Last week Mesa County Commissioner Steve Aquafresca commented that mail in votes can tend to encourage less informed voting. This was apparently stunning news to some who were surprised at a relationship between the amount of time someone puts into something and how well they do it. The Commissioner is simply pointing out a concern held by many, including our nation's Framers, that easy voting especially by individuals who have no stake in the outcome other than economic benefit can be unhealthy for a republic. The possibility that a voter will be swayed by demagoguery has always been a major concern of a democracy, representative or otherwise. The performing of a purposeful act in concert with one's friends and neighbors give it some gravity and requires a degree of inconvenience that ensures some realization that time spent voting, is important.
When they put a button on our TV remote to vote -- that's when we elect Oprah President.
