It was bound to happen. I mentioned to a couple of people the price of gasoline would drop before election day. I wasn’t expecting to be exposed to such a drop so quickly. Just for the record, this ‘Cuff was written for last week’s Eagle Observer.

We (Louise and I) made a trip to Oklahoma Sunday, Oct. 21, to visit the rest of the family in Owasso. I neglected, or rather decided not, to fill the gastank before we left town. Just because I figured I had enough gas to make the round trip.

After the visit and on the return home, we drove by a couple of gas stations near Tulsa where the gas price was right in line with Gravette and most of northwest Arkansas.

But, surprise of surprises, when reaching Catoosa to get on the turnpike, and the fast trip to Siloam Springs,the price at the Kum ‘n Go station hit me between the eyes: $3.09.

Of course, you know what I did. I wheeled in and tanked up. Figured it was better than chancing a trip home that would have ended on fumes.

The price was 50 cents a gallon cheaper than it was at most stations in northwest Arkansas a week before.

Now I’m not psychic but, surprise of surprises, the boob tube Monday morning included an announcement that seemed to overjoy but startle the announcer: “The price of gas is expected to drop during the next week - perhaps as much as 50 cents per gallon.”

So, election day is coming. I’m not sure what that means, but we could stand an election day every week for a month and get gas prices down to where they are manageable for the majority of American drivers.

◊◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊ ◊

I haven’t written about the upcoming election and these final few paragraphs really don’t involve the election, except in a way. And I won’t say which way that is.

The election topic I think worth discussing is “early voting.”

The early voting push has been developing strongly during the past several elections. I’m not particularly against early voting. It’s just the lunacy of how early some people are allowed to vote. In some states, the early voting date, in person, is more than a month before the actual election.

Absentee voting, which is different than early voting, in a few states begins as early as mid-September. Long before the real meat of campaigning occurs. Weeks before the debates. Before the late multi-millions are spent on the tube. Weeks before last minute “revelations” come to the fore.

And what is the result? No one can be sure. But one thing has been proven over time. Early voting has not appreciably increased thenumber of voters, if at all.

Maybe we’re making it too easy for people to vote. If it were ingrained in our psyches as Americans that it is a privilege. An obligation. A right. Yes, it is a right in spite of how that word has also been negated by the propaganda spinners. A citizen’s duty: To vote.

I’ve ranted enough this time. Our republic - yes, we’re not a democracy; we’re a republic - will probably continue to survive in the long haul. But ... there’s a cliff hanger to ponder.

Dodie Evans is editor emeritus of the Westside Eagle Observer. He can be reached by email at devans@ nwaonline.com.

Opinion, Pages 6 on 10/31/2012