Tuesday, March 13, 2012

why I don't vote

My sister will be turning 18 soon (yikes!) and received a letter from an elected official trying to solidify her vote. It prompted her to ask who I was going to vote for in the upcoming elections. She didn't understand why I wasn't going to vote, and I struggled to explain how I feel about it. But then I found an example that I'd like to share with you.


I consider myself to be a peacemaker. Not because I'm a saint, just because conflict makes me uncomfortable, and I'd rather we all just be friends. As such, I am rather adept at seeing both sides of any given argument; even when an issue seems to be completely black and white, I can sometimes just sense that there's another side, I just haven't found it yet.

For example, Kony 2012. Surely there could only be one stance on this one, right? What sane person could argue against bringing such a deplorable human being to justice? However, you'll notice that I did not repost any emotional videos rallying support for that cause. I just felt like...something was off. Maybe I just didn't think that posting that video would change anything. Maybe I prefer to be blissfully ignorant of vast miseries that I cannot cure. Or maybe I just have a sixth sense for different but valid points of view. Anyway, yesterday Christian showed me this, which states rather convincingly the other side of the argument. I thought it was interesting and informative. http://thedailywh.at/2012/03/07/on-kony-2012-2/

And it seemed like such a great cause, a no-brainer! If such a worthy cause could have definite cons, what of a politician? I can form opinions on actions but I have trouble forming opinions on people. Any president we have is going to do things that I disagree with and other things that I support. In regards to most of the issues, I don't consider myself well-enough educated on the issues to for my opinion to really matter, and if I were well-enough informed, I would see the good in both candidates. Sure, I'd like to vote for the candidate who promises to lower gas prices, but for now I will leave the voting to those more qualified and who have a better understanding of the big picture.
at 5:32 PM

2 comments:

  1. AnonymousMarch 13, 2012 at 11:55 PM

    I understand that the 'damn' video has its faults. I understand that the BBB criticizes the IC for failing to provide information enabling it to be a credible charitable organization. But the arguments posted on the Daily What site have errors as well. For example: "Myopically placing the blame for all of central Africa’s woes on Kony — even as a starting point — will only imperil many more people than are already in danger." The film never places all of central Africa's woes on Kony. The film has spread awareness. It has brought together people who are trying to do something to stop the atrocities being committed against the children. While it is true these are not the only atrocities being committed in the world today, just because there are so many atrocities surely doesn't mean we have to spend years arguing about which ones to stop first. We must try to do something. I would rather try and fail, than never try. I sleep better that way.

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  2. AshleeMarch 14, 2012 at 8:37 AM

    But see, that's exactly what I'm saying. Both sides have compelling arguments. It's not like we have one side saying that Kony is the devil and another side saying that child slavery isn't a bad thing at all. And it's not like we have one presidential candidate that loves America and wants to protect us and our country and another candidate who can't wait to sell us out. I believe both parties would, if elected, work according to their conscience for the betterment of America, that each just has different ideas of how to do that. And I, with my limited understanding of economics or politics or diplomacy, have trouble second guessing men who have made those things their careers.

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