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Writing Workshop

Essay # 1 (Nov. 6, 2003, in response to http://www.nytimes.com/learning/teachers/featured_articles/19981103tuesday.html)

An [i1] increasing number of Americans feels [i2] betrayed how [i3] their political will is represented. Many potential voters stay at home to protest against the feeling of inertia. I disagree with these people because a political system like democracy can only work appropriately if everybody gets involved.

Democracy means by definition that the people govern. More specifically, in most democracies people agree that every man is represented equally, that is, one man has one vote. Secondly, a large percentage of the population is qualified to vote. Only a few are kept [i4] from the polls. These non-voters are not discriminated arbitrarily but in accordance with certain requirements, for example, citizenship. Thirdly, there is some kind of majority rule. Everyone agrees that if a certain quorum is reached, a new government is formed[i5] . From this definition [i6] let us now look at weaknesses of democratic system. The essay should, thus, reveal why everybody has to go to elections[i7] .

The key issue in democracies is equal representation of all members of a society. If only one person denies the vote although he or she is qualified, it would distort equal representation because the majority party is always calculated as the percentage of all eligible voters[i8] . The problem becomes clearer when looked at a larger number of non-voters. Assumed that half of all eligible voters would not go to elections, then a new government would be formed that represents only half of the population. Provided the fact that the other half does not differ essentially in its political views, it would not be problematic.

The real problem arises if minorities  and radicals become organized. They tend to be passionate voters of extremist parties. Since all of them vote and half of the moderate middle class stay away from the ballot box, a disequilibrium in the political arena emerges. The extremist wing is overrepresented. It is, now, no longer the representation of the majority. This phenomenon is inherent in democratic systems. To avoid a situation as described above, each individual is responsible to vote for the party that best represents him or her.

It is definitely wrong to express discontent by refusing to vote. One has to be active to improve whatever one does not like. Doing nothing at all harms more than it initiates positive change. Living in a democracy means that everybody has to fulfil duties. Going to elections is one of them. As discussed in this essay, neglecting this duty might lead to overrepresentation of extremist minorities. These minorities, however, cannot possibly have much interest in keeping a functional democracy because an equal representation would cost them its political influence. Therefore, everybody who enjoys the freedom of democracy should take the necessary responsibilities and vote. Otherwise he or she contributes to the downfall of democratic ideas.