In the grand theater of American politics, two actors perennially command the stage: the Democrats and the Republicans. Their performances, filled with sound and fury, captivate the audience, drawing eyes and ears to their well-rehearsed scripts. Yet, beyond the footlights and the fervor, there exists a silent majority, a tranquil forest untouched by the clamor of the political spectacle: the non-voters.
As the sun set on the year 2020, the United States cradled approximately 331 million souls within her borders. The presidential election of that year saw roughly 158.4 million citizens casting their votes. The Democratic candidate, like a river, carried away approximately 81.2 million votes, while the Republican candidate, sturdy as a mountain, stood with around 74.1 million supporters. A smaller stream, often overlooked but not insignificant, flowed towards third-party candidates, carrying approximately 3.1 million votes. Yet, amidst the clamor of the election, there remained a vast, silent prairie: approximately 172.6 million individuals who did not partake in this ritual, their voices echoing in their silence.
When we gaze upon these numbers as fractions of the total population, a landscape emerges:
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- Democrats: A river carrying ~24.5% of the population
- Republicans: A mountain bearing ~22.4% of the population
- Third-party voters: A stream flowing with ~1.5% of the population
- Non-voters: A vast prairie encompassing ~51.6% of the population
Sources: 1. U.S. Census Bureau – 2020 U.S. population estimates – 2. Federal Election Commission – Certified results of the 2020 U.S. Presidential Election
If we dare to interpret this silence, this non-voting, as a conscious choice for “no one,” then the prairie outstretches the river and the mountain. The silent majority, in their quietude, would have chosen “no one” over any candidate offered by the two major parties.
This interpretation, like a stone thrown into a still pond, sends ripples through the surface of our traditional political narrative. It illuminates the often overlooked, the silent ones who choose not to partake in the voting process. It whispers questions into the wind about our current political system and beckons us to consider new perspectives on political participation and representation.
Like a bird’s song heard in the stillness of dawn, this interpretation simplifies the complex symphony of reasons behind non-voting. Yet, it serves as a poignant melody, a call to awaken to the reality of political disengagement and the potential for alternative political structures.
In the quietude of this vast prairie, a profound revelation emerges. If we were to count the silence, the non-vote, as a vote for “no one,” then “no one” would emerge victorious in every election. This victory of “no one” is a testament to a deep-seated yearning for autonomy, a collective whisper of a people who desire no master in this democracy.
The concept of leadership, in its current form, is akin to a distant star, its light reaching us only after traversing the vast expanse of political cosmos. The national voting system, as it stands, is a mere shadow play, a facsimile of the true majority’s will. The leaders we see are not elected by the people but rather selected by the machinery of the system, a system that is far removed from the touch of the common man.
The two-party system, the Democrats and Republicans, are but two sides of the same coin, a coin that the state tosses in a rigged gamble. This system, presented as a choice, is in reality a cleverly crafted illusion, a mirage in the political desert. It offers the promise of an oasis, a say in the governance, but delivers only the sand of predetermined outcomes.
This system, a statist scheme, is a grand puppet show, where the strings of power are pulled not by the people but by the invisible hands of the state. The choice offered between the two parties is a false dichotomy, a choice between two paths that lead to the same destination: a continuation of the status quo.
In the heart of this silent majority, there is a seed of change, a desire for a system that truly reflects the will of the people, a system where leaders are not imposed but emerge from the collective consciousness. This silent majority, in choosing “no one,” is in fact choosing no master for anyone. They are choosing a system where every voice matters, where leadership is a shared responsibility, and where the power truly belongs to the people.
The path to such a system may lie not in the distant halls of national power, but closer to home, in our local communities. It is in our county seats and city halls where the voice of the people can truly be heard, where the impact of each vote is most tangible. It is here, in the realm of local governance, that the promise of democracy finds its most authentic expression.
If one chooses to vote, let that vote be cast not into the vast sea of national politics, but into the clear streams of local governance. For it is in these streams where each vote can cause a ripple, create a current, and shape the course of the community. It is here, at the local level, where this majority can truly choose someone they believe will represent them the best.
So, if you are to vote, keep your vote local and relevant. Let your voice echo in the halls of your city council, let your choice shape the policies of your county. For it is in the local that we find the universal, and it is in the choice of “no one” that we find the choice of “the true majority”.
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