Re:Debian decides to allow secret votes
by ilammy on Tuesday March 29, 2022 @08:39PM
(#30850220)
> I don't think the vote is only way to express political power, just the most 'sacred' and extreme of all. The one of removing your ruler (or ruling party) from power.
Indeed, the voting is less about getting people you want to have power, but more about preventing people you don't want from getting power (or retaining the power). Votes don't directly affect the actual policy decisions that representatives make afterwards, you're not legally bound to fulfill your campaign promises. What voting process does instead is telling the society, ‘See, the elected officials are not massively hated by the people, no need for a concern’.
The thing about representative democracy is that your representative is still your representative even if you didn't vote for them.
Indeed, the voting is less about getting people you want to have power, but more about preventing people you don't want from getting power (or retaining the power). Votes don't directly affect the actual policy decisions that representatives make afterwards, you're not legally bound to fulfill your campaign promises. What voting process does instead is telling the society, ‘See, the elected officials are not massively hated by the people, no need for a concern’.
The thing about representative democracy is that your representative is still your representative even if you didn't vote for them.