Leonard Grunstein, a retired attorney and banker, founded and served as Chairman of Metropolitan National Bank and then Israel Discount Bank of NY. He also founded Project Ezrah and serves on the Board of Revel at Yeshiva University and the AIPAC National Council. He has published articles in the Banking Law Journal, Real Estate Finance Journal and other fine publications. He is the co-author of "Because It’s Just and Right: The Untold Back-Story of the U.S. Recognition of Jerusalem as the Capital of Israel and Moving the U.S. Embassy to Jerusalem."
Voting is a sacred duty; however, making it truly count is a science. I remember well studying the subject in political science in college and applying the cogent lessons we were taught, in practice, as a member of my community.
The first lesson was organization. Each vote does matter; but when a significant enough group of voters get together and cast their votes in unison, they become a potent political force. The coveted reward is being afforded a seat at the table, where the actual decision-making is done.
The second lesson is education. We must study the candidates and understand their platforms and assess what they really intend to do. This is no mean task. Party identity is no substitute for a real analysis of the merits of each candidate. In civics class we were taught to vote for the candidate not the party. We must also educate prospective voters about the issues. This all too often means encapsulating the lessons of history in a meaningful way.
As surprising as it may seem to members of my baby-boomer generation, many young voters have not studied the mass murders that occurred in the dystopian world of socialism under Stalin, in the Soviet Union, and Mao, in Communist China. Some are also unfamiliar with the true facts of 9/11. The threats of antisemitism, including in the guise of euphemisms like anti-Zionism and anti-Israel, are often discounted by some of the younger voters. We must pull resources together to reach them with appropriate messaging on the social media platforms they frequent, as well as in personal discussions.
Preaching is not the answer, effective communications is an important part of the solution and that means we must learn new communications skills too.
The third lesson is getting out the vote, and is no easy task. Everyone has his or her own life and it’s not always apparent that voting is critical. This is especially so when the status quo is not so bad; why rock the boat? It appears that many don’t appreciate that not voting does not necessarily preserve the status quo. Low turnout in elections is a real problem. It allows nefarious forces to elect candidates with significantly less than a majority of the registered voters.
The fourth lesson is that each person in the group must actually cast his or her vote. The collective impact of a genuine voting bloc makes a real difference; but absent real votes that are cast and counted, the effect is nil. All the talk and money in politics is ultimately about getting out the vote in support of a candidate. It’s a simple syllogism: Significant number of votes cast by a group, election of a preferred candidate equals a measure of power; no votes, no preferred candidate elected, no power.
This election season, U.S. voters are faced with candidates aligned with political movements such as democratic socialism, who are seeking radically to change life in the US. Their program seeks to undermine the American system of government and free-market economy, including the fundamental right to own property, which has yielded unparalleled prosperity. Indeed, it can well be said that never in the history of the world have so many lived so well. Their alternative is a planned economy, which has failed miserably everywhere it’s been tried.
Despite their presumptuous insistence that they can do better this time, they truly can’t, because the system is inherently flawed.
Indeed, life under G-d is not a zero sum game. Each person has their own destiny and mission in life, and the last thing we need is, in essence, the state, as a false god, enslaving us to the will of the demagogues, who thereby personally profit by our labor.
The US has a free-market system with heart that is the envy of the world. It enables people to work hard and achieve much, employing enlightened self-interest. In essence, it recognizes that by working together we can all do better and sharing some with others who are less fortunate is a sacred duty. Social welfare is most assuredly not Marxist socialism. Being a slave to anyone is an anathema and that includes the state.
Unfortunately, these anti-American groups have highly motivated followers. It is not coincidental that they are also against the existence of Israel. The US and Israel have shared values and interests and both are beacons of liberty and success in the world. Unless there is strong turnout to vote for more moderate candidates, the anti-America/anti-Israel ones might win. Not voting is, effectively, a vote in favor of their noxious program.
Generating turnout means committees, block captains, door knocking and person-to-person calls. It also means organizing transportation and schedules to facilitate people coming out and voting. There is no substitute for this kind of old-fashion electioneering.
Let’s work together to get out the vote and elect pro-America/pro-Israel candidates. May G-d grant us success in fulfilling this noble duty.