Nov 28th, 2008
The worst American
by Miles Benson
I voted to elect a new president into office for the first time.
I voted out of peer pressure.
I didn’t vote because I wanted to, I voted because the world around me tells me that my opinion doesn’t matter if I do not vote. That I should “Vote or die,” “vote or I don’t count,” “If you don’t vote you don’t matter,” “Vote or shut-up;” or “Don’t vote.”
I didn’t vote because I believed in the candidate I chose, I voted for him because he was the lesser of the two evils. I voted in general because I want to feel as though people will listen to me and care about what I say.
I do not trust either of the candidates.
After speaking with people in my life about what I did, I told them that I don’t feel as though what I did was right. I don’t think my decision was ethically sound. I knew nothing of the candidates besides of what I overheard from other people. And I didn’t bother to find out more because I did not believe in them. And instead of voting for a candidate that belonged to a party I actually agreed with, I voted for someone I do not believe in, because I both believe and do not believe my vote counts.
After I told people this, they said it doesn’t matter…”you voted.”
I asked why that matters at all when I don’t feel as though my decision was smart. They said “because we live within a society that runs on democracy. And the option to vote a leader into office is a privilege not a lot of countries have. So the fact that you voted at all helps keep this country free.”
I think after hearing that, I regret voting at all.
I didn’t vote to help the country. I voted to help myself and to get you off my back.
There. I said it…
…and I’m truly sorry.
November 30th, 2008 at 7:40 am:
I’m sorry you felt pressured to vote. I will agree that voting is a privilege, however, I do not believe it a necessity to keeping this country free. If you don’t believe in the people running, then why would you vote one of them in? Come on now!
December 1st, 2008 at 6:19 pm:
I think its too bad, Miles, that you’ve done something you regret. Your personal feelings of confusion, disappointment, guilt and ultimately of remorse, are clear. But perhaps what I think is sadder is that people made you feel like you HAVE to vote in order to be “American” (in this case “American” meaning promoting freedom and having a voice). But freedom of speech means just that–freedom; anyone can say anything at any time, non-voters included. And people always talk about how this country is so special because it gives people the freedoms to speak, vote, etc. But is not freedom about choice? Isn’t choosing not to act or not to participate enforcing freedom as well? Convincing someone that their voice is not valid if they do not vote actually chips away at everything this country, and the majority of other countries in this world I might add, promote; freedom. The worst American is not the one who succumbs to peer pressure and votes for a candidate they do not truly believe in within a voting system where individual votes do not actually matter (especially in Massachusetts), but clearly the kind that tells others “vote or die,” “vote or you don’t count” and/or “Vote or shut up.”