The majority of citizens lose faith when faced with two candidates they don’t support. Because we live in a regime of negative freedom, where individuals are free from interference and have the …Read MoreThe majority of citizens lose faith when faced with two candidates they don’t support. Because we live in a regime of negative freedom, where individuals are free from interference and have the right to participate or not, many become fence-sitters. However, in a democratic republic, citizens have a responsibility to participate, but citizens won’t care much unless they are forced by law to engage. Even though we live in a representative democracy, each citizen still has a “direct” duty: to get up and vote.
From a personal standpoint, my husband is American and, to my shock and horror, has never voted. The thought of a 50+ year old American citizen choosing not to vote deeply disappointed me. As a British citizen ( now an American), I find it troubling that, despite our own flawed political candidates, it remains our civic duty to choose…even if it’s choosing between two poisons.
Perhaps a Rousseau-inspired model of political participation could be encouraged; one where citizens are first required to discuss and vote within their communities (states). Through this communal engagement, individuals would become more informed and invested, leading to sounder judgments when voting in local or national elections. Read Less
The majority of citizens lose faith when faced with two candidates they don’t support. Because we live in a regime of negative freedom, where individuals are free from interference and have the …Read MoreThe majority of citizens lose faith when faced with two candidates they don’t support. Because we live in a regime of negative freedom, where individuals are free from interference and have the right to participate or not, many become fence-sitters. However, in a democratic republic, citizens have a responsibility to participate, but citizens won’t care much unless they are forced by law to engage. Even though we live in a representative democracy, each citizen still has a “direct” duty: to get up and vote.
From a personal standpoint, my husband is American and, to my shock and horror, has never voted. The thought of a 50+ year old American citizen choosing not to vote deeply disappointed me. As a British citizen ( now an American), I find it troubling that, despite our own flawed political candidates, it remains our civic duty to choose…even if it’s choosing between two poisons.
Perhaps a Rousseau-inspired model of political participation could be encouraged; one where citizens are first required to discuss and vote within their communities (states). Through this communal engagement, individuals would become more informed and invested, leading to sounder judgments when voting in local or national elections. Read Less
Many European countries incentivizes/require voting with tax credits and the like, no reason for us not to as well