Elections Matter

Elections are a necessary condition for a thriving democracy. But elections aren't enough. Democracy needs citizen involvement.

Our ongoing controversy over ferry tolls illustrates that elections matter.

We are beginning this year's election season. Nationally, the focus is on the election of a president. That is clearly important. But let's not let the election of a president suck all of the political oxygen out of the air. Local and state elections are where the rubber meets the road. Or tolls the ferry, as the case may be.

This is also an Olympic year.

Just keep in mind that if politics were an Olympic event, it would be a team sport, not an individual event.