June 10, 2016 (Friday)
“That’s enough food to feed Coxey’s Army!” I used to hear that when I was a kid. It meant, “That’s an abundance of food.” The expression goes back to a march on Washington by the unemployed, led by a man named “Coxey,” in 1894, repeated in 1914.
That demonstration was only the second recorded protest in Washington, D.C. The demonstrations grow more numerous every year.* Many people want their voice to be heard.
Most of the demonstrations are one-time occurrences, but there are at least two that are repeated each year: the protest against abortion and the reminder of military personnel who are still missing in action.
Still, the one great legitimate way to express our sentiments is the voting booth. From local elections to national elections, we have an opportunity to vote.
During the presidential primary voting season, we had to choose from many candidates. Now that the dust is settling, we are beginning to realize that we will have only two choices for president when we vote in November. Actually, other choices will appear on the ballot, but no one believes there is any chance for candidates from those other parties to be elected. Choosing one of those will be almost the same as not voting, a road which some have vowed to take. Even a U.S. Senator has announced he cannot vote for either major candidate.
Ah, politics, thy name is Democracy. See you at the polls in the fall.