Democracy
Tuesday June 6th is election day here in California.
Yes, thats right. Tuesday June 6th.
Wait, don't tell me. Some of you were thinking "Isn't election day sometime in November?"
Well, technically yes it is. But there are also a number of elections that are held throughout the year for local elections and such things.
Tuesday's election is the primary election for the midterm 2006 election year. Which spurs a couple of thoughts in my head, so I'm going to spell them out here. Definitely feel free to post comments on this one, I feel that this is a pretty important post.
That said, lets consider recent rhetoric all over America, usually espoused by President Bush:
"We are bringing Democracy to the middle east"
"They [islamic fundamentalists] threaten our values and ideals"
"You are either with us, or against us"
"America will never run... And we will always be grateful that liberty has found such brave defenders"
"America has never been united by blood or birth or soil. We are bound by ideals that move us beyond our backgrounds, lift us above our interests and teach us what it means to be citizens."
"Chew before you swallow" (Hah, I just had to throw that one in)
So we all know about Democracy and all its properties: power to the people, a government by the people for the people, people's checks on abusive and tyrannical governments, all in all to prevent another King George III. (Or William Henry Harrison, who died in office a month after inauguration because the guy refused to wear a coat in a DC winter. Do we REALLY want these people leading our nation?)
But how much do Americans really care about their democracy that they value oh-so-much and that they want to bequeath to the entire world?
There are approximately 186 million eligible voters in the United States. This means you are over 18 and havent committed any felonies, yet. There are 130 million registered voters. That's only 70%. America already gets a "C-" for voter registration. According to John. W. Dean, about 111 million voters turned out for the 2000 presidential election. Pull out your calculators and plug in the numbers. Thats just under 60% (59.67) of eligible voters who actually cast a ballot in the 2000 election, down from 69.3% in 1964. Then again, thats when JFK was running. (PBS differs with an estimated turnout in 2000 of 54%) With a generous curve, thats a "D-". Uh oh, starting to look like President Bush's College Report Card. And that was only the presidential election. Italy on the other hand, rolls at 92.5% voter turnout, according to PBS. They get an "A."
Lets take a quick look at midterm elections, years not unlike this one. Estimated turnout in 1998: 36.4%. Down from a whopping 55.4% in 1966. The population that votes in presidential elections today, is almost as small as the population that voted in midterms 40 years ago. PBS's data is from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, which for the most part seems pretty reliable if for no other reason than it has the words "International Institute" in its name.
1998 voter turnout in Mississippi according to the US Election Assistance Commission was 25% Montana had the highest at 51%, Oregon checks in at 45%, Maryland at 39.4% and California at 35.1%
Turnout for primary and non federal elections turns out to be roughly the same, the West Virginia Secretary of State's office published this information regarding their turnout. 1972 showed nearly a 50% turnout rating, and 1998 yielded only 32.15%
I've presented to you the statistics, now what to make of them?
There are a couple of things to account for turnout. Obviously, the candidates are a major factor. If they are as boring and large as William Taft, the population wont want to get out and vote. However, if a candidate can energize and mobilize people with charisma like JFK, turnout increases (see above statistic). but surely that cant be the only reason that 67.85% of the people decide not to vote in an election.
The political issues of the time are also a major factor. President Bush in 2004 was able to mobilize a HUGE section of his conservative base by calling for the gay marriage amendment and privitization to social security. President Clinton made his way to the White House in 1992 by harping on the economy. Andrew Jackson waltzed into Washington the second time around in 1832 by railing against the Nicholas Biddle and the Bank of the United States to win 59% of the popular vote.
Seriously though, these are not solid enough reasons to justify NOT voting in an election. "My vote won't make a difference," is probably the number one justification by Americans for not voting in an election. This statement has become increasingly false in recent years, as elections of all kinds, presidential, congressional, and gubernatorial have all been the closest in recent memory. Handfuls of votes do make a difference, now more than ever.
I dont need to go into any political theory to tell you why having the right to vote is important. They bored the hell out of you with that stuff in 4th grade. And 8th grade. And in 11th. And in 12th. And in college.
While writing this post, my friend Raghu made an important observation. The United States is not a direct democracy, like the Athenians had it set up. The US is a representative republic. We elect people to make our decisions for us. This means that getting the right people in office is even more important, and therefore your vote becomes even more crucial. We try our best not to have Bozo the Clown running the show. (instead we choose the terminator)
Now I'm not saying average people are not qualified to govern. Andrew Jackson believed that a government by the people should be run by the people, and he introduced the spoils system. What I am saying however, is that people really should care more about who their leaders are. Yeah, you've heard this before. But seriously, people don't take enough advantage of it. For me, its not so interesting. I live in a pretty solidly democratic area, and the Democratic Candidate for office will win easily in my precinct. This post is really directed to all those who dont live in pre-determined precincts. Florida. Ohio. Iowa. Wisconsin. New Mexico. Swing States. This is where voter apathy is most harmful, because you are the people who decide our fate. I think the lack of turnout in these areas is most shocking, because voters here can directly feel the most power, as their choices determine the future of this nation.
Not every election is as interesting as the vice presidential election of 1800 Thomas Jefferson vs. Aaron Burr. Then again, not all are going to be as boring as FDR's 50th reelection. The primaries wont be as interesting as the November election, and midterms arent as interesing as presidential elections. However, each election is important. There are more laws than those set up by the Federal government, city and state laws govern your actions just as much as federal laws.
We speak of democracy, but we rank 139th out of 172 democracies as of 2003. Some have proposed the solution of mandatory voting laws. There are several problems with this, and for a complete analysis of that, see John Dean's Article here. I think a better solution, an idea floated by some a long time ago is a national election holiday. This would make either a full holiday, or a half day out of all election days, giving working citizens time off specifically to go to the polls and cast their ballot. The cost of this is minimal really, since the social costs of not voting are higher than the economical cost of a few hour's pay. If the wrong person gets into office, and the economy tanks, you are going to be worried about a lot more than the few dollars you lost casting your ballot. Ways around losing those bucks are already present, including voting absentee days before an election and dropping your card off in a postage paid envelope, literally at zero cost to the voter. You can make a decision in the conveniance of your own home, the weekend before the election if you so choose. At least vote this way, if you have a job and cant make it to the polls.
Having a job doesnt prevent you from going to the polls. Polls are usually open from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM, well after working hours hopefully so working citizens can get their ballot in before the polls close. Polling stations are distributed throughout residential neighborhoods, so you dont have to go far to cast your ballot either. Mine is literally a mile from my house. I can walk there if I so chose.
Dont know who your candidates are? Google them. Resources are available online that include platforms and endorsements. The Registrar of Voters sends out an information pamphlet weeks before the election. You may also go to sites such as www.smartvoter.org
The system has been set up much more conveniantly than the Jim Crow times of the 1800's. Things have been designed so everyone can cast a ballot who is eligible. The turnout for this country in recent years has been a disgrace. From the country that brought democracy to the world, its a sign of pure hypocrasy. Lets live up to the ideals that we gifted to the world, and get out there and actually cast your ballot. There is no such thing as an unimportant election, or a vote that "doesn't count."
Yes, thats right. Tuesday June 6th.
Wait, don't tell me. Some of you were thinking "Isn't election day sometime in November?"
Well, technically yes it is. But there are also a number of elections that are held throughout the year for local elections and such things.
Tuesday's election is the primary election for the midterm 2006 election year. Which spurs a couple of thoughts in my head, so I'm going to spell them out here. Definitely feel free to post comments on this one, I feel that this is a pretty important post.
That said, lets consider recent rhetoric all over America, usually espoused by President Bush:
"We are bringing Democracy to the middle east"
"They [islamic fundamentalists] threaten our values and ideals"
"You are either with us, or against us"
"America will never run... And we will always be grateful that liberty has found such brave defenders"
"America has never been united by blood or birth or soil. We are bound by ideals that move us beyond our backgrounds, lift us above our interests and teach us what it means to be citizens."
"Chew before you swallow" (Hah, I just had to throw that one in)
So we all know about Democracy and all its properties: power to the people, a government by the people for the people, people's checks on abusive and tyrannical governments, all in all to prevent another King George III. (Or William Henry Harrison, who died in office a month after inauguration because the guy refused to wear a coat in a DC winter. Do we REALLY want these people leading our nation?)
But how much do Americans really care about their democracy that they value oh-so-much and that they want to bequeath to the entire world?
There are approximately 186 million eligible voters in the United States. This means you are over 18 and havent committed any felonies, yet. There are 130 million registered voters. That's only 70%. America already gets a "C-" for voter registration. According to John. W. Dean, about 111 million voters turned out for the 2000 presidential election. Pull out your calculators and plug in the numbers. Thats just under 60% (59.67) of eligible voters who actually cast a ballot in the 2000 election, down from 69.3% in 1964. Then again, thats when JFK was running. (PBS differs with an estimated turnout in 2000 of 54%) With a generous curve, thats a "D-". Uh oh, starting to look like President Bush's College Report Card. And that was only the presidential election. Italy on the other hand, rolls at 92.5% voter turnout, according to PBS. They get an "A."
Lets take a quick look at midterm elections, years not unlike this one. Estimated turnout in 1998: 36.4%. Down from a whopping 55.4% in 1966. The population that votes in presidential elections today, is almost as small as the population that voted in midterms 40 years ago. PBS's data is from the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, which for the most part seems pretty reliable if for no other reason than it has the words "International Institute" in its name.
1998 voter turnout in Mississippi according to the US Election Assistance Commission was 25% Montana had the highest at 51%, Oregon checks in at 45%, Maryland at 39.4% and California at 35.1%
Turnout for primary and non federal elections turns out to be roughly the same, the West Virginia Secretary of State's office published this information regarding their turnout. 1972 showed nearly a 50% turnout rating, and 1998 yielded only 32.15%
I've presented to you the statistics, now what to make of them?
There are a couple of things to account for turnout. Obviously, the candidates are a major factor. If they are as boring and large as William Taft, the population wont want to get out and vote. However, if a candidate can energize and mobilize people with charisma like JFK, turnout increases (see above statistic). but surely that cant be the only reason that 67.85% of the people decide not to vote in an election.
The political issues of the time are also a major factor. President Bush in 2004 was able to mobilize a HUGE section of his conservative base by calling for the gay marriage amendment and privitization to social security. President Clinton made his way to the White House in 1992 by harping on the economy. Andrew Jackson waltzed into Washington the second time around in 1832 by railing against the Nicholas Biddle and the Bank of the United States to win 59% of the popular vote.
Seriously though, these are not solid enough reasons to justify NOT voting in an election. "My vote won't make a difference," is probably the number one justification by Americans for not voting in an election. This statement has become increasingly false in recent years, as elections of all kinds, presidential, congressional, and gubernatorial have all been the closest in recent memory. Handfuls of votes do make a difference, now more than ever.
I dont need to go into any political theory to tell you why having the right to vote is important. They bored the hell out of you with that stuff in 4th grade. And 8th grade. And in 11th. And in 12th. And in college.
While writing this post, my friend Raghu made an important observation. The United States is not a direct democracy, like the Athenians had it set up. The US is a representative republic. We elect people to make our decisions for us. This means that getting the right people in office is even more important, and therefore your vote becomes even more crucial. We try our best not to have Bozo the Clown running the show. (instead we choose the terminator)
Now I'm not saying average people are not qualified to govern. Andrew Jackson believed that a government by the people should be run by the people, and he introduced the spoils system. What I am saying however, is that people really should care more about who their leaders are. Yeah, you've heard this before. But seriously, people don't take enough advantage of it. For me, its not so interesting. I live in a pretty solidly democratic area, and the Democratic Candidate for office will win easily in my precinct. This post is really directed to all those who dont live in pre-determined precincts. Florida. Ohio. Iowa. Wisconsin. New Mexico. Swing States. This is where voter apathy is most harmful, because you are the people who decide our fate. I think the lack of turnout in these areas is most shocking, because voters here can directly feel the most power, as their choices determine the future of this nation.
Not every election is as interesting as the vice presidential election of 1800 Thomas Jefferson vs. Aaron Burr. Then again, not all are going to be as boring as FDR's 50th reelection. The primaries wont be as interesting as the November election, and midterms arent as interesing as presidential elections. However, each election is important. There are more laws than those set up by the Federal government, city and state laws govern your actions just as much as federal laws.
We speak of democracy, but we rank 139th out of 172 democracies as of 2003. Some have proposed the solution of mandatory voting laws. There are several problems with this, and for a complete analysis of that, see John Dean's Article here. I think a better solution, an idea floated by some a long time ago is a national election holiday. This would make either a full holiday, or a half day out of all election days, giving working citizens time off specifically to go to the polls and cast their ballot. The cost of this is minimal really, since the social costs of not voting are higher than the economical cost of a few hour's pay. If the wrong person gets into office, and the economy tanks, you are going to be worried about a lot more than the few dollars you lost casting your ballot. Ways around losing those bucks are already present, including voting absentee days before an election and dropping your card off in a postage paid envelope, literally at zero cost to the voter. You can make a decision in the conveniance of your own home, the weekend before the election if you so choose. At least vote this way, if you have a job and cant make it to the polls.
Having a job doesnt prevent you from going to the polls. Polls are usually open from 7:00 AM until 8:00 PM, well after working hours hopefully so working citizens can get their ballot in before the polls close. Polling stations are distributed throughout residential neighborhoods, so you dont have to go far to cast your ballot either. Mine is literally a mile from my house. I can walk there if I so chose.
Dont know who your candidates are? Google them. Resources are available online that include platforms and endorsements. The Registrar of Voters sends out an information pamphlet weeks before the election. You may also go to sites such as www.smartvoter.org
The system has been set up much more conveniantly than the Jim Crow times of the 1800's. Things have been designed so everyone can cast a ballot who is eligible. The turnout for this country in recent years has been a disgrace. From the country that brought democracy to the world, its a sign of pure hypocrasy. Lets live up to the ideals that we gifted to the world, and get out there and actually cast your ballot. There is no such thing as an unimportant election, or a vote that "doesn't count."
posted by AC at 11:33 PM
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