Voting Abstinence: an American Dilemma?

Truth be known I am not an activist. However, there are many subjects that start me up. I am very opinionated which is good for a writer. Normally the course a person takes in their lives is solely their own. Remaining forever vigilant I refrain from standing on to many soap boxes. Even this subject which I am about to write about, voting – it is not as if I am trying to be an MTV ROCK THE VOTE advertisement.

If you have the right to vote then you also have the right NOT to vote. This is a truism. With the Democratic primaries coming to a close there has been much debate and speculation over what those who were Hillary supporters would do if Barack Obama becomes the Democratic nominee. 

A recent poll showed that twenty-eight percent of Hillary supporters say they would vote for McCain over Obama. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I consider myself more of a Democrat than a Republican. With that said I am fine if those supporters truly believe that McCain is the better choice out of the two. What I do have a very big problem with is this: in the wake of Obama taking the lead in super delegates, one poll shows that fourteen percent of Hillary supporters would not vote at all.

Several questions rushes to the top of my head like an erupting volcano. One question might be how can you consider yourself a true democrat if you rather see a republican in office for another four years rather than a democrat, even if you do not fully support his policies? Yes, it is your right not to vote, but to stand in rallies and cheer on someone who represents the party only to turn your back and not vote because your candidate did not make it is just shameful.

Of course, when people see polls like this they ask the great question: is the world ready for a black president? Is this potential backlash caused by a fierce competition between two great politicians or something deeper? I rather not discuss that aspect at the moment, but I will talk about issues involving the voting public.

I remember watching the presidential coverage during the two thousand and four elections. In a small town in the heart of the country, President Bush made a speech to a group of manufacturing plant workers. The president spoke on how he would not only preserve their jobs and industry, but improve on it. The people clapped in unison waving their miniature American flags.

During the post-speech interviews with the public it became obviously clear that many of them did not know much about the man they were applauding. The top sound-bites included tidbits such as “He’s the kind of guy I would like to have a beer with.” There were others even more disturbing such as “Bush would hunt down and kill Saddam for what he did during nine-eleven.” One statement that put the women’s movement back fifty years was “I’ll vote for whom ever my husband tells me to vote for.”

Fast-forward two years. A story about how many small towns in the heartland were emptying out because their main source for employment was moving overseas. They found the man who wanted to have beer with the president. Now living out of his car he was not so keen on the choice he made. Others were not quick to change. The lady who voted what her husband told her to was now divorced, but still believed “Her choice” was the right one and that “You can’t blame Bush for everything.”

Perhaps not, but you can blame yourself for lacking the drive to learn before you vote. As sad as their outcome was at least one could say that they did at least make a choice. Now in two thousand and eight with the war in Iraq ongoing and the economy heading into a recession, you would think people learned there, if not someone else’s lesson.

Voter turnout is at an all time high. More minorities and young people are registering to vote than ever and yet we could throw all this away. Why, because instead of taking a few moments to educate ourselves about the candidates and make an informed choice, we rather pretend we are voting for an American Idol contestant. “If Hillary doesn’t win many women won’t vote.” “If Obama doesn’t win then many African-Americans will not vote.”

Do we really want to head down this road again? People, sons and daughters, mothers and fathers, husbands and wives are dying overseas and we at home have such despicable acts such as “Operation Chaos.” Many are losing their homes and jobs, but it is not about the country or our values, it is about our guy winning and damn the world if they don’t.

Are Americans ready to respect the act of voting? That is the number one question I wish to see asked this electoral season. I just hope that what recent polls have shown is not the answer.