3 ms·

Personally I think that if you are wholly ignorant about the potential outcomes, you should refrain from voting. You have to be "in the weeds" at least to the e

Personally I think that if you are wholly ignorant about the potential outcomes, you should refrain from voting. You have to be "in the weeds" at least to the extent that you can make an informed decision for a vote to be constructive. The will to vote should follow naturally from an understanding of the democratic process and its fundamental implications on society, and the availability of information that can serve as the basis of informed opinions on the subjects of policies. This needs to be promoted for a democratic society to function, and the idea that you must vote regardless needs to die. You should vote, but IMO only as a consequence of giving a damn. As far as colored tribes go, consider the policies they agree on and evaluate whether they benefit society or not. Reducing political opinion to a matter of "tribes" creates all sorts of room for corruption and socially destructive changes that benefit the ruling class more than its constituents.

Spivak 6y ago
Sure, but there's really no harm voting if you really are completely ignorant -- you and the people like you will just be noise in the final tally. But most people aren't completely ignorant, and the return on going deeper in the political process isn't that great if all you're trying to do is decide how to fill out your ballot. Largely speaking pretty much everyone sponsored by a major party is plenty qualified on paper, and candidates tow the party line so close that you don't really need to know all that much to make a decision. Don't get me wrong, it sucks that parties have such a stranglehold on people that people who I'm sure have plenty of complex nuanced opinions are reduced to a color but my distaste for that doesn't change the reality of how they will vote.
- boomlinde 6y ago
  > Sure, but there's really no harm voting if you really are completely ignorant -- you and the people like you will just be noise in the final tally. First of all, I don't think that forms a very good argument for the idea that "everyone should vote". Second, that's the best case scenario. The worst case scenario is that you are completely ignorant but harbor misconceptions that make you susceptible to useless or destructive populism, which creates an incentive for opportunist politicians to base their outward facing platforms on that, allowing them to not so clearly and visibly create real opportunities only for themselves. > But most people aren't completely ignorant, and the return on going deeper in the political process isn't that great if all you're trying to do is decide how to fill out your ballot. The problem of how to fill out your ballot is not removed from its consequences. If all you want to do is put a name on a ballot, again, please refrain from voting. If you are at all concerned with what your choice entails other than having filled out the ballot, I sincerely believe that you owe it to yourself and everyone else to be informed and to inform. The idea that politics isn't for everyone (but that voting somehow is) scares me. That politics might not being your "thing" is only true of hermits that have effectively removed themselves from society. For everyone else, it is your thing. What might not be your thing is caring about it, which I think is sad for the same reason someone not caring about their health is.

Spivak 6y ago

Sure, but there's really no harm voting if you really are completely ignorant -- you and the people like you will just be noise in the final tally. But most people aren't completely ignorant, and the return on going deeper in the political process isn't that great if all you're trying to do is decide how to fill out your ballot. Largely speaking pretty much everyone sponsored by a major party is plenty qualified on paper, and candidates tow the party line so close that you don't really need to know all that much to make a decision. Don't get me wrong, it sucks that parties have such a stranglehold on people that people who I'm sure have plenty of complex nuanced opinions are reduced to a color but my distaste for that doesn't change the reality of how they will vote.

boomlinde 6y ago
> Sure, but there's really no harm voting if you really are completely ignorant -- you and the people like you will just be noise in the final tally. First of all, I don't think that forms a very good argument for the idea that "everyone should vote". Second, that's the best case scenario. The worst case scenario is that you are completely ignorant but harbor misconceptions that make you susceptible to useless or destructive populism, which creates an incentive for opportunist politicians to base their outward facing platforms on that, allowing them to not so clearly and visibly create real opportunities only for themselves. > But most people aren't completely ignorant, and the return on going deeper in the political process isn't that great if all you're trying to do is decide how to fill out your ballot. The problem of how to fill out your ballot is not removed from its consequences. If all you want to do is put a name on a ballot, again, please refrain from voting. If you are at all concerned with what your choice entails other than having filled out the ballot, I sincerely believe that you owe it to yourself and everyone else to be informed and to inform. The idea that politics isn't for everyone (but that voting somehow is) scares me. That politics might not being your "thing" is only true of hermits that have effectively removed themselves from society. For everyone else, it is your thing. What might not be your thing is caring about it, which I think is sad for the same reason someone not caring about their health is.