Why I don't vote

[prosto_tak]

Every four years I'm genuinely puzzled by why people vote.  I can think of a dozen reasons not to vote, and none whatsoever to do so.  Here are my dozen reasons not to vote:

1) I live in California, where the probability of my vote mattering is zero.

2) Even if I lived in a different state, the probability of my vote mattering is as close to zero as

Comments

[prosto_tak]

I applaud the reference, but not the substance of your argument.

Why does a civilized person vote? Why is non-voting like trashing on the street? You can say "non-voting is like killing kittens", what does it prove?

By voting, you accept the current political system and the current candidates. "Don't vote, it encourages the bastards" said one pretty smart guy (P.J.O'Rourke). Non-voting, and talking about it, is a form of political dissent. Do you have problems with dissent?

BTW, do you have problems with someone who goes to vote, but crosses out all names? I presume you don't - how is it different from non-voting?

[the_furman]

I made three arguments, and I'm glad you agree with the first two :)

As for non-voting being a form of political dissent, that, in my mind, is almost not worth talking about. Political dissent needs to be constructive in order for it to be worth anything. As soon as you suggest a better system and come up with a plan for us to get there, I'll gladly donate my $10 to your newly formed organization. Until and unless you do that, we're stuck with our current version of democracy, which we all know is a terrible form of government (c)

As to crossing out all the names, I'm all for that. I, for one, haven't decided yet whether I'm voting Green or Libertarian in our presidential election this year. Maybe I'll flip a coin. It's my form of political dissent, which is also not constructive :) That said, despite the fact that the presidential race makes a very convenient straw-man in this discussion, there's plenty of things on the ballot where my vote has a bigger chance of mattering and where I can gladly get behind the issues at hand.

[prosto_tak]

The first two are rather factual. I don't think I can either agree or disagree with them. They are about why YOU vote - good for you :) The third one felt more controversial and worth responding to. It's an argument people make often.

[prosto_tak]

Sorry, had to run and did not respond to all your points.

With all due respect, why do you believe that your definition of "political dissent" is the only valid one? Why do I have to form an organization with a plan for specific system? Why can i just not protest the current system the way I want to?

Как знать, что нам взять взамен неверия
Но наши дети это точно будут знать.

And finally, I just don't see any real difference between crossing out all the names and non-voting. We can argue the details, but it's truly a distinction without a difference, isn't it?

[the_furman]

I think there's two discussions going on simultaneously

[prosto_tak]

I know we will never convince each other... You gave me your answer for why you vote - I accept that it makes sense for you, but it certainly does not work for me.

You and others are making a lot of moralizing arguments and analogies that I find surprising. Bolsheviks, criticism to teams, trashing the streets, cleaning up after your dog, not immunizing your child, etc. Voting is a right. We have many rights. We choose to exercise some but not others. I don't bear arms, even those it's my right. Why can't people accept that some people vote, and some don't? I find it disturbing....

[the_furman]

You lost me completely. In your post you asked me why I vote. The question did not seem rhetorical, I interpreted the way it was posed as an invitation to talk about it. After I answered, you started to argue with me.

In any case, one thing we agree on is that it's time to end this conversation. Cheers ;)

[prosto_tak]

We may have well read in each other's posts what was not there. As managers, we know this often happens with written communication. Cheers :)