Does Voting Make You Feel Guilty?

Page 1 of 1 [ 16 posts ]

Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Posts: 995
Location: On a journey to the center of the mind

06 Nov 2012, 3:06 pm

Election day in the U.S. made me think about this, although I suppose this sentiment can apply to anyone in a modern democracy.

Does democracy make you feel guilty? I feel pretty guilty today. It doesn't have to do with my right to vote, but how that right came to be. In this country alone, people fought and died for the franchise. Many, many more went to jail, most recently during the Civil Rights movement. I cannot begin to fathom the untold horrors many in Europe had to go through for the vote.

Today, voting is a dangerous activity in many nations. People are threatened with their jobs or their lives if they vote a certain way, or vote at all. And yet here I am in 21st century middle-class America. Voting for me is as easy as ticking a box. I consider myself politically engaged, but I don't have to really think about politics for another two years, if at all.

Many have died for my sins. They deserve better.

TM
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 3 Feb 2012
Age: 41
Gender: Male
Posts: 2,122

06 Nov 2012, 3:09 pm

I usually feel dirty.

Fnord
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 6 May 2008
Gender: Male
Posts: 60,939
Location:

06 Nov 2012, 3:10 pm

I am guilty only of my own actions, and not those of another, especially those who died before I was born -- guilt can not be inherited, nor is it contagious or a characteristic common to all members of a particular race or gender.

1000Knives
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 8 Jul 2011
Age: 34
Gender: Male
Posts: 5,036
Location: CT, USA

06 Nov 2012, 3:43 pm

Voting would have made me feel guilty, choosing between the two terrible presidential candidates. So like Pontius Pilate, I hand the decision over to the crowd and wash my hands of it.

Sweetleaf
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 6 Jan 2011
Age: 35
Gender: Female
Posts: 35,155
Location: Somewhere in Colorado

06 Nov 2012, 3:48 pm

No, I just wish I was registered, couldn't figure out how but I am hoping for amendment 64 to pass that would be cool, why they make being registered to vote so difficult I am not sure. That only applies to Colorado, I still think think the system is in the sh*tter regardless of who we get for president and screw the federal government for the most part, they haven't exactly been doing their job, more trying to pave a path to fascism.

Curious to see what will happen if that amendment and similar ones in a couple other states pass.

_________________
Metal never dies. \m/

The_Walrus
Forum Moderator

Joined: 27 Jan 2010
Age: 30
Gender: Male
Posts: 8,878
Location: London

06 Nov 2012, 3:54 pm

Guilty because something is easy for you because people decided it was worth fighting for? No, if anything you should be proud.

SpiritBlooms
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 14 Nov 2009
Age: 68
Gender: Female
Posts: 1,024

06 Nov 2012, 4:18 pm

lotuspuppy wrote:

No, voting doesn't make me feel guilty. Not voting would! I do consider all those things you mention, but they would make me feel guilty if I didn't vote - when I have the easy voting atmosphere I do, and many people died or fought to make it that way for me. I'd be throwing away, even dishonoring their actions if I didn't vote. If I didn't vote just because I didn't feel like it or was lazy, it would be a slap in the face to all those in the world who want to vote but can't, or who risk their lives to do so.

thewhitrbbit
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 30 May 2012
Age: 39
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,124

06 Nov 2012, 4:26 pm

Guilty no.

Dirty yes.

I have a friend who's family are from the USSR. She said lining up to vote made her so thankful considering that her parents lined up not to vote, but to get their rations from the government.

lotuspuppy
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Posts: 995
Location: On a journey to the center of the mind

06 Nov 2012, 5:01 pm

SpiritBlooms wrote:

That's a good way to look at it.

lotuspuppy
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Posts: 995
Location: On a journey to the center of the mind

06 Nov 2012, 5:02 pm

Sweetleaf wrote:

What is amendment 64? In my state, we almost never have referendums.

naturalplastic
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 26 Aug 2010
Age: 70
Gender: Male
Posts: 35,189
Location: temperate zone

06 Nov 2012, 6:46 pm

lotuspuppy wrote:

This is the most ass-backward thing Ive ever read!

If you FAILED to vote ( like the 40 percent of the american population usually does)- THAT would be reason to feel guilty.

Just as you said- our forefathers died, and the civil rights movement, and how they are still struggling in other countries, etc etc...for the rare priviledge and right to vote.

So like you're saying- the right vote is bought with blood.

So if you were to chuck that expensive right and to NOT vote-that would be reason to feel guilty-logically speaking.

But somehow you feel that its voting that wrong.

Voting honors your grandaddy who died at D-Day. Failing to vote dishoners him.

lotuspuppy
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Posts: 995
Location: On a journey to the center of the mind

06 Nov 2012, 7:14 pm

naturalplastic wrote:

What I am saying is that I feel guilty anyone died at D-Day in the first place, especially since I have it so easy. I am not the one dying for this right. It's a bit like people who buy blood diamonds, or even clothes made in sweatshops. Many people don't care how ethical the process was, but just want the finished goods. I feel like I should care, and that thinking about it makes me feel guilty.

I voted today because I do feel it's my civic obligation, but I felt guilty that I have that right. It's a debt I can't ever repay. Just like my middle class lifestyle, which comes from the suffering of millions before us. Why do you think so many Catholics feel the need to mortify themselves?

abacacus
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 15 Apr 2007
Age: 33
Gender: Male
Posts: 3,380

06 Nov 2012, 8:21 pm

The people who died for your right to vote probably never cared if anyone would ever remember their name. I doubt they cared if anyone would remember their sacrifices.

What I can say with confidence is that they did care about the end result, and would be ashamed to see that people make a mocker of the sacrifice they made by ignoring the right to vote. That'd likely make their blood boil.

_________________
A shot gun blast into the face of deceit
You'll gain your just reward.
We'll not rest until the purge is complete
You will reap what you've sown.

naturalplastic
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 26 Aug 2010
Age: 70
Gender: Male
Posts: 35,189
Location: temperate zone

06 Nov 2012, 8:30 pm

lotuspuppy wrote:

naturalplastic wrote:

Blood diamonds are a false analogy.
Buying blood diamonds creates a market FOR blood diamonds (like knowingly buying stolen goods creates an incentive for theft).

The act of voting itsself does not cause people to die fighting for the right to vote. Voting is not fencing stolen goods.

Also- you feel that voting is your "obligation".

Is it an arduous obligation?
Or is it an easy vice?
A tithe, or a sin?

Which is it?

you're contradicting yourself.

Im sorry, but I still dont get it.

lotuspuppy
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Posts: 995
Location: On a journey to the center of the mind

06 Nov 2012, 8:45 pm

naturalplastic wrote:

lotuspuppy wrote:

naturalplastic wrote:

lotuspuppy
Veteran
Veteran

Joined: 14 Jan 2008
Age: 36
Gender: Male
Posts: 995
Location: On a journey to the center of the mind

06 Nov 2012, 8:46 pm

naturalplastic wrote:

lotuspuppy wrote:

naturalplastic wrote:

It's more of a privilege I must do, yet feel unworthy of.

Page 1 of 1 [ 16 posts ]

Jump to:

Does Voting Make You Feel Guilty? Post Reply New Topic

Does Voting Make You Feel Guilty?