In my blog profile, created back at the beginning of the course when I was young and naive, I mentioned that I shared George Carlin's opinions on voting. For today's entry, I feel like elaborating just a little bit more. Here is the exact material that I was referencing:
You tell 'em, George! While I admit that the arguments George makes in this video are quite cynical (and hilarious), there are also a few resoundingly truthful points made that, to me, ring true about the American system as well as the typical American attitude surrounding voting. George's two points are as follows:
1) Voting is meaningless - At least, it can certainly feel that way. There are a ton of people out there, roughly 314 million here in America. An individual vote can be looked at as a single drop in a vast ocean, in a majority of cases there is almost no telling if the vote that you cast made any difference what-so-ever. This is especially true with national elections and the Electoral College, which takes the idea of "one person, one vote" and flips it completely on its head. All of this paired up with voter registration and numerous other rules and regulations that can make voting not only seem daunting, but completely and utterly not worth it. To me, there has simply never been a desire or a need. I do not agree with the system itself. Our constitution is outdated, our politicians corrupt, the population complacent. Under what circumstances will voting in a system I inherentlty disagree with do me any good? The government is already running, and has been running, with or without my input for decades upon decades. As George said: "This country was bought, sold, and payed for a long time ago."
2) If you vote you have no right to complain - This is a twist on the normal opinion, but I wholeheartedly agree with it. Many will say those who don't vote have no right to complain because they did not contribute, however, George thinks the opposite. If you voted and you elected someone truly awful or despicable or corrupt into office you have no right to complain because it is your fault that they made it there in the first place. By not voting, I have made the tactical decision not to participate in a system I do not agree with and therefore hold every right to complain about everything screwed up that the American public helped put into place. This is one of the very reasons I am absolutely terrified to vote. Politicians are tricky and cannot be taken at face value, I would never want my vote to be even partially responsible for electing somebody into office that I later found out I could not ethically or logically stand behind. By avoiding voting I avoid having that responsibility placed on my shoulders.
For my parting sentiments on the subject, I will share with you all another video regarding a man whom you would least expect to have elaborate and poignant opinions on the subject of voting. Ladies and gentlemen, Russel Brand:
(Don't feel obligated to watch the full video, but some very solid points are made)
