Why do you vote?
Shane Claiborne has this to say about voting in a Q&A over at neue.
“For many of us voting may simply be damage control. It may be a way to minimize the impact of principalities and powers and try to free up the kingdom of God to spread in this world. But it’s certainly not that we’re voting to put our hope and faith there.”
I read Claiborne’s Jesus For President earlier in the year and posted several comments. As the months have rolled by, I have to say that I’m more and more in agreement with some of Claiborne’s observations in the book (although some still irritate me). And the above quote pretty much captures what I now feel about the process.
By way of background, let me say that I have historically voted Republican. The first presidential election for which I was eligible to participate was 1980, and I was proud to cast my vote for Ronald Reagan who still ranks as the best president I have ever voted for and probably one of the better in the long line of people who have occupied the office. And I voted for him again in 1984 and Bush the Elder in 1988 and 1992 because I believed in the vision that Reagan laid out.
But in 1996, I started having issues with some of the social policies of the Republican party and was disappointed in Bob Dole the candidate. I still voted Republican because the fiscal policies won me over (largely because I have long maintained that government should concentrate more on enablement than entitlement). I voted for George W. Bush in 2000 because I believed in him and his ability to lead and then again in 2004 because I couldn’t support John Kerry.
And now we’re in 2008 with two candidates that I frankly think are not the best this country can offer up in terms of leadership. So, I’ve spent a lot of time reading and talking to others about the process and the ideals rather than about the candidates themselves. For the first time since I could vote, I didn’t watch either convention and really didn’t listen to much of the commentary about them. I have been telling others that I’ve become disillusioned with the candidates.In reality, I’ve become disillusioned with the process.
I’m tired of the rancor and the sniping and the gossipy stories. I’m weary of the media frenzy, I’m irritated with the rhetoric and bluster, and I’m fatigued by the constant parsing of every statement from the candidates like some high-brow Beavis & Butthead episode (“heh, heh, he said ‘reform’”). I’m concerned about CNN, Fox, MSNBC, and the other news outlets trying to create news (or worse, be a part of it) rather than simply reporting it.But mainly I’m disappointed in myself because I realize that for the last several years I have been part of the problem and not part of the solution.
And so my resolution for this election is to remember where I put my faith and hope and vote in a way that hopefully benefits the people of our country rather than just me. I will continue to vote my wallet but will think about the way in which my wallet could be better used. I will continue to expect my government to steer clear of creating social change but will strive to vote for candidates that are interesting in enabling it. And I will continue to speak my mind on what I think the important issues are but will educate myself even more fully on those issues.
I vote because I believe it’s my duty to do so. I vote because I believe we always need change no matter who has been in charge or what has gone on during their administration. But mostly I’m going to vote this year because I think we’re at a turning point as a country, and I know I’m at a turning point as an individual.
I have to be part of that turning…