What follows here is not an endorsement for one candidate or the other, but instead a commentary on what I see to be one of the major shortcomings of our political system as it stands - the feeling among the American public that they are obligated to vote.
All too often, the most important attribute of political discourse is ignored. Somewhere in between the egos and the posturing, that being that politics is a matter of opinion. If there was objectivity then these elections would be unbelievably easy. Candidate A has bulletproof plans to cure cancer and wipe out the entire debt, all while pleasing both parties and eliminating unemployment. Candidate B is a heroin addict, an outspoken supporter of Hitler and One Direction, anda spends most of his time tweeting out dick pictures to hundreds of thousands of people. Piece of cake.
Unfortunately it's not that simple.We instantly forget that it's OK for our friends to have differing political views. Just like it's OK that his skin is a different color and he prays to a different entity. That doesn't make him wrong, or inferior, nor does mean that we can't have intelligent discussions about the topic, while still being respectful of the fact that in the end we don't have to agree. It doesn't mean that if you're a Republican you're going to melt if you admit that Obama has done this nation some good, nor does it mean that if you're on the left you're going to break out in hives if you admit Romney has some good ideas. How is it so quickly forgotten that both of these men have the good of our nation at heart? Do you really believe that Obama is going to run around, hands in the air, making it rain pink slips and purposefully unbalancing the budget? No Democrats you don't get a free pass. Do you guys believe that Romney is going to go door to door and lecture women on what to do with their vaginas? Where is the reasonable person who is willing to concede that yes, both of these guys have some good ideas. Yes both of these guys have some idiotic, seemingly obvious shortcomings. No neither one of them is ideal. But isn't that the consequence of having an opinion? If you're doing your job as a politician half of the people, hopefully the opposing party, are going to disagree with you on occasion. Oh and yes... we have to choose one..
When these elections come around and I make the mistake of engaging a friend of mine in, what inevitably mutates into an argument, I feel like I'm with Roethlisberger in a bathroom stall - someone is trying to force something I don't want straight up my ass.
I don't at all mind when someone who is well-informed gives me an earful, and can clearly convey why Mitt's the shit, based on his plan and how it will affect the nation, or conversely why I should Barack the vote, so long as their opinions have factual foundations. The thing that irks the absolute shit out of me is when uneducated people use social networking platforms as a pedestal for their misguided bullshit. No... No. Watching one debate does not make you a political expert, nor does reading one CNN article without the understand that every news source is biased, give you sufficient ammunition to have a political argument. Furthermore this doesn't validate your opinions when it comes to the direction of our country. In your quest to seem refined and intellectually adept you have succeeded in making yourself look like a total bozo.
Which brings me to my point.
Every vote matters... But not all of them should count.
Voting is an incredible individual freedom, nobody with any neurons firing can argue that. But it's just that... a freedom. Not a duty. That freedom is diminished by people who wield it without proper information. I think it's wholly irresponsible to tell everyone to "vote because you can". What if I don't know what I'm voting for? Why would you even want my opinion? The University of Virginia neuroscience department isn't calling me asking for new grey matter protocols. Why not? Because I don't know what the fuck I'm talking about. A very astute girl friend of mine texted me today detailing how her friends were lambasting her for not exercising her right to vote. She made the responsibly self-aware argument that she wasn't educated enough to make a proper decision. It baffles me that people feel that isn't an acceptable answer. If you watch the Daily Show, and maybe an episode or two of The Situation Room once every 4 years, I don't want you to have a hand in deciding who has the nuclear launch codes. Furthermore, and this just shouldn't even need to be said - if you are voting based on racial bias... you sadden me. Read this very clearly progressive American society - not all black people are going to, nor should they be stereotyped as if they are going to vote for Obama. The people who think that this is reasonable criteria on which to elect one of the most powerful men in the world are exactly those who I think should be disqualified from this process. Decisions of this magnitude should be made by people who have proven the aptitude to do so.
Why not during the voter registration process, require each person take a brief, five minute quiz to determine their level of political acumen. Present them with the salient issues and have them match the candidate to the pieces of their platform. Let's say that they have to achieve a 60% to qualify to vote. "Oh but what if people don't have time to do this, or don't want to jump through these extra hoops?" I'm assuming that these are the people that we don't want involved in the process in the first place. You have to take multiple tests to drive, you have to take test after test to make it through 13 years of school, but anyone with a pulse gets to decide on the leader of the free world? #cmonson. If you know where each candidate lies on the issues and you take a solid stance, then vote your ass off. If not, nobody should even listen to you in the first place... but there's no shame in not muddying the waters and admitting that you don't feel savvy enough to to make an enlightened decision.
I was told by a very intelligent friend today that,
"I think [voting] is a form of mental slavery...they ingrain this idea that all
you have to do is vote to change things in this country which is blatant
nonsense if one looks at the apparatus & who actually dictates what
legislation gets brought up"
Food for thought, made more interesting by the fact that I doubt many people can name the leaders of their local or state governments... those who make decisions that much more rapidly affect their everyday lives.
In my extensive social networking research, I found a quote from a friend of mine that I think best encapsulates how we should approach not only this election, but all elections in the future. He writes,
"[Voting] is the greatest individual freedom in the
world to cast a ballot for your leaders and it is our democracy that has
made America the shining light of the world these last 236 years...
Lastly, on the eve of this election, may God continue to bless our great
country and let it prosper".
No soap box, no degradation. Just reverence for what makes our nation special. No matter who you support or who you vote for today, do yourself a favor, do your country a favor... do your research. And vote Price Krispy on November 6th.
