ELECTION DAY STRUGGLES

ELECTION DAY STRUGGLES

     November 6, 2012 was one of the most polarizing days in the history of The Unites States of America. Not since the Civil War has the adolescent nation been so divided. Democrats against Republicans, Conservatives against Liberals, Fascist against Communists, Tea Partiers versus Occupiers; it seemed no matter which direction you turned, there were new and other groups arguing over who was destroying America faster. Not only do Americans believe it is their duty to vote, America and Americans believe it is their duty to spread Jeffersonian Democracy to every inch of the globe. Why is it that Americans are so heavily entrenched in their right, and the right of others, to vote?

     In America, this phenomenon can be traced to John Locke’s “Social Contract”. Locke states in Concerning Civil Government, Second Essay, all men are born with absolute freedom. But that freedom is not a license to harm others or their possessions:

 “Chapter VII 89. Where-ever therefore any number of men are so united into one society, as to quit every one his executive power of the law of nature, and to resign it to the public, there and there only is a political, or civil society. And this is done, where-ever any number of men, in the state of nature, enter into society to make one people, one body politic, under one supreme government; or else when any one joins himself to, and incorporates with any government already made: for hereby he authorizes the society, or which is all one, the legislative thereof, to make laws for him, as the public good of the society shall require; to the execution whereof, his own assistance (as to his own decrees) is due. And this puts men out of a state of nature into that of a common-wealth, by setting up a judge on earth, with authority to determine all the controversies, and redress the injuries that may happen to any member of the commonwealth; which judge is the legislative, or magistrates appointed by it.” - John Locke

     Voting is the vehicle Americans see as their voice Locke describes; "just powers from the consent [i.e, delegation] of the governed". By voting, they live up to their end of the deal. In return, the remaining rights of the people will be protected by government in the societal agreement.

     This past election was not the first time there was division between political parties. John Adams and Thomas Jefferson made our first steps into bipartisanship that have yet to be reversed. More localized rights versus Federal authority became a major rift in our political process that is still present to this day. Jefferson and Adams continued to debate this conflict well after their political careers were over. The issue of state or localized rights was a major point of contention leading to The Civil War and even finds a way into modern politics in the ongoing debate over a national health care system.

     The first amendment to the “social contract” may have been made when John Adams changed the word “property” in the Constitution to “pursuit of happiness”. If the contract would have excluded those without property, the majority would have been left out. The fact that these two thoughts are interchangeable suggests that an important function of The United States Government is to protect the property and possessions of its constituents and rights are the equivalent of possessions.

     The idea of the “social contract” was, at first glance, challenged by Transcendentalists, such as Henry David Thoreau. Thoreau wrote “All voting is a sort of gaming, like checkers or backgammon”. However, Thoreau is not questioning the contract society has with its constituents, he is adding to Locke’s assertion of the need for a responsible government. Not only does you government require you to vote, which still leaves the fate of society up to chance and mob rule by only counting the majority, but requires effort and strategy. Several failed Transcendentalists Communes seem to support the idea that society must not only function on a large scale but must be inclusive of all members of society. Transcendentalists, who are unhappy with society and felt the necessity to disengage themselves and seem to have overlooked the required societal entities and infrastructure to function properly. Reclusion from society is not always a valid option if one is to follow the contract. Thoreau, through reclusion, was able to give back to society. He was able to uphold his end of the agreement, while distancing himself from society. His research and writing he conducted at the time are considered a National treasure still today. Other Transcendentalists seemed to disregard the contract in favor of creating a society within itself. This system was quickly proven to unsustainable. The communes broke down on a societal level and dispersed, similar to “hippie” communes much later in American history.

     Locke realized that there would be imperfections in society and government as he states; “There are some laws that are fine, but others that are selectively applicable depending on the person, and that is unfair”. The Jeffersonian Model of Democracy left open the opportunity for smaller local governments to be hijacked by a small powerful section of the constituency, as was evident in the “Boss” era of the South. When the economic outcome outweighs the social and environmental impact of how government functions, the governmental side of the “social contract” is not being upheld. The argument against Adam’s Federalist view government would hold too much central power. The “social contract”, like many other American ideals, is less than perfect. Corruption and human error can always creep their way into our governmental systems creating a nearly unavoidable glitch.

     Until the Revolutionary War, Americans had no vote or say in their fate. The British Monarch ruled and what one said was virtually irrelevant. Voting was the most evident change to society in the newly founded United States. The right of Americans to vote is the cornerstone of the society. Without a vote, there is no democracy. Voting is what defines America. The belief that if other countries are voting, they are a part of America and Democracy give way for the spread of free elections, even if unwanted . The ideal that Democracy is the path to the future is what drive America to be evangelical about Jeffersonian Democracy. There are certainly holes in this philosophy. The most obvious being: forced Democracy is not Democracy at all. Even domestically, Americans do not generally vote. Many who vote are uninformed, others falsely informed. Voting may be our only tangible voice in society, but it is not our only obligation. Other obligations include; being an active and engaged as a member of society. If the government is ignoring society, civil disobedience may be in order. A vote is the voice of an American. Americans, as whole, believe if all the world had a vote it would be a much better place.

     I struggled on election day deciding if I should even vote. At the last second, I went to cast my ballot. Personally, I believe the government is not living up to their end of the “social contract”, but that does not mean I should not live up to my end. I would carry it a step further; by being an active member of society in both acceptable societal discourse and by mixing in a little civil disobedience to wake a zombie or two, we might be able to start to think about making real changes. One can not sit on their laurels and think by casting a vote, they can change society, individuals must take deliberate action.