Shared interests & Voting: Philosophy Forums

Philosophy Forums » Philosophy of Politics and Law » Shared interests & Voting » Shared interests & Voting

Shared interests & Voting
What do you seek to accomplish whenever you vote?

Page: 1 2

Shared interests & Voting

180 Proof
kynic

Usergroup: Sponsors
Joined: Apr 27, 2003
Location: NOTHINGlifeNOTHING

Total Topics: 84
Total Posts: 5135

Posted 09/13/09 - 04:11 AM: Subject: Shared interests & Voting	#1
This is a self-descriptive poll. However you understand the terms involved select the slogan that best describes your socioeconomic status, or class, in relation to the way you tend to vote in elections. Explain your selection: e.g. Is it strategic / non-partisan? tactical / partisan? normative? aspirational? cynical? etc. Also, elaborate if your vote changes from local to state to national elections. A. "Live poor, vote poor" B. "Live poor, vote rich" C. "Live poor, don't vote" D. "Live rich, vote poor" E. "Live rich, vote rich" F. "Live rich, don't vote" The question motivating this exercise is: *How are shared interests optimally* expressed, or at least understood, in electoral politics?** Discuss.
The question isn't "Which explanations do I believe?" but rather "Which explanations do I least disbelieve?" Absence of evidence THAT MUST BE THERE (i.e. implied by any claim, concept, or (its) predicates, that affects changes in/to the world) entails evidence of absence. [What cannot be done?[What cannot be hoped?[What cannot be known?]]]

Benkei
Self-hating Dutchman

Usergroup: Moderators
Joined: Feb 06, 2004
Location: Netherlands

Total Topics: 61
Total Posts: 2372

Posted 09/13/09 - 05:38 AM:	#2
I'm pretty cynical as to my voting "strategy". There's a coalition system both locally and nationally in the Netherlands, which are negotiated by a select group of people taking the votes only as a basis. You end up with a small group of people deciding for the next 4 years how things will happen, which are not necessarily in line with what you voted for in the beginning since they are a result of negotiations. That said, locally I tend to vote more socialist. The budget is limited, government interference and legislation is limited and within those limited powers in general local authorities provide the services I need and the social support I think less fortunate people should have. (option D) Nationally, I don't vote. Due to Europe there is not much "power" left. I don't like the parties and it suffers from the shortcoming described above. Even if I do vote it means rather little due to me having no idea what will come out of the negotiations. (option F) With Europe I vote for whatever party is against further increase of European power. I'm all for economic integration and taking down barriers but what I do not appreciate at all is the far-reaching consequences of consolidation of power and the embedded corruption that goes with it, through lobbying and otherwise. Europe, in my view, is successful because of its diversity and its continuous disagreement. It needs no single political voice nor a single European army. I don't want the type of influence form the military-industrial complex that exists in the US here and small government will ensure that. In the long run I see that as an option D vote but am fully aware most people disagree.
Obama is humping the pump in an effort to re-inflate an economy that looks more like a balloon with a 55 caliber bullet hole in it. - Joe Bageant

Yahadreas
YHDRS

Usergroup: Sponsors
Joined: Mar 02, 2006
Location: Awesometown

Total Topics: 54
Total Posts: 1903

Posted 09/13/09 - 07:52 AM:	#3
I don't vote. I have more fun things to do with my life.
I am awesome.

Cadrache
Tenured Poster

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Dec 09, 2006
Location: AB, Canada

Total Topics: 104
Total Posts: 2644

Posted 09/13/09 - 08:54 AM:	#4
I didn't vote last time and I most likely will not this time. Being from Canada - the only platform I agreed with at all had to do with putting teachers in Afghanistan. That really doesn't say much for what they are going to do for Canadians. And this year? Why should I vote for any individual in any of the 5 main factions? All sides argued essentially 'we will make a united Canada for the people.' And what do they do? Attempt to seperate government. Their actions definately do not reflect the slogan. Oh, and I don't like the green party platform at all.. Too dumb. Anyways. I won't vote for any party at the very least. I haven't decided if i'm gonna run or not yet. My slogan? "no platform." My other slogan...? It's a secret till I decide if I want to run or not.
"...There was a writer who asked why it was that when we find positive experiences we say that only the physical facts are real, but in negative experiences we believe that reality is subjective. He made an example of those who say that in birth only the pain is real, the joy a subjective point of view, but that in death it is the emotional loss that is the reality." - Tony Ballantyne, Recursion. _____________________________________________ Truth is want. - The internal state of matters. Truth is Need. - The external state of affairs.

sheps
Assistant Professor

Usergroup: Sponsors
Joined: Dec 15, 2008
Location: United Kingdom

Total Topics: 20
Total Posts: 430

Posted 09/13/09 - 01:58 PM:	#5
I voted for the Greens at the last European elections, purely 'cause thats where all the closet socialists have scurried off to.
The Midnight Sun Never Sets.

unrealist42
Tenured Poster

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Jan 06, 2003
Location: City of Dreams

Total Topics: 10
Total Posts: 2252

Posted 09/14/09 - 03:41 PM:	#6
I vote for socialists and greens. Our strength is growing. In my precinct the number of green and socialist votes has grown from one (mine) to sixteen over the last 5 years. Before me, socialist and green candidates always got 0 votes in my precinct. People always said, why vote for a green, they cannot possibly win and so your vote is worthless and will not change anything. Well, my vote did because everyone in town wondered who that most singular voter was and talked about it for weeks and there were some actual discussions about what the green party stood for and this seems to have given others the impetus to vote green the next time around and now there are even a few people waving green placards at the polls on election day. I expect the greens will get some 40 or 50 votes in the next election and the other politicians will need to begin paying attention to our growing power. We will not win the election but we will gain some small influence that can grow over time. This is how voting works on the micro scale.

xzJoel
Bio-clump

Usergroup: Sponsors
Joined: Aug 30, 2005
Location: New Jersey

Total Topics: 32
Total Posts: 843

Posted 09/14/09 - 04:25 PM:	#7
180 Proof wrote: This is a self-descriptive poll. However you understand the terms involved select the slogan that best describes your socioeconomic status, or class, in relation to the way you tend to vote in elections. Explain your selection: e.g. Is it strategic / non-partisan? tactical / partisan? normative? aspirational? cynical? etc. Also, elaborate if your vote changes from local to state to national elections. A. "Live poor, vote poor" B. "Live poor, vote rich" C. "Live poor, don't vote" D. "Live rich, vote poor" E. "Live rich, vote rich" F. "Live rich, don't vote" The question motivating this exercise is: *How are shared interests optimally* expressed, or at least understood, in electoral politics?** Discuss. I go for D and interpret it as, "Live upper middleclass and vote in the interests of those that are poor." I'm not sure what your categories mean. I vote the way I do because it is the right thing to do. Something about society being judged by the way in which it treats its poorest members. Does that make me aspirational? Maybe normative? When I vote the way I do in hopes that the poor will be treated well, does that make me strategic?
Make a joyous noise onto the lord... Not a good one, just a joyous one.

180 Proof
kynic

Usergroup: Sponsors
Joined: Apr 27, 2003
Location: NOTHINGlifeNOTHING

Total Topics: 84
Total Posts: 5135

1 of 1 people found this post helpful Posted 09/30/09 - 03:51 AM:	#8
I've migrated from A to D in the course of my voting / political life. 'Voting poor' began as a 'strategic / non-partisan' but as my reformist outlook developed into one that's more critical -- and subversive -- my electoral motivation has become 'cynical': **I don't believe in "the system" (i.e. nation-state liberalism) as much as I believe in its slow, inexorable implosion.** Rigged markets abetted by rigged elections in "the land of the free & home of the brave" are making it exceedingly difficult for the majority of citizens to recognize, and thereby pursue, their 'shared interests'. The "Healthcare Reform" debacle is a representative example dwarfed only by last year's "Financial Collapse" which was precipitated by systemic & regulatory malfeasance on an unprecedented, though not unforeseen, scale. Edited by 180 Proof on 09/30/09 - 11:11 PM. Reason: No mas ...
The question isn't "Which explanations do I believe?" but rather "Which explanations do I least disbelieve?" Absence of evidence THAT MUST BE THERE (i.e. implied by any claim, concept, or (its) predicates, that affects changes in/to the world) entails evidence of absence. [What cannot be done?[What cannot be hoped?[What cannot be known?]]]

litkey
Kant's retarded son

Usergroup: Members
Joined: Apr 27, 2006
Location: Glasgow

Total Topics: 68
Total Posts: 1018

Posted 09/30/09 - 07:01 AM:	#9
180, I don't suppose you could give me your take on B. I mention this because many sheeple will be baa-ing to the voting booths in the UK soon, and it has been said that the Tory party is going to win. I also mention this on the back of the "SUN" newspaper (all pics/boobs/cartoons) now stating that it will pledge its allegiance to the Tory party (all oxford/cambridge ELITE), and deciding to ditch the Labour party (the party of the poor, well, apparently). Why would a person vote for their masters??
That's what tyrants get! - John Wilkes Booth “This is an impressive crowd: the Have's and Have-more's. Some people call you the elites. I call you my base.” -Bush Something cannot come from nothing.

sheps
Assistant Professor

Usergroup: Sponsors
Joined: Dec 15, 2008
Location: United Kingdom

Total Topics: 20
Total Posts: 430

Posted 09/30/09 - 10:09 AM:	#10
litkey wrote: 180, I don't suppose you could give me your take on B. I mention this because many sheeple will be baa-ing to the voting booths in the UK soon, and it has been said that the Tory party is going to win. I also mention this on the back of the "SUN" newspaper (all pics/boobs/cartoons) now stating that it will pledge its allegiance to the Tory party (all oxford/cambridge ELITE), and deciding to ditch the Labour party (the party of the poor, well, apparently). Why would a person vote for their masters?? I reckon the Sun jumps on the back of whoever they think will win. They've supported Labour for most of my lifetime, but I understand they've generally rallied round the Tories, probably 'cause Labour were nigh-on unelectable in the '80s. Maybe a person would vote for their master because of paternalism?
The Midnight Sun Never Sets.

Page: 1 2

Sorry, you don't have permission to post. Log in, or register if you haven't yet.