Voting One's Conscience

[Orrex]

63. "Conscience" in this context is a euphemism for narcissism

Over the years I've seen many dozens of people lament that such-and-such a candidate doesn't represent their own interests, and this excuse is invariably offered up as if it were anything more than petulance. It's not a principled stance; it's simple hipster contrarianism.

By that logic, I should never have cast a vote in any election, since in the millennia-long history of elections, no candidate has represented my interests. Similarly, no candidate in electoral history has "earned my vote except by being the best (or least worst) option available at a given time.


If a particular voter declines to vote or wishes to vote for a write-in candidate, that's obviously their choice and they are obviously free to do so. But I can do without their petty moralizing while they do it. Typically there are bigger issues at play than an individual voter's list of grievances, and if that voter truly can't choose the best option among far-from-perfect candidates, then that's the voter's failure.