Voters vote based on self-interest and greed over the well-being of society as a whole. Why is it so hard not to think solely about yourself when it comes to voting for someone?
Let me give you an example, the first amendment gives everyone in the United States the freedom to practice any religion. This includes not forcing any one religion on citizens of the United States. Yet, people increasingly vote on what aligns with their religion, knowing that not everyone in the U.S. follows that religion.
I hate to be the one to call out religion, but Christians are mainly guilty of trying to change government policies to align with Christian ideals. One of the main issues Christians back up with their religion is abortion. Most Christians believe getting an abortion to be a sin, but my mindset is, if you believe it’s a sin, then YOU don’t need to get an abortion, but leave that option for women who conceive a child against their will, for women who are too young to have children, etc. Just because you don’t believe in something doesn’t mean the rest of the country has to agree with you.
For any Christians who might be reading this, think of this scenario. If all the Muslim voters in the U.S. voted to mandate schools to have Muslim prayer every morning, would you be okay with that? Would you be okay if another religion forced their beliefs on you?
We need to bring back empathetic voters, voters that have the interest of the country at heart and not selfish or religious ideals. Voters need to realize that living in a democracy means protecting the freedoms of everyone and not just the freedoms that align with your personal lifestyle or faith.
Here’s the truth: Empathy can be uncomfortable. It requires you to step outside your bubble and imagine the life of someone whose experiences look nothing like yours. Empathy asks you to vote not only for what makes your life easier but for everyone else, too.
