MonoxideChild
08-04-2009, 08:46 PM
Kinda old, but I figured with everything in Iran and soemother things, still a thought-provoking relevant read:http://www.humblelibertarian.com/2008/10/problem-with-democracy.html
Your right not to vote.
Some Americans can go a little overboard with all of their "Get out and vote!" rhetoric. Many have turned your right to vote into your obligation to vote, and look down their noses at people who don't. You can see the absurdity by applying the same reasoning to other rights: Freedom of speech means that you must tell us all what's on your mind. If you don't you're ungrateful. Freedom of assembly means you must be a member of at least one organization. The right to bear arms means you should own a gun, or else you're insulting the blood of all those soldiers who died for you to enjoy this right! Doesn't quite make sense, does it?
There are perfectly good reasons not to go out and vote. For example, you might just not like any of the candidates. Imagine an election where Hitler ran against Stalin. Would you really go out and vote for one of them? I wouldn't and if someone actually voted for one of those two and tried to judge me afterwards, I'd just laugh. Now I'm not saying any of our presidential candidates are morally or politically equivalent to Hitler or Stalin. I know those are extreme examples, but they still serve to illustrate my point. Frankly, four or eight years from now, I'd rather not say that I helped either one of our current candidates into office. And yes... you still have a right to complain even if you don't vote.
There's more to it, but theres some good stuff in there.
Your right not to vote.
Some Americans can go a little overboard with all of their "Get out and vote!" rhetoric. Many have turned your right to vote into your obligation to vote, and look down their noses at people who don't. You can see the absurdity by applying the same reasoning to other rights: Freedom of speech means that you must tell us all what's on your mind. If you don't you're ungrateful. Freedom of assembly means you must be a member of at least one organization. The right to bear arms means you should own a gun, or else you're insulting the blood of all those soldiers who died for you to enjoy this right! Doesn't quite make sense, does it?
There are perfectly good reasons not to go out and vote. For example, you might just not like any of the candidates. Imagine an election where Hitler ran against Stalin. Would you really go out and vote for one of them? I wouldn't and if someone actually voted for one of those two and tried to judge me afterwards, I'd just laugh. Now I'm not saying any of our presidential candidates are morally or politically equivalent to Hitler or Stalin. I know those are extreme examples, but they still serve to illustrate my point. Frankly, four or eight years from now, I'd rather not say that I helped either one of our current candidates into office. And yes... you still have a right to complain even if you don't vote.
There's more to it, but theres some good stuff in there.