Why Vote

The other day I received a request to bloviate about why anyone in America (other than politicians) should even give a damn about voting. Seeing as I owe him, and you, a post, it's as good as any. I am to receive extra credit if I can convince him to vote GOP. I won't get that credit, because I'm not even going to try that. He, and anyone, can vote for whomever they like. But the question remains, to vote or not to vote. So let's get started.

I live in a very, Very, VERY blue state, New York. I am not a liberal, I am not a democrat, I am not a republican; I consider myself a very rare bird these days, as someone who is politically neutral with respect to the two major parties in NY, I am truly independent. My political tastes tend toward conservatism, not because it's more attractive, but rather liberal ideas and viewpoints, to quote John Maynard Keynes about early twentieth century British monetary policy, "could not survive ten minutes of rational discussion."

Knowing the political make up of ultra blue New York City, and the election process we use, I know for a fact my vote counts for virtually nothing and is, statistically speaking, trivial. So why should I bother voting myself, much less convince someone else to vote? What's the point? Everything is the point.

I could start with the flag waving, describe bombs bursting in air, Bunker Hill, the Civil War, D-Day to rouse his patriotic stirrings, but I won't do that. Mostly because I know it won't work. Let's start with an analogy.

We live in a nation with one of the most fairest, legal systems in the world. I know its a massive, tangled web of processes, procedures and bureaucracies. But if you compare it to most other nations, people living under other nation's legal systems would trade their entire goat herd for a chance to have their day in an American style court room.

And the American legal system is strange too. Highly inefficient, overly dramatic if you think about it. There are lawyers, judges, more lawyers, bailiffs, more lawyers, stenographers, and more lawyers. Did I mention the lawyers? Got them too. Now given the fact that most criminal trials are judged by a "jury of their peers", and knowing the basic, average intelligence of the common, off-the-street American, why would any suspect want to leave their fate in the hands of twelve people plucked off the street under threat of contempt of court? The judge obviously knows more about the legal system than anyone in the jury. Why not just have the lawyers file reports with the court, have the judge read them and render verdict? Would save a lot of time and money. The reason we have trials open to the public, in an open court, where everyone can hear what's said, and can later read the transcripts is because we humans are emotional creatures.

The legal system does not need the drama of a court, but we humans do. The accused needs to be there to stand up and declare his or her innocence for all to see. The victims need to be there to satisfy themselves that they had their day in court. Friends and relatives of murder victims need that day in court to say their piece for the record, to see justice done (or not). It's how humans deal with the crisis, pain and suffering that accompanies such calamities. They can not begin to heal till they see closure, and a judge rapping his gavel on the bench is part of that process. Only after everyone has had their say, gone through the process, can they begin to move on, even though some can't or won't.

And for me, it's the same with voting in elections. It's part of the uniquely American culture that campaigns are long, hard, dirty, disgusting and prohibitively expensive. It's how we as Americans become part of the great national drama. It's our chance to have our say in court, on the record. By actively participating in a campaign and election, we have our say, we try to convince others to join us, and try to dissuade others from opposing us. And it's important that all Americans see themselves and each other participating by voting, because it gives us the knowledge that ultimately We The People hold politician's futures in our hands. It's proof the American election system and government work. (Well, kind of.) When we go to the polls, we see our fellow Americans having their day at the ballot box. We see for ourselves just how dumb accusations of voting fraud really are. Should we do away with elections, and instead just read who won in the morning paper, the results wouldn't carry nearly the weight they do when we participate ourselves. We vote because it displays our faith in our system, and our country, and that faith is what binds us all as Americans. We may not agree with the election results, we may be furious over how others voted, but because it was settled by a vote, we can move on looking to the next campaign season, and begin to get over whatever hurt feelings we may have endured. We can start on new plans, ideas, policies, what have you. And I believe one of the reasons this country works is because of this process. Its not just about who won and who lost, its about the dramatic, public process that we participated in first-hand.

And make no mistake, we do hold politicians feet to the fire during elections. They would like nothing better than to avoid that fateful day. They attempt to destroy their opponent's image and character. Anything goes in political campaigns because politicians are attempting any means they can think of to change the odds in their favor. It's been said that no lawyer likes to go to trial because that places the final decision in the hands of jury. And you can never tell how a jury will decide. It's completely out of the lawyers hands once those twelve people begin deliberations. And its the same with politicians. In an election, the power is removed from their hands, and placed in ours, We The People, the voters. And We The People have to see that happen, in order to satisfy our human emotional needs so we can continue to have faith in our nation, our governments, and ourselves. So get out there and pull that lever, your fellow Americans are depending upon you.