The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible - Bastiat Institute

150 Chapter 26 • True Believer
Democracy becomes
a government of
bullies tempered by
editors.
Ralph Waldo
Emerson
We go by the major
vote, and if the
majority are insane,
the sane must go to
the hospital.
H. Mann
Brainstorming
• Why do voters usually vote for incumbents?
• Are politicians trustworthy?
• Does one have a right to complain about
politics if one does not vote?
• Is there any parallel between the behaviour
of abused spouses and abused voters?
• Ethical issues?
Commentary
Confusion can occur between “the right to vote”
and “a duty to vote”. Every citizen has the right
to be allowed to vote, but there is not a duty to
do so.
Why do people vote for the same candidate
or party at each election? Sometimes it is
because their parents did (traditional), or
because “everyone” in that community does
(fashionable). Some people are just too busy
trying to keep their lives together to “be
bothered” about politics (uninterested).
Sometimes a party becomes frighteningly
powerful and people are fearful. Those people
who do not enjoy making their own decisions or
who dislike change (even if it is an improvement)
will vote for the strongest party in order to
keep the established order. In some societies
confl ict is distasteful, so it is felt that voting for
the strongest party is a way of keeping society
amicable.
Voting or not voting is a personal choice.
There is no duty to vote. Voters who feel limited
or unhappy about their choices, or feel voting
has become meaningless, may decide not to
vote. However, even if you do not vote, you still
have the right to make a complaint. Intentionally
not voting is also a valid statement to make.
However, it could be a protest or apathy, for
which rulers sometimes hope.