So, elections are coming up (as in... in a day) in the US. In theory, some are coming up in Canada as well, but there's far more coverage of the American elections, so that's what's had my attention lately.
(Plus, I spend a lot of time in Western New York, so the governor's race in NY is of special interest)
Anyhoo, on CNN, they had someone on who repeated something I've heard my whole life: "If you don't vote, you can't complain."
The idea, of course, is that if you forfeit your right to help decide the government, then you also forfeit your right to complain about their actions (sort of like how, if you never clean your room, you shouldn't complain about having your stuff moved around if your mother/wife/robotic maid decides to do the job for you).
What I'm curious about is how many people share this view.
So, what do you think?
(For reference, I do realize that some of you aren't old enough to vote. Feel free to comment on people who are of voting age but choose not to vote, or on how you think you'll handle it when you're old enough)
I've heard this a lot too. I think you can do whatever you want. :) If you have something to say, don't let someone silence your voice just because they don't think you deserve to speak.
A lot of people are disheartened by the whole political process. The way only very wealthy people can even have a chance to win and how wealth tends to make a person. The fact that in most cases you really only have a choice between 2 people in a given race which isn't much of a choice sometimes. The way districts are gerrymandered. The way some votes aren't even counted correctly. The way that political initiatives are stalled in any direction by some group, or forced upon us by a very small wealthy minority.
For these reasons and many more people have every right to complain and join in the conversation. (However, I'd prefer people contribute constructive conversation rather than just run their mouth about everything they don't like without offering any ideas on how it could be better, whether or not you voted.)
That being said, people should really vote (and probably even more importantly get involved in some kind of activity that strengthens the community). There's so many people who only dream of voting, who risk their lives just to show up at a poll or who have died for their and our right to vote. It can be especially frustrating to people who do vote and for candidates who have the majority's approval, but lose because their supporters don't show up to the poll.
As a philosopher I feel deeply responsible for each decision I make, so when I make a vote or even give an opinion to a research poll, I want to make sure I am well informed and deciding what is really my best decision. It's very hard to do this when voting though, as politics are so extremely complex and ads/debates frequently give so little insight into the candidate and how well they will do in office. I don't want to just vote for everyone from a particular party without knowing anything about them as I feel that can be just as irresponsible as not voting. I don't want to be too idealistic, or fall for some lie that could never work out, or blame the incumbent more than is due just because times are tough.
Sometimes I feel very strongly aligned with a particular candidate's philosophy, statements, demeanor, etc. and strongly in disagreement with the other guy, and then it's an easy decision. However, this doesn't happen often.
I've recently decided that I'd like to study a little more closely not political philosophy in general, but voting philosophy specifically. How should one vote to really do what's best for his family and country? I know the best thing to do is research each candidate as best as you can and look at their voting record or experience, but even there's so many reasons why you wouldn't vote for something you otherwise would have voted for, or vice versa as bills can be quite complex. Again, it still comes down to whether I shoot for being idealistic or a more hard nosed approach. A lot of that just comes down to whether or not we can afford to be so accommodating, monetarily and regarding national security, and most of that is a numbers game where I have no idea if we can afford so many million dollars for this or that program, or if the benefit is well worth the cost even in (or maybe especially in) a tough economy.
It's tough but we still gotta do it. Hopefully my voting philosophy gets stronger with time and it'll be a work in progress. I've mailed in my early ballot already and do encourage everyone who can to vote today.
I never vote, and I seldom complain about government. The bottom line is there is little that the government does that actually affects me personally. My main reason for not voting though is what exactly are we voting for? Politicians hardly ever do what they say they are going to do once they get into office, so whats the point of voting for someone who says they are going to do things that you agree with?
Oh sure I could vote for the one who is for everything opposite of what I would vote for just to game the system into getting someone in that might be good, but to me that's a stupid reason to vote for someone. You should vote if you feel passionately about the issues, and as I said nothing they do ever touches my personal life, bank account, etc. So I really have no interest in any issues.
I think people sometimes forget that whatever office they are voting for is a job for someone, and that job usually comes with a really big income. That is more motivation for someone to take that office then whatever they tell you they are trying to change, or are passionate about.
To be fair, quite a few politicians would actually make far more in the private sector than in public office. Carl Paladino, for example, is a self-made millionaire who's willing to forgo any salary at all if he's elected Governor of New York.
(He also happens to be a raving lunatic, but that's another matter entirely)
Some people think you should vote for the person you hate the least. The way I always looked at voting is that I consider a vote to be akin to a recommendation; an affirmation. It's my way of declaring that I support candidate X. So, if all of the candidates have some trait with which I disagree... I can't, in good conscience, endorse any of them.
@crsunlimited
If you work, you pay taxes, the amount being decided by the gov, which affects your bank account.
If you go to the airport and they make you take your shoes off...
If it's expensive to fuel your car...
If you feel confident that police or firemen will respond if you needed them...
If you hit a pothole in the street that you wish would get fixed...
If you have friends or family who are in or may have to go to Iraq or Afghanistan...
If you enjoy having rights to life and liberty...
If you think your school is crappy, or would be happy to have your kids go there...
Then gov affects your personal life.
Clearly many politicians may or may not do what they say, but the bottom line is that US insurance is different now because of Obama and it would not have been that way if McCain won. Love the change or hate it, but it affects everyone in the US and Obama said he was going to do it and McCain said he wasn't going to.
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