Voting is getting out of hand. That's right, there is too much voting going on. Voter turnout is expected to be at an all time high this presidential election and that's not necessarily a good thing. The only reason voter turnout is expected to be so high is due to grotesque voter "motivation" techniques and the fact that people are only voting to vote against someone. It's a sad state of affairs when many first time voters are only voting for someone to oust their opponent because there are no better options (ex: the "Anyone but Bush" group).
Almost every I looked, read and heard it was:
"Have you voted?"
"I hate non-voters. They should all die."
"This is the single most important decision of your life."
"If you don't vote you're don't deserve to be an American."
Yes, I actually heard or read all of these at some point during campaigning/election day. I understand that voting plays a pivotal role in a democracy, but to make some of these claims is just ridiculous. Don't vote and you don't deserve to be an American? So suddenly it's wrong to express your freedom of speech and expression? Remember, the right to free speech also gives you the right to not say anything at all. Not voting is less infringing upon someone's rights than pressuring someone into voting is. Unfortunately this type of pressure works and this violation of a person's rights is tolerated.
A person should vote only if they really want to. If they really want to vote they will actually do some research into who and what they are voting for. An uneducated vote cast purely for the purpose of voting is a wasted vote that should not be counted. Candidate A may win due to these worthless votes but it is not the true will of the people, it is the will of the few who are annoying enough to goad the masses into voting the way they want them to with a non-stop stream of nagging words. I don't want nor do I need P-Diddy threatening me about voting, nor do I need Christina Aguilera or a multitude of video games telling me to vote in a pitiful attempt to appeal to a wider audience that will invariably cast blind, uneducated votes.
I realize they are trying to motivate people to take action, to do something positive and attempt to make a change. "Democracy in action" some may call it, all I can say is whatever that action may be, it is deleterious to the nation as a whole. Let me give an example:
Random person A will be voting, they are educated on the facts and believe in their decision 100%. Random person B is a friend of Person A, but they don't feel the need to vote nor do they want to. Person B has done no research on any of the candidates or any of the issues.
Person A: You gonna vote?
Person B: Nah.
Person A: Why not? You should vote.
Person B. I don't want to.
Person A: Come on... vote. Everyone else is doing it.
Person B. No thanks. I wouldn't know who to vote for anyway.
Person A: Just vote for my candidate.
Person B: I DON'T want to vote.
Person A: Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote! Vote! Or I won't be your friend anymore.
Person B: Christ! Ok fine I'll vote if it will shut you the fuck up. Who am I voting for?
Person A: My candidate.
Person A's candidate barely wins the election and a few months down the road passes some legislation that goes counter to Person B's beliefs. Perhaps Person B is a homosexual and Person A's candidate initiated some anti-gay legislation. Person A and Person B are no longer friends. Assume something of this sort happens among 30% of voters, overall national tension rises in an already tense America. That's not so far fetched, is it?
Expressing a political opinion is fine, in fact it is encouraged. But when it is expressed through hostilily without civility, that is when it becomes a problem. Forcing your beliefs upon someone should not be tolerated. In fact, it's the reason why this country was formed.
So what do I suggest? Obviously the majority of American's don't like American politics so there must be something wrong with American politics. What could it be...? Perhaps it's the fact that the two major parties act like children, bickering amongst eachother, always pointing out the other's faults and playing the blame game. Perhaps it's the vitriolic
partisanship that has grown exponentially in recent times. Or maybe it's due to lack of good options and decent politicians. The whole system has turned into a huge play with no likable characters. We need likable characters. The stage production is great, but the acting is hollow.
The political machine has become a torture device. The sword needs to be taken out of
partisan.
