I didn\u2019t double-check, but I\u2019m pretty sure this isn\u2019t a Delphic Maxim. Democracy comes from the Greeks, even if only the non-slave males were given the opportunity to vote. The Unites States doesn\u2019t have a direct democracy, which really only functions best among thousands of people. But we do have democracy, and I\u2019m a fan of it. I don\u2019t use this blog for my political thoughts (although you can be certain I have many). Doing our civic duty is an ancient pagan value and so I\u2019m using today\u2019s post to encourage you to vote.<\/p>\n
There are those in the US who would prefer if only land-holding, business-owning, morally upright, white folk could vote. Every time a person of color, a woman, someone in the LGBTQ community, a member of a religious minority votes, I consider that a radical act. Sure, many people among those groups are not radical, and plenty of people vote for the very forces that would oppress them. Still: exercise your constitutional right to vote.<\/strong><\/p>\n The presidential election is a circus. I don\u2019t consider the differences between Obama and Romney to be all that significant. If you don\u2019t want to vote for either of those, may I suggest that you look to third parties for inspiration? The Green and Libertarian parties have worthy candidates, and I support the growth of third (and fourth and fifth) parties, in order to move away from the bipartisan domination of discourse in the US.<\/p>\n It\u2019s not just the presidential election that matters, either. If you feel your vote doesn\u2019t count at a national level (and there\u2019s a strong argument for that), it most certainly does at the state and local levels. Vote for your representatives; see what\u2019s pressing for your city or county.<\/p>\n