On Not Voting

This is in response to a few things. First, there seems to be a lot of misunderstanding on what Not Voting is, and what it means.

What is Not Voting?

It’s when you don’t vote. On purpose.

Why is Not Voting not apathy?

Just as it seems there are always two choices in any said situation, it seems to follow that during election proceedings and such that there is also a two-choice system. If you want your vote to actually mean anything at all, you have to vote for one of the two incumbent powers (Republican or Democrat). It’s the bipartisan split that’s divided this country for hundreds of years.

However, this sort of choice implies that one of the two possible chosen outcomes is the correct one. If, perhaps, you believe that neither Obama nor McCain is the right person for the job, but you do believe that a third party independent would do better, are you not supposed to vote for that third party independent? Except, as I’ve already stated, only one of two possible outcomes exists. Republican or Democrat. If you are going to the polls to vote for an independent third party, at least in the presidential race, you’ve essentially done nothing. You’ve basically Not Voted.

And yet, voting for an independent third party is not frowned upon. Vote for whoever you want, we say. It’s a free country. But somehow, once a person chooses to vote for no one at all, it’s no longer okay. It’s something else. Apathy. Squandering of a constitutional right. Ignorance.

But think of it like this: Two wholly disgusting foods are put before you, and before forty other people as well. You are asked which one you would rather eat, and told that no matter which you said, you will still have to eat the disgusting food that the majority of the victims chose. If, A) You know each food will taste equally bad and B) You know your vote has little, if any, chance of changing what will already be the majority vote, would you feel as passionate about your right to vote?

Let’s not even discuss the fact that elections are already rigged. That popular vote (which, at this point, would be the only way a single vote would change any outcome of any election) no longer decides who is the winner, because it’s been replaced with some convoluted ass-backwards electoral college system that actually made George W. Bush President in 2000 even though Al Gore had the most votes. Let’s not even make a point to show that it’s mathematically impossible in this system for one vote to make a difference. Or that absentee ballots aren’t even counted until after the winner has already been chosen.

None of this matters. The winner will be Choice A or Choice B. But, as an American citizen, If I think anyone else will do a better job, it’s my moral obligation to vote for them instead. However, seeing as my choice is not Choice A or Choice B, there is no point.

None.