It took me about 55 minutes to vote this morning.  A rational person would say why bother (see Tyler Cowen’s comments at Marginal Revolution)?  As a Republican in the District of Columbia I was I believe one of about five residents who voted for Senator McCain.  In addition, the only other real race in the city was for city council, which had seven candidates for two at-large seats.  There was one Republican and I believe three independents.  I could also vote for the DC Delegate in the House of Representatives–I had a choice of a Democrat and a person representing the DC Statehood Party (I did not vote for either). 

I also had the opportunity to vote for a U.S. senator and U.S. representative, which is suprising since the nation’s capital is not allotted a seat in either chamber of Congress.  The technical name is “shadow” senator and representative, though that adjective is not included on the ballot.  These are basically honorary titles for individuals who are suppose to lobby for DC statehood.  It came about in 1990 when Jesse Jackson moved to Washington.  There was speculation he would run for major.  But as George Will wrote, Jackson will never run for an office he can win because he does not want the responsibility.  Jackson could have been mayor, but it would have meant have to make decisions.  Instead, he found some archaic idea from the nineteenth century called a “shadow” senator.  Some U.S. territories sent people to Washington to lobby for statehood.  So Jackson ran for “shadow” senator and won.  Anyway, I did not vote for any candidate for either seat because I make it a point not to vote for any position that is not constitutionally mandated.

So in many ways it didn’t make sense to vote.  I vote because I believe it is a privledge few humans have in this world.  The editors at National Review had a good article as to why one should vote.  Besides, I wanted to vote to at least cancel out the vote of one non-informed (i.e. stupid) voter.  My fellow blogger at politicalbear.com–The Cranky Conservative–had a reference to one such voter.  I also saw a clip on Youtube which the support of Senator Obama is quoted as saying if he is elected she would not have to pay for gas or mortgage any longer.  I find the comment ironic since Senator Obama calls people who don’t to pay higher taxes selfish, but voters like this woman will vote for Senator Obama because she believes a President Obama will give her money her everyday living expenses.