Voting is not a right

The next time you hear someone going on about the “right to
vote,” remind them than voting is not a right – it’s a coercive power wielded by
the voting minority over a society.  Rights
denote the extent of action men may take without initiating force against
others.  Voting is force, the power to compel others at the point of a gun.  Media campaigns that attempt to “rock the
vote,” are advocating putting guns in the hands of more people, usually those
least motivated to make informed decisions about whom their ballots target.  The ultimate purpose of the democratic process is to redistribute the moral responsibility of the group with the most guns to the entire electorate.

6 responses to “Voting is not a right

  1. Brainpolice

    Wow. How would you respond to or address the Spoonerian voting as self-defense arguement? Because it almost seems like you’re making an ethical arguement against voting here, equating it to force or at least the implict support of force.

  2. I agree with the self-defense argument. Ultimately, that may be the only justification for voting.

  3. MCLA

    “The ultimate purpose of the democratic process is to redistribute the moral responsibility of the group with the most guns to the entire electorate.”

    Wow, very well said! I think the only utility of democracy for the ruling elite is that it makes the masses morally responsible for decisions that they had no real hand in taking. It imposes a collective self-reproach on everyone that keeps them from starting revolutions.

    Cheers!

  4. Ron

    In reference to my comments about your letter to Ron Paul supporters, I fully realize that I’m being a bit hypocritical by supporting him in the coming elections, as I agree with your ethical argument as stated above.

  5. Moneychanger

    Actually, voting is a legal right to anyone over the age of 18 years in the US. The immorality comes when, if I choose not to vote, I still am compelled by force into something I don’t want to do.

  6. Brainpolice

    Even if you choose to vote, you are still compelled by force into something you don’t want to do. This is true (1) if you’re on the losing side (2) even if you’re on the winning side, voting does not gaurantee representation (3) because it is impossible for an individual politician or body of politicians to accurately ascertain, predict or represent the diverse desires of an entire society; basically, apply the calculation problem to political representation.

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