Why We Vote

Psychological surveys, polls, sociological theories, and other cerebral means of determining why people act the way they do have been utilized to measure this variable, or that variable, as regarding how people will vote and who they will vote for.

We can use these tools, if we wish, and to some extent they are quite helpful. But only among those who play political games, love to examine the minutia of political theories, and in doing so play fascinating mind games with each other.

But no tool, theory, or postulate has yet been developed to weigh a person’s individual conscience or their own heartfelt decision. When it comes down to it, I know that whenever the next Democratic primary is held or when the general election in November is held, many will pull the lever, scribble in the box, or touch the key pad having made up their mind at the last minute. Many will be truly committed, but many will be lukewarm as to who they truly support until the moment of reckoning comes. Many will be torn and ambivalent as to for whom they will vote until the last possible moment as they secretly and individually cast their ballot.

Their motives are intrinsically selfish, as are all decisions we make. Often voters vote not for the common good, but "what’s in it for me?". And if we want to vote for ourselves personally, we can do that.

We can rationalize and spin and allow personal bias to filter through and make us blind to the fact that we are our brother’s keeper. We are our sister’s keeper. And we can also understand that whomever we vote for is a steward of not just our trust, but the trust of the people. This is why voting is so vitally important and the strategic nature of whom we cast our vote for trumps high minded ideals.

If we wish, we ask ourselves "What President will screw me the least?"

As I said, we can do that.

Not this time.

Because if we do that, then NOTHING will change.