Behind Our Votes: Self-Interest or the Right Thing?

Dick, who has no children, votes in favor of a school board levy that will increase his property taxes by 2%. Jane, who works at a minimum wage job, votes for a candidate who promises to fight against raising the minimum wage. How do we explain these choices?
– Are they being manipulated and duped?
– Are they unaware of the consequences of their votes?
– Or are they doing the right thing, being a good citizen?

From the outside, it looks as if both Jane and Dick are voting against their self-interest. But are they? Join us as we explore what it means to vote for or against our self-interest and ask:

– How do we differentiate between self-interest and selfishness?
– Between sacrifice and stupidity?
– Where do self-respect, love of country, and compassion fit into our decisions when we vote?
– If we judge others as voting against their own best interests, how does that affect our relationship to them and our opportunities for talking across party lines?

Join the Crossing Party Lines discussion and have a voice in our Nation’s Conversation! People of all views are welcomed, appreciated, and heard.

Opinions on this topic from elsewhere on the internet:
– The Rationality of Voting for Self-Respect Over Self-Interest (https://fee.org/articles/the-rationality-of-voting-for-self-respect-over-self-interest/)
– What’s wrong with voting against your self interest? (https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-wrong-with-voting-against-your-self-interest/727542)
– “Voting Against Self-Interest” is BS. (https://nsdolkart.wordpress.com/2015/08/20/voting-against-self-interest-is-bs/)
– Why working-class people vote conservative (https://www.theguardian.com/society/2012/jun/05/why-working-class-people-vote-conservative)

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