Why I Don't Vote—But Don't Take It Away From Me - Millennial Money with Cliff Mason

BIO

Cliff Mason is the author of Millennial Money. He is the Senior Writer of CNBC's Mad Money with Jim Cramer, and has been that program's primary writer, in cooperation with and under the supervision of Jim Cramer, since he began at CNBC as an intern during the summer of 2005. Mason was the author of a column at TheStreet.com during 2007, which he describes as "hilarious, if short-lived." He graduated from Harvard College in 2007. It was at Harvard that Mason learned to multi-task, mastering the art of seeming to pay attention to professors while writing scripts for Mad Money. Mason has co-written two books with Jim Cramer: Jim Cramer's Mad Money: Watch TV, Get Rich and Stay Mad For Life: Get Rich, Stay Rich (Make Your Kids Even Richer). He is 100% responsible for any parts of either book that you did not like. Mason has also had a fruitful relationship with Jim Cramer as his nephew for the last 23 years and will hopefully continue to hold that position for many more as long as he doesn't do anything to get himself kicked out of the family.

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Oct.30

3:51 PM ET

Thursday, 30 Oct 2008

Why I Don't Vote—But Don't Take It Away From Me

Posted By:Cliff Mason

Topics:Elections | Stock Market

This is why I don't vote: Probability Your Vote Will Make A Difference. These guys calculate that your vote has a one in ten million shot at swinging the presidential election if you live in New Mexico, New Hampshire, Virginia or Colorado. Well, I live in New York, and even if I lived in those states, I wouldn't spend even fifteen minutes doing something that had a one in ten million chance of making a difference.

Economically speaking, I'm one of those people who believes that voting is completely irrational. although I'd be one of the first people to start throwing rocks and putting up barricades if my right to vote was ever taken away. Just because I never use my toaster-oven, that doesn't mean I don't appreciate having it around. In practice your vote really can't be decisive, even in an election for local dog catcher, because if it comes within one vote they'll call for a recount and the total will likely change.

Some people have good polling places where they can vote quickly, some people have to wait in line for hours. Either way it's time wasted. Time you could be using to work and make money, time you could be using to do something fun. In other words, time is precious and you shouldn't squander yours by exercising your civic duty.

Now maybe you get a kick out of being a good citizen, and in that case you're most likely beyond help. Maybe you care about politics, but that's no reason to vote. I care about politics, it's why I donate to candidates because money actually makes a difference. Great system we have, isn't it? I used to volunteer when I was younger and more idealistic—think high school.