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October 8, 2008
A Question of Morality
When I was much younger, I actively participated as a volunteer in several political campaigns even presidential campaigns. On a couple of occasions, I considered running for public office. I never did.
Here in the United States we are now facing one of the most significant presidential elections of my lifetime. Things like climate change caused by human activity, a woman's right to make decisions about her own body, the separation of church and state and, with it, the possible degradation of science curricula, health care, and American's place and reputation in the world are all in play. And, yes, the future of our economy, even the world's economy, may also be at further risk if we choose incorrectly. And perhaps the issue that disturbs me the most because of its entanglement with many of those just mentioned, the problem of the ever-widening income gap between the haves and the have-nots is on the table. This election will likely affect the direction of this dangerous vector. And of course, I am concerned about security, real security, not just for my country and my people but also for all those who worry about their future.
There is a candidate for President that I support and for whom I will vote. He was not my first choice when the process began those many months ago. But now, I think Senator Obama is the only remaining candidate worthy of my vote and, frankly, anyone else's vote. I think he is the best remaining candidate to address my concerns, the best by a very large margin. But there are those who disagree.
Now here is my moral problem. Unlike in days gone by, rather than getting directly involved in this campaign, I have simply thrown money at it, mind you, not a lot of money, about cost of a three or four day vacation in a neighboring state for example. Yes, I've talked to several undecided friends and I've passed along a few emails and the like. But, as important I see this presidential election, my real commitment has been limited to throwing money at it. And what kind of a moral commitment is that. I worry that I should be doing more, a lot more. I have a long list of excuses but no moral justification for my inaction. I worry that if this goes the wrong way it will be in part my fault, again.
In some religious traditions, there is a formula that goes here. But instead of reciting a formula, I may spend November 4 on "vacation" in New Mexico or Nevada. I can vote by absentee ballet. But then, if the polls show a big enough gap to alleviate my worries about a possible Bradley effect, I may just continue in my immoral ways.
Posted by Duane Smith at October 8, 2008 8:38 PM | Read more on Current Events |
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Comments
What morality is there in a system that offers few if any reasonable choices to its citizens? Democracy or de-mock-racy? Morality goes both ways. Sometimes we have to come to grips with the fact that a relationship is over and unrepairable. Perhaps it's time to move on. I'm betting that Government no longer has any real value or meaning to the People as a whole. This latest election is even emptier than the last and I've never been one for "Reality TV" dramas. There's no point exerting oneself in a system that consistently fails us. (And I'm speaking both about the Canadian _and_ American sham of a democratic system.)
Posted by: Glen Gordon at October 21, 2008 2:01 PM
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