Katheism

Not that we should all be political gurus, but when voting for someone we should at least have a reason.  However, there are some bad reasons that I think are, at best, not enough for an informed decision; at worst, they could result in an unwise choice.

He/she must be better than who we have now.

This position may manifest itself in intellectual laziness in examining a candidate’s opinions and character.   The truth is, in most cases it probably could be much worse.

He/she emphasizes promises of better treatment for a specific class of people.

Don’t you want a leader who will treat all classes of people equally and without preference?  If you were a member of a different class, would you feel the same way?

He/she will be the first <fill in the blank> to hold this office.

Making history is not a sufficient reason to vote for someone.

He/she is “different.”

“Difference” is not inherently beneficial.

He/she is committed to completely reversing our currently policy on <insert conservative/liberal social issue>.

Whoa!  The abrupt overturning of any social policy in which many Americans are invested can’t be undertaken lightly.  Major social changes must be made carefully and with serious thought to their worthiness and ramifications in both the short and long term.  Even if you agree with the change, you have to examine what the real-life effects of that change will be.