Voting and morality: I'll join you; will you join me?

[varrin]

A few friends have posted "Will you join me in committing to vote?" on my wall. As short as the question is, that invitation isn't as simple as it seems. Alas, my answer simply cannot match the brevity of your complex question, so I'll just use lots of words like I usually do

Comments

[madfilkentist]

When the choice is between two evils, voting just helps to endorse the evil. In the campaign junk mail I've been receiving, just about all of it has been disgusting. It's worst when the candidate seems momentarily to be for something good, and then turns around and shows it's all a pretense. The only mailings that have made me inclined to support any candidates have been those attacking them ("Look! This incumbent once voted against legislation providing loot to your special-interest group!")

If you voted for the winning side, then it's claimed you're giving a mandate to whatever the candidate does. If you vote against the winner, it's claimed that shows you had a full opportunity to participate, so the winner is "representing you." And notice how often people claim that if you don't vote, you've demonstrated that you're "apathetic" and you forfeit your right to criticize the government. The use of lies is a clue to how much the looters fear those of us who avoid the charade of picking the wolf to devour the lambs and go straight to speaking out against the wolves.

I don't condemn people for voting, but I consider it an exercise in futility given the present climate of ideas.

[maineshark]

And if you don't vote, they will claim that it's because you liked all the candidates equally.

The fact that they will make various claims, does not impact the morality of someone else's action.