When you reach a certain age you will be eligible to vote. That is a special right you will have that needs to be honored and protected. It is important that you exercise that right as an informed citizen. You will be surprised at how many folks simply don’t bother to vote. However, the number of uninformed folks about the issues confronting our functional democracy should also dismay you. Uniformed voters can become easy prey for emotional pleas of politicians. (Fear tops that list.) For that reason low participation rates in elections has seldom bothered me. I’d prefer to have voters who are interested, hopefully informed on issues and take the time/effort to vote being the ones who help make the decisions.

The question of a “wasted vote” most often is discussed in regard to third party candidates. The United States has two primary political parties. Votes for third party candidates, especially at the national level, are often depicted as wasted votes. Papa has, by such a cynical viewpoint, wasted a Presidential election vote more than twice. When confronted by a “lesser of two evils” choice here is how I choose to go forward. If I can’t simply decide which candidate is worse/better I opt out of of voting for a candidate not worthy of my vote. My responsibility as a voter, as I see it, is not to pick a winner from two losers. I vote for an indiviual who I believe can do the job. I fullfill my participation. The process is not simply one of math where I need to vote for/cheer for a major candidate. If the final results of an election are 52% to 46% to 2%; are only the 52% of votes valued? 48% wasted for not backing a winner? It is always easy for partisians to label the 2% as wasted.

The dominance of our two party system sets the stage for a perceived wasted vote by the 2% in my example. It is a main block to thrid party advancement. The “main attraction” focus of elections possibly mutes good ideas/policies that third parties have. It won’t happen in my lifetime but a competitive third political party could rise up during yours. The number of voters who self-describe as “independent” is growing. Perhaps as the two main parties isolate to their extreme edges a yearning for a moderate center will emerge. Just as likely is that the two parties will continue to give lip service to moderation as a draw for independents in order to retain power. That is unless the crazies in one (or both) party drives the experiement in democracy off the cliff.

I do not write on this subject because we are close to the last election. It is because today is Veteran’s Day. When Papa was young all males were potential soldiers. The US had a draft until 1973. Selection for the draft was not a slam dunk for most young men. It was more of an obstacle to be dealt with before getting on with life. Elvis Presley was a good example. He was drafted. Many other men volunteered so that they could pick a branch of service or miitary specialty. Many entered the National Guard or Reserve units to satisfy their service requirement. A few Green Bay Packers who had to get a weekend pass to play in championship games were famous examples. Deferments for school or some employment fields were available to most who applied. But, in the end all males had to navigate the Selective Service hurdle. Most did this in an honorable fashion.

However, a small number outright dodged the draft, as well as accepatble military service. They did that to avoid any chance of going to Vietnam. I held/hold such persons in low esteem. I understood we all were in the same boat and needed to navigate the draft before getting on with life. Most college guys I knew made calculations that suited them and their goals. The formula was the same at age 18 as it was a few years later. For those who dodged I felt that act would possibly catch up to them with negative consequences. Most of the country doesn’t see it that way and has moved on. However, it’d be nice if dodgers wondered if a man died or was injured in the place they would have occupied. Probably unlikely knowing the character of dodgers. It is painful that some achieved high positions in life; including running for/being President. A few earn special conyempt by denigrating those who did serve or thump their chests as if they also served. I don’t recall seeing any of them over there.

Yep, at times there are valid reasons to vote for candidates not from one of the two primary parties. Not a wasted vote. Sometimes 2-6% is a conscious vote.