Johnnie Aycock: The Economics of the Ballot Box

Johnnie Aycock, the host of the Noon Show on Catfish 100.1 and the longtime former president and CEO of the Chamber of Commerce of West Alabama, is a contributing columnist for the Thread. The Entrepreneurial Community: An Editorial will look at the people, institutions and ideas that shape this corner of the state and be published every Monday.

On November 3 - tomorrow! - we have an opportunity to do something both ordinary and extraordinary: cast a vote.

It may take only a few minutes, but the choices we make at the ballot box can influence our lives for years to come. They help determine who makes decisions about taxes, education, infrastructure, public safety and the investments that shape our communities.

In recent columns, we have considered the economics of those choices. Public policy affects the cost of doing business, the availability of jobs and the opportunities open to our children and grandchildren. It can shape the conditions that influence household budgets, from housing and transportation to the price of everyday necessities.

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No candidate or elected official controls the economy alone. But elections help determine the priorities and policies that influence it.

That is why thoughtful voting matters. Look beyond the slogans and the noise. Ask what candidates propose, how they intend to pay for their promises, and whether their ideas will create opportunity for more people. Consider their character, their willingness to listen and their capacity to work with others.

And remember that turnout matters. When fewer people vote, fewer voices shape the decisions that affect us all. When more citizens participate, the outcome better reflects the community those elected are called to serve.

Voting is a right, a responsibility and an act of faith in our ability to govern ourselves. We may disagree about candidates and policies, but we share an interest in a community and country where every voice has a place.

On November 3, make a plan to vote. Encourage your family, friends and neighbors to do the same. Your voice matters. Let it be heard. VOTE November 3.

The Entrepreneurial Community: An Editorial appears regularly on the Tuscaloosa Thread. To comment, email Aycock at jaycockrainforest@gmail.com. Aycock and his co-host Lisa Jones can be heard on the Noon Show on Catfish 100.1 every weekday from 12 to 1 p.m.