Voting and Other Flawed Institutions

We Californians love our direct democracy. This week’s primary ballot was 8 pages long, which included 60 candidates for governor! It was a lot. Not quite the time commitment of doing my taxes but still a substantial one.

I make a point of not leaving anything blank on my ballot. So that means researching non-partisan races like State Superintendent for Instruction and a whole lot of Superior Court Judges I knew very little about. Voting is a commitment.

And voting is a commitment worth making. Do I make compromises when I vote?
Absolutely.

Is our democracy imperfect and often frustrating?
Also yes.

Does any of this deter me from giving my full heart and mind to participating in our system and having my voice heard?
No way.

My dad has some sage wisdom on participating in flawed institutions. If you look at all the people who are married, the analogy goes, you might come to certain negative conclusions about the institution of marriage. But just because some people who are married do not live up to the principles they signed up for, that does not preclude me from getting married at all.

I see our democracy in a similar light. Just because some people running for office are self-aggrandizing, that doesn’t mean I shouldn’t vote for anyone at all. I’m not choosing who my friends will be, I’m not trusting someone to babysit my children, I’m participating in the system we have right now, one that is better than the alternative.

My participation is key. Voting isn’t something I get a pass on. People could choose to opt out of marriage entirely, for example, and just not participate. But no matter who we are or where we live, we don’t get the option of not having a government.

I actually like having a super long and involved ballot. As much as I might kvetch about the time it takes, I like that we participate directly in so much of our government here. It also motivates me to educate myself and others so we can make informed choices.

We need one another, not just in friendships and communities, but in our systems - no matter how flawed they may be.

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~What I’m reading~

The Book Seller by Tim Sullivan

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