A vote is a powerful weapon. It is a terrible shame, however, that the current political system has turned this weapon into a meaningless action.
The political system that we live under has created an electoral structure that allows individuals to elect representatives and then wipe their hands clean of responsibility or further control. Once these elites are in power, they are no longer accountable to the people but are only listening to lobbyists and corporations.
If we set up systems in ways of direct accountability, we would have a hand in the decision-making, not just rich privileged individuals who run for office.
Apathy is a plague that our generation has to battle, but those who indulge in it do have an opinion and it is valid regardless. This feeling of apathy may come from several things but it is wished, encouraged and implemented by those in power because it continues the status quo, from which they benefit from.
Refusing to encourage the apathetic is just as appalling as the apathetic attitude itself. Self-empowerment should be encouraged to avoid disenfranchising the apathetic any further.
And this "god-given seat at the table" is an idealistic misconception.
It is those who are in power who make decisions and look to the non-political class for nothing other than votes to elect them into office.
It is correct that many people have fought, starved and died for the right to vote, but those same people have fought, starved and died for the right to choose not to vote.
There are many out there who choose not to vote because they feel that their participation in the act is only perpetuating and encouraging an oppressive system and do not feel represented by the system.
But for those who are apathetic it is important to not chastise them but to encourage them to be involved.
It is said that there are ramifications of not voting, but have you thought of the ramifications of choosing the lesser of two evils? If you continue to vote between two evils you start to no longer recognize evil.
Maryland will likely cast its Electoral College votes for Barack Obama and not John McCain and I made a conscious decision not to vote because of what both major candidates represent and because of the system they are a part of.
It is the political system we are forced to live under that has led me to this decision. I choose not to vote for either evil but to use my energy to work for social justice through movements other than the McCain or Obama camp.
The rich political elite will not take it upon themselves to make the radical changes that are needed to better this country and the lives of the citizens regardless of hope.
So I will not demean those who are apathetic but encourage them to take responsibility to do what they see fit to empower themselves and better our society, something a vote cannot not do.
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