Reflection - my desire to not vote is guised as righteous outrage against immoral candidates, but is in fact a rebellious expression of contempt toward the political establishment for failing to offer a candidate I can personally respect. This is selfish and myopic.

1/4

I am advised to ignore the moral failings of candidates and vote based on *policies,* because it is better for the country to have a scoundrel who pays the bills than a saint who leads us to ruin. As long as morality and pragmatism are independent, this is good advice.

2/4

My decision not to vote for immoral people is based on my concern that I'd be partially responsible for their evil by promoting/empowering them, and I don't want their sins on my conscience. I am told this isn't the case, as a vote isn't an endorsement of them personally.

3/4

My question is, if I'm going to isolate my conscience from a candidate *personally,* why can't I isolate my conscience from their *policies,* consider them economically/politically/socially ONLY, and permit evil laws that benefit the country with nothing on my conscience?

4a/4