The limits to voting

Now that the 2008 election is a memory (although still not a distant memory!), it's worth observing that many people are proud to have done their civic duty--they have voted. And of course, given a choice between not voting and voting, going to the polls is the better choice. However, my concern is that civic involvement is often equated with voting, as if it is the only relevant or important political act. Some people may say to themselves, "I've done my duty; voting is what politics is all about; I voted, and now I can kick up my feet and rest until the next election in 2010."

However, the reality is that there are lots of political activites that are way more effective and way more important than simply voting. For example, my mom was a lobbyist for the state AFL-CIO. She testified in state legislative committee hearings on a wide variety of bills; her input and that of her organization had real impact at times. Showing up at your local city council meeting has more impact than one vote in November has; so too with writing a letter to one's representative, or the local newspaper, or trying to influence friends and neighbors, or volunteering to work for an organization that promotes specific stands on specific issues.

In short, voting is just the tip of the political iceberg. If you voted, good for you--but don't think that vote is the be-all and end-all of political participation. It simply isn't.