The same goes for voting. Nobody enjoys the thrill of standing in line at the polls. There are too many other things to do on a sunny, fun-filled Saturday. But, just like that dandy trip to the dentist's, a little pain now means a lot less agony later.
Therefore, here are three good reasons to vote on Sept. 21 (or even before then via walk-in balloting at Honolulu Hale). These reasons have nothing to do with lofty ideals such as civic responsibility, truth, justice or the American way. We're talking more vital, life-changing, real-world concerns:
Ax those irritating TV ads. Life in hell must feature television sets that only run commercials. It's pretty close these days, given all the political ads dominating the airwaves. Sometimes there are three or four of them in a row, featuring the talking heads of candidates, their wives, relatives or boosters begging for electoral support. When will it end?
With luck, next week. If any mayoral or prosecuting attorney candidate gets at least 51 percent of the vote, he will be elected outright. Then there won't be a run-off election in November. Thus the public will be spared any more TV ads in these races!
Of course, this is only an exciting concept if you hate watching the same political pitch, over and over again, during those too-long breaks between your too-short favorite shows.
Negate special-interests. According to the state Office of Elections, there are 63,000 more people registered to vote than in 1994. Many of them were successfully cajoled via voter registration drives coordinated by various companies, organizations, unions and individuals.
Want to know some of the players who took out hundreds of Wikiwiki Voter Registration Forms to sign up new ballot-wielding citizens? They included State Farm Insurance (600 forms), which doesn't want drastic changes in no-fault laws; Ka Lahui Hawaii (500 forms), the militant Hawaiian rights group; and Rosehill & Associates (500 forms), whose name partner is an active lobbyist against the legalization of same-gender marriage.
Undoubtedly, the newly registered voters signed up by these parties will make their voices heard at the polls. If you don't care about these and other issues that affect your everyday life, however, "no need vote."
Cultivate county pride. It mortifies kingpin Oahu when it is outperformed by a princely neighbor island. Therefore, it is extremely humiliating that, in almost every primary election since 1959, Kauai has pulled in the highest voter turnout in the state. Come on, Honoluluans, where's your pride?
Only 5,874 Garden Islanders who were registered in 1994 didn't bother to vote. Meanwhile, almost 110,000 residents of Oahu found some other diversion was more important on Election Day. Maybe they were at the dentist's.
No matter. More vital is where Oahu voters will be this Sept. 21: at the polls for a few measly minutes or, the next day, facing a terrible, morning-after headache - two more months of mayoral and prosecutorial races, powerful special-interests getting bigger and more powerful, island-wide chagrin when Kauai again claims the voter-turnout crown.
Hey, it's a tough call. So take your time. Take until next Saturday.