I am certainly one who believes that religion and politics don’t mix – sort of like oil and water.

Too many politicians use their religious beliefs to curry favor with constituents, but, as we all know, many times we find out later that they are hypocrites. And there are those, the worst of all, who hate in the name of religion.

So forgive me for using a Biblical term here – “Whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he reap.” The meaning is that your deeds, good or bad, will repay you in kind. I am applying that saying to citizens who just don’t vote. By not voting, you are sowing bad politicians, who have an agenda, whether it be religious or personal, who pass bad legislation that affect all of us. I’m not saying that all politicians are bad, but a lot of them are.

The most recent example of voter apathy was the May 3 election. A proposition to renew a property tax which would provide for a $23 million bond issue for upkeep of parish buildings, roads, bridges and parks, enticed only 6 percent of the 165,688 registered voters in Caddo Parish to take the time to vote. These facilities affect all of us in Caddo Parish and beyond.

Maybe it’s just me, but I don’t like only six percent of the voters in the parish deciding what is best for me and other parish residents. This was not an isolated incident. Voter turnout in elections continue on a downward spiral with each passing year in all parishes in the state and all states in the nation.

I am befuddled by the lack of interest in what governmental entities are doing with the tax dollars of these non-voters. Why is that? It’s not because there is little opportunity to cast a ballot. Early voting has made it much easier to vote prior to election day, usually a Saturday in Louisiana, except for when federal elections are on the ballot and the election is held on a Tuesday.

One would think that if a voter was not happy with what is going on in government, he or she would be energized to try and do something about it at the ballot box. I’m feeling somewhat religious today, so I will refer to another Biblical term: “Money is the root of all evil.” And perhaps that is a major part of the problem. Politics has become a rich man’s game, consequently, the average citizen is left out of the process. Only those with money get elected and re-elected, and only those with money have any influence in the political process.

I don’t know what the answers are to all the reasons why people don’t vote. I feel guilty if I don’t. But it is not a healthy situation when so few voters determine the political course for all of the citizens. There was a bill in the Louisiana Legislature that would require a turnout of 20 percent of the registered voters for an election to be valid. Even setting the bar that low would likely create chaos with many elections because there are so many that never seem to meet that threshold.

A banner election year is on tap in 2014 with a U.S. Senate race topping the list. Also on the ballot will mayoral and city council elections, plus others. Looking back, in the U.S. Senate race in 2008, voter turnout statewide was 44 percent. Most disappointing was the fact that in the Shreveport mayor’s race in 2010, the voter turnout in the city was only 29 percent.

If only all elections could generate as much interest as the 2012 presidential election when President Barack Obama was seeking a second term. His opponent was former Massachusetts Gov. Mitt Romney. The turnout statewide for that election was a respectable 68 percent. In Caddo, 66 percent of registered voters turned out and in Bossier the turnout was 68 percent.

Will we see that kind of enthusiasm in the election Nov. 4? Democratic U.S. Sen. Mary Landrieu is seeking a fourth six-year term and has three Republican opponents will become intense and contentious, which could spur more voters to go to the polls. But then there are those voters who get turned off by negative, nasty campaigns.

And it will be an open seat for mayor of Shreveport, which will likely draw several candidates. The big issue is whether a white candidate, such as former Mayor Keith Hightower, will enter the race and wrestle the city’s top job from black control. One would think that would get voters to the polls from both races. We’ll see.

I would like to take a moment to thank all of you who take the time to call me or send emails about the content of my columns. Your interest and readership are very much appreciated. My past two columns have drawn many interesting comments from readers of The Forum.

I don’t profess to know everything or to be always right, so input from you is an important journalistic tool for me.

As they say, keep those cards and letters coming. Well, in this day and age, it’s phone calls and emails.