Our beloved, dysfunctional democracy

No matter who wins Tuesday, in another four years we’ll still be one of those countries in which people prepare for Election Day by stocking up on beer and chips rather than canned food and ammunition.

We’ve come to expect vicious campaigns and nail-bitingly close elections. But if our guy loses, we sulk quietly for four years and then have another go at it. On the whole, we’re actually in good shape. That doesn’t mean we don’t have serious problems.

Our two-party system seems to have one main benefit: parties are unlikely to veer into the depths of insanity because they must appeal to a wide base to win elections. Unfortunately, this also means we feel forced to accept a bickering duopoly and corner ourselves into one of two poorly defined camps. It’s a system that is stable but also muffles bold and courageous people and ideas.

I voted for Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson rather than Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney this year. I know Johnson won’t win, but I believe if Johnson takes enough votes away from Romney, the GOP will see it needs to change its message.

Presidential election turnout hasn’t passed 70 percent in more than a century even though it has never been easier to vote. Get-out-the-vote efforts solve only half the problem with voters. Just because lots of people are voting doesn’t mean they have any rudimentary concept of what they vote for.

If you’re voting for your candidate because you like his policy propositions, realize that those propositions might never see the light of day due to the congressional climate and other limiting factors.

Party label matters. You should know in what direction your candidate will move in matters in which he has direct control — for instance, when issuing federal mandates or making appointments.

If you’re voting for your candidate because you agree with his party ideology, consider that you could be wrong. If you’re voting for your candidate because he looks like a good guy to have a beer or diet Sprite with, consider getting more information or sitting this one out.

Don’t just vote on Tuesday. Know exactly what you’re voting for, and think about how you can use your vote. Our democracy is like our quality of life. It is outstanding relative to the rest of the world but in vast and constant need of maintenance.

­— danoconn@indiana.edu