Friday, July 09, 2004
my two cents
Well, I don’t have much to say about voting. Yes, one vote is not going to make a difference. Do we do things that make no difference? Yes. We have funerals, we give small amounts to charities, and we play out the rest of the ’04 Mariners’ schedule. Why do you pick voting as a place to take a stand? We are given the right to vote, a right that is not wholly common around the world, and one for which people have died. I agree with Marmar that not voting, unless you honestly have no preference, is an insult to those without such rights and those who have fought and died for them. It also is a way to avoid having to establish and defend a position on the candidates. Waiting for your perfect candidate, while hiding from the offered imperfect ones, saves the chore of learning about the choices, prioritizing the issues, and defending them.
Also, your vote has more of an impact when it comes to polling. Polling data has become amazingly detailed, and politicians have become less and less the leaders they proclaim, simply following what the polls tell them. By not voting, you are weakening the impact the unemployed Asian White Sox fan demographic has on public policy.
Also, your vote has more of an impact when it comes to polling. Polling data has become amazingly detailed, and politicians have become less and less the leaders they proclaim, simply following what the polls tell them. By not voting, you are weakening the impact the unemployed Asian White Sox fan demographic has on public policy.
# posted by Anonymous @ 7:38 PM 
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Well, as long as you realize that it makes no difference and do it anyway, then I whole-heartedly support you. It is NOT, however, an insult to those who have died for those rights or to those who lack them.
Secondly, when did I say I was going to wait for the perfect candidate? Yes, I admit that one of the problems of our modern process is that there are too many issues and too many powerful lobbies out there to truly know what position to take on certain issues.
I don't pretend to know all the issues; in fact I only know most of the issues at face value. Often you have to see both sides of the issue, and when you do, neither one seems better than the other. Other times, it is abundantly clear what any moral person should do.
But, that's not the point.
And your last line is contradictory. By not voting I am weakening nothing. You said yourself that it makes no difference, even in a 10,000 person poll.
Secondly, when did I say I was going to wait for the perfect candidate? Yes, I admit that one of the problems of our modern process is that there are too many issues and too many powerful lobbies out there to truly know what position to take on certain issues.
I don't pretend to know all the issues; in fact I only know most of the issues at face value. Often you have to see both sides of the issue, and when you do, neither one seems better than the other. Other times, it is abundantly clear what any moral person should do.
But, that's not the point.
And your last line is contradictory. By not voting I am weakening nothing. You said yourself that it makes no difference, even in a 10,000 person poll.
you think there are 10,000 unemployed asian white sox fans?
as for the perfect candidate, that was a general notion that i assume many people hold out for, rather choosing between the given options. though i have to say i cannot remember ever hearing you speak favorably of any single politician.
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as for the perfect candidate, that was a general notion that i assume many people hold out for, rather choosing between the given options. though i have to say i cannot remember ever hearing you speak favorably of any single politician.
# posted by 
: 10:21 PM
: 10:21 PM << Home
