Why I Don’t Vote
September 10, 2008 – 6:08 pm by KelFollowing yesterday’s article in my University’s paper, another writer wrote a follow up article which essentially praises both Presidential candidates. I’ll admit, I didn’t read the whole thing since the first few sentences seemed to be filled with glowing praise of politicians, and I’d rather not waste my time.
Instead, I decided I would write into the paper and talk about why I don’t vote. Period. I’ll doubt it will be published – I’m sure some drama involving some football player getting arrested will probably take up the headlines, but we can only hope. Because of such, I’ll simply reproduce that column here:
Why I Don’t Vote
With Election Day rapidly approaching, politics invariably comes up. My friends will often inquiry about which candidate will receive my ballot. They are surprised when I tell them I have no intentions of voting not only this year, but ever, and I am accused of foregoing my democratic duty. However, for me, not voting seems like the only correct stance, and I’ll give you three reasons why.
The first explanation is also the easiest to understand. Voting for the “lesser of two evils” is a terrible reason to vote. If I were asked to select between the slaughter of twenty million people or only ten million, I would renounce both as evil. While neither Obama nor McCain are putting forth genocide as a part of their political agenda, they do put forth multiple proposals of which I take issue. Because of such, I refuse to empower a single candidate that I disagree with, even if I disagree with his opponent more.
Secondly, I view myself as self-autonomous. I understand how to run my life much more efficiently than some suit hundreds of miles away in the ivory halls of Washington DC. Why is it then that I am expected to announce fealty to someone who doesn’t know my name, let alone how I should run my life? If a decision that concerns me needs to be made, come ask my input. Unfortunately, this never happens: Obama gives telecom companies immunity for spying on American citizens, and McCain continues the War in Iraq. Yet I am supposed to choose between these two individuals who have made decisions I do not view as in my best interests? I think not.
The last reason I don’t vote may be the hardest for others to understand. Because I view myself as self-autonomous, I also view others with the same paradigm. I think people should be allowed to make the decisions they want to make, even if I think I know better, because this is the essence of liberty. If I wanted universal health care, should I really push that upon people who do not? If I wanted creationism taught in school, should I force those who don’t to also succumb to my personal agenda? Of course not. People should be free to choose. As wise and arrogant as I may be, I am completely incapable of managing someone else’s life more effectively than they.
But when you put a politician in power, this is what you are attempting. You are endorsing a person to make many decisions that will affect each and every American, when those Americans would be better to make those decisions on their own. I stand against this, and because of it, I refuse to endorse any person seeking public office. I prefer freedom.
Many would disagree with my reasons. I have a few others, but I would rather just step down from my soap box now. Instead, just go over to youtube and search for “George Carlin” and “Voting” and let a master comic give you even more reasons why you shouldn’t vote. Meanwhile, on November 4th, while many of you will be piling into voting booths, I’ll simply be enjoying yet another Tuesday.
If it does get published, I’ll be sure to mention it here. I’m sure there will be a number of comments on the paper’s site in which I am told I’m an idiot for not taking place in picking our Grand Benevolent Leader every four years.
7 Responses to “Why I Don’t Vote”
One suggestion that paid off more than once in my own years of letter-writing to the media: call the editor and make a friendly inquiry as to whether or not he/she received your message. This gives you a very brief opportunity to make a human connection with the editor, and at least theoretically gives your contribution a much greater chance of appearing in print.
Fine letter. Carlin’s argument ought to be enough for anyone, really, but some people…
By Mike Gogulski on Sep 10, 2008
Looks like auto-approve is on, so my comment is visible there:
One wonders what sort of values Mr. Whitman professes when he states that failing to vote for one would-be tyrant or the other to take the reins of the most destructive machine on earth would be an “injustice”. One can find many ways in which to forgive him, but none in which to agree.
One might throw a link to one’s blog post on the reply thread too ;)
By Mike Gogulski on Sep 10, 2008
You should go to the Red & Black office in person, with a printed version of your column. Maybe call ahead. They’ll be a little more likely to print it then.
I mean, seriously. I hope you do that. That stupid newspaper needs you and your kind of iconoclastic perspective injected into its miserable op-ed pages every once in a while. Well, every day, but what more can you hope for.
By John on Sep 10, 2008
Actually, I sent in the letter shortly before leaving work. By the time I got home, I had an e-mail from the editor asking that I come in for a “mugshot” (all columns are accompanied by a picture of the author). Either they plan on printing my letter, or they’re just getting me ready for when the cops show up for not loving freedom enough.
By Kel on Sep 10, 2008
It’s nice to see someone (other than George) take a stance against voting. I stopped voting 14 years ago and my reasons are plenty.
In all my years, I still haven’t seen an election (national, state or local) that my measly vote would have made a difference. The argument that every vote counts does not hold water. So… for the last 14 years, I’ve watched other fools rush to place their votes in the ballot box and proudly wear their “I VOTED” lapel sticker. I scoff at their sheeply ways.
By bloo on Sep 26, 2008