By: Jessica

In reply to Rose.

This still applies to my above comment – just because people fought tooth and nail for something doesn’t morally obligate me to participate in it if I find it ethically problematic. Drawing that comparison is like claiming that because people died to defend slavery in the Civil War, I am morally obligated to practice slavery. In my case, I decided that not voting for me would be an act of privilege rather than not, due to my position as an upper middle-class cis white female. I’m not going to judge someone else for coming to a different conclusion.
I am in no way arguing against the act of voting. What I am arguing against is a certain sanctimonious attitude and the creation of a false dichotomy (vote – responsible, don’t vote – irresponsible). I am also arguing against making broad generalizations regarding people who don’t vote. Some people who don’t vote view it as an act of protest, some people do (and the argument could also be made that an individual voting itself is a rather meaningless, ineffective way of creating change compared to other organizing efforts). Your last sentence makes the parallel even more explicit – these arguments sound like the “Love it or leave it” arguments – “Other people would love to have this so just be happy with it rather than trying change things or do things in a different way”.