Q&A: Choosing the Existing Reality or the Ideal One
Choosing the Existing Reality or the Ideal One.
Question
Hello Rabbi!
Until now I voted for United Torah Judaism, and I’m considering voting for the Zehut party, but I have a doubt.
In the current situation, where there is no freedom in the country and each side tries to impose its view on the other, both religiously and economically, I think there’s no choice and we need religious parties (for political reasons) to fight over the status quo and to elbow their way forward in line for the budget.
On the other hand, in principle I think there is no place for a religious party at all, because what ought to be is a free state where I don’t have to pay from my tax money for research in the humanities and for culture that isn’t mine, and likewise nobody else should have to contribute to things I believe in. And the same applies regarding coercion—that everyone should do as they wish and understand, without one coercing the other.
Should I choose according to the existing reality, which will most likely remain with us for a long time (even if they do pass the electoral threshold, how much influence can they really have…), or according to the reality that ought to exist?
Thank you very much!
Answer
It’s hard for me to answer this question. According to Kant’s categorical imperative, you should vote for what is true from your point of view regardless of the consequences. And yet it’s hard to completely dismiss tactical considerations. The deciding question is how severe and acute you think the immediate consequences are in the current situation. Beyond that, don’t forget that your individual vote has no real meaning or influence anyway, so you won’t prevent the outcome one way or the other. Therefore, in my opinion, as a rule of thumb it is more correct to vote for the party you believe in.
As a side note, voting for the Zehut party is throwing your vote in the trash regardless of your question, because in my estimation they don’t have the slightest chance of passing the electoral threshold. Even so, I myself am considering voting for them anyway (Kant, as above).