09/30/2024
My View on How to Vote as an American
Voters, not politicians, are the key to reclaiming civility, trust and integrity in the USA:
How should voters approach this presidential election? This is a divided and critical time in the history of America, and because our government is of, by, and for the people (not the parties), some forethought is needed. Here is one person’s effort to distill a few thoughts that should apply equally to voters from either party:
Strong division makes it more likely that we may vote based on emotions. We need to consult with our emotions, but not be ruled by them. In this confusing time of division, we must make every effort to allow our thinking to be in charge. So I suggest a few guidelines:
Avoid voting based strictly on emotion
• Don't vote third party—that may simply strengthen the chances of the candidate you oppose. If you dislike both electable candidates, a third-party choice is still a mistake, especially in a close election. Sometimes it is important to vote against one candidate by voting for his or her chief rival. In this historic moment it has never been more important. Voting is always more about shaping the future than it is about our personal gain. If you care enough to vote, do the work to choose the person most likely to make America better for all our children by shaping their character and their futures.
• Research a range of positive points that are verifiably true according to several objective public sources. Slogans and negative quotes will never give you a full picture. Even in the absence of outright lies, true facts can be distorted and misleading in how they are presented. Negative campaigning has been seen as effective by both parties because it promotes emotional decision making, but it has also created huge division among us. We can do better by giving deliberate attention to what we are for, more than what we are against.
• Refusing to vote is failing to honor your responsibility as a citizen. Our ancestors fought for the right to vote; we honor them by recognizing it as a privilege and a duty of our citizenship. Don’t allow yourself to think of it as a small, unimportant thing; our country works best when we all participate. I you don’t vote, you have no right to complain about unwanted outcomes.
Avoid voting based on a single issue or party loyalty
• Parties help us clarify our thinking by challenging each other’s policies, but once in the ballot booth we need to reflect on basic values, the values we wish to teach our children. If we violate those values, no party is going to repair the damage.
• When integrity and character are elevated to their proper status our country thrives and it is good to have a government where both parties have a measure of power. You may even choose to vote for the other party to establish a balance of points of view that enrich the dialogue amount lawmakers. But when integrity is not key in campaigning and there is no effort towards compromise, and no effort toward respecting each other, it may be a time to vote for the party that demonstrates the most willingness to work with across the aisle. Again, what values do we wish to model for our children?
• Never vote based on a single issue no matter how passionate you feel about that issue. No matter how important that single issue is to you, the complexity of our democracy requires a broad view that includes a balanced judgement. That was central to the America envisioned in the Constitution and the reason our nation made education a right for every citizen. Single passionate issues have always been used by politicians to manipulate voters.
Voting is an individual private matter
• Be certain you aren’t simply voting like your friends do because of your loyalty to them. Our system depends on individuals’ exercising their individual judgement, and all votes are private. Be open to changing your opinion based on careful examination or several sources beyond partisan formats like MSNBC and Fox News. Never rely on social media, which are often intensely emotional, nearly impossible to verify, and should never be your only source of information. The popular vote is much discussed, but individual judgement should never be based on what is popular among your friends. Popularity without judgement can spin out of control into mob rule. Voting is private.
• Our votes are important. Our American system depends on our effort to question and validate our individual values. It’s about what’s best for America, not what’s best for either political party. Once you are in the voting booth, it’s nobody else’s business. Once the vote is counted there will be winners and losers. As Americans we pride ourselves on being good winners and good losers as we play our part in shaping the future of America, one people, together despite our differences. It’s worked for a couple of centuries; let’s keep it going and continue to set an example for the rest of the world.
Steve Voiles
