Voting rights and just plain wrongs

Re “Can’t decide? Then just don’t vote,” Opinion, Oct. 10

Joel Stein’s Op-Ed was obviously meant to be funny. Except that it wasn’t.

Too many people actually employ this twisted logic for it to be humorous. To call voting “an entirely selfish act” that does not add to our nation’s well-being is just wrong. I vote for politicians whose policies help create a more just and equitable society for everyone, not just myself. Plenty of us do. We’re called Democrats.

Elizabeth Bailey

Dyer

Los Angeles

Stein brands the 80 undecided voters seated at last week’s town-hall-style debate “idiots.” Perhaps he did not appreciate the questions these citizens posed because they did not support his political agenda.

He pontificates, “A high voter turnout doesn’t make our democracy work better.” In light of the fact that the bedrock of any democracy is the participation of its citizens in the affairs of the country, Stein’s statement is what is idiotic.

Jack Yaghoubian

Toluca Lake

I would like to add: If you are totally ignorant, please don’t vote.

I had a scary encounter this morning. The tenant in my front unit asked me what the sign in my window -- Obama/Biden -- meant. My jaw dropped and I looked at him to see if he was serious. He was!

I explained that they were running for president and vice president, then went in the house, shaking my head. This guy is a single dad, about 35 years old, born and raised in the good old U.S.A. I wonder if he’s registered to vote? That would be even scarier.

Connie Trier

Everett, Wash.