“One of the penalties for refusing to participate in politics is that you end up being governed by your inferiors.”
That might sound like a punchline that you heard this week on the Daily Show, but those words were penned in the fourth century BC by the Greek Philosopher, Plato.
Now that we’re into the silly season of what many are predicting to be one of the most consequential elections for our nation, state, county, city, and neighborhoods, it's important to remember that the lowest bar of political participation is voting. You need to vote. And the person who you need to vote for is …
… YOU.
No. This is not a call for you to run for office (although, it may not be a bad idea). It is, instead, a reminder of what Plato was telling us thousands of years ago and what our founding fathers intended when they designed a representative democracy for the people by the people: You should vote in your own self-interest.
Don't vote for the best-looking or most likeable candidates. Don't vote for a promised ideology or package of incentives. Don’t vote for or against an ethnicity, skin color, gender, or family background. Don’t even vote for candidates that you believe will do the most for the most people.
Vote for you.
Many people may be repulsed by this idea. To some, it may smack of selfishness and lack the type of charitable spirit that allows all members of a community to thrive. After all, “a rising tide lifts all boats.” To be sure, an aversion to being selfish is noble, but, when it comes to voting, it’s also misplaced.
Democracy wants you to be selfish. It wants you to honestly and truly be self-centered with your vote. It wants all your neighbors to be self-centered with their votes as well.
You want to do right by your neighbor? You want to end injustices? You want to foster equality and promote peace?
That’s awesome. Me too, but that’s what my faith compels me to do. These aren’t things a system does. This is what individuals do.
Government does not supersede, nor does it replace the religious or moral beliefs and actions of individuals. In fact, when done right, government should create an atmosphere where good people are free to do good things. At its best, government and its elected officials should also create an atmosphere where good people are free to stop bad things. As Peter Marshall, chaplain of the U.S. Senate in the 1940’s, prayed, “May we think of freedom not as the ability to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right.” Democracy is a system of government that provides each of us with the opportunity to do what is right. Religions (or, for the irreligious, philosophies), on the other hand, are systems of belief that define for each of us what is right and compel us to act on that.
You see the difference?
Even though billions will be spent on political ads, and hours will be taken up by political commentary, all trying to convince you otherwise, democracy is not divine and candidates are neither Savior nor Satan. They are public servants who work for you. Many of them would prefer if you forgot that. Their campaigns most certainly would. They want you to think that candidates are the heroes.
That, however, is not what democracy is all about. The job of our elected officials is to create and maintain an environment where you can be the heroes, heroes to your family, friends, neighbors, and community.
Your success is your family’s success. It’s also your neighbor’s success and your community’s success. Your family’s success, your neighbor’s success, and your community’s success IS your success. That’s what’s in your best interest.
You know what else is in your best interest?
Doing the hard, good work after the election, whether or not your candidates win.
It’s a democracy. If the candidate that wins doesn’t represent your interests, make a better argument for your interests’ next time. Another election will be right around the corner.
In this election, however, irrespective of party or personality, when it comes time to cast your ballot, don’t vote for politicians promising to save us all. Vote for you. Vote for the candidates that will give YOU the greatest opportunity go out and do what you believe is best for your family, friends, neighbors, and community.
Thom Mozloom is the President and CEO of The M Network, a Miami-based creative agency. He appears frequently in national and local media as a marketing, messaging and branding expert. He lives in the Upper East Side and he apologizes frequently to his wife, Lisa, his three wonderful kids, and his friends, neighbors, clients, and coworkers for writing or saying stuff like what you’ve just read.