Discussion surrounding Cole County zoning and five proposed changes to Missouri's constitution will be meaningless if you fail to vote Tuesday.
Voter turnout statewide is forecast at about 27 percent, or about 1.1 million of the state's 4.1 million registered voters.
That number is unacceptable. It is a proverbial slap in the face of liberty.
At a time when children are crossing our borders in droves to seek a better life, we find it inexcusable when citizens who repeatedly invoke the "will of the people" fail to go to the polls.
In the weeks leading up to Election Day, we have published numerous letters from our readers and offered our opinion on the issues. To summarize, we:
• Support zoning for Cole County as a way to promote orderly growth while protecting individual property values.
• Oppose Amendment 1, the "Right to Farm." We believe it is unnecessary and potentially dangerous because it singles out a specific industry to be shielded by constitutional protection.
• Oppose Amendment 5, a statewide right to bear arms, because it duplicates a right already protected by the U.S. Constitution's 2nd Amendment.
• Support Amendment 7, a three-quarter cent, 10-year sales tax for transportation. Despite misgivings about veering from user-based funding, all Missourians benefit from a safe, reliable transportation system.
• Oppose Amendment 8, creation of a "Veterans Lottery Ticket." Although the goal is worthy, we fear a competing lottery will siphon revenues from education.
• Oppose Amendment 9, to extend privacy protections to digital communications. We believe a statewide amendment is insufficient to address ever-expanding technologies, communications and privacy issues.
In addition, voters will decide primary contests and other local issues on Tuesday.
Aesop, of fable fame, once observed: "After all is said and done, more is said than done."
The time to opine on the issues has passed.
Vote Tuesday.