The Buddha in the Voting Booth 2024

Doug has Covid, Jon has a bad microphone, but they're chatting about the Buddha and voting anyway, as well as Buddhist practice and voting. What does 2024 bring for us in the voting booth, and how should we frame our political choices?
To register to vote, and check voter registration in the US:
vote.gov/

[@xiaomaozen]

🐱🙏

[@sunderedpsyche4289]

Me having to work is really starting to get in the way of watching live podcasts 😅 sorry I missed it

[@DiggintheDharma-qd7jz]

No worries!

[@Nikodem-z7e]

Why is it exactly that you think that it is important to "get out an vote", especially from a buddhist point of view?

[@DiggintheDharma-qd7jz]

It's a kind and compassionate act to do what little we can to help ensure that the better of several alternate people come into positions of power.

[@Nikodem-z7e]

​@@DiggintheDharma-qd7jz But isn't it highly unlikely that the person who is so disinterested in politics that needs to be encouraged to vote will make an informed decision? Politicians and media routinely twist the facts or downright lie and it takes considerable effort and research to get to the truth. On top of that, a lot of government actions even if well intended, have disastrous consequences. The person who votes only because someone told them they should is most likely to fall for false promises, mischievious tricks, or vote simply because someone "seems more likeable". Don't you think in would make more sense to discourage people form voting, ban campaigns, flashy advertising and make the elections as dull as possible?