Not voting because I'm not a citizen yet and so can't. I think technically I could vote in the British elections (maybe?) but don't follow politics from there so couldn't make an informed vote anyway.
Dont vote Until we are allowed by our masters that most important thing in any democracy, a choice of 'none of the above'!!!!!!!!!!
I'm a feminist. Suffragettes died to get me the vote. I won't insult them by not bothering to turn up. I've said before, I've missed one local election since I turned 18 and that's when the trains were fucked and I didn't get home until after the polls closed.
I was a faithful voter since my 18th birthday, but right now I'm so pissed off about the bad comedy that Austrian politics have become that I might just stop. Not completely, tho. I'll vote 'white', meaning invalid. They never release the number but I know that political parties take it very seriously when you vote but for none of them.
You can't tell people they should vote. You can only secure their right to do so. The right to not vote is as important as the right to vote.
I agree with this while also agreeing with the Australian system whereby all registered voters have to legally show up at a polling booth. (or use a write-in ticket or what have you). Once inside no-one knows what you picked, or indeed if you actually did vote, but no-one can say they weren't given a chance.
How so? All our governments reserve the right to conscript their citizens to fight in wars. A large portion of our work is done merely to finance the government and its schemes. They seem like much larger issues to worry about, and indeed they fact that they affect people whether or not they vote is a very good reason to make sure for the stability of the country that no-one can see they missed out on having their say. (even if their say is to put in an empty paper signifying that they don't want to vote for any of the candidates)
I find that genuinely horrifying. I find that genuinely horrifying. I find that genuinely horrifying, too. But then I despise democracy.
I've always said, I'd agree with compulsory voting as long as 'none of the above' appeared on every ballot paper, with the provision that if such gets the majority, the election is rerun with none of the original candidates allowed to stand...
While we're on the subject of being made to do things by the government, I heard a while back that all American men have to register for national service or something similar when they turn eighteen, even though it may never be needed? Is that accurate?
The problem there is, even if you don't endorse any of the candidates, you're forced to endorse the system.
As Storm alluded, you're asking me why A is oppressive by offering up observations about oppressive B and oppressive C.
Vote or not depending on whether the elections are meaningful enough to make it worth the bother, but don't be a sanctimonious jerk either way about voting or not voting. It's pretty rare where I live to have a meaningfully contested election. I'll make an effort to show up for those rare cases, and I'll make an effort to show up if there are ballot initiatives worth voting on. Otherwise it depends on my schedule and whether I feel like bothering on that given election day.
I would love to go out and vote, that would mean that for once there is someone actualy worth voting for Rather than the choice i have at the moment of 'idiot i dont agree with' or 'idiot i dont agree with' or 'idiot i dont agree with' or 'idiot i dont agree with' ...... im bloody sick of it
I think it just rejects the slate of candidates. Sort of like a jury not being allowed to judge the law in addition to the facts of the case, as they should be able to.
With our politicians constantly thumbing their noses at the American people and their continued partisan bickering, is it any wonder people have any faith in the vote?
