Will I not vote*, again? No!

Will I not vote*, again? No!
Torrey Orton
July 28, 2010

It's voting time again. Last time (11/2007) I did not vote. Should I not vote, again?

Early in the emergence of democracy, Kant (on 30th September, 1784) wondered "What is enlightenment?" In that short musing he arrived at one of the conditions for public unenlightenment, as follows:

"… The remarkable thing about this is that if the public, which was previously put under this yoke by the 

guardians, is suitably stirred up by some of the latter who are incapable of enlightenment, it may subsequently 

compel the guardians themselves to remain under the yoke. For it is very harmful to propagate prejudices, 

because they finally avenge themselves on the very people who first encouraged them (or whose predecessors

 did so)…."

He seems to claim that a public, in its unenlightened state being in the "yoke", might make its "guardians" keep it unenlightened, keep it in the darkness of prejudice and the unthinking behaviour which blinds it to the realities of its times. That is, keep us under the yoke of tradition, etc. It might also be enlightened guardians themselves, corrupted by hard times, who encourage their brethren to peddle prejudices as enlightening


To read the commentators (who are among our "guardians", supposedly) on the present Australian election campaign, it's hard not to think that we are seeing other guardians, the politicians and some of the commentariat, knowingly keeping the public in the dark by dealing only in "prejudices". Aside from my increasing certainty that our collective ignorance, abetted by our guardians commitment to yoking us in their intramural power struggles, is growing, little else with useful foundations is on offer.


The socio-political context remains much the same as 3 years ago, but with intensified challenges (climate, financial, socio-economic, etc., etc.) and reduced commitment of public authorities, especially the political, to engaging them. There is no discourse but the spun world, hence there is no politics. There is a charade, with tragic undertones.


There is a discourse about life style matters of the rich and famous, modelling the deepest values of our culture to ourselves… and so on. Only two things challenge my commitment to note voting again. The seat of Melbourne has been vacated by a very competent and relatively spin-free Labour pollie, a candidate for membership of the enlightened guardians Kant mentions, who maybe got tired of being dragged by his unenlightened mates backwards into the twilight. This departure increases the chance that a green MP can be elected for the first time, since his replacement has none of the broader public respect that he attracted. As well, Greens are 7ish % off a senate seat quota in Vic, too.


While my overall sense is that it won't make a difference in the grand scheme if they get a seat or not, the small scheme may offer a poke in the eyes of the defective majors. That's hard to pass up since I can't get close enough to poke them personally without committing a crime, or an uproar, at least!


So, I will vote again, if for no other reason than to offer a slight aspirational hand up to acquaintances and friends whose hopes are greater than mine in the here and now that we're in.

Aude sapere**



*In November 2007 I wrote an article published in the now defunct New Matilda titled "I will not vote" arguing that voting in the Australian federal election was an undesirable collusion with the appearances of democratic process in undemocratic conditions. It was not warmly received, even by close acquaintances who were, and still are, more hopeful than I about the conditions for democracy here.


** 'dare to know,' 'have the courage, the audacity, to know.' Foucault, 1984 discussing Kant's challenge to those seeking enlightenment.