Register to Vote

Oct. 16 is an important day. This is the last day that you can register to vote in the Presidential election on Nov. 6.  If you haven’t registered to vote, the library has voter registration forms. New Jersey State law requires the every public library make voter registration forms available to the public.

 Additionally, the library has a wide variety of information about the candidates and the issues.

Today it is more important than ever to consider carefully who will be the next President and the issues they are running upon. This year’s election is asking fundamental questions about the economy and the role of government in the life of its citizens. Be sure to not only to read biographies of the candidates, but also become familiar with the thinking of economists such as Adam Smith and John Maynard Keynes. Although Smith wrote The Wealth of Nations more than 200 years ago, and John Maynard Keynes wrote The General Theory of Employment, Interest and Money in 1936, they are directly relevant to this year’s election.

One of the Vice-Presidential candidates frequently speaks of his admiration for the writer Ayn Rand. She, too, is worth reading because of her outspoken views on freedom and the individual. For a contrast consider The Federalist Papers, which also explores government and the role of citizens, but comes to a much different conclusion.

Finally, I recommend reading anything by Peter Drucker. One of the essential issues of this election is our economy. Drucker, long before many others, foresaw that manufacturing would decline and “knowledge work” would increase. In my mind this election is about as much about whether the United States will maintain an economy based on manufacturing or an economy based on knowledge and ideas.

This fall, if you’re feeling bewildered by pundits and campaign advertising, take some time to visit the library and consider the issues and the candidates. We’re here to help you make your best choice.