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Show 1 1 I KENT BIRCH UPA State Reporter Nearly 90 percent of the state's eligible eli-gible residents had no influence on the most basic, vital political process in the last election. Yet, if this year was like ' past years, 5 to 15 percent of Utahns eli- ! gible to vote attended May 19's mass meetings. Access to the state's political system is by statute a simple matter. Any ! resident who will be 18 at the ,time of the November general election has the right and obligation to participate in the mass meeting of his choice within his voting district. Minorities who have organized political politi-cal machinery effectively have been able to exert influence far beyond their num -bers. Only 10 percent of the Russian people are Communist Party members. Still that minority hold dominant control. It is an irony that about the same percentage per-centage of Utahns feel it important to attend at-tend mass meetings. Despite this, many Utahns complain that government is not responsive to j their needs. Taxes are too high. Pro- j grams are inefficient or inappropriate. , I Too little service is rendered. There is too much governmental intervention in lives and business. Rather than being a government of the people, ours has become a government of special interests. There are groups willing will-ing and ready to spend money and time to make certairi that their particular desires and needs are met. They are more than capable of supporting representatives repre-sentatives who may be favorable to their goals. This is one reason taxes have continued con-tinued to grow faster than the economy during the past 50 years. There are those who benefit economically from the continued con-tinued growth of government programs and restrictions. The average taxpayer now must work from January 1 to March 11 to pay his share of the tax burden. The only effective way to combat that kind of influence is for individual citizens to become involved early in the political process and for them to remain in contact with the workings of the government. govern-ment. The- May 19 date is past, but it is not too late to become Informed of the issues at stake and the candidates who will be chosen In the county , state, and national conventions. It is not too late to begin work for those who will best serve you. If you did attend your local mass meeting, consider yourself a responsible citizen. If you attended and were elected an officer in the voting district, be the best officer ever elected to that position. If you were elected, then expect to work. Fulfill your commitment with reliability and thoroughness. If you are not an elected officer support those who were elected. Find out who they are and become involved in the political' process. That process has been neglected as of late. Not only are foreign powers wondering what we're all about and just how far they can threaten us, but many Americans, like you are wondering. Become involved in our political process. Our strength must come from within, and it must come now. |