Don’t whine if you don’t vote

Here at TYL, we’ve gotten a number of comments (the most recent are here) to our posts on the Supreme Court vacancy, as well as other issues, stating that individuals shouldn’t complain that the President and the Republican controlled Congress are pushing through their agenda if they also didn’t vote.

I must say that I agree with their argument. If an individual doesn’t care enough to vote, especially in today’s very closely divided nation, s/he shouldn’t complain about the outcome of the elections and/or the political consequences of the election. But the fact is that those who didn’t vote in 2004 are very likely not complaining now – if they didn’t care then, why would they care now? Those who are voicing concerns about the Supreme Court vacancy are very likely the same individuals who were engaged and active in the last election. These same people are also likely to be those who are engaged and active in the next election.

All that said, I voted (though as a citizen of the District of Columbia I have no representation in Congress, but that’s a different issue). And, there are millions like me across this country, some 30 percent of the electorate, who voted and still feel disenfranchised because neither of the two major political parties in this country support an agenda that we can also support.

Whining about politics is guaranteed under the First Amendment to the Constitution. In fact, whining is a necessary evil in today’s age of partisan politics. Without individuals voicing their concern with the direction our country is heading our leaders would be able to lead us down an even more partisan road. Our whining is what keeps them, partially, in check. Without whining, there would be no TYL.

So, while I agree that everyone should go out and vote and that those who don’t vote should keep their mouth shut. There are those of us out there who feel it is our civic duty to contribute to the national debate in whatever way we can. Hopefully, here at TYL, we rise above whining about politics and add to the debate.