Apathy is the arsenic of a democracy.

No greater threat exists to our freedom, our quality of life or our culture than apathy. If left unchecked, it will poison and destroy the world as we know it. Apathy is most potent at election time each year, resulting in thousands of voices never being heard, opinions expressed or preferences made known.

Tuesday we have an obligation as citizens to rise up and beat apathy back by going to the polls and voting our conscience. This exercise of our freedom takes but a few minutes, but the action we take in those few minutes might change the course of our community, our country, our state or our nation for decades into the future.

Thomas Paine wrote in 1776 "that these are the times that try men's souls." His writing helped inspire a revolution in America.

Isn't it interesting that in the 233 years since those words were first penned, they still are every bit as relevant to our current situation.

We have the opportunity Tuesday to continue fanning the flames of that revolution with our vote, and thus beat back the tentacles of apathy that threaten to strangle us.

We urge residents to vote Tuesday. Too much is at stake next week to just sit back and let someone else dictate the future for us.