A neighbor of mine recently mentioned to me that after witnessing the past presidential election, he will never again "throw away" his vote on a third-party candidate. At the time I heard my neighbor say this, I immediately concurred and thought it a wise choice on his part. But later on I had the chance to speak with Nick Gillespie, editor of Reason.com and Reason.tv, which are Libertarian websites. I mentioned my neighbor's comment to Mr. Gillespie and asked him his opinion about it. He said something very interesting that I've never fully considered before. He mentioned that voting is a symbolic act that expresses one's beliefs. One vote will not decide who becomes elected, nor does Mr. Gillespie see a lot of differences between many Democrats and Republicans. Rather, he feels his vote for a third-party candidate matters to him personally and also that it demonstrates that there are more than two options for political orientation.
Taking Mr. Gillespie's answer into consideration, I came to the conclusion that if I were to consider voting for a third-party candidate, I would be making a choice between two things: 1) to vote for the Democrat or Republican whom I want to win, or 2) to decide that I am willing to give up my one vote for someone who has a chance at winning and vote for a third-party candidate, because it is more important to show that there are other options besides blue and red in the political spectrum.
I have also talked to individuals this election season, who openly admit that they will not be voting. It was interesting to hear their reasoning: from “I don’t really care about the election” to “my chosen candidate lost in the primaries” to “I don’t see any difference with anyone who gets elected.” I encourage everyone to vote, but at the same time I can’t force anyone to vote. Should we vote even if we lack conviction for a particular choice?
On the other hand I have also heard some this election season call voting a “duty” or “responsibility” or “obligation.” This is quite different from “the right to vote,” which I’ve heard most of my life. Should we consider voting more than a right? Is it a duty?
Another interesting idea about voting that caught my attention in 2006 was the Don’t Vote Campaign initiated by the AARP. Using a bit of reverse psychology, the campaign’s message is all about being informed when one goes to vote. In other words, Don’t Vote (until you know the issues and candidates’ platforms). It is a more thoughtful message than simply, “Go vote!”
All of this philosophy on voting has caused me to think about why I am voting and what it truly means to me. I have to admit that I’ll be proud to sport the “I Voted Today” sticker on November 4th, but at the same time if I don’t go and vote, it probably won’t change the outcome of the election.
What do you, dear reader, think about voting?
Saturday, October 25, 2008
Sunday, October 12, 2008
Ice Cream and Democrats
I recently was in the area of a Barack Obama rally, and I couldn’t help but laugh at some of the creative ways supporters showed their enthusiasm. There were, of course, the array of t-shirts and buttons and hats and stickers—one of my favorite stickers stuck to the side of an older Caucasian lady’s purse and boasted, “OLD WHITE WOMEN FOR OBAMA.” I also witnessed a small dog that happily wore an Obama button attached to its sweater. I have to admit that the small, patriotically decorated dog pulled at the heartstrings, but I think the many children that eagerly followed their parents and guardians for a fun day of celebrating Barack Obama surpass the dog any day. Despite the fact that the children were undeniably adorable—especially one small girl whose tiny t-shirt spelled out “OBAMA” in multicolored toy building blocks—I can’t help but wonder what sort of implications exposing children to strong political feelings might have on their young and moldable minds.
Unlike the dog, the children will be voters someday. Are we already at such an early age destined to adhere to a certain political identity? Many scholars agree that one of the biggest indicators of political preference is the political preference of one’s parents and family. What percentage of the children who attended the rally will vote primarily Democrat in the future? And in voting so, do they actually think rationally about their decision, or does somewhere in the forgotten channels of their brains a flicker of positive emotion flair up, because of an ice cream cone they had at a Barack Obama rally 20 years earlier?
I don’t mean to simplify the matter and suggest that ice cream will make a Democrat out of a child, but I do suggest that years of persuasion and positive associations encouraged by trusted individuals can and does greatly influence how one may vote. Before the Barack Obama rally, I heard Karl Rove speak at a nearby university. Inbetween the attacks on Barack Obama’s “lack of experience” he mentioned that Abe Lincoln gave some advice about persuading voters: among other things, undecided voters should be talked to by someone whom they trust. For many children, the people whom they trust the most are their parents and other family members. If mommy says “Barack Obama is better than John McCain,” the child forms a positive association with Barack Obama and a negative association with John McCain.
Having no children of my own, I cannot offer advice as to how to raise a child. I believe that parents have the right to choose how to raise their children and the obligation to ensure that how they raise their children contributes to the prosperity and growth of the children. I’m not about to tell someone that he or she cannot express their opinions to their children, but I do think it is important that parents and other family members realize the enormous influence they have on their children. Does anyone (perhaps who actually has had the amazing experience of guiding a child in this strange world) have any suggestions? How can we, as adults, encourage critical thought concerning politics in our children?
Unlike the dog, the children will be voters someday. Are we already at such an early age destined to adhere to a certain political identity? Many scholars agree that one of the biggest indicators of political preference is the political preference of one’s parents and family. What percentage of the children who attended the rally will vote primarily Democrat in the future? And in voting so, do they actually think rationally about their decision, or does somewhere in the forgotten channels of their brains a flicker of positive emotion flair up, because of an ice cream cone they had at a Barack Obama rally 20 years earlier?
I don’t mean to simplify the matter and suggest that ice cream will make a Democrat out of a child, but I do suggest that years of persuasion and positive associations encouraged by trusted individuals can and does greatly influence how one may vote. Before the Barack Obama rally, I heard Karl Rove speak at a nearby university. Inbetween the attacks on Barack Obama’s “lack of experience” he mentioned that Abe Lincoln gave some advice about persuading voters: among other things, undecided voters should be talked to by someone whom they trust. For many children, the people whom they trust the most are their parents and other family members. If mommy says “Barack Obama is better than John McCain,” the child forms a positive association with Barack Obama and a negative association with John McCain.
Having no children of my own, I cannot offer advice as to how to raise a child. I believe that parents have the right to choose how to raise their children and the obligation to ensure that how they raise their children contributes to the prosperity and growth of the children. I’m not about to tell someone that he or she cannot express their opinions to their children, but I do think it is important that parents and other family members realize the enormous influence they have on their children. Does anyone (perhaps who actually has had the amazing experience of guiding a child in this strange world) have any suggestions? How can we, as adults, encourage critical thought concerning politics in our children?
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