Archive: Opinions

Every single voter learns everything about the candidates and makes an informed choice on who would best serve, regardless of party, in the best of all possible worlds.  While we don't live in the worst of all possible worlds, I think I can confidently say we live in one of the mediocre of all possible worlds.  That makes life unpredictable and exciting, but election day is one of those few times when it actually matters.  Wouldn't it be nice to elect inspiring, effective leaders for once?

They say if you don't vote you get who you deserve.  This has created a crisis of conscience for me this year, because I don't think either major party candidate for president will be good for America.  I want to vote, but I don't believe in protest votes -- who cares that I voted for Elmer Fudd to protest the horrendous mainstream candidates?  I guess it's OK if it makes me feel better, but I wouldn't.  After all a protest is only effective if someone else cares about it.

I actually do have an idea as to how I will vote for president.  But I don't know a lot about some of the  candidates in other races on Lansing's ballot.  This has led to thinking a lot about how many people vote for candidates they have no clue about.  Many people simply vote the straight party line.  The theory is that if they belong to a particular party they must share a certain political philosophy, so it's a safe vote.

Except it's not.  On Tuesday's ballot Lansing voters will weigh in on some cases of candidates who are either centrist or in line with the opposing party.  Candidates in some of the races have virtually the same platform.  When I look at the sample ballot I see that I will be voting for candidates from both major parties, and possibly one or two in the minors.

I don't know enough about some of them to vote, so I am visiting their Web sites or Facebook pages to get some idea of what, at least, they say they stand for.  If I don't know enough to vote for them, I have decided not to.  That's not the best case -- I should be informed on every candidate and make a measured decision.  But if I am ignorant I think it's fitting that better informed people make the decision.  I may not like it, but at least it will be an informed decision.

So here's the thing.  If you don't vote you do get the candidate you deserve.  And if you do vote when you know nothing about the candidates, then everyone gets the winner that you deserve.  I think party line and ignorant voting may just be why politics and leadership in our country is in such alarming decline.

But if you don't vote in races you know nothing about, we get the candidate informed voters who do vote, and really all of us, deserve.  And if democracy works, that person is probably the right choice for this election.  So if you don't know, don't vote.

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