Math Bad For Democracy?
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Stumble ThisDoes our vote really count? This witty and thought provoking short by filmmakers Chris Metzler and Josh Kurz contemplates the logic of voting.
While the famous economist Gordon Tullock explains why he doesn't vote, the film goes on to suggest a deeper purpose for exercising this essential democratic right. (From Current)
While the famous economist Gordon Tullock explains why he doesn't vote, the film goes on to suggest a deeper purpose for exercising this essential democratic right. (From Current)
Your actual vote counts for very little obviously: 1/115 million. That's bad percentage. ~0,0000000009%, but it does count.
However, there is a choice - not just pizza or pizza, but cheese pizza and pepperoni pizza. If you're lactose intolerant or hate meat, then you'll want to do as much as you can to make sure we get the right pizza, even if it is very little. If you do "your part" then you can safely say "I did what I could" and get your pizza. It might not be the pizza you wanted, but it's still a pizza. If you do not do your part, then you have to accept what everyone else decides for you. You have no valid reason to whine and sob afterwards that cheese/meat is the obviously superior pizza.
I contend that this is not well done and is actually quite foolish. Voting to affect the outcome of the election IS rational. We only think it's irrational because we're analyzing it from a microscopic point of view, instead of macroscopic, as we should.
If everyone followed the logic that their vote does not affect an outcome and simply stopped voting, we would be living in a dictatorship, since no one would vote. You don't vote because you think you can swing elections, you vote because you are engaging in a luxury that ultimately improves the quality of your life.
Yes, if everybody thought like me, it would matter.
For over 200 years, people have fought and died for our right to vote, and that vote is of less importance than a parking ticket.
But vote we must.
If you view yourself as an island - certainly voting to swing the election is irrational. But I guess I don't view myself as an island.
You gotta see the forest.