expect voters to set aside a block of time on election day is a huge ask. Granted it shouldn’t be, but that’s the reality.
But that doesn’t mean we can’t exert influence over some of the issues we care about. It doesn’t take much more time than it does to grocery shop, buy something online, read your favorite news source or pay your utility bill! Many complain that big money controls the country. Most of us would agree and some have resigned themselves to the lack of impact we can have on government policy and the economy. But we might be selling ourselves short. Perhaps we need to recognize the collective impact that we can have on the economy and the laws that govern it.
Start with your utility bill. If we are concerned about the impact that fracked gas, nuclear power and coal-powered electric generation is having on the environment, go to your electric utility’s website and research renewable sources that you can choose as your source of power. It costs a little more, but this is the air you are breathing now, and that that your kids will be inhaling in the future!
If you’re concerned about the impact that polluted irrigation systems and the use of pesticides, fertilizers and herbicides have on the food we feed ourselves and our families, read the labels on product packaging. Fruits and vegetables are a good place to start. Select domestic sources whenever possible. A significant portion of the produce consumed in this country is imported, and the environmental standards in some of those countries are inadequate. The environmental impact that transporting imports has on the air we breathe is significant as well. Being conscientious about our buying decisions in the grocery store is a way of voting for a cleaner environment.
Many times, we see articles on our favorite radio station website, digital newspaper or any number of other news sources. The mere act of accessing an article, and if time allows, commenting on its content, is tabulated along with thousands of other subscribers reading interests in determining which stories editors will continue to cover in future editions. So, if you see an article that addresses an issue that’s important to you, read it, comment on it if you can, and continue to follow the story. You are essentially casting a vote for the issues that concern you.
And finally, do some homework. As you work your way through the internet on a shopping trip, think about the source of the product, the wages and working conditions in which it was produced and the environmental impact that its manufacture and transport had on the world and the community where you live.
It’s important to vote, but it doesn’t end when you step out of the booth. Let your community and the world know how you feel. Use the money you spend as a vote for what you believe in every, single day!
Thanks, Frank. Good reminders!