You’ve made some interesting points here, but I don’t think you ever discussed the possibility that someone is actually voting altruistically, for the benefit of some group or cause they care about (either helping people in their local area, people in the rest of the country, everyone in the world, future generations, etc).
Is it really true that most voters’ behavior can be explained by either (i) self-interest, or (ii) an ‘emotionally rewarding cheer for their team’..? I find that a depressing thought. Is no one sincerely trying to do the right thing?
If you are voting altruistically, then the number of people affected by the outcome of an election is big enough to start outweighing the tiny chance that your vote will change the result, in expected value terms.
You’ve made some interesting points here, but I don’t think you ever discussed the possibility that someone is actually voting altruistically, for the benefit of some group or cause they care about (either helping people in their local area, people in the rest of the country, everyone in the world, future generations, etc).
Is it really true that most voters’ behavior can be explained by either (i) self-interest, or (ii) an ‘emotionally rewarding cheer for their team’..? I find that a depressing thought. Is no one sincerely trying to do the right thing?
If you are voting altruistically, then the number of people affected by the outcome of an election is big enough to start outweighing the tiny chance that your vote will change the result, in expected value terms.