CEO Update The Privilege to Vote By Ron Fitzwater, CAE, MBA, CEO of the Missouri Pharmacy Association I
was proud, yet nervous, the first time I went to vote. It was a much different process in those days. I am sure there must have been provisions for people who could not get to the polls on election day, but I don’t know what those provisions were. I
was used to seeing my father hustle home on election day from his work at the steel mill, pick up my mother and then they would head to the polls to vote. My adult relatives and the parents of all my friends did the same thing. It was common that the people we knew in our circle of friends all voted. And even with the labor-intensive processes of those days, by election night the votes were counted, and we knew who was elected to the various offices up and down the ballot. I don’t remember much about the actual
voting process the first time I went to vote. But I do remember it was a very well- organized system. It must have taken a lot of volunteers to get all the tasks completed by the end of the evening. Today, with electronics, mail-in voting, etc., it is an even more complicated process – especially with the constant concerns about voter fraud. That has necessitated the implementation of an even more complex and labor-intensive set of procedures to make sure the elections are run fair and accurately. I can’t attest to the processes in other counties throughout Missouri, but due to my political activities here in Cole County, I can assure our local citizens that there are rigorous policies and procedures in place to protect our voting rights. The process is monitored by volunteers from both the republican and democrat
parties to assure our process is done fair and accurately. That process requires a lot of volunteers – in the weeks and months leading up to election day as well as all the volunteers at the precincts across each county on election day.
On November 5, Americans will have
the opportunity once again to go to the polls to vote (if they haven’t already taken the opportunity through early voting) in what is again being billed as “the most important election in our lifetime.” This time I think they may be right. In addition to the Presidential race on the national level, there are many state and local races on the ballot. The outcome of those elections is going to determine the direction of our country and our state for years, if not decades, to come. The races up and down the ballot will set the course for how critical issues, including our proposed pharmacy legislation, will be addressed. Please exercise your right and privilege to vote to help us elect good, pharmacy friendly legislative leaders. I have voted in every election that has been
held (general, primary and local) since I have been eligible to vote. It is a privilege that our Founding Fathers were careful to protect in the founding documents for this Country. And I am proud to exercise those rights every time voting is available. Plato said it best, “The price good men pay for indifference to public affairs is to be ruled by evil men.” There are a lot of important races and ballot
initiatives on the 2024 General Election ballot. I hope you will join me and go to the polls on November 5 to exercise your right as well.
“The price good men pay for
indifference to public
affairs is to be ruled by
evil men.” - Plato
6 Missouri PHARMACIST | Volume 98, Issue III | Fall 2024
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