apparently i get to say this every election cycle

[ironymaiden]

only in America would someone complain in the same paragraph about the Constitution being shit upon while refusing to exercise the most important right we have as citizens.

any citizen who refuses to vote as a "conscientious objector" to the current electoral system, or because the available candidates are not just so, is engaging in an activity that has the exact same results as failing to vote out of apathy or disinterest. if you believe that the system is that broken and you actually care, then you need to be out in the world working to change it - not using your energy trying to convince people that your inaction is virtuous.

every citizen has the right to exercise or not exercise their franchise. they also have the right to free speech, and can complain as much as they like. they need to understand that anything a willful nonvoter has to say about elected officials has no weight with me.

when it comes down to it, i think more of extremists than nonvoters. even if i disagree with them, they are making an effort to be represented by their government.

Comments

[textualdeviance.livejournal.com]

What really burns my ass is that this is almost always a result of disillusionment with the two main prez candidates.

As if those are the only things one can vote for.

And as if prez candidates just spring up out of the ground fully-formed, without ever having been raised up through local politics.

After the Gregoire/De Rossi 129-vote crazy shit two years ago, I don't know how ANYONE can argue that their vote doesn't count.

[twilight2000.livejournal.com]

amen, sister.

And on the lighter side of getting involved, Matt Daemon has his say:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21134540/vp/26658096#26660001 and frankly he's making more sense than some of the politicians (yea, that scares the shit out of me too).

[craftyasparagus.livejournal.com]

Yes. Yes yes yes.

Yes again.

[sinthrex.livejournal.com]

I think we have different definitions of extremism, because I'm not sure how blowing stuff up is an attempt to be represented by their government.

yup.

[ironymaiden]

i was trying to avoid mentioning specific issues or loaded words like "values". how the vote is cast is of no concern to me, as long as it is cast. (this is what i get for composing at work.) may rephrase when i have time.

[e-bourne.livejournal.com]

Voters get to complain. Even if we disagree.

Non-voters get duct tape.

[sinthrex.livejournal.com]

And in some ways, that's a good example of part of the problem.

I couldn't quote a percentage, but my perception is that that vote is where it stops for most people. And after they cast that vote, somehow they are absolved of all responsibility to do anything but complain until the next cycle.

Voting is the entry point, the bare minimum.

[e-bourne.livejournal.com]

You're right, of course. It is a minimum requirement. If I were queen (should I be queen in a republic? I suppose not), those who didn't consistently vote would lose citizenship. Or at least something valuable, like their driver's license.

But then, I also think people should pass licensing tests before they're allowed to have children. For example, they should prove they can successfully care for and train a dog before they're allowed to procreate something as important as a child. This is simply an example. Other things could also suffice as demonstrations.

I would not be a popular queen.

I'm a strong believer in the citizen jury system. It is important, and people should not view it as onerous, although I understand why they do. It is an important part of being a citizen. We are oh-so-lucky.

Still not a popular queen.

The list could actually go on. None of it would be popular because we are lazy. Complaining is easy, action is not.

[sinthrex.livejournal.com]

It's ok, I would require national service for citizenship (ie: voting rights and the right to hold office) if I were Evil Overlord, so we're not too far off each other.

[boldfeather.livejournal.com]

You said it!