Micah - I was a poli sci major. I have thought for some 20+odd years that our system needs a complete overhaul. I like the idea that Parliament can vote out the ruling party based on its failed policies. Is it perfect? No. But at least the voice of the people theoretically get heard more on a regular basis. Just think; George Bush would have been gone as soon as the Dem majority got in. Lots of damage control. I don't always like the choices but the reality is that Congressional elections are a lot more imp't. That's where policy is being made; the prez is just a figurehead.

I liked this post a lot, Micah. I agree with you that this shows how broken the system really is. I'm still going to vote, and I'm going to vote for Obama, but maybe before the actual day rolls around, you will find a reason to cast a vote for whomever.

Great post Micah, very well said!

Some interesting thoughts there micah. All part of the rich tapestry of the US elections that I am watching from afar. I'd be interested in your thoughts about our voting system here in Australia: it's compulsory to vote and you can be fined if you don't. Of course that doesn't mean you have to vote for one of the candidates on offer if you think that none of them are worthwhile. It's a secret ballot, so you can simply spoil you ballot paper (don't tick anyone, tick everyone, write nonsense on it, etc). Oh, and I should mentioned that we only have simple paper ballots that you write on...no hanging chads!

I dont like the fact that you are forced to vote. Free will is the greatest gift of capitalism.

Isn't Australia closer to socialism than it is to capitalism anyway?

Why does not voting disqualify you from having the right to complain? Not participating in a system you believe is broken is vote in itself.

thats a good point. I just feel if I didnt help elect whoever is in office (or not), then I cant complain.

I actually don't mind having compulsory voting. In any society there are some limits to the freedom to do whatever you like. For example, in many free, democratic countries you are not allowed to drive a car down a public street without a licence, you must surrender some of your earnings to the Government in the form of tax, you are not allowed to play music at any volume in the middle of the night in your own home and, in some cases, you are not allowed to smoke in public buildings. All of these restrictions on personal freedoms are part of the trade-off of living as part of a society. I'd see compulsory voting as sitting in the same sort of category rather than being a significant restriction on free will. Apart from anything else, while you have to turn up and submit a ballot paper, you are free not to actual register a valid vote on it.

One of the advantages of compulsory voting is that there is no role for "get out the vote" campaigns which tend to favour candidates with large fund-raising warchests.

One other thing: surely free will would be more a gift of democracy rather than capitalism?

I dont think one can have capitalism without democracy. Because free
market tend to want to be free, and because democracy provides a
greater level of freedom, the two are intertwined.

But its not like we are voting for a democratic society or against a
democratic society.

Capitalism is based on the concept of freedoms, that everything sort
of moves based on the proper weights and measures based on natural
market conditions.

Capitalism is based on private ownership of the means of production rather than more general freedom. It's certainly a common view that capitalism tends to push society in a freer direction, and it will be interesting to watch China in this respect. They are heading step-by-step to a capitalist market economy but, for now, are not moving towards broader democratic freedoms. It was this example I had in mind when I said that China is more a gift of democracy than capitalism. My own view is that while capitalism and democracy work best together, one doesn't necessarily always lead to the other.

Still, I am getting somewhat off topic here, apologies!

Voting doesn't have to mean you are voting *for*. Many times, my vote has been cast as a vote *against*, a spoiler vote. If there is a candidate or candidates that one feels strongly against, then cast a vote. One could always take the position that it will help move things closer to where one wants it, kind of an evolutionary vote. So, for example, you vote for the Democratic ticket as a vote against the status quo of the Republicans and as a nudge in the direction one would rather see for the country.

When I was a kid growing up on a Kentucky farm, there were elections where my dad made sure my mother did not have a way to get to the polls if he knew she was going to vote differently and cancel his vote. So, exercising my right to vote, for whatever reason, means that I am actively participating as a citizen of this country. I am actively cancelling out a vote of some poor besotted conservative! I can understand the choice of not voting as a statement. I just think the point is lost, the vote is lost, the opportunity is lost to make a statement. It becomes a nothing.

I respect your choice, but I'm always at a loss when people say they won't vote. It is however a comment on just how rich we have become. Rich enough to throw away food, rich enough to throw away a voice.

I think you are off base. Its not a issue of "richness." In fact, the
great thing about the US is that you can participate verbally or with
your silence. I choose silence. But, I dont opt out of helping improve
this country. For me, I do it through the economic system. I built a
company that generated taxes, revenue, jobs and the like. I continue
that process working at and with startups, helping them improve our
economy.

For me, my contribution is not in screaming at the top of my lungs
every four years how much I like one candidate over the other, and
then spend the in between years complaining.

Not voting is as much a choice as voting is. Outside of your vote,
what do you do to help move this country forward?

First, I have your blog on RSS because I enjoy reading it. I see your blog as a sort of participation in even the political sense. I'm absolutely not looking for a fight, but I do enjoy discussion. So, on those precepts I'll proceed with a quote.

"Had no important step been taken by the leaders of the revolution ... the people of the United States might, at this moment, have been numbered among the melancholy victims of misguided councils, must at best have been labouring under the weight of some of those forms which have crushed the liberties of the rest of mankind." - Alexander Hamilton, Federalist 10

Looking at models of democracies and republics from our past there has never been the presumptive right of a citizen to vote, until now in our United States. This right exists because our Constitution expressly reserves all rights to the People, on the premise a Government should only have rights granted to it by the People. Many of our Founding Fathers didn't even think we needed a bill of rights for this very reason. With rights come responsibilities. This is the essence of a social contract. When we choose to forfeit our right by dismissing our responsibilities, the contract begins to breakdown. Reasonable people disagree as to where these rights and responsibilities begin and end.

When we are denied a right, such as the right to vote or the right to personal freedom, the majority of us fight to secure that right. However, much like the frog in the proverbial frying pan many of us can be conned into giving those rights away again. Credit card companies enslave millions through unethical practices, and corporations based solely on profit motive control governments. A choice not to vote is a choice not to participate, and ultimately a choice not to participate results in a forfeiture of the right to participate. This happens because others who continue to participate, such as corporations through surrogate lobbyists, will avail themselves of the rights by exercising their votes. Is the frog making a rational choice?

When your desire for comfort is sated, or the drive for money temporarily satisfied, and freedoms are so common they are taken for granted, it becomes much tougher to get motivated to pursue or even protect those things which seem plentiful. Hence my suggestions that "richness" or wealth and abundance is somewhat central to the discussion of rational choice when it comes to the election to vote or not to vote. In our over-satisfied society, even the simple question of, "To be or not to be ...?" can cause disagreement. Hungry for a vote we fight for it and cherish the possession of it.

So, on to your fair question, "Outside of your vote, what do you do to help this country move forward?" First I've tried to refocus to what I'll call the Astronaut's view. I try to see the world and not just my country. This refocus has changed how I view my role and responsibilities here in the United States. I own a company that produces products and by choice we use only Fair Trade ingredients, in the attempt to benefit the workers who produce our raw goods. In addition we donate 10% of our profits to charities. I'm also one of the founders of a software startup, sometimes I write letters to my Representatives and Senators when I have a strong opinion about upcoming legislation, occasionally I ramble in a blog attempting to express my opinions publicly, I donate to the Museum of Natural Science, I often pet puppy dogs and kittens, and I certainly e-mail pictures of Bansky graffiti art and 1 to 2 year old Internet memes to my friends. I also have a baby daughter that I hope to help educate and grow into a positive force in this world.

When I die my personal or economic success will certainly be the least of things by which my contribution to this world satisfies me.

Thanks for writing your blog. I'll be here ... reading ;)

I certainly didnt want to make it sound like I was questioning what
your choices are. I believe strongly in the sanctity of personal
choice. I simply wanted to indicate that we all contribute in
different ways. My choice to not vote is not derived from "being
rich" (in money or comfort). It is my statement that the government
has broken its social contract (based on your definition) with us, and
has disqualified my vote from mattering. Moreover, I feel that my vote
is in direct opposition of my belief of personal choice and
responsibility. I am not going to say my "leader" is responsible for
what happens in the US. Rather, I am going to take responsibility for
what happens around me, and effect change and positive support where
needed.

I understand the fight for the right to vote many people participated
in (prior to the formation of the US and after), and I respect that
struggle. I also respect the personal choice afforded by the freedoms
the US provides. And, if there was an action that was working to
remove freedom (real freedom, not the ever shifting laws that change
so very often) from the US, I would be willing to fight tooth and nail
for it.

And Banksy rocks.

If the social contract is indeed broken and your vote does not count, a reasonable person ... remember, remember the 5th of November :)

Thanks for the discussion. I'd agree contribution is as individual as we are, and we each have something unique to give.

http://skitch.com/orion/rw4t/bansky-art-2003

Dear Micah:

I found you through a tweet on Twitter.

You, yourself made the case for voting in what you just shared above.

NOT to vote... IS a vote for McCain.

I am a registered democrat, but vote by the issues. Usually I stick to democratic, but I have been known to cross party lines in the voting booth.

As a New Yorker, I would have voted for Ruby Giuliani (or at the least strongly considered it) as I liked what he did as our mayor, especially during the 911 crisis.

In my opinion... Rudy Giuliani is a smart man and I believe he changed his mind cause he really did throw the election - in my opinion, that is.

Then I was for Hillary Clinton. I was for Hillary all along, but I was true to Giuliani. When he dropped out I was full swing for Hillary.

Then Hillary lost and I was going to vote for McCain, for the wrong reasons. Stupid I am not, so I really had time to be swayed.

During the democratic convention I popped in and out. I listened to the speeches (still have to find Bill Clinton's speech, but I know what he said).

I AM one of the masses who are struggling because of the way things are. I am NOT alone and am surely better off than those who are losing their homes and have no food on their tables. I am far from complaining, just being honest as to how things really are.

I listened and I cried. I cried because I DO NOT want this to go on. I feel so bad for all those who are hurting so badly -- people who worked hard all their lives are standing on food lines and have no health insurance.

WE as a country deserve more. WE as a country have known better and our leaders have let us down.

I listened and learned about Barack Obama and his "carefully" selected running mate - Joe Bidon. I had never heard of Joe Bidon before, but I AM VERY impressed.

IF there is the slightest chance Obama and Bidon can make a difference they "have my vote!" I AM voting for Barack Obama and Joe Bidon -- for sure.

To NOT vote, is like giving the election to McCain.


HIGHLY INSULTED...

As a woman, I am highly insulted by the stupidity of this all. The idea to choose an unknown "woman" with no experience to run the country in case of the worst case scenario - McCain passes on, is ludicrous and UNcaring by McCain.

I am not sure I can change your mind and prompt you to vote, but I ask one thing of you... PLEASE THINK HARD before you give this vote away by not voting.

Sincerely,

Roz Fruchtman
Say It With eCards Judaic Greeting