> > But voting is a *symbolic* action--it takes place by use of
>symbols (choosing between *names*), proceeds by way of
>symbols (counting *numbers* of votes) and "results" in
>symbolic effects (the *faces* presented on TV to represent
>US imperialism).
>
>No, voting is not symbolic. I agree it uses symbols, but that does
>not make it symbolic. It is an action that has consequences.
>
>Since you are hoping for the "historic transition to a communist
>world order," can you tell me how the concrete act of voting for a
>minor candidate in 2004 leads to this concrete result in the future?
Voting is mostly but not exclusively symbolic. Since the single vote any individual casts is non-consequential the act of voting becomes symbolic. Imagine that you are on your way to vote and get hit by a bus and die. Does anyone really believe that the election would have turned out differently had you not been hit by that bus? Since I tend to be a fairly strong believer in rational choice theory voter turnout always makes my head hurt. That should be true for anyone who believes in any decision-theoretic model of voting however. I vote and although I know it has no measurable effect on the outcome I do it anyway and yet feel it is not mostly symbolic. Makes no sense but there you have it.
John Thornton