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In your scenario, if I don't pass along my brick, then the chain is broken (or, others at least have to do more work). However, in an election, if I don't vote

In your scenario, if I don't pass along my brick, then the chain is broken (or, others at least have to do more work). However, in an election, if I don't vote, then no one has to pick up my slack. We'll still elect a president tomorrow. What is the negative externality that I'm imposing on others by not voting? If anything, I see it as a (very small) positive externality, because I'm letting everyone else decide who they want as president.

tarkin2 18y ago
The brick example was used to shed light upon the difference between individual and group activities. It's does not match the activity of voting, I know. However... Your use of the phrase "imposing on others" is telling. It implies you are separate from the others who vote, but in a democracy, during voting, you are not. You are all part of one system, and you all work towards the democratic task. When you choose not to vote, you exclude yourself from that system. One single absence will indeed not damage the system significantly enough to destroy it. But, as I said, this system replies on human behavior, and more specifically socialization. When you post articles on the New York Times website, when you post here and when you chat to friends about the futility of voting and when you tell them you have not voted you affect them; you influence them. Human behavior is incredible herd-like. Your choice not to vote affects others, others affect others, and that affects, in this case detrimentally, the democratic system. And this, again, goes back to the fallacy of composition. It was rational for you not to vote. Yet, because you live in society, that decision affects others, and when it affects enough people that newly formed decision becomes highly irrational.
- ryporter 18y ago
  You're right. I do see myself as separate from others who vote. If I vote, am I working together with a voter who just wants to restrict gay rights? What about a racist who won't vote for Obama because he's black? These are extreme examples, but I just don't see the election as a task that we're all collaborating on. Second, are we discussing my decision to vote, or my public announcement of that decision? Am I damaging the democratic system by publicly questioning whether to vote?
tdoggette 18y ago
Here is a better analogy: You're in a crowd of people, all passing bricks, one at a time, in a general direction. If you fail to pass a brick, someone near you will get it anyway. However, as fewer people decide to pass bricks, the outcome of clearing all of the rubble will become less likely.

tarkin2 18y ago

The brick example was used to shed light upon the difference between individual and group activities. It's does not match the activity of voting, I know. However... Your use of the phrase "imposing on others" is telling. It implies you are separate from the others who vote, but in a democracy, during voting, you are not. You are all part of one system, and you all work towards the democratic task. When you choose not to vote, you exclude yourself from that system. One single absence will indeed not damage the system significantly enough to destroy it. But, as I said, this system replies on human behavior, and more specifically socialization. When you post articles on the New York Times website, when you post here and when you chat to friends about the futility of voting and when you tell them you have not voted you affect them; you influence them. Human behavior is incredible herd-like. Your choice not to vote affects others, others affect others, and that affects, in this case detrimentally, the democratic system. And this, again, goes back to the fallacy of composition. It was rational for you not to vote. Yet, because you live in society, that decision affects others, and when it affects enough people that newly formed decision becomes highly irrational.

ryporter 18y ago
You're right. I do see myself as separate from others who vote. If I vote, am I working together with a voter who just wants to restrict gay rights? What about a racist who won't vote for Obama because he's black? These are extreme examples, but I just don't see the election as a task that we're all collaborating on. Second, are we discussing my decision to vote, or my public announcement of that decision? Am I damaging the democratic system by publicly questioning whether to vote?

tdoggette 18y ago

Here is a better analogy: You're in a crowd of people, all passing bricks, one at a time, in a general direction. If you fail to pass a brick, someone near you will get it anyway. However, as fewer people decide to pass bricks, the outcome of clearing all of the rubble will become less likely.