Call me a masochist. Accuse me of being simple-minded. Laugh at my naivete. Weep over my stupidity. But unless something horrific happens to change my mind between now and election day, I plan on trudging down the street to our 100 year old city hall and doing my civic and patriotic duty by voting Republican on November 6.
For a while, I toyed with the idea of staying home on election day. Then it hit me; my reasons for doing so reminded me of what a seven year old does when he solemnly announces to all assembled that he is running away from home for good and never coming back and don’t try and talk him out of it because he’s made up his mind.
Stifling snickers, the parents bid their charge adieu. Invariably, after walking a block or two, our young runaway will realize there’s no where to go and returns home, suitably chastened by the experience.
Now don’t get me wrong. I’m not saying that those who wish to sit on their hands in November are acting like petulant, foot stomping, spoiled little children who are throwing a tantrum because they’re not getting their way and will therefore “punish” their party by staying home on election day. (“I’ll show ‘em! I’ll show ‘me all!”)
Then again, maybe I am.
Because in the end, like that little kid, there’s no where else to go and nothing else to do if you consider yourself a patriotic American. I make no apology for giving those of you who contemplate spitting on your birthright a good tongue lashing and a remedial course in civics. It is good to be reminded every once and a while how precious a commodity the democratic franchise is and that misusing it by employing the vote as some kind of political punishment for wayward legislators is selfish, cowardly, and in the end, self-defeating.
While some of you are sitting at your keyboards railing against the Republicans and dramatically announcing to one and all how you will teach them a lesson by staying home on election day, there are Americans in Iraq putting their hides on the line every day of the week so that you have the choice in the first place of either acting like a drama queen or a responsible citizen of the republic.
And it goes without saying that the Iraqi men and women who are working with Americans are fighting and dying so that they can have the same choice – although somehow I don’t think they are going to be quite so cavalier about their options. They may not be familiar with the subtle strategies being employed by some of our pundits who have brilliantly devised a way to make themselves feel good while punishing Republicans at the same time. In fact, I daresay if you were to try and explain how staying home on election day is a good thing and will lead to a better future, they would look at you in astonishment.
A similar look would cross the face of a protester in Belarus. Citizens there would love the opportunity to sit out an election and punish their party for transgressions real and imagined – except they don’t have a party to choose from save that of their ruthless, heartless dictator. A few weeks ago when they went into the streets to demonstrate for the freedom to sit at home on election day, they got clubbed on the head for their trouble. The poor rubes who got in the way of the truncheons of President Alexander Lukashenko’s bully boys probably do not have the sophistication to understand the elegance, the sheer brilliance of an electoral strategy that advocates non-participation in a process they can only imagine existing.
Am I making you feel a little guilty yet?
Surely I don’t have to talk about the sacrifices made by generations of Americans to protect your right to vote. Whether on the battlefields of the world where tyrants and murderous ideologies sought to marginalize that right or on the streets of America where countless millions have fought, marched, and died so that the words of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution actually mean what they say about freedom and justice, our ancestors took seriously their responsibility to pass that precious birthright down to you intact. But have we become so sophisticated, so cold and calculating about politics that we can afford to belittle this notion? Has it become quaint to look upon our past as irrelevant, that the words and deeds of Americans who lived 50, 100, or 200 years ago are only pertinent to high school kids sleeping their way through social studies class?
When I was contemplating staying home this November, I wrote this before I made up my mind:
John Adams said “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.†I wholeheartedly agree. There is no such thing as a “wasted†vote. A vote is a statement of one’s innermost and most passionately held beliefs. It cannot be “wasted†anymore than getting up at a PTA meeting to speak against an overwhelmingly popular motion is a wasted exercise. Being heard even if you are a lone advocate is what is important. And the fact that this right to be heard is protected and cherished in our republic is a true blessing, something we take for granted far too often.
If expressing opinions is the essence of democratic governance then casting a vote is the ultimate manifestation of the concept of free will; individuals make a choice on who they wish to represent their personal interests. By choosing someone who they believe reflects their personal opinions about issues important to them in a very personal way, voters seek to influence the course of events in their society in as direct a way as possible, given the enormous size of the United States. And in practical terms, living in a two party state has the advantage of maximizing the influence of a single voter by making one’s preference an either/or proposition.
But is influence the goal of voting? Or self-expression? I would argue that given that we live in a representative democracy, voting as a civic act is expressing a preference. Like a piano tuner wearing boxing gloves, a voter cannot fine tune his society by casting a ballot. He can, however, make noise like the piano tuner, pounding on either the higher register or lower sounding keys, making a generalized statement of being satisfied with the status quo or agitating for a change.
If you are dissatisfied with the choices on the ballot, each and every voting booth in America has a pencil and a place on the tally sheet to write in your preference. And, of course, you can always vote for the Democrat to punish the Republicans. Either way, by the act of voting, you are keeping faith with those who came before you, trailing all the way back to Concord and Trenton, and Valley Forge, and Yorktown. You don’t think those guys weren’t serious about the franchise? Read some of what they have to say about concepts like “liberty” and “freedom.” You will discover that they did not use those terms as politicians today use them – as throwaway lines in speeches no one listens to or as obligatory sops to interest groups. They were deadly serious about winning the right to live those words in the flesh. And because they were, here we are today rationalizing a decision to spit on their graves and in effect say to them “What a bunch of chumps.”
In the end, it may be quite unsophisticated and old fashioned to think the way I do about voting. But I can’t dishonor the past sacrifices of those who believed so passionately in things that we take for granted at our peril. Politicians and even political parties will come and go. What we’re left with after all the speechifying and political posturing; after all the strategizing and punditocracy is you and your conscience.
I hope I’ve pricked it ever so slightly so that you reconsider your decision not to vote.
UPDATE
My good friend Ogre in the comments points out that not all states have write in preferences.
That astonishes me. Makes me realize that I’m even luckier than I thought to live in a state that takes voters and the franchise seriously, not just treating people as dumb brutes to be led around by the nose.
8:22 am
Very good post! I reminded myself about the people of Iraq when I didn’t feel like voting in the primary in March. It was cold and rainy, and I knew that I would be voting for a candidate who would not win the primary.
The other motivation I have is that I want to be counted as a conservative. It seems like some believe that a “message” will be sent if conservatives sit out. I don’t think the politicians will get this message, even with a loss. I think most will instead believe that they need to move to the center. They will take it as a sign that the country doesn’t want Republicans (and therefore conservatives.) I know that is how the Democrats and the media will spin it at the very least.
I also enjoyed your post about Immigration. I’ve been looking for some calm and sane words about the situation, and finally found it here.
8:34 am
I concur with what Lisa said above. I’ve been looking for some rational thought on this issue and it looks like I found it here. I can’t bring myself to NOT vote. Maybe this burst of anger was just something that needed to happen and now we can all take a deep breath and think more clearly.
8:43 am
Rick, in support of what you say, I would suggest that we look at how Democratic administrations have treated the military. For instance, the Clinton administration had 18 Army divisions when he was first elected and by the time Clinton left office there were only 10. With the GWOT not yet finished, I do not want to watch the Democrats start to shift the budget emphasis from Defense and National Security to social engineering.
9:12 am
WHY I WILL DRAG MY SORRY ASS TO THE POLLS ON NOVEMBER 6 From The Right Wing Nuthouse
I am a conservative who votes for Republicans because I consider them the lesser of two evils. It is our job as Conservatives to systematically dispatch the RINOs and Moderates from office through the voting booth
...
9:39 am
At least you have a choice.
Here in my district in North Carolina, all decisions have already been made. There is no competition for federal elections, none for state-level, and none locally (other than a judge or two).
And be aware that not every polling place allows write-ins—they are not permitted in North Carolina unless the person who is to be written in has “qualified,” following a long and tedious process—otherwise your write in is simply not counted.
10:02 am
I too plan to drag myself to the polls in November and vote Republican. Although I can’t say I am too enthusiastic about it. The way to get rid of these yahoos (RINOs) is at the primary level.
The only other alternative is to start another party. And we’ve seen how successful those have been in the last forty years.
10:26 am
[...] Rick Moran explains why he WILL be voting in November, barring something unforeseen. [...]
11:15 am
[...] Rick Moran at Right Wing Nut House gives his reason for voting in November. Rick is always an interesting read. If you really need a reason to vote and Rick simply doesn’t get you there then try this. [...]
12:11 pm
If you had any guts, or real sense of patriotism you would go and vote for a Democrat who might become part a majority that would put some oversight and separation of power back into the government. But no, your idea of patriotism is keeping this bungling administration that has created the worst foreign policy disasters in the country’s history, i.e. Iraq, to continue on as if nothing is wrong.
I’m sure the prez will appreciate you loyalty.
p.s. Your statement that, “...Americans [are] in Iraq putting their hides on the line every day of the week so that you have the choice…” is ludicrous. There is no way Americans are any safer because of the Bush Iraq policy. The only beneficiaries of our little adventure into Iraq are Halliburton and the Iranian government.
12:16 pm
Rick,
Great post as usual. I agree 100% – even though the Repubs piss me off at times – they still are more conservative (my way of thinking) than the Dumbocrats. Lesser of the two evils I guess. And I’m certainly not going to vote for a party that does nothing but whine and complain with no plan or solution to anything.
1:07 pm
Amazing! great post! My thoughts exactly, though much more eloquently than I put it
I tend to take no prisoners when it comes to whinny “I’ll show you and vote Dem just to spite!”
Too many weenie RINOS to count nowadays.
1:40 pm
This is what I wrote at sayanythingblog.com.
“In November we will be voting for congressional candidates not the president so we should be looking at the qualifications of those candidates. the presidents ratings be damned.” and in my own post ‘Don’t Throw The Baby Out With The Bathwater’ at the same blog.
“In summary, I believe the immigration problem is just another feel-good program given to us by the liberals. At the next election, rather than blame the problem on the Republicans, consider the ideological leans of all the candidates and vote for the one that you think is most conservative, or least liberal. If the immigration problem is to be solved, I doubt that it can be resolved with a congress dominated by liberals regardless of their political party affiliation.”
1:47 pm
Good post, Rick. See you at the polls.
1:59 pm
I will vote republican again because I know what a mess the democrats would make. But somewhere down they line we need to get the moderate republicans out.
2:49 pm
Nice Post Rick. Thanks for getting the discussion gong.
Please drop by my place for a somewhat different view, thanks.
2:49 pm
Wow, what a great motivation: the guilt trip.
It’s equal to when you were a little kid and your parents scolded you for not finishing your dinner by informing you of the millions of starving children in Africa.
Did it make you eat your brussels sprouts even then?
I hereby declare November 6, the Brussel Sprout Election.
3:01 pm
I think the conservatives will start a new campaign to try to challenge some RINO’S in future primaries but it’s a very difficult proposition as most of our (moderates) come from left wing states such as Maine and Pa.
Oh how I’d like to see Arlen Specter ,Olympia Snow, and Susan Collins along with Chafee thrown out but they would just be replaced by a democrat. I think Mike DeWine will be defeated and Lindsey Graham wants to be vice president under McCain. But I’ll vote for conservatives everytime.
3:39 pm
In my carping regarding the turns this administration has taken I had forgot our men and women in the military serving overseas to insure our continual freedoms.
Leaving them for the demoCraps to stop funding the war, stop supporting (well actually they would have to START first) our troops and then have to watch them cut and run. They will eventually reduce funding to DOD, cancel contracts for new equipment and shrink the forces.
So, like you, I will drag my sorry ass to the polls and vote. Come to think of it, I will now gladly go vote and hope to deny the demoCraps the opportunity to screw our military.
I will gladly go vote and hope to deny demoCraps:
raising taxes
growing the welfare roll
universal health care, like canada’s! ouch, Briton’s super ouch
Conyers leading anything
Pelosi being Speaker
Harry Reed being called LEADER of the Senate
Durbin obtaining any higher position then Reed boot licker
Kennedy being anything other then the ass that he is
picking the next S.C. Judge
in charge of Justice Dept. DOD. etc
Damn, can’t wait to go vote ! How about you all?
3:47 pm
I plan on voting in November as well! I just don’t plan on voting for any Republicans. I’m a Conservative and thank God not a Republican! I don’t take kindly to being lied to, sold-out, back stabbed, and then called disloyal by Republicans because I won’t bow down to “Bush Can Do No wrong”. I plan on ‘Yellow Dog Dem’ing’ it from A to Z. I’m a vengeful man and I plan on vengeance!
3:56 pm
Why I Will Drag My Sorry Ass to the Polls on November 6
Rick Moran:
While some of you are sitting at your keyboards railing against the Republicans and dramatically announcing to one and all how you will teach them a lesson by staying home on election day, there are Americans in Iraq putting their hides on th
5:02 pm
I’ll vote—but I cannot bring myself to vote for a Republican who supports any form of amnesty. I’d rather us lose the House or Senate than to affirm the RINOs in power.
7:20 pm
Regarding the RINOS: Yes they grate on our nerves but think about it. Let’s assume that Snowe, the jerk that she is, all women lib crap. If her seat is taken by a demoCrap that demo will vote with the demos ALL THE TIME, not only that, they will be voting for a demo for Leader. Replace all the RINOs that Grate on us and you have Leader Reed and all those demos, that we hate, being in charge of all the committees! That will show us! Yeah, sure, that will show us but good.
9:13 pm
Stay home! Don’t vote! This country functions better when Congress is a different party than the White House. Government will always corrupt if there are no checks and balances in place. If you go to the polls now and vote Republican, you are condoning the actions of these politicians.
10:57 pm
Today we type, November we vote, republican
Make it so!
9:17 am
First Cup 05.19.06
Black as the devil, hot as hell, pure as an angel, sweet as love. ~ Talleyrand
9:25 am
Can’t decide which ones of us are the most immature. Clicked off after reading and then came back because the comments make me spitting mad.
Rick wrote a good post and then I read how horrible all those RINOs are and how we must shovel them out. I never considered myself a RINO until you have all FORCED me into a corner. If you are able to reenact 1992 again, you will get the same results. The Party learned the wrong lesson. You all thought it was the “read my lips” when it was actually looking at that Republican Convention and making people shake their heads and say “I don’t want anything to do with people like that”.
Amazing. Like you, I will take myself out and vote, even though I have found I once again, do not like the people calling themselves the real true base. I do like the troops though. I do like having someone stand up to the UN. I do like someone standing up for US interests(not nuanced) in the world. I do like having someone appoint judges that use common sense. I do like the pledge and the flag and prayer. I like having a President with intergrity and honor. I don’t like ungrateful backstabbers.
5:49 pm
Update: Iraq Sets Cabinet into Motion
They have dodged the bullets, lost loved ones, but never gave up! All the while enduring the negativity of our US press, our very own Senators and lawmakers, who have tried to discredit their ability to succeed….but will NEVER discredit their fortitu…
1:42 pm
[...] Rick Moran is one of my favorite bloggers. He’s thoughtful, temperate, and nearly always right — as he is here: [...]
7:49 am
If the only thing we do is “drag” our sorry ass to the poles come Election Day, we’re going to lose BIG TIME. Politicians are very flexible. They are capable of conforming and contorting themselves into an infinite variety of shapes and positions. They do this to get elected. Once they do get elected, they conform to the path of least resistance. To place pressure on a politician is to make him/her conform. So often “We The People” forget these facts of life and politicians then tend to become confused and say/do stupid things like voting their “conscience” and telling us how they feel or thinking on their own. When you’re operating a remotely piloted model airplane (or politician) it can be very dangerous, indeed, to put the remote down and walk away for more than a minute or two. Don’t just “vote” America, keep telling your idiot politicians what you want them to do.