The Value of the Vote
An acquaintance of mine posted on Facebook the other day that we should not “peer pressure” people to vote who don’t feel they are able or prepared to do so. They also posted that the more access we have to something the greater the quality is diminished. I’ve been struggling with this the past few days. Unsure of where I fall on the spectrum of quality vs. quantity and the right to vote; or even how these two concepts are related.
Supply and Demand
Certainly, the economist in me can see this point. Its classic supply and demand, the concept of scarcity, that the less there is of something the more valuable that item becomes. And this works for most things, but only for finite resources. Our environment is a great example. We are slowly coming to realize that our planet cannot regenerate as fast we can consume, making our natural resources (think clean air and water), finite and immensely important. But when it comes to applying this same logic to voting I run into a problem. The vote is not finite (except in that each person gets one), but it is restricted. Those under 18 are not eligible to vote, neither are those who are not citizens of the United States. Eligibility can be revoked, as is the case with formerly incarcerated individuals.
In fact, the value of the vote has been manufactured by its restriction. 100 years ago women were finally granted the right to vote, something I’m sure many men saw as a threat. To argue that more votes diminish their value is something that can only be explained by the identity of those making that claim. If you are in a position of power then, naturally, you would feel that more voices silence yours. But, the reality is more votes, more voices, more opinions, make us all better (remember, I say this as a staunch feminist who abhors and is legitimately terrified of the current administration).
All you need is love
Then I thought, what else is only enriched by more access? Besides human and civil rights (which I categorize with voting), I realized that it’s the one thing we definitely need more of in this world, LOVE. I remembered, suddenly, a conversation from a few years ago that I had with my friend and her husband. Their son was just over a year old and she was discussing with me the potential of having another child. Her husband said that he didn’t feel he had any more room in his heart for another child. That the capacity of his love was at its limit. I responded that he would be surprised how much love his heart can hold.
Our unlimited capacity for love is what makes it valuable. I have no children of my own and frequently doubt my own ability to fall in love. Then I think about how many times I say “I love you” to people in my life, and how often I feel that love from others. Every time a friend of mine has a baby my capacity for love grows more; and with every new friend I make, my love for those I’ve known all my life seems to increase exponentially. My capacity for love really is unlimited, and that’s a capacity we all (well, most of us, present POTUS excluded) have within us.
Your vote, your voice
So isn’t it the same with voting? Sure it is a precious commodity, something I certainly hold dear. I can only believe that in this case, more is better. My vote, my voice, is strengthened by the millions who speak (SHOUT!) with me and legitimized by the millions who disagree. Now in this election, I believe there is more on the line than a simple disagreement over policies and politics. This election is about nothing less than the future of our democracy. Love thy neighbor, love thy enemy, and love oneself.
