In Which I Commit Heresy

Switzerland didn’t adopt female suffrage until 1972.  The ignorant sometimes chalk this up to institutional sexism.

It’s untrue, at least directly.  The Swiss’ belief was that voting was a right – for those who defended Switzerland.  All Swiss men, at the time, served in the Swiss military; such service was a pre-condition of the franchise, on the theory that only those who were committed to defending Switzerland had a complete voice in running the country. 

And women just didn’t serve in the military, back then.

Now, I’m not advocating this for the US.  No, not at all.

But I do  think that “being aware of the world and the issues” is an appropriate level of commitment to justify participation in our democratic process. 

And so – if you can’t be bothered to learn the issues beyond the simple buzz-phrases or memorizing names, then please stay home and don’t pollute the electoral process with your ignorance. 

This is not a partisan statement, by the way.  It applies to all sides of the aisle…

…although I think it’s fairly clear which party’s gone long on “unthinking, ignorant fealty”.

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