This election year is by far the most insane spectacle I have ever witnessed in American politics. Radicalism is at an all time high – regardless of political stance – and the “candidates” could possibly be the absolute worst that this nation has to offer. The American people are bombarded with propaganda on a daily basis from the news and social media; constantly being lied to and tricked into feeling all kinds of negative emotions that will keep them locked into one side or the other of the political spectrum. On top of that, the American I.Q. is seemingly achieving new lows each year. Bluntly put, the American people are stupid – too stupid to handle such a huge responsibility as choosing the leader of the most powerful nation on Earth, based on the limited knowledge we receive on “who” these people vying for power truly are.

But don’t feel like I am standing on a pedestal. I also don’t know enough about these people to whom I am supposed to give my vote and “support”- thanks again, to our completely useless propaganda machine. I don’t know what “the truth” is – or what it’s not – for a wide range of pretty important topics. Information I would need to make the best educated choice.

So by anyone telling me to vote – or that by not voting I am somehow avoiding responsibility – you are no different from someone encouraging another to drive home drunk if they have work in the morning. “After all, it’s his duty to show up to his job on time? Am I right?” Only the stakes of voting are even higher when it comes to “electing” people into positions of power who will have the authority to start wars, crash the economy, implement obscene laws, and have a golden ticket to sell themselves to the highest business bidder. At least a drunk driver only ruins a few lives, should the unthinkable happen. A bad, power-wielding politician can ruin the lives of millions.

I suppose it’s important to note that by no means am I making light of drunk driving or the victims of drunk drivers. But if you are offended by that and don’t understand the analogy… then maybe you shouldn’t vote.

I digress.

Voting is an act of conscience. In good conscience, I can’t vote for one human being with whom I disagree, solely because I don’t “like” the other candidate. This is quite possibly the best argument against a democratic system I can think of. Or, as Winston Churchill said, “The greatest argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter.” How right he was.

The average American is not informed about anything of major importance that should grant him or her that right to have such a huge responsibility as to select a nation’s government – especially a nation that boasts the largest nuclear weapons capability and capacity.

And just to be clear, this is assuming that “the people” actually do have a say in government.

I think that anyone who can’t put two and two together and see that we have no real choice in this current system is foolish. All the proof I need for that viewpoint is right under our noses: Open corruption; politicians and big corporate CEO’s breaking the law and not going to prison; obvious election fraud; unfavorable laws being passed that limit freedom and enable corruption to go unpunished; undeclared wars, etc…

So, stop telling me to vote. I am not a supporter of these “candidates” and by telling me I have to vote, you are attempting to violate my freedom and my right to vote with my conscience. By telling me I have to vote, you are telling me that I am not free. You are saying that you and the nation have the right to make choices for me. But, by not voting I am making a conscious choice: I’m choosing to not participate in a corrupt, unfair and rigged political system that I no longer have faith in.

I’d like to end with a quote from one of my favorite comedians:

“On election day… I stay home. I don’t vote. Fuck’em, fuck’em! I don’t vote. Two reasons, two reasons I don’t vote: First of all, is meaningless. This country was bought and sold and paid for a long time ago. The shit they shuffle around every 4 years, *pfff* doesn’t mean a fucking thing.

And secondly I don’t vote because I believe if you vote, you have no right to complain. People like to twist that around, I know. They say: ‘Well, if you don’t vote, you have no right to complain.’ But where’s the logic in that? If you vote and you elect dishonest, incompetent people and they get into office and screw everything up… well, you are responsible for what they have done. You caused the problem; you voted them in; you have no right to complain. I, on the other hand, who did not vote, who did not vote, who in fact did not even leave the house on election day, am in no way responsible for what these people have done and have every right to complain as long as I want about the mess you created that I had nothing to do with.

So I know that a little later on this year you’re going to have another of those really swell presidential elections that you like so much, you enjoy yourselves it’ll be a lot of fun.

I’m sure that as soon as the election is over your country will improve immediately. As for me, I’ll be home that day doing essentially the same thing as you. The only difference is, when I get finished masturbating I’m gonna have a little something to show for it folks. Thank you very much.” – George Carlin

Author: John Smith is a 6 year Coast Guard veteran who has a love for personal freedom, esoteric/occult studies, offensive and intellectual comedy, and music.