Ernest Hancock
Letters to the Editor • Voting and Elections
Throwing Your Vote Away
With the general election a week away, excitement has turned to tension, as voters’ views of the election polarize. By now the category labeled in past as “undecided” would be better characterized as the “disinterested”. While some might complain how apathy grips so many Americans, I have to ask, “is it any wonder?”
I’ve heard many say they are, and continue to be, disappointed in the candidates chosen by the major bi-party. I continue to advise my fellow citizens that they lament over the illusion of a dilemma and remind them that there are others running for President who may appreciate their vote more. Frequently, when I do this, I am admonished for “throwing my vote away” because the more obscure candidates, although possibly more sincere and principled than the major ones, cannot win the election.
I won’t argue that a third party candidate can win the highest national office in the current climate, but I do propose that the two major parties have a fearful interest in keeping the public in such a hopeless mind-set. The essence of politics is power and Democrats and Republicans want to keep that power vested in their hands rather than in the hands of an independent citizenry making independent choices. As victims, we accept the illusion of the bi-party schism, and abdicate our inheritance to whore mongers.
The dilemma does beg an interesting question, however. If what one fears is throwing their vote away, what then is the value of their vote? I think we sometimes need to be reminded that the President is not elected by a direct national majority. Through the administration of the Electoral College, the States elect Presidents. This system certainly has its advantages, but we must realize that this system diminishes the value of the individual vote. Especially in States such as
California ,
Idaho ,
Wyoming , and
New York YOUR vote is worthless; at least in effecting the out come of the election. Perhaps if you live in
New Mexico or
Florida your vote may have more value, but are nickels saved better spent on Coca-Cola then in the donation jar?
When one throws their nickels in the donation jar, I don’t believe an individual thinks those nickels will spawn a cure for cancer. Those nickels are a symbolic act of support. A donation inspired by hope. Isn’t that really the value of our vote; the symbolism of the act? If this is true, then we do not throw our votes away when we make a choice consistent with our conscience. If you do not vote your conscience, how can you be sure you have one?
On November 4th many will vote for the candidate that they believe in and I commend them for it. Many won’t vote at all and I understand them and forgive them their apathy. And then there are those who will vote against something, someone and this disappoints me. These people are complicit in the problems of our day. These people need an intervention, as sometimes addicts do, because their act of hopelessness makes victims of us all. If you know someone who is voting against a candidate, pass this along to them and invite them to a twelve step program to save what’s left of their conscience.
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2 Comments in Response to Throwing Your Vote Away
From the very first sentence, I considered this article by Lew Rockwell so good that I reopened my DIGG account. The second sentence was even better!!
Dennis
Don't Cave!
by Llewellyn H. Rockwell, Jr.
If you write and follow politics enough, you eventually realize that most evil in this world is brought about by those seeking a lesser of two evils.
And those who assist in this very much resent it when you point out that they are promoting evil.
http://www.lewrockwell.com/rockwell/dont-cave.html
http://dennisleewilson.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=29.0
I answered your charge of APATHY before you even made the charge.
And now that the heat of the elections is over, perhaps I can persuade you to reconsider the value of voting as I attempted to in my article written after the Libertarian Party meltdown:
[2008-06-01] "Can there be a better time to STOP VOTING?"
http://dennisleewilson.com/simplemachinesforum/index.php?topic=27.0