It is hard to believe, but Election Day is just around the corner.
On Tuesday, Nov. 3, Louisiana voters will head to the polls to choose who will represent them in Congress, consider 10 proposed amendments to the Louisiana Constitution and vote in other races that will affect our state and communities.
Between now and then, there will be no shortage of political noise.
Turn on the television, scroll through social media or read the headlines, and much of the conversation will center on Washington, President Donald Trump, Congress, Democrats, Republicans and which party will control the U.S. House and Senate.
Those are important questions.
In my opinion, our nation is at a crossroads.
Throughout our history, we have faced critical turning points. Those moments have helped shape the United States into the strong and free nation it is today.
But I believe this election cycle carries especially high stakes.
There is a growing debate over the future direction of our country, including the role of government, regulation, capitalism and increasingly progressive policies.
I make no secret of where I stand. I am concerned about where some of those ideas could take our nation.
But one of the great things about America is that every citizen has the right to reach his or her own conclusions and vote accordingly. No one should dictate how another person thinks or votes.
That freedom comes with responsibility.
And that responsibility begins with being informed.
This election is not only about what happens in Washington. It is also about the issues that affect us much closer to home.
It is about Barksdale Air Force Base, our military installations and the men and women who serve there. It is about the tremendous economic impact they have on northwest Louisiana.
It is about roads and bridges, transportation, water systems and the infrastructure needed to support growth.
It is about jobs, taxes, education, public safety, health care, agriculture and the rising cost of living.
Those issues matter to families and businesses across our region.
So, before we cast our ballots, we should ask an important question: Do the candidates we are supporting understand the needs of the people who live here?
I believe voters have a responsibility to do more than simply follow a party label.
Read the ballot. Study the proposed amendments. Research the candidates. Look beyond television commercials, social media posts and campaign mailers.
We live in an increasingly polarized political environment. It is easy to become frustrated, angry or simply exhausted by it all.
But elections remain one of the most important ways we participate in our representative form of government.
Our vote is our voice.
That does not mean every voter will reach the same conclusion. Nor should we. Looking at the same issues and arriving at different answers is part of living in a free society.
What matters is that we take the time to become informed and then participate.
Our communities are better served when citizens do not simply vote, but vote with an understanding of the people, policies and issues on the ballot.
The future of our communities, our state and our nation will be shaped by the decisions we make.
On Nov. 3, make yours count.
Randy Brown is Regional Publisher and Executive VP of Specht Newspapers, Inc.