Why voting may not be for you.

For the last few weeks candidates have been extolling people to "get out & vote." Political pundits & activists have joined their chorus. In the last few days, & particularly this morning, every semi-civic minded individual is urging you to go vote & to take a neighbor! This is poor rationale & an inappropriate abuse of one of our most important rights as Americans.

First, realize that the politicians, pundits, & activists want you to get out & vote, for their side! So, their suggestive virtue is self serving. It's not necessarily shallow or insincere, but understand their motivation.

Secondly, for every argument to 'go vote' there is none that trumps my objection as to why some shouldn't participate in the voting process. If you are uninformed as to who you are voting for, what they are running for, & why you are voting for them, you shouldn't vote. You are committing gross negligence in something greater than a mere right. Being able to vote on local, regional, & national elections is perhaps the most singular thing that makes America the greatest nation on Earth. If exercising that right isn't worth your time to spend a negligible amount of time informing yourself with regards to the issues & candidates at hand, are you really honoring that right as it was envisioned in 1776?

Another argument often prays on sympathy of, 'considering that 23 year old soldier' who was killed or maimed protecting your right to vote. Well, yeah, & you honor that fallen soldier by voting ignorantly? By not caring enough about what he/she fought for to make a conscious decision on who you feel will serve your community & country best?

Go vote. If you have an opinion & want to uphold not only your right but your civic duty. But if you're uninformed, DON'T GO VOTE. An ignorant vote is a bad vote regardless of the candidate you choose with the flip of a coin.

Posted via email from Todd's posterous