This summer, we vacationed in New Mexico. We got a lot of rest, enjoyed a spectacular hot-air balloon ride over the Rio Grande River Gorge and ate our fill of chile verde. Land of Enchantment, indeed.

The political landscape there felt a bit like the land of disenchantment, however. It was July and there were already televised political advertisements by candidates for New Mexico's 1st Congressional District, incumbent Republican Heather Wilson and Democrat Patricia Madrid, who is New Mexico's Attorney General. At first, I thought they were embroiled in a nasty primary election. Nope. They were running hard four months before the general election. The race, according to national newspaper accounts, is one of the hottest nationwide.

As my neighborhood becomes littered with lawn signs and campaign brochures pack our mail box this time of year, I have to remind myself of the relative brevity of Utah's campaign season. It's not as though we've been listening to this haranguing for months on end. And I remind myself how important it is that we get to choose our leaders.

Six years ago, the Deseret Morning News hosted a young newspaper editor from the former Yugoslavia. Timing being everything, Mirjana Stefanovic would be in Salt Lake City when the ruthless dictator Slobodan Milosevic fell from power. Mirjana knew all about oppression. The concept of choice was foreign to her.

My editor, Jay Evensen, and his family, hosted her during her stay. On what the Evensens considered a routine trip to the grocery store, Mirjana was overwhelmed by the selection of brand-named products. She queried how Americans knew which products to select. Jay explained the concept of advertising, which fascinated her.

Whether we're purchasing toothpaste or voting for our respective school board member, we Americans tend to take choice for granted. Too few of us cast informed ballots. Too few of us vote, period. It's shameful when you think about it.

If you think it doesn't matter or you're just sick of the campaigning by the time Nov. 7 rolls around, think of the many people around the world who have no choice. They live in places such as North Korea and the Middle East. Even Britons don't directly choose their prime minister. That decision is reserved for Labor Party members, trade unionists and others affiliated to the party — an electorate of less than 1 million registered voters from a total of 44.2 million.

So there's no misunderstanding, I don't put Britain on par with North Korea as far as personal freedoms go. It's my way of expressing frustration with people who tell me they are sick and tired of American politics and therefore don't vote. When I think about it, not voting is a choice, too. I tend to think it's a cop-out because no one has to vote. We should because it's our right and our privilege.