What do we gain by having a vote?

Philosophy Forums Philosophy
1

“What do we gain by having a vote?”

It seems to me that what we gain depends upon what we invest. If the vote is not accompanied by an investment of time and intellect directed at comprehending our self and our world then the vote becomes somewhat like our vote as to what is the best football team, ours or theirs.

Because our citizens invest little of themselves into our democracy it is a shallow popularity poll. Those who run the country give us these political teams that we can choose one or the other to be ‘our team’ and we can battle ‘their team’ and shout and laugh and rage at one another all to no avail because those who run the show use all this just to keep us happy with ‘bread and circus’.

I think that our (US) democracy is a shallow popularity poll. What do you think?

2

I think that it is only a shallow popularity poll when your favorite candidate is not in power.

-Imp

3

When 2 candidates (for all intents and purposes) represent the views, ideas, aspirations and beliefs of 100 million plus voters, something is wrong.

Twiddle Dumb and Twiddle Dumber – you choose.

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4

Do you think that if citizens invested more time and intellectual energy in becoming more intellectually sophisticated that would help?

5

most people neither have the time or the inclination to do so.

-Imp

6

a little self satisfaction

7

With you on the inclination, perhaps not on time.

Perhaps if a vote was a gift, rather than a right, awarded by some a-political civic structure, if such a thing is possible, it would be more carefully used…?

But then - who would qualify…?

8

coberst asked:

We gain the opportunity to demonstrate how divided we are.