LETTER: Not voting, but not lazy

To the editor:

Voting for me is low on a long list of priorities, right after hand carving a canoe. I think many engaged students would take offense to Dr. Lyon calling students lazy for not voting in a presidential election. Even the percentage of students are informed to Dr. Lyon’s standard (which is completely arbitrary) may find better uses of their time like me. For instance, I could do homework, or work to earn money. The probability that one vote could influence the election is so astronomical that it isn’t relevant to vote. Unless your goal for voting is to “be heard.” But if that is the case, the best way to be heard is not vote, but to be loud. I don’t need to prove anything to anybody by voting. I can achieve they same outcome just by lying and telling people I voted for whomever. I’m not going to jump through hoops of paperwork this year, and it’s not that I’m lazy, Dr. Lyon, it’s just that have so many better uses of my time. Our country deserves people who make efficient use of their time.

Jeffrey Parker