Non-voting

In his On The Duty of Civil Disobedience (1849), Henry David Thoreau asked:

How does it become a man to behave toward this American government to-day? I answer that he cannot without disgrace be associated with it . . . . What I have to do is to see, at any rate, that I do not lend myself to the wrong which I condemn.

Readers of Strike The Root recognize that there are two principal demands that their governments make upon them: pay your taxes and vote. (Of course, there are many other "demands," such as military service, send your children to school, have a drivers license, etc., but many of these are ancillary to the primary means of government survival, which is the collection of taxes.)

Now, of these two principal demands,  taxation carries criminal sanctions: Pay your money or we imprison your body and/or confiscate your property. However, as yet in most nations of the world, failure to vote in government elections carries no penalty.

Governments, like all other hierarchical institutions, depend upon the cooperation and, at least, the tacit consent of those over whom they exercise power. In other words, government soldiers and police can force people to do things they don't want to do, but in the long run--in the face of adamant opposition--such coercion is either too expensive or too futile to accomplish its goals of subjugating entire populations. It is far simpler to motivate people to do what you want them to do, rather than forcing them to do it by pointing guns at them all the time. As Boris Yeltsin supposedly said, "You can build a throne with bayonets, but you can't sit on it long."

Educating generations of parents and children in government schools and teaching them to be patriotic and support their government in political elections is one of the fundamental ways governments garner public support. Citizens are taught that it is both their right and duty to vote. But all this is done with an ulterior motive in mind. As Theodore Lowi, in his book INCOMPLETE CONQUEST: GOVERNING AMERICA pointed out:

Participation is an instrument of [government] conquest because it encourages people to give their consent to being governed . . . . Deeply embedded in people's sense of fair play is the principle that those who play the game must accept the outcome. Those who participate in politics are similarly committed, even if they are consistently on the losing side. Why do politicians plead with everyone to get out and vote? Because voting is the simplest and easiest form of participation [of supporting the state] by masses of people. Even though it is minimal participation, it is sufficient to commit all voters to being governed, regardless of who wins.

Not voting in government elections is one way of refusing to participate; of refusing to consent to government rule over your life. Non-voting may be seen as an act of personal secession, of exposing the myth behind "government by consent." There are many reasons, both moral and practical, for choosing "not to vote," and they have been discussed in my anthology, DISSENTING ELECTORATE. To briefly summarize:

Truth does not depend upon a majority vote. Two plus two equals four regardless of how many people vote that it equals five.

 

Individuals have rights which do not depend on the outcome of elections. Majorities of voters cannot vote away the rights of a single individual or groups of individuals.

 

Voting is implicitly a coercive act because it lends support to a compulsory government.

 

Voting reinforces the legitimacy of the state because the participation of the voters makes it appear that they approve of their government.

 

There are ways of opposing the state, other than by voting "against" the incumbents. (And remember, even if the opposition politicians are the lesser of two evils, they are still evil.) Such non-political methods as civil disobedience, non-violent resistance, home schooling, bettering one's self, and improving one's own understanding of voluntaryism all go far in robbing the government of its much sought after legitimacy.

As Thoreau pointed out, "All voting is a sort of gaming, like chequers or backgammon . . . . Even voting for the right is doing nothing for it." So whatever you do, don't play the government's game. Don't vote. Do something for the right.  

                                                                        ~ Carl Watner (December 2009)

Government is holding an election this fall and expects us to participate. One of the major party candidates will win and government expansion will continue unabated. Some people will vote their conscience by voting for a third-party candidate. Their man has no hope of winning, but they believe it's better than voting for a Republicrat or not voting at all. Voting for the lesser of two evils or a long shot candidate is an exercise in self-delusion. If government exists,...
Exclusive to STR There has recently been much applause for Ron Paul and the prospect of his election as President of the United States. I respect Ron Paul greatly as a person, as he is a very humble and sincere individual. I cannot in good conscience vote for him, or any other political candidate. Why would I not vote for a man who would diligently work to reduce taxes, bring American imperial soldiers home from sovereign countries overseas, and in all other ways work to decrease the size of...
We have all heard the mantra before: "If you don't vote, you can't complain." Well I disagree, I think it's just the opposite: "If you vote, you can't complain." By voting, you are legitimizing the system. You are giving your stamp of approval that you will accept the outcome because you agreed to it. If it does not turn out like you had hoped, you have no right to complain, because that would make you a sore loser. Whenever I am in hot debate with the neurologically...
Four more years! That's what Bush says he needs to take care of all of our problems, just four more years. Of course the sheep have not thought to question what about the first four years? This would require a thought process, which the sheep do not have. He has 'big plans' for this country in the next four years, and he needs our help to achieve them. If only we would give him four more years, then all would be well again! John Kerry says that he only needs four years too; he has his own 'big...
I first voted in a presidential election in 1976. I have voted in every one since--until today. My choice in the last three elections was the Constitution Party--a hardy, decent bunch, working fruitlessly to resuscitate a document, long since deceased. I decided this year to not only NOT vote, but to spend the day avoiding, the best I could, the stimuli and intense fervor that seems to abound on Election Day. Productive work can keep you focused. Instead of the pointless noise and turmoil of...
Exclusive to STR May 10, 2007 Jolly old St. Nicholas, lean your ear this way. Don't you tell a single soul what I'm going to say. Christmas Eve is coming soon; now you dear old man, whisper what you'll bring to me; tell me if you can. Lately there have been headlines about empty beehives. Where have all the bees gone? Some say their absence is due to the overabundance of cell phone signals confusing them; some blame the genetically modified produce they pollinate. Maybe they just got...
Exclusive to STR December 14, 2007 I reported to you in a previous column some time ago, dear reader, about my unexpected conversation with Christine Smith, a candidate for the Libertarian Party nomination for President. I received a response from Smith expressing pleasure at the coverage, which really surprised me. Recently I had the pleasure of hearing from Smith again. Along with a positively friendly, personal note, she attached a copy of an essay she'd written titled, 'I Will Not...
Exclusive to STR It is not a man's duty, as a matter of course, to devote himself to the eradication of any, even to most enormous, wrong; he may still properly have other concerns to engage him; but it is his duty, at least, to wash his hands of it, and, if he gives it no thought longer, not to give it practically his support. ~ Henry David Thoreau I hardly want to be seen as a "divider," a person who seeks to reject people from the movement for no understandable reason. I want to...
Original article By Doug Casey.
Original article By Garry Reed.
Original article It makes more sense to play the lottery, according to Stephen Landsburg.
Original article Don’t throw away your life; throw away your vote.  By Brian Doherty.
Original article On election day, the Puppet Buckaroos remind you to delouse yourself. (video)