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"A major source of objection to a free economy is precisely that ... [i]t gives people what they want instead of what a particular group thinks they ought to want. Most arguments against the free market is a lack of belief in freedom itself."~ Milton Friedman from his 1962 book Capitalism and Freedom (Chapter 1: "The Relation Between Economic Freedom and Political Freedom")
"You have to vote," they tell me.
People insist.
"It's easy to enrol," they say (or said).
But that's only relevant if I wanted to vote.
And I don't. I don't, because there is no one to vote for.
"But it's your duty. People fought for the right to vote."
The right to vote is also a a right not to vote. That's a vote for 'None of the Above.' And none of the above deserve my vote.
"But if you don’t choose, everyone else chooses for you."But all the choices suck arse. So whomever everyone chooses will still suck arse.
"But you owe it to yourself and others to pay attention and make a choice!"
It's my attention to the candidates and their teams that tells me there's no choice amongst any of them worth getting out of bed for.
"But if you don't vote, the 'other team' will get in."
Things will happen that way even if I did vote. And what makes you think your team will be any better?
"But this is the most important election in my lifetime!"
You don't think it's funny that every election is sold that same way?
"But if you don't like the government, then you have to vote against them."
You're voting against; but the team for whom you do vote for take your vote as an endorsement. As a mandate. Don't give it to them.
There is precisely zero chance that even three years of me voting would shape even a second of government policy.
"But you speak for people who can’t vote. Children, the sick and the vulnerable are affected by the result but have no vote."
"But if you don't vote, you have no right to complain."
Contra that: if you do vote you're responsible for those speaking in your name. For all their theft and mendacity, all their threats and bullying, and all of their coercion and overspending. Your vote endorses all of that.
"But you can't complain about a government if you didn't vote."
Precisely wrong. It's only those who didn't vote for them who have any right to complain.
"So vote for the lesser of two evils."
The lesser of any number of evils is still evil. Why endorse that?
"But you speak for people who can’t vote. Children, the sick and the vulnerable are affected by the result but have no vote."
Then in that case they'd be better served by better candidates for office.
"But turnout is a mandate. A government elected by a bigger share of the people can claim to speak for them."
And a government elected on a low turnout might reflect that voters have refused to give them a mandate.
"But silence reads as consent."
Precisely wrong. Silence too is a voice.
"But, but ... you have to vote."
No, you don't.
Don't vote. It only encourages them.
* * * *
Q: Any other arguments for voting you've heard?
U.S. — According to reports, toddlers and dogs across the nation have teamed up to make sure you are doing okay on the toilet.
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