My kids’ packets always comes first in the mail, but that gets me on the alert as I wait for mine. I get my envelope a week or so later and pull out the guide, read all the statements for initial impressions. I look at the candidates’ photos–what for? I don’t know, and I don’t fully trust that, since it will surely, as this Scientific American article says, trigger my ingrained stereotypes. But at least I can observe and reflect on these, and maybe, just maybe, put a little trust in what appears to be a genetically ancient and still adaptive instinct–can I perhaps recognize the look of competence or trustworthiness? But surely I’m not as adept at recognizing these qualities in faces that are unlike those I most frequently interact with. And whether there’s any merit or utility to these instincts is debatable–the variables are many and their testability is questionable, as this NIH article explains. So I prepare to rebel against anything that appears to be, in practice, ancient bigotry resurfacing in a time where (I have been trained) it has no place. Are they more like my “self” or “other” group, my instincts race to ask? “Watch out!” my mind warns, “Check your bias!” Against what? Do I even have any trustworthy standard, rebalancing factor to “check” it against, other than the current socio-political brands being marketed to me daily? Are these any more trustworthy than my paleo-gut reactions, really?
So I back up to consider, why do I vote? What is my goal? In choosing candidates to support, I need to know this. Is it to “participate in the democratic process?” Too vague and theoretical. To strengthen the power of the group(s) I am part of and keep myself insulated, safe, and comfortable? Understandable, and in my experience, a common approach. Is it to right wrongs against others, restore equity, preserve diversity, rebalance access to resources and power, take the moral high ground, be on “the right side of history”? What’s the hidden self-interest there? For I am not so naive to think it’s all about altruism. Is it to solve current, visible, pressing problems that threaten my livelihood, family, resource network?
Consider the argument that all have the responsibility to vote. I’ve absorbed this view along the way, and so felt guilty that I hadn’t started my citizenship application process earlier in my decades of residency here. I certainly think I should vote, as an informed and responsible citizen. But should everyone? Should poorly informed, mislead, psychotic and criminal citizens also vote? If not, then the problem arises, who decides who ought and ought not to vote? What’s to stop the powers that be (at any particular time) from defining these in (can vote) and out (disqualified) groups based purely on power interests, and limiting education opportunities and expanding definitions of criminality and psychosis? Wait…, uh. Oh. I write as if that’s not already a well established practice…
AAct gives ten general reasons that to vote, all about affecting one’s personal quality of life. This makes sense, but how do I figure that out? What candidates will best support my self- and group-interests? Which will best smooth pathways to my best life now? And what about my past religious and humanistic training that says moral choices involve self sacrifice? Is it sometimes best to vote in a way that loosens my group’s grip on power in order to diversify and balance access, in order to, if not improve my own lot, at least improve my self concept and therefore mental health? Or should I give up today’s marshmallow (me first) for the three of the future (diversified and decentralized balance of power for more stability and progress for the larger society)?
From the unsolicited text appeals, I discerned that the local Republican group wants me to vote, because there was a time my late spouse, usually a Democrat, voted for Trump. Certainly not because they believe everyone should vote, as this Pew Research poll indicates. Democrats want me to vote because either they believe I’m in the Democrat majority of my riding or as a member of a teachers’ union I’m likely to support them. The websites of both encourage readers to come out to vote, surely based on the belief that those looking at these pages are already on their side.
This year the local voters packet receipt deadline came and went without my getting anything, so I did a little research, finding that I’d be unable to get to a voting station in time without quitting work early, except on November 7th, on which day the polling was open until 8 pm. Down I went, where the sense of civic responsibility was on full display, people strolling in from the rain-wet streets and poring over their options before slipping their envelopes into the box.