MTV has a ridiculous campaign promoting the need to “vote for something” so as long as you at least vote. Ignoring for the moment the farce of majoritarianism and its god, democracy, this statement smacks of irresponsibility because it does nothing to educate anyone about cause, effect and decision making:
Vote for pro-slinky reform, it’s about time we crack down on free-wheeling kinetic energy.
Vote for pro-tanning zoning laws, no more pale skinned punnies walking down these beautiful streets.
Vote for pro-holiday transformation, because Halloween should never be on a Sunday.
…
Vote for the end to women’s suffrage, because they’ve suffered long enough.
Godwin’s Law can tell you something about plebiscites in the good ole days. Why vote for the lesser of two evils when you can vote for the greatest, Cthuhlu? Or as Homer aptly puts it, “don’t blame me, I voted for Kodos.”
Speaking of years of yore, just over 16 years ago, on October 3rd 1988, the non-partisan League of Women Voters, whom had sponsored the presidential debates for the previous 20 years, issued the following damning statement:
The League of Women Voters is withdrawing sponsorship of the presidential debates … because the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter. It has become clear to us that the candidates’ organizations aim to add debates to their list of campaign-trail charades devoid of substance, spontaneity and answers to tough questions. The League has no intention of becoming an accessory to the hoodwinking of the American public.
Radley pointed to that historical footnote and ends with tying in the classic proverb, “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” Although I too am not a fan of Nader Raiders, I’d rather hang out with them than a hawkish neocon any day of a Thermidorian week.
