Voting is Not Your Civic Duty. It's a Right.

It's interesting how opinions change over time. For example, I could not wait until I was 18 and could vote. I bemoaned Bush's first term election because I had to sit idly by (being only 16 years old) and watch instead of voting for Al Gore. Now, I can't even think of Al Gore without busting out laughing (I mean really, have you seen the ManBearPig episode of South Park?)

So, things change. I exchanged my liberal stripes for "bi-partisan" ones in the 2004 election (meaning that I voted a split ticket, but didn't bother to mention where the split was.) I was still incredibly excited to vote though and drove 2 hours out of my way to do so - just so I could have the experience of going to the actual poll to vote for the presidency and senate.

However, in these last 4 years I've become more than disillusioned with anything political... I think the process is corrupt, that we've deviated so far from founding principles that an overwhelming majority of U.S. citizens have not even read the Bill of Rights let alone the entire Constitution, and that our national ideology is so skewed that it cannot begin to solve even the most pressing issues because people are unwilling to take responsibility and ascertain logical outcomes of their own behavior (which unfortunately often becomes aggregate behavior.)

A friend sent me an email this week outlining several prominent thinkers' reasons for not voting:
Don Boudreaux, Robert Lawson, and of course for comedy's sake, George Carlin. There are many others. Conversely, there are just as many if not more who advocate getting out to cast your vote. Reasons being it's historically important, it will make you feel good/strong/important/, it's your civic duty (how many times did I hear in college and in the news that other than jury duty voting is our only truly civic duty and even as a duty it's still a privilege which makes it even better!), and lastly it's a right.

However, I have to admit that I know my personal vote DOES NOT MATTER. My sitting at home on the couch while my countrymen vote will not alter the results. And, if I happen to be doing something that is more value-creating that sitting on the couch drumming up ad revenue for the TV station then my time was actually far better spent - for both me and America.

So, why am I going to drag myself to the polls to cast my measly, unimportant vote? Because it is my right and there happens to be a candidate who I actually like and respect - John McCain. I've always liked McCain... and even in the heyday of my personal liberality would have considered voting for him over Al Gore (assuming I was old enough.) I do not agree with him on everything, but I trust his judgment, character, and experience. I don't think there could be a better man running (although there are some women who are not in the race.) Even my overwhelming support of McCain is not reason enough for me to turn out to the polls.

My reason for voting: I was to preserve my fundamental right of citizenship as executed through voting. I do not think this is my duty. I think it's my right and therefore must be considered at least somewhat a privilege. Nothing will happen to me if I don't vote. My rights will not be infringed upon. However, I do think that the current political course of America is heading down a road that wants to restrict freedom and rights in lieu of perceived [domestic] safety and bailouts for those who could not exercise enough judgment to keep themselves out of personally harmful situations.

I also respect my great-grandmother who marched for my right to vote. I respect Hillary Clinton - and especially her Convention acknowledgement that her grandmother could not vote and that her daughter now had the opportunity to cast a vote to nominate her for the presidency. I respect the men and women to fight to preserve our rights and that those rights are founded in the Constitution and nowhere else. Personally, the only reason I think rights exist is because God created humanity and therefore everyone is equal in His eyes. However, that does not extend to the political (although it should and can.) Therefore, I am incredibly thankful that my governing document was changed to incorporate all adult citizens to vote in this country: male, female, black, white, young, old, rich, poor. And, I want to exercise my right because they are often taken for granted and I don't ever want to forget why I am privileged enough to have a right to vote and freely express my opinions.

So, don't vote because it's your duty or it's important. Vote because you want to actively exercise a right that you value. And, if you don't have the time, it's okay. Lucky for you, your citizenship does not depend on exercising your rights and the Constitution still protects them for you as long as it is upheld. My plea for voting day is to read the Constitution even if that means you don't have the time to make it to the polls. Read it. Learn from it. And never forget the fundamental precepts of our government because such knowledge is quickly fading.