Five Years Ago Today

Getting to know the devil

By Moristotle

[Originally published on June 14, 2012, not one word different.]

I completed one of those political questionnaires yesterday that, besides seeking numbers to rank election issues, seeks to gauge how likely it is that you might donate money to the party. To a direct question whether I’ll donate, I checked the “no” box and found myself explaining, “I don’t have money to waste on stupid political money wars.”

Not vote? You can't if you care

Say the November election is very close in your state. One million citizens vote for Mitt Romney, and 999,999 vote for Barack Obama.
    But you and your friend, disappointed and angry that President Obama's first term didn't live up to your hopes and expectations, don't vote. You stay home, you get drunk, whatever.

Are you sure you didn't vote? Romney got one more vote than Obama. You and your friend gave him that margin.
    If you care about the outcome of an election, you can't, logically, not vote.
    Caring includes taking care of your vote.
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[Follow-up]

Calling all voters

A comment about voter apathy on yesterday's post made me realize that my apathy toward making a donation to the political party I'm registered with might be interpreted as indicating that I'm also apathetic toward voting. I am not. I vote regularly and am proud of it, however frustrating it is to "lose." (I haven't kept a tally, but I suppose that I lose roughly half the time, which would be consistent with the typical motion of the pendulum back and forth between progressive and conservative, Democratic and Republican, in the United States.)
    The comment on yesterday's post cited low voter turnout. Almost as many eligible voters don't vote as do, sometimes more (especially in mid-term elections).
    Why doesn't everyone vote?
    Who knows for sure.
    Rather than focus on the reasons why not, I'd like to provide a reason why everyone should vote. My hope is that at least a few eligible voters who otherwise probably wouldn't vote in the next election will vote as a result of considering what I have to say:

First, money. Don't waste yours. Refuse to donate to political campaigns. Neither you nor I can buy anything politically. (I assume that no millionaires or billionaires are reading this.) We little people all have better uses for our money.
    If we take all of our money out of the campaign wars, the only money that will remain will be that of the rich people who almost own the country already anyway. Let them waste their money. We can at least get a chuckle out of that, and some satisfaction that we're shepherding our money better than they're shepherding theirs.

Second, the campaigns. Ignore them. Don't watch the advertising the aforementioned rich are paying for. That will add significantly to your sense of satisfaction. The joke will be on them. Bigger chuckle for you.

Third, the ballot. Using as good sources of information as you can (not the advertising) and consulting your own values, make a list of the candidates and the measures that you would like to see elected or passed. Some of the choices may be close; if so, study a little harder.

Fourth, election day. Follow Nike's advice and just go out and vote. Take your list with you. Ignore the "vote for" signs that are posted at least fifty feet away from the polls. Ignore the leaflets being thrust toward you as you approach the entrance.
    Vote early, get it over with. Take something to read, a Sudoku, a crossword puzzle, something to pass the time if you have to stand in line a while.  Don't think of the time as wasted (see number five).
    Then go about your life as usual.

Fifth, next day. Look at the election results. Enjoy knowing that because you and every other voter in America (who wasn't unavoidably detained) went to the polls yesterday and cast your informed votes (without being at all influenced by political advertising) the people have finally taken their country back.
    The joke on those who bought the advertising will be the biggest possible. Don't split your sides laughing. Don't let your satisfaction slip into smugness.
     Just be justifiably proud.

Wow! Doesn't that feel great!
    It's the revolution.
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[Follow-up]

Getting to know the devil

I completed one of those political questionnaires yesterday that, besides seeking numbers to rank election issues, seeks to gauge how likely it is that you might donate money to the party. To a direct question whether I'll donate, I checked the "no" box and found myself explaining, "I don't have money to waste on stupid political money wars."
    And I was thinking, The one percent who are in a position to outspend me (and everyone else I know combined) already own most of the country anyway. Political campaigns anymore seem designed to make the poor poorer and the rich richer. I just don't care to participate in it.

Apropos that thought, a friend told me recently that he and his wife are moving to Costa Rica:

Costa Rica is like it was here in the 50s, only we still have all the goodies. The temp is 72 to 83 during the day and in the lower 60s at night. Spring year round. We can live there, for $1.500 a month. That includes everything.
    If the Dems lose big this year, you can kiss Medicare as we know it good-bye. Unlike the US, Costa Rica has in their Constitution that healthcare is a human right. Can you see the wonderful people of the good old USA agreeing with that?
    We may get down there and after a year hate it; but what the hell, we're not going to live forever and everybody needs one last great adventure.

    I told him that I would never do anything like that myself. But the only reason I could give him was, Better the devil you know than the devil you don't.
    And I'm not even sure what that means.

Interestingly, when my wife and I were in Bulgaria last year, I found myself remarking, What if we retired here? (As you know, I often just find myself doing things, and more and more often, after reading Sam Harris's book Free Will, wonder why. In this case, I think I was just being whimsical.)
    However, out of curiosity, my wife checked into whether we could even collect our United States social security checks if we lived in Bulgaria. She found out we couldn't.
    I'm pretty sure my friend will be able to receive his social security checks in Costa Rica. I tried to confirm this by googling "in what countries can americans collect social security." The second link listed took me to a Social Security website that provided the following general information:

If you are a United States citizen, you may receive your Social Security benefits outside the United States as long as you are eligible for them. Regardless of your citizenship, there are certain countries that we are not allowed to send payments. For more information, please see the section titled Countries To Which We Cannot Send Payments in Your Payments While You Are Outside The United States (Publication No. 05-10137).
    If you are planning to be outside the United States for six consecutive calendar months or more, you can find out if you can receive your Social Security payment by using the Payments Abroad Screening Tool.

Costa Rica seems to be okay.
    Hmm, healthcare in its Constitution, eh? And what season was that year round?
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[Follow-up]