The Right to Vote

The founding fathers of our nation were well aware of the limits of a popular democracy. Rule by popularity was savagely criticized by top philosophers and thinkers across Europe. The founding fathers were aware of these criticisms and even shared these concerns. The uneducated and unproductive would vote for the candidate that would promise the most. Political leaders would be more concerned about pleasing the populace than in making the difficult decisions required to establish a fledgling nation. These fears would later blossom in the midst of the French Revolution.

The founding fathers wanted to guard against rule by the lowest common denominator. Originally, only white males who owned property could vote. In their world view these were the only responsible, intelligent men who could reasonable determine the course of the nation. And yes, they were wrong. But maybe only about their critirea.

The right to vote should not be limited according to race or gender. However, I am beginning to wonder if everyone should vote. There are people who will believe everything that they see or hear (how else does the Weekly World News and MSNBC stay in business). There are people who will believe every promise that politicians offer. They have no understanding of how government actually works. They believe the promise of free money, free energy and prosperity simply by the legislative decree. Just pass a law and health care will be free, cars will run on rainbows and global warming will disappear. These people should not be permitted to vote. However, at the moment there is no idiot detector to prevent them from entering the voting booth.

Here are some signs, though, of people who would do us all a favor by staying home in November:
If you choose a candidate based on a sign in someone's yard or if a bumper sticker will sway your vote, then don't vote.
If the opinion of an actor, singer or celebrity is the determining factor for choosing a candidate, stay at home.
If your understanding of history is limited to Oliver Stone films, have a movie marathon, but don't vote.
If you think that blogs are the only source of reliable news, then stay at home and monitor them.

As citizens we have a responsibility to examine the qualifications and convictions of the candidates. We should weigh that information against our own convictions and beliefs. We should choose the candidate that we (not the media) think will accomplish the goals that fit our worldview. If you are unable or unwilling to do that, then you have a responsibility to stay at home on election day.