by Philippe Thibault

Recent commentary by Aaron Cunningham of the Chelmsford Select Board spoke of how “democracy depends on those who show up.”

Dracut, like many communities these days, is plagued by the absence of the voters at the polls. The Town’s most recent municipal election only garnered 1,992 voters from a cadre of over twenty-five thousand registered voters. Less than eight percent chose to exercise their constitutional right to have their voice heard. This is a trend that has been declining steadily in local elections.

We can drone on about the importance of participation at the local level as opposed to the state or national arena.

Our federal senators and congressmen have insignificant effect on how potholes are filled, or not filled in many instances. Our state legislators may be concerned about the existence of our road divots and may provide some funding for relief. They are still not the main contact for repairs. Our community citizens are where the rubber hits the road, as it were.

Thomas “Tip” O’Neil, former Speaker of the House, said it the most succinctly, “all politics is local.”

If this is true, then why the lack of interest at the local level?

The nonparticipation is too often marginalized as an ambivalence to the current events. Those who do not participate have many reasons for their absence from the polls: not enough time or inconvenient times, forgetting there was an election or not knowing there was an election. In townships. where most local elections are held in the spring, voters recall election day is in November. All reasons that have a tone of validity.

There are other reasons that may be more personal to the citizen themselves and perceived attitudes; loneliness and the feeling of not belonging within a group or community.

By no means would I suggest that each voter needs to be greeted by a welcoming party with a casserole and apple pie.

Loneliness is not derived from being alone as many would assume. It is less a state of being than a mindset of acceptance of where you are. You could be lonely in a sports arena just as much as having coffee with friends while you are not confident in your thoughts.

This is where the self-imposed loneliness and disenfranchisement occur. That nagging thought that an opinion, being different than the crowd’s, will be disregarded.

The view that a different solution  to a problem does not fit the accepted narrative is erroneous. The dreaded feeling that a single opinion cannot change the course of events for the better. It is only that single thought that has ever changed the world.

The novella by Leo Tolstoy written in 1886, “The Death of Ivan Ilyich.” is an example of a man going through life doing what society perceives are all the right things to do. And as a judge in Russia, he is well integrated into society and sees himself advancing each rung of the ladder, all the while struggling to achieve what is deserved. He is a lonely man in the middle of all that is happening. On his death bed, when everyone has told him of his successful life and accomplishments, he asks his wife rhetorically, “what if my life was a lie?”

How uncomfortable we have been disagreeing with friends over coffee, committeemen over a proposal, citizens at a Town Meeting. That level of discomfort is minute compared to Ivan Ilyich’s realization at the end of all things.

Did I make a difference?

Every voter should be able to say proudly, “I made a difference,” be it a unanimous victory or a defeat by a single vote. The voice makes the difference.

For communities trying to engage their citizens to be active, the citizens must be self-aware that their participation is desired and respected.

Social media has done more harm than good under the guise of bringing the community closer together. Anonymous keyboard warriors and those individuals who are ignorant of facts and expound the virtues of their ignorance.

We live in a time where a sense of pride can be borne of ignorance. All this does is perpetuate isolation in those who are interested but tired.

Perhaps that is the point of the mindless debating, such as the posting on social media.

Mark Twain put the dilemma succinctly; “never argue with stupid people. They will drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.”

All the while we become separated. It is incumbent upon ourselves that when alone, we are not lonely.