How do we vote?
Based on previous conversations with some friends and the folks on UNH campus with "Rock the Vote," I've decided to share my views on voting. The election on November 2nd is 15 days away.
The way I see it, a vote is something very personal for each citizen. As members of a republican society in which we vote for our representatives in government, it is important for our votes to reflect what direction we believe our government should take.
Some may say that voting for a particular candidate may be "wasting a vote" because that candidate may not have the slightest chance of winning his or her race. I long to debate every person who claims this because it is that mindset alone that locks our citizenry into the failed Left-Right political paradigm and encourages complacency in the political process.
When we see two candidates, one Democrat and one Republican, they feel as though they must pick one of the two because putting that vote towards any other candidate may not fall under the count of the top 2 vote-getters. Given, people inherently want to support winners, but when we value victory for a less than perfect candidate over the true representation of our political voice, society suffers. Our true beliefs are overshadowed by a superficial drive to be on the winning team.
What I hope for is a truly open and transparent political process that allows voters the ability to witness all candidates in action so we can get a full view of their core issues and positions. A debate that allows every candidate a spot on stage is one of the most important aspects of the election season. This keeps all candidates honest and engaged, as well as avoiding a boring 2 candidate debate in which no candidate is sufficiently challenged. The debates for the UK election last year were engaging because representatives from 3 parties were on stage. This allowed Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrats to openly challenge both establishment parties and their policies by providing a third way and sometimes more pragmatic solutions. If the debate was merely David Cameron vs. Gordon Brown, British voters would have witnessed a clash along the same bipolar spectrum that had disillusioned the electorate during the previous parliamentary sessions. Competition, even within the political realm of ideas, is critical in reflecting the sentiments of a citizenry forced to constantly adapt and adjust to a lively world economy.
Be proud of your vote, because in the end, a single solitary vote will not tip the election, it will only depict support for a particular candidate over the others. If we use our votes to reflect our true political beliefs, we become a freer, more engaged citizenry instead of an apathetic blob. Who knows, maybe the politicians will listen!
The way I see it, a vote is something very personal for each citizen. As members of a republican society in which we vote for our representatives in government, it is important for our votes to reflect what direction we believe our government should take.
Some may say that voting for a particular candidate may be "wasting a vote" because that candidate may not have the slightest chance of winning his or her race. I long to debate every person who claims this because it is that mindset alone that locks our citizenry into the failed Left-Right political paradigm and encourages complacency in the political process.
When we see two candidates, one Democrat and one Republican, they feel as though they must pick one of the two because putting that vote towards any other candidate may not fall under the count of the top 2 vote-getters. Given, people inherently want to support winners, but when we value victory for a less than perfect candidate over the true representation of our political voice, society suffers. Our true beliefs are overshadowed by a superficial drive to be on the winning team.
What I hope for is a truly open and transparent political process that allows voters the ability to witness all candidates in action so we can get a full view of their core issues and positions. A debate that allows every candidate a spot on stage is one of the most important aspects of the election season. This keeps all candidates honest and engaged, as well as avoiding a boring 2 candidate debate in which no candidate is sufficiently challenged. The debates for the UK election last year were engaging because representatives from 3 parties were on stage. This allowed Nick Clegg, the leader of the Liberal Democrats to openly challenge both establishment parties and their policies by providing a third way and sometimes more pragmatic solutions. If the debate was merely David Cameron vs. Gordon Brown, British voters would have witnessed a clash along the same bipolar spectrum that had disillusioned the electorate during the previous parliamentary sessions. Competition, even within the political realm of ideas, is critical in reflecting the sentiments of a citizenry forced to constantly adapt and adjust to a lively world economy.
Be proud of your vote, because in the end, a single solitary vote will not tip the election, it will only depict support for a particular candidate over the others. If we use our votes to reflect our true political beliefs, we become a freer, more engaged citizenry instead of an apathetic blob. Who knows, maybe the politicians will listen!
Comments
Post a Comment