As the senator for Idaho’s 5th Legislative District, I welcome all to the political process. We need engaged citizens for this democracy to work. But to say, as my challenger did (Letter to the Editor, March 31), that the solution to Idaho’s problems lies with simple party affiliation because only one party’s votes matter is counter to our democratic principles.
I believe every vote counts, here in our district or in the statehouse, I don’t care what your party is. I vote for the ideas that will bring my state and my district prosperity, whether that means improving the income of Idahoans, their education or their health. If my vote falls in the minority, that doesn’t mean I was wrong or that my vote didn’t count. All votes count.
If the majority party believes my votes aren’t worth considering, I wonder who else they might dismiss. Do women’s votes count? How about the votes of ethnic or gay people? Dismissing the value of a person’s vote is insulting to our democracy. All votes matter.
Neither should we in representation dismiss any person. I always say, I get 51 percent of the votes, but I represent 100 percent of the people. All people matter. The old political one-party-dominance power game does not serve Idaho citizens. It’s time to play the game of ideas; I hope the voters agree.
Dan J Schmidt
Moscow
