October 18, 2004
People That Shouldn't Vote
Early voting started today in Colorado, so I made mention of this to my students. There is a student in my class who is good-natured and likable enough, but has a tendency to run his mouth in idiotic ways. Typical was one observation--"Well, Germans just like to be in wars. When they're not at war, they're just not happy."
Today after I made the announcement, I overheard him saying to another student "well I just don't vote--it's a kind of principle."
I wasn't about to contradict him.
If only we could require people to actually have a knowledge of the issues before voting. Or, better yet, if we could encourage education and critical thinking on a mass scale that would result in better overall political knowledge. Of course, that would challenge the status quo so it seems unlikely to happen. It's all a conspiracy to keep the Republocrats in power.
Considering the "elitist" dust up on DttP, it seems we can agree that, yes, it is fortunate for everyone that not everyone votes.
Ludwig: That sentiment is really more (little r) republican and much less (little d) democratic. It seems a tree grows in Brooklyn.
Well, I'm all for representative democracy combined with the widespread ethical injunction that intelligence and accomplishment are some of the key factors that should go into choosing represenatives. It seems to be the least bad option available.
Aaaaah...that comment of the student warmed my heart. I tend to be of the school of thought that thinks too many people are voting these'a'days. Can't say it breaks my heart to hear that kid won't be putting in his two bits...or perhaps cent-and-a-half would be more accurate.
You know what would be a great idea? We charge everybody twenty bucks to vote. That way, only those who are educated enough to have good jobs can afford to vote - it'll solve all the problems you're addressing above. Plus, we wouldn't have to do anything crazy like overhaul the education system.
Sorry, i'm just fucking with you. But isn't it a little weird that we spend so much time talking about reforming the education system, when we ourselves (brilliant and beautiful rainbows that we are) are all the product of a relatively run-of-the-mill public school?
Well, speaking for myself, I tend to blame my failures and inadequacies on my lame public school education :). It prepared me well for junior college, while the people I'm trying to compete with now were mostly went to elite universities.
And it really was an awful high school for me (besides the pleasure of getting to know you'all, which mostly occured after high school..). I was actually stuck in "regular" classes for the most part.
Seriously though, it was my parents (and myself) that should have pushed me harder. There were, looking back on it, a few decent teachers (I think of Mr. Morrow and Ms. Cagel, who is now the school principal) among the awful ones who made a real effort to help me. In the end though, I think it is still the expectations set up by the parents' educational and class level that is desicive in one's class destination, regardless of how bad a system one is stuck in.