Every four years, I reach that point of being fed up with people who proclaim that they’re just not voting in the general election.
I know there are some people who are fed up with the choices in this year’s general election. Some of those same people felt the same way in 2020. I imagine some felt the same way for the last few elections. Their answer in such situations seems to be not voting either way.
Seriously, I’m feeling done with those people at the moment.
I just had a conversation with a loved one who isn’t wild about one but really dislikes another. I know there are a lot of people who feel that way no matter which candidate they’d rather see in the White House. I intentionally left out of that post which candidate she will likely vote for. That’s because the sentiment is strong on both sides and that’s the whole point.
I’ll give you a little spoiler alert.
No, no one wants to walk into a polling place feeling like they have to vote for the lesser of two evils. No one wants to feel that they don’t love and agree 100% with either side.
But yes, that’s usually the reality most reasonable, well-read voters face every election.
Today’s political parties don’t want you to sympathize with anyone on the other side of an issue. They won’t admit that, of course, but it’s the truth. They want you so fired up, so red hot about their agenda that you’re ready to walk in and select that straight-ticket vote (if your state allows it) and walk out.
(A smaller spoiler alert you probably guessed: I think straight-ticket voting should be banned.)
But neither side wants you to believe there is another side. No side is all right or all wrong. If you believe otherwise, I would encourage you to read more than your own party’s propaganda. (And yes, this is someone who works in the journalism industry. There is more than one side to every story.)
Obama said it very well
Former President Barack Obama recently delivered a message to young voters, particularly those who don’t intend to vote:
We used to say, “So let me get this straight: You’re not going to vote, which means you’re going to let a bunch of old people decide your future. You wouldn’t do that about your music. You wouldn’t do that about your clothes, but you’re going to let them decide what your future, your potential careers, what the environment is going to look like? You’re going to let them decide that, and you’re not going to be — you’re just going to opt out? That doesn’t make any sense.
He pointed out that we vote on things every day from All-Star Weekend to American Idol.
The future of the nation is infinitely more important than either of them.
No matter which side you’re voting for, if you don’t vote, you’re letting someone else decide. Your inaction is still an action. You’re putting your trust on the masses, even if you believe that many in the “masses” don’t make good decisions to start with.
Obama’s right: That doesn’t make any sense.
Please spare me the “My one vote couldn’t make a difference” argument. Add up the number of people walking around whining about how their “one vote” couldn’t make a difference. The total you’d come up with almost certainly can make a difference. And that difference might just be in a race that really, really matters to you.
Your not voting is merely surrendering your power to someone else you don’t know and couldn’t possibly trust.
So get up off your duff and go vote. You don’t have a valid excuse not to.
Make a decision.
