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The Peril of Single-Issue Voting
Why Casting Your Ballot on One Policy Alone Can Be Hazardous
Ask yourself this : Name just two policies of the current Government and that of the opposition. Can you do it? Are your answers full and accurate?
If not why not?
You’re right that in the messy business of politics, someone may vote for one party or candidate over another, because one party has adopted the single-issue that they feel most passionately about. But as much as that single-issue voting sounds appealing, there are dangers involved that can impact you and your community in profound ways.
Perhaps the most vivid evidence of single-issue voting comes when a party brands itself as the last stand for a highly charged, divisive issue such as abortion.
An issue such as abortion may be viewed not just as a political issue but a profoundly personal and moral one, directly affecting a person’s deeply held beliefs and values.
If a party identifies itself as the champion of either the pro-choice or pro-life agenda, it can rapidly pick up a cheering section that places this policy as the one and only you care about.
Voting for a party for a supposedly “good reason”, by supporting policies that reflect your moral outlook and beliefs, can…