Election season is upon us again. One might assume that Americans should be in dread of the coming season after enduring the chaos and emotional toll of last years elections. Yet we still live in what’s presented to us as a Democracy, in which we have the right and the duty to cast our vote to determine the future of our society.
Our ballot this year is calling on us to make decisions about our state’s constitution, and tax levies that fund programs in our immediate community. These issues might not seem as important as a presidential vote, but these small decisions influence the environment in which we live and can influence the course of our lives and the political decisions we make in the future.
This year’s election might not be on your mind. It’s less prevalent in social media and the news, and if you don’t know what the issues are you might think they don’t matter. Issue 1 is not significant to me. Issue 1 is a push for Marsy’s Law, a set of rules regarding the rights of crime victims. I’m not a crime victim. It doesn’t matter to me.
Except Ohio’s State Public Defender Tim Young says that Issue 1 would increase litigation, which would increase costs to taxpayers. I’m a taxpayer. Let’s hear more.
Tim Young also said that crime victims are already protected by Ohio’s constitution. Young said that the resources needed to enforce these laws aren’t in place now, but could be under current law. Resourses aren’t provided by passing Issue 1, because Issue 1 doesn’t address Ohio’s liability to crime victims. Young said, “The problem in Ohio is not the absence of victims’ rights, but the lack of a remedy when the government fails to carry out duties owed to victims.”
But I would hate to experience what Marsy’s mom experienced. The woman whose murder inspired this law, Marsy Nicholas, her mom was approached by Marsy’s murderer while out grocery shopping. She wasn’t made aware that her daughter’s murderer was out on bail. And so I’d better keep researching this ballot initiative, because this law could affect me and I don’t know enough to make an educated vote on it.
Issue 2 doesn’t affect me either. My prescriptions already come to me at the lowest cost available, because my prescriptions come from the Department of Veterans Affairs.
Well, again its supporters claim that Issue 2 will be better for the taxpayer. They say that Issue 2 can save hundreds of millions of tax dollars, and at the same time force pharmaceutical companies to lower drug prices for all Ohioans.
Its opponents say that is a lie, that Issue 2 will force pharmaceutical companies to raise their prices for consumers to make up for what they lost from the state. So, I’d better look closer to see what I’m voting for.
Issue 2 is backed by Ohio Taxpayers For Lower Drug Prices, a grassroots movement that is largely funded by AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF). AHF’s mission statement is “To provide cutting edge medicine and advocacy regardless of ability to pay.” AHF has donated 99.99% of the $6.23 million raised for Issue 2. $1.87 million was spent collecting the 184,354 signatures need for the issue to make the ballot. That comes out to $10.13 per vote.
Issue 2 is opposed by a whole coalition of organizations. Their campaign against Issue 2 has raised $16.23 million, 100% of which was donated by Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA). PhRMA’s mission statement is “To conduct effective advocacy for public policies that encourage discovery of important new medicines for patients by pharmaceutical and biotechnology research companies.” Opponents spent $109 million to defeat California’s measure in 2016 which was identical to Issue 2.
Who do I believe? Both sides claim to fight for a better future. Me being me, I’ll make my decision based on what I think is right. I think that in “the greatest country in the world,” access to healthcare and education can and should be a right and a high priority. This priority could enable our society to become “the most healthy and educated country in the world.” I think that’s a good goal, and a lot more specific than “greatest.”
I care about society as a whole. Does this make me a socialist? Not quite. Capitalism has proven far more progressive in the advancement of technology and human rights than communism, but I do believe in balance. Balance between personal and social responsibility seems to me to be the secret for success and happiness in the lives of individuals all the way up to society as a whole.
That’s why voting for tax levies that fund Sinclair and our communities social services is a no-brainer for me. Of course I’m going to vote for what benefits the society of which I’m a part, regardless the sacrifice of my personal earnings. There are people who sacrifice a lot more than money for the benefit of American society.
Those people are who we owe for our right to vote. In honor of those who have made those sacrifices, please practice your right to, and fulfill your duty to vote for the future of our society.
Will Drewing
Managing Editor