Voting for Self Interest? or National Interest?
I usually try to avoid talking about politics here really because I don’t want this to be a political blog. I am going to make an exception right now to talk about a concept. I’m going to try to stay out of the party/candidate discussion, but just want to make a question on this idea. I’ve been bothered though the last few weeks about some things I’ve heard said that no one, NO one I’m hearing on EITHER side disputing. It bothers me because I think it runs contrary to just WHAT we should be voting for and what elections are about. Now, I’m trying to make this discussion not about one candidate or the other, but to the concept behind this argument.
What I’m talking about is that I’ve heard some people suggest that “many middle class voters vote against their self interest” when choosing one candidate or another because the other candidates policies are in their “self interest”. Self interest? SELF interest?
Hmmm… I thought we were voting for what is right for THE COUNTRY. It’s in MY self interest to vote for somebody that says everyone should mail me $100. Sure. But it’s NOT RIGHT! Now, a lot of times voting for what is in your own best interest also coincides with what you think is in the country’s best interest. Obviously though, that’s not always the case. Sometimes what is best for the country as a whole does not benefit you nearly as much as those policies that might be damaging to the country and only personally beneficial.
Is it that we have become so narcissistic and self absorbed that the greater good doesn’t matter, only what WEh get out of the deal?
What do you think?