I like this...

[ceebeegee]

From a Washington Post chat today about Americans who don't vote:

Dunn Loring, Va.: ...[T]he issue of non-voting...is an example of "free-rider" behavior: people trying to take advantage of not participating in collective activity. The classic free-rider situation is in battle when soldiers decide whether to fight or flee. If one soldier flees, he hurts the group only slightly (he is only one soldier) but he helps his own survival immensely. If lots of soldiers flee, they will be routed and even those who flee will be killed.

Although economists haven't really studied this issue formally, there is a notion of ethics that affects people's behavior in collective situations. People feel bad if they let down the group--and they should. [my emphasis]

...Did you sense any sense of guilt [because] they were not participating in democracy when they clearly benefit from having it?

And do you think that maybe many people don't vote in country because society has not made it clear that voting is not just a privilege but a duty, and not voting is just as unacceptable as fleeing the enemy in combat?

To paraphrase Shawshank Redemption: Get busy voting, or get busy leaving the democracy. You can't have it both ways--you can't take advantage of the democratic process if you don't participate.

Comments

[minstrel70.livejournal.com]

It's a lot harder for most of the rest of the world.

Yes, indeed. Take Afghanistan, for instance. First election there in 5000 years of their history. Wouldn't it be shameful if U.S. turnout is lower than theirs was?

[ceebeegee.livejournal.com]

We're so spoiled. In so many ways--when I was in Morocco during the my cruise ship gig I saw that, how spoiled and lucky and complacent Westerners are--but especially with this. This is from today's New York Times LTTE page (http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/01/opinion/l01elect.html):

As this nation heads into the most important election of our lifetime, I want to share a story with those Americans who do not intend to vote.

You have heard the news about the more than 1,100 marines and soldiers who have been killed in Iraq.

I had not personally experienced the pain and enormous loss of each of those brave Americans - until Sept. 14, 2004. That was the day my brother, Maj. Kevin Shea of the Marines, was killed by a rocket attack outside Falluja. It was his 38th birthday.

That day started out like any other. I went to work and sent Kevin an e-mail message wishing him a happy birthday and kidding him about how old he was getting. Kevin had been in Iraq for seven months and was expected to return home in several weeks.

Sept. 14 was also the day of the primary in Washington State. I left work and went to a church gymnasium near my home where I filled out my ballot and left feeling, in some small part, that I, too, was serving my country. I then drove home to care for my 10-month-old daughter while my wife attended a meeting.

I was in my kitchen when I learned that Kevin was dead. When the phone rang, the voice on the other end was that of a Marine chaplain who had accompanied the marines to Kevin's house to inform his wife of his death.

I asked about my parents in Washington, D.C. He told me that my mom and dad were being informed by marines in dress blues. (I learned later that my mother would not let them in the house; my father was not home because he was volunteering at a primary election location.)

With that one phone call, the reality of the Iraq war hit home. Now, when I read about the death of a soldier or a marine, I can visualize the ripples of grief, pain and anger that will immediately spread through the family and friends.

I will be voting in this election, and I sure hope my guy wins. But more important, I hope that all citizens of this great country will recognize their duty to vote. The inconvenience and hassle are a small sacrifice compared with the sacrifice of at least 1,100 other citizens like my brother.

That made me weep.

We are so fucking spoiled. Other people DIE for this right and we just can't be bothered... Or everyone sucks...the system is screwed...it's all rigged... Don't give me your faux, easy cynicism--I'd rather have you, Mike (or my dad and stepmother, for that matter), who mostly disagree(s) with me but participates in the system than the jaded, self-absorbed non-voter who doesn't want to think about the sacrifice that soldier, and 1000 others in Iraq, and countless others in WWI & II & other wars, have made.

[minstrel70.livejournal.com]

I've served in that uniform, and seen friends die in it, and absolutely agree with you, it's about having a voice and a choice in what direction our precious nation will turn... May the best man win tomorrow, and of course I think that's my candidate, but whatever happens, let us raise a glass together tomorrow night and know that we have chosen, and on November 3rd, may we all agree that we will accept the choice we have made, and hope (and pray, if so inclined) that it was the right choice, and that history will prove it so.

And let no one who stays home tomorrow complain about the outcome.

Interesting...and poignant, and appropriate, that the writer doesn't name whom he's voting for. One could easily assume Kerry, because of the inherent questioning of the war, but it would not be difficult to think this were a Bush voter who sees some value in the sacrifice of his brother. The point is that everyone must make a choice, and the writer doesn't cloud the point through partisanship. Very effective letter.

[darksheik.livejournal.com]

And if you're one of the people who say it's all rigged, go give your vote to someone who needs it -- go give it to some third-party candidate or if you're really cynical, make it known! Give a write-in to the Ficus plant or Mickey Mouse or something.