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Aliasjax: I’ll defend the right to not vote as a matter of free speech. Not voting, as a means of 
protest over the failures or moral shortcomings of democracy, or how the system is “gamed” is a matter of free speech against the system. Principled non voting is as virtuous, maybe moreso, than voting. I also make no value judgment of the apathetic. It’s their right to not care, not believe they make a difference, and be content or discontent with the results of any election. The idea that one can only complaign about the results of any election if they voted is flat out wrong. We have an inalienable right to redress our government, it is not predicated on whether one voted or not.
Question: Are you bothered by the low voter turnout in Coeur d’Alene (est. 29.7%) and Kootenai County in yesterday’s local elections? Or do you prefer to have your vote carry more weight — and the apathetic and unknowledgeable stay home?
D.F. Oliveria is a columnist and blogger for The Spokesman-Review. Huckleberries Online was judged the best 2008 Idaho newspaper blog by the Idaho Press Club. And the best 2007 news blog in the Pacific Northwest by the Society for Professional Journalist. Print Huckleberries is a past winner of the Herb Caen Memorial Column contest by the National Association of Newspaper Columnists. The Readership Institute of Northwestern University cited this blog as a good example of online community journalism.
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Sisyphus on November 04 at 3:59 p.m.
We have a much bigger problem with voting by the misinformed. ;-)
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idawa on November 04 at 4:13 p.m.
Although every vote is equal, every voter is not. At least in terms of understanding of the issues. Likewise, I also think that a lot of the people who abstain from voting may do so on an intellectual basis rather others are just too apathetic to care.
Some, like myself, vote on some issue but leaves other blank. Is that wrong? I'm sorry, I just don't have enough information to vote for every judge, port commissioner, school board, and miscellaneous position put before me.
Of course, I assume a lot of people vote even if they have no idea about the candidates or not. I think this explains the research that show the down ballot positions like judges are often determined by who has the most common name, etc.. rather then merit.
It would be better if more people voted, but voter education worries me more than voter apathy.
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Me on November 04 at 4:16 p.m.
Yes sis - we must start having those that somehow know everything figure out some kind of test to weed out the 'misinformed' - of course I know you would call me misinformed because I don't agree with you, but I did vote yesterday so neener neener.
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Hereford on November 04 at 4:29 p.m.
AJ, your position is understandable in light of the fact that the major expansions in voting rights are now decades old, the most recent being the 26th amendment, ratified in 1971, which extended voting rights to those 18-21 years old.
That is, however, part of the problem: the tremendous work and sacrifice of previous generations to expand voting rights is now taken for granted.
I'm young enough that I can't conceive of a society where women can't vote, but that was the situation in some states until the 19th Amendment passed in 1920. Blacks were effectively denied voting rights until the passage of the Voting Rights Act in 1965.
People fought and died for the right to vote. I don't think we honor their sacrifice by saying nonparticipation is okay.
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Sisyphus on November 04 at 4:35 p.m.
Good response hereford.
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Herb Huseland on November 04 at 4:51 p.m.
Most of us just consider this view as voter apathy.I agree in principle that it is better that the mis or uninformed don't vote. The problem is who gets to make that judgment?
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Phaedrus on November 04 at 5:25 p.m.
I know you would call me misinformed because I don't agree with you
Hey! Let's have a jumping to conclusions contest, we can bet on who jumps the farthest and who has the biggest chip on their shoulder!
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Aliasjax on November 04 at 5:38 p.m.
RE: Mis- and uninformed voters…many political scientists would argue that these voters are random, in other words, there are equal numbers of ill-informed votes being cast on either side of an issue or candidate; therefore, the ill-informed votes cancel each other out, leaving the informed voters in a position to decide the outcome.
Hereford: Voting to “honor” the sacrifice of those who fought for the right to vote is the wrong reason to vote. While I admire their sacrifice, their accomplishment at the same time it secured them the right to vote, it for the first time also secured their first ammendment right to not vote - a right they were being denied previously.
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Herb Huseland on November 04 at 5:39 p.m.
You would win hands down, Phaedrus
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nic on November 04 at 5:41 p.m.
@ phaedrus - if we're going to have a jumping to conclusions contest, meme13 has got to be a finalist… if not the clear winner.
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Phaedrus on November 04 at 5:44 p.m.
sweet&sour boy, cite examples! ;-)
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spokelooneh on November 04 at 6:43 p.m.
The Founders, elites though they were, had some strong populist streaks at well, and such issues were argued at length before and during the Constitutional Convention.
Generally, the reasoned minds came down on the side of widespread participation and debate about the issues, with minority (opinion) rights enshrined, and the necessity to have an informed and engaged electorate in order to secure the future of the Republic, which also required a strong and critical 4th estate, the Press.
Entertainment of any sort, particularly mass, was rare or unknown to the founders, and generally unknown to the populace as well until around the beginning of the 20th century.
Since then, with far more leisure time, and the development of mass entertainment, THAT has been the primary “past time” of modern society. Civic knowledge, debate, and engagement on the important issues of the day, not so much, more's the pity.
“A Mrs. Powel of Philadelphia asked Benjamin Franklin, “Well, Doctor, what have we got, a republic or a monarchy?” With no hesitation whatsoever, Franklin responded, “A republic, if you can keep it.”
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Cindy H on November 04 at 7:42 p.m.
I vote to send Aliaxjax to exile island.
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Me on November 04 at 8:32 p.m.
@phaedrus yes yes I know - you always accuse me of having a chip - so I probably do. That is because you always tell me I cannot have an opinion (different from yours) unless I have a link that goes to a pre-approved site (by you) that has someone saying that it is ok to have the opinion. Thus the jump - no leap.
But you know Phaedrus I do have a love - hate with you. I may jump, but I still do read your posts - most of the time. I may post less often (because I don't have time to go find the links you demand) but my core beliefs are intact, as they were when I first started posting here. So while I read you, you haven't changed me…. yet….
:)
.
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wheels on November 05 at 5:58 a.m.
IMO most of the complainants only voice their discontent at election time and never get involved and be part of the solution.The uninformed voter is worse than a non voter.
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