The Rational Argumentator

A Journal for Western Man

Voting Responsibly and Morally: A Reply to Gennady Stolyarov II

First off, I have a lot of respect and admiration for the independent philosophical thinker and open-minded Objectivist known as Gennady Stolyarov II, and also for the fact he spent such a large amount of time and effort answering my various arguments. It’s a pleasure to read the ideas of such an intelligent, thoughtful, balanced, fair-minded interlocutor!

That said, Mr. Stolyarov and myself are both ferocious, intransigent individualists. So full agreement on this, or any other vexed issue, isn’t likely.

I also think that the issue being discussed — that of voter responsibility — is complex and subtle, as evidenced by the lengthy debate on it found on various Objectivist discussion forums (especially Robert Bidinotto’s blog), and the several different long exterior articles cited by Mr. Stolyarov in his recent reply.

I actually agree with the vast majority of his article. But in my own odd, idiosyncratic way, I’d like to point out a few areas which still seem to be in dispute.

I might begin by stating that I don’t think the Republicans (my bete noir!) or Democrats are benevolent or well-meaning organizations. The “stated principles” of the Republicans in particular are largely pro-coercion in personal and social philosophy. I adduce “drug tyranny” and all those other “victimless-crime” vice laws which those bastardly conservatives seem to enjoy promoting. And this shameless effrontery and New Prohibitionism is all based on their viciously nonsensical beliefs in “god,” and making people “moral” via Leviathan.

The falsity and depravity of all these claims is known. Or at least it should be. Thus at some quick point “criminal ignorance” applies.

Altho’ Mr. Stolyarov is generally right to attribute “honest error” and “sheer ignorance” to most of today’s American voters — that is, those who choose to support the two major monster parties in the voting booth — at some point the reality is “Ignorance of the law is no excuse.” This means ignorance of Natural Law — or the universal law of Aristotle, Cicero, and others demanding liberty, justice, and individual liberty — is invalid. If you do evil by accidentally championing welfare statism and destroying freedom, you’re still doing political evil. No excuses allowed for advancing slavery on this earth. Get an education, dolt!

The fact that I advocate the above undeniable, invincible Natural Law ideal and principle — and take such a hard line therein — may in itself have an impact upon the whole discussion.

As for condemning the voters who oppress and politically attack society, well, I still regard them as at least somewhat inveterately and personally evil — not just actors/doers of evil — notwithstanding the interesting distinction and thesis made by Mr. Stolyarov in a separate essay.

And my strategically choosing to openly morally damn them may not “alienate” them, as Mr. Stolyarov imagines, but rather shock them into rethinking their views. My way here may be more direct and efficacious. Maybe the voters, in all their admitted nitwitery and sliminess, deserve more credit.

But if not, it isn’t my responsibility to coddle or even convince them. I just need to tell them decently and publicly that they’re supporting, and thus creating, socio-economic evil and welfarist tyranny. Thus they need to knock it off. Or else.

There may also be a bit of inadvertent pragmatism found in various parts of the different Stolyarov arguments. If so, a strict adherence to principle may be more appropriate, and may be ultimately more practical. We shouldn’t all be held hostage to the lowness of the common man.

When people “vote their conscience” they send a clear message to all where their heart and mind lies. I think fellow citizens and vote-hungry politicos read this message loud and clear, in a way which voting Republican or Democrat has a very hard time equaling. There’s no need to “explain” or “interpret” your vote afterward — even assuming you can get that voter or politician to listen and understand. Voting correctly every time seems the way to go, morally and practically.

I do agree with Stolyarov’s Condition for Liberty. Once the political ball (finally!) gets rolling in the right direction, we in the West (and everywhere) are pretty much home free. A “cascade of liberalizations” will ensue and eventually prove to be unstoppable. The pragmatic benefits of freedom — and a liberating high tech — will overwhelm any inadequate liberal theory.

As for my deliberately provocative claim about “physically hurting” those who vote for totalitarianism, well, I still tend to think voting is a physical act, not an expressed opinion. It predictably and almost ineluctably creates law which is a power of force. So those voters better vote libertarian.

I certainly agree that evil actions are properly physically punished, while evil speech is not. People can advocate welfare statism, communism, Islam, and devil worship all they wish. But they can’t use these ideals to justify coercive behavior inflicted upon my body and my life. Like the Wizard of Id comic, if I could instantly jail all those who pulled the lever for the commies or jihadis, I would. This seems like an act of justice. Their behavior seems like crime. Their political minions use the election to go on to create actual physical crime in the form of coercive laws. At the least, I wish I could expel these electoral miscreants from my country (not theirs) right away.

Ultimately, we may have to agree to disagree on this one. Voting doesn’t seem like a casual, loose, or unconnected act to me. It seems more like jury duty, police service, or military activity. It’s vitally important that such force-involving acts be correct and libertarian ones — not offensive, attacking, criminal, tyrannical ones. People who politically and morally sanction and empower totalitarianism by voting for the tyrannical Republicans or the tyrannical Democrats seem to be perpetrating an act of aggression upon the innocent.

Such, at least, is a scatter-shot precis of my current views on voter responsibility. Better think twice before voting to enslave me, folks!

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