Is Single-Issue Voting Responsible Behavior?

nate95366 · 10-07-2008, 11:30 AM

I've been reading a lot of conflicting opinions on this and, frankly, my own opinion isn't very well thought out - yet. I have read many well-respected people who are basically dogmatic in saying that single-issue voting is irresponsible citizenship, and I have read another group of well-respected people who hold out that certain issues are weighty enough (slavery, for example) to justify single-issue voting. What are your thoughts - or are you like me and you haven't thrown this around enough to know?

Nate

**thesteve** · 10-07-2008, 11:40 AM

I feel like it really depends on the importance of that single issue to the individual. I feel like single-issue voting can be irresponsible, but isn't necessarily irresponsible.

**slap_j** · 10-07-2008, 12:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nate95366

What are your thoughts

I don't think the responsibility lies in voting at all. If anything it's the consideration of all the candidates/parties that is important. To conclude that none of them is worthy of your vote is entirely valid.

jthomas1600 · 10-07-2008, 12:40 PM

For me to switch my vote on a single issue, it would not only depend on the issue, but the ability of the person I might switch my vote to to make a difference on that issue. Pro-life is a big issue, yet some pro life supporters tend to vote for dems who don't necessarily support that position--may be because they don't feel it's a big enough single issue, and maybe because they don't think the pro-life candidate has the right plan or ability to make a difference.

TravisR · 10-07-2008, 01:19 PM

I agree with most of the points that have already brought up. I dont' believe that single-issue voting is irresponsible. Party-line voting is irresponsible. :P

JerryLove · 10-08-2008, 07:55 PM

I don't think it's irresponsable to decide based on a single issue, but I do think it is irresponsable to decide having only *looked* at one issue.

You care about issue A and B and C. Candidate #1 is with you on A but against you on B and C, and candidate #2 is the opposite.

If knowing this you decide that the support of "A" is more important to you in this instance than "B" and "C", fine... but if you never even look at the other issues... well... at the risk of loosing outright, I suspect Hitler (who *heavily* encouraged population growth so he could get more soldiers) was "pro-life"... and I don't think you'd vote for him.