3 ms·

I don't have to hold the door for the person behind me, I do it because I'm (sometimes) not a jerk. I vote (in MA) not because I'm going to pick the president,

by jhugg 10y ago

I don't have to hold the door for the person behind me, I do it because I'm (sometimes) not a jerk. I vote (in MA) not because I'm going to pick the president, but for two reasons: 1) People literally died for my right to vote and I'm grateful. 2) I have friends who live in autocracies who would be disappointed in me if I didn't vote and have said this clearly. The USA has given me opportunities many people around the world don't have. I consider it my duty to vote. *I know not everyone in autocracies thinks voting is great, but some do.

alexbecker 10y ago
Holding the door for the person behind me benefits the person behind me, which is why I do it. What I'm asking is precisely what benefit voting has for anyone--certainly not what benefit it has for myself. Neither of your points address this in any way I can see, although I get the impression you believe they do and would appreciate if you expanded on them. Also note that I'm not concluding that it is false that I should vote. I spent more time in my comment puzzling over how exactly I should vote--which I think is clearly not as straightforward as "vote for the candidate I would prefer wins", since my probability of changing that is so much smaller than say changing the winner of the popular vote.
- jhugg 10y ago
  I believe a country that is actively engaged in the political process is good for all Americans, especially my children who will inherit my generation's screw-ups. I believe a country where 30% of people vote is worse than one where 60% of people vote, and that bad politicians are held less accountable. In order for a higher turnout to happen, then lots of people like me need to vote, even if their vote doesn't do much. Whether I hold the door for the person behind me doesn't really affect my life. It might make me feel good about myself for a bit (like voting) and it may help a stranger a bit. Voting is maybe less directly helpful, but it's helpful to millions of strangers. Also, my vote has way more power down-ballot, as others have said.
  - alexbecker 10y ago
    The first half of your comment is basically where I was going when I said "[My vote] increases turnout, which probably increases confidence in our democracy." I probably should have rephrased that. I actually agree that I should vote, and this is the primary reason why. But I'm more caught up on how I should vote.

by jhugg 10y ago

alexbecker 10y ago

Holding the door for the person behind me benefits the person behind me, which is why I do it. What I'm asking is precisely what benefit voting has for anyone--certainly not what benefit it has for myself. Neither of your points address this in any way I can see, although I get the impression you believe they do and would appreciate if you expanded on them. Also note that I'm not concluding that it is false that I should vote. I spent more time in my comment puzzling over how exactly I should vote--which I think is clearly not as straightforward as "vote for the candidate I would prefer wins", since my probability of changing that is so much smaller than say changing the winner of the popular vote.

jhugg 10y ago
I believe a country that is actively engaged in the political process is good for all Americans, especially my children who will inherit my generation's screw-ups. I believe a country where 30% of people vote is worse than one where 60% of people vote, and that bad politicians are held less accountable. In order for a higher turnout to happen, then lots of people like me need to vote, even if their vote doesn't do much. Whether I hold the door for the person behind me doesn't really affect my life. It might make me feel good about myself for a bit (like voting) and it may help a stranger a bit. Voting is maybe less directly helpful, but it's helpful to millions of strangers. Also, my vote has way more power down-ballot, as others have said.
- alexbecker 10y ago
  The first half of your comment is basically where I was going when I said "[My vote] increases turnout, which probably increases confidence in our democracy." I probably should have rephrased that. I actually agree that I should vote, and this is the primary reason why. But I'm more caught up on how I should vote.