The Duty to Party
This is not an article tackling all the many broad issues, nor even those which I usually mention. No, this is a different sort of article. It comes to me, as the November 6th election day draws to a close, that there is a substantial problem with the voting mindset in the United States, one which
It comes to me, as the November 6th election day draws to a close, that there is a substantial problem with the voting mindset in the United States, one which I have rarely seen discussed. There are, actually, a wide variety of problems with our involvement in the process of civic engagement; we, as a population, will eventually need to do some serious rethinking as to how we approach these issues.
However, this is not an article tackling all the many broad issues, nor even those which I usually mention. No, this is a different sort of article altogether.
I believe that one of the greatest problems we have, as a whole country, is the lack of engagement with our electoral process (on both the local and non-local levels). As I was considering my vote today it occurred to me that some of the terms used to describe the voting process, and those who do go and vote, betray a deeper psychological truth about our culture. Namely: the idea of voting as a duty, or an honor, or a privilege. Voting, it seems, is the tourniquet applied to the bleeding wound in our great civic responsibility; “we must take this role of ours with the utter seriousness that it is due!”
And yes, we must. It is good to be informed and it is vital that everyone take part in the daily and yearly construction of the government (else the government ceases to be “by the people” or “for the people” pretty darn quickly.
But, voting should also be fun.
There, I said it, and I’m not taking it back.
Voting is a great responsibility, that is true, but it is also an intrinsic and wonderful part of living in a country where, through the power of the polls, we can still actually make a change in the operation of the grand order of things — and that without any sort of violence, either. This is a wonderful situation in which we find ourselves.
Yes, there are problems — to deny this would be a failure of insight and intellect. But, the fact remains that it is possible to do something, today, which, for most of human history, has not been the norm. I find that to be a marvelous thing.
Given that, I think that one of the very first things we need to do in order to begin the process of redefining, and reengaging, with our commitment to the world of civic duties, is to make the process more of a party. Just a bit.
Voting day should be a day of celebration, a day off for the whole family where children get to see their parents vote and where teenagers are freed from school halls to attend the polls. It should be as much of a party for the nation as the Fourth of July is — because they designate the same ideals. The “fight” as it were has never actually ended; the revolution continues every time election season comes around, and it should be a chance for every single citizen to feel the appreciation for their country; a chance for every man, woman, and child to feel pride and excitement at a system maintained by the man, for the many.
I think, tonight, we should all remember this and try to spend a little time celebrating the beauty of a world which allows us to be engaged, a world which will hopefully become increasingly united in the days ahead.