My Vote Doesn't Matter
Hello November and everyone reading this.
I’m going to go ahead and just jump into this one because it is likely a very touchy subject.
I don’t vote.
I lost all faith in the system the day Al Gore lost to George W. Bush despite winning the popular vote (and I voted for Bush...), and haven't voted since.
I respect all of you who do. I really do. I think it’s important to exercise our constitutional rights and privileges that this, once great, nation provides. It’s just not for me.
“Really, Mike? Every vote matters you know.”
Except every vote doesn’t matter. That’s the inherent issue and problem with our system. It is, quite frankly, broken. Mangled. Antiquated and outdated. Civics lessons throughout schooling has led to a stagnated system where two (2) parties continue to dominate the mindset of Americans. It is in essence, a Greek Tragedy.
We live in a world of choices. With a few clicks and Amazon Prime we can have nearly everything at our front door in 24 hours. We can customize just about everything in our lives, and yet, our political system is mired in the same nonsensical mire it has been for over 100 years. It hasn’t evolved with the times and changes of social norms and mores.
Republicans and Democrats.
Two (2) choices. A Duopoly.
I know there are people who are screaming that there are always more than two (2) choices. Be honest with yourself and admit it though; are there really? The honest answer is in fact, no, there are not.
When was the last time a Green Party, Libertarian or Socialist was elected to a high ranking office? Let’s take a look at the US House of Representatives. There are 435 seats. 197 are Republican, 232 are Democrats, 5 are vacant and one (1), yes one (1) is held by a Libertarian. Yikes. This is a problem.
Now, let’s take a look at the Senate. 53 seats held by Republicans, 45 by Democrats and 2 are Independent. Ouch again.
You are probably saying, “Well Mike, that’s how the country works.” I’m here to say that it’s not and it’s not okay. We are a Nation made up of so many different opinions and political thought philosophies and yet, we have two (2) parties to cover all that? I’m sorry for those of you who believe in this system of governance. It doesn’t work and isn’t working. (Full disclosure, I am registered as a Libertarian because I believe in conservative fiscal policy and liberal social policy. I think we need to spend less as a country and have government be involved way less in the daily lives of its citizens. I believe that any consenting adult can marry another consenting adult regardless of sex. I believe in women’s right to choose to have an abortion. I believe that I cannot be prohibited from holding my phone and talking on it while I am driving (and yes, my 5 cell phone citations will show my feelings on this inappropriate law). I believe that the separation of church and state is critical to the success of the nation as our Founders made this very clear in the constitution (hint: they were Deists and wrote the Constitution that way. “Creator” in place of God, Allah, Shiva, etc.).)
Let’s get back to why MY vote doesn’t matter and why most of your votes don’t matter either. There has NEVER been a vote in the U.S. House of Representatives that has come down to one (1) vote. There are 435 seats there. There are 328.2 million people in the United States as of today. The odds that a major election will come down to one (1) vote is one out of one hundred trillion. Let me write that out in numbers… 1 out of 100,000,000,000. You could win the Powerball Lottery several times before your vote would matter in this case. Do I think you shouldn’t vote? No. If you believe in this Democratic Republic, by all means, exercise your Constitutional right to vote. If you know me, you know I am supportive of every person’s beliefs and opinions (I may not agree with some, but I believe in civility and having an open mind).
I live in a state dominated (in the form of a super majority - California) by the democratic party. The Presidential candidate who will win this state is Joe Biden. That is sure. There is no chance for anyone else. Not even a slight chance. Not one iota of a vote other than a democratic vote mattering. My vote for president, doesn’t matter. Nor does a vote for the Republican candidate. Nor does a vote for the Green Party candidate. All those votes don’t matter.
“But Mike, what about your local elections? What about the ballot measures and Propositions?” Firstly, there should never be a Proposition on the ballot as it takes away the legislative process and laws being made in the way the constitution intends. Ballots, well, yes, I should care more about them and maybe even enough to cast my vote, but 20 years after the first and only election I voted in, I was so dismayed by the system and process, I can’t bring myself to ever cast another ballot.
“Mike, that is just a stupid way to think. If you feel that way, why not get involved in local politics and try to make a change?”
Again, let’s look at the numbers. In the 2016 presidential race there were 134.7 million votes. 4.4 were from Libertarians and 8.2 million total from parties other than the duopoly that persists. That 8.2 million is 6% of the population. 6% of its people who believe something other than what the Big 2 offer. My vote, quite simply, doesn’t matter. Citizens have been conditioned (more like indoctrinated) into thinking that they MUST choose Red or Blue. That is a travesty. The evolution of the country and its election system has not evolved with its population and the needs of its citizens. I fear that it never will.
My 8th grade history teacher used to tout registering to vote as “The Sacred Assignment”. He preached it often while standing in front of the class with his Tri-corn hat on and the record player (yes, he still had an old school record player in 1992, while the rest of us had our Walkmans. Look it up young ones. Us Generation X members had an amazing childhood) and played “America the Beautiful” while talking to us about our voting rights. He regaled us with tales of former students who went into politics and how they came back to thank him for preaching it. He was impactful. But, he also told us that not voting was something to take equally seriously. That at times, the candidates are so bad, an uncast vote is a vote for no confidence.
The candidates we have on the ballot, currently, are unacceptable. Out of the 328.2 million people in this country, these are the two we have? The system is broken. Neither present much hope or good. Neither have demonstrated the ability to get anything done (and yes, that includes the past four years for one and 47 years for the other).
Until we truly overhaul the system in this country and allow more than two parties access to the majority of the vote, we are failing as a democratic republic. For all my fellow Libertarians, Green Party, Socialists, Constitutionalists and other minority parties, my hats off to you for breaking from the normal and the mold.
My ballot went into the shredder as did my dreams and hopes that this country could ever be “great” again. I hope I am wrong and I hope we see true change in the way elections and candidates are presented to the public. Until then, I will never cast a ballot. This was especially difficult this year as I see my precious wilderness shrinking, fracking still ongoing, racism rising, LGBTQ/minority groups/women’s rights all being impeded upon by mostly old, and out of touch men.
America, you are beginning to be a mirror of Rome in 476 C.E. I weep for our sons and daughters and the country they are inheriting and have to fix.
I applaud everyone and respect each individual who has voted and feels strongly for their right. I wish you all love, light and peace. Stay safe in these turbulent times and may the light of the Universe radiate within your heart and soul.
I hope you can read this with an open mind and maybe even begin the discussion with others as to why a major change is needed.
“Leave nothing but footprints, take nothing but pictures, kill nothing but time.”
Namaste, friends.
