We frequently discuss that it is important to vote but what if our opinion (much like the subject in the comic) is that everything is okay? A friend of mine who turned eighteen this November chose not to vote in the election because she thought the both Obama and McCain would make equally good presidents and was happy with either choice. Was she forfeiting her right to her opinion by not voting?
The other comic made me think about what happens when we take our rights in a democracy too far.
We have the right to protest, but is it always necessary? What happens if we are protesting something that could be seen as silly? Are we abusing our rights?
4 comments:
At first I thought that no, it was not a problem for the friend not to vote. But then I realized that that seems kind of ridiculous to me. There are so many issues going on in the world that there has got to be one reason that one candidate would seem better than another. And even if you don't feel strongly about the issues, you should vote for the president that stands for things that you just believe are more fair.
My birthday was only two months after election day and I was really disappointed that I missed my chance to vote. It's extremely important that, since we have the right to vote, we should use it.
P.S. I really like this comic. =)
I disagree. I think that she did not forfeit her right. I actually don't think that anyone is forfeiting their right to an opinion if they don't vote. If it is their belief, as in this case, that both condidates are acceptable, then why choose one? Isn't that actually going against their opinion if they choose one over another when they don't think that person is better or worse?
And if someone doesn't vote because they don't care, then don't they have the right to express their opinions, or lack thereof, by staying home. Just because some of us want to get involved doesn't mean we should look down on people who don't.
It's her choice to vote or not and I'm not really going to judge that. But, at the same time, I kind of agree with Melissa. There had to be ONE reason at least that she favored at least one candidate over the other--I mean, there were soooo many issues to choose from! I actually did vote in the election, so maybe I am a bit biased since I was 18 and chose to exercise my vote.
In a real democracy, her refusal to vote would put the nation at a disadvantage. Government leaders in a real democracy are chosen directly by the people. However, in our "republic" (which we like to fondly refer as a democracy even though the Electoral College makes the decision for us in reality), her opinion really isn't that important. Sure, voting might empower her, but at the same time, what does it really matter? The whole controversy with the last few elections were Electors from certain states choosing against the voting percentages of the people.
On the other hand, if everyone took that same opinion, then what would be the point of elections in the first place? If no one voted then we would became a monarchy or a dictatorship or an oligarchy. A lot of ex-Presidents would agree with me on this point because that's why we set up this system in the first place.
A lot of people complain about the Electoral College and it's unnecessary restriction. Originally it was set up because people were un- or under-educated about candidates, so it acted as an informing and "superior" body which enacted the populus's wishes. I think we should get rid of it, but it'd be kind of hard if people, like your friend, chose not to vote. The point of a democracy is for every voice to be heard, not ony the very opinioned ones.
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