“A republic, if you can keep it.” Those were the words of Ben Franklin on the last day of the Constitutional Convention on September 17, 1787.

With each election, we as a country have to ask ourselves this very question. Are we willing to do the work necessary to keep this uniquely American experiment alive for the next generation?

I am concerned many of my fellow countrymen no longer have the capacity or education or care to understand what Ben Franklin meant by his response all of those years ago – that it takes a lot of effort for a democratic republic to be of service to all of its citizens. It’s not easy. We all have to do our part.

I ask once again. Please vote if you haven’t already.

Let’s make sure we prove that we are worthy to keep this republic.