One more datapoint about citizen apathy concerning government - Page 2

Skybird · 06-13-13, 03:54 AM

Giving an empty ballot still legitimizes the system, and when you see the system as being the real problem, you would violate your own logic if going to vote and give an empty vote. The strong message to parties? They take the empty ballots, make them count for the total turnout quota, and then sell it as a huge participation in election that expresses how satisfied people are with the political status. Nobody reads the smallprint.

When you meet the devil and he offers you to play a game, there is only one way to save your soul: do not play at all.

Obligation to vote? No go, you cannot intimidate people to go voting if they do not want to vote - and still call that "freedom". It's tyranny that blackmails people to give it moral legitimation and forgiving of all sins.

06-13-13, 04:22 AM

Quote:

When you meet the devil and he offers you to play a game, there is only one way to save your soul: do not play at all.

Thats a good notion.
However in practical terms you are already stuck in the game with no real sensible way out, so pretending that you are not playing is just bending over and asking the system to bugger you roughly.
Now there is the real unsensible way out. You can Hop into the fanciful world of tyranny that the rather vile 20th century dictatorships could only dream of achieving.

Spiced_Rum · 06-13-13, 05:11 AM

So many dilemmas for those of us with the right to vote, and how we use our freedom:
Be apathetic and do not bother going to vote.
Be apolitical, go and vote but not care who you choose.
Vote but spoil your ballot paper.
Vote by posting blank ballot paper (not really certain whether this is any different from spoiling the paper).
Vote and chose a candidate/party closest to your viewpoint, or most important issue(s).
Tactical vote and choose a candidate/party to block the candidate/party you really would not want to win.
#
IMO freedom gives me the right to vote if I want to and allows a choice of several different parties. I may complain about who is in post/power but at least I made an effort to vote.

Platapus · 06-13-13, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TorpX

I have to ask is this precinct a rural, or urban one?

Suburban. just under 3,000 registered voters in a precinct about 3 miles in diameter, if that.

06-13-13, 03:54 AM	#1
Skybird Soaring Join Date: Sep 2001 Location: the mental asylum named Germany Posts: 42,681 Downloads: 10 Uploads: 0	Giving an empty ballot still legitimizes the system, and when you see the system as being the real problem, you would violate your own logic if going to vote and give an empty vote. The strong message to parties? They take the empty ballots, make them count for the total turnout quota, and then sell it as a huge participation in election that expresses how satisfied people are with the political status. Nobody reads the smallprint. When you meet the devil and he offers you to play a game, there is only one way to save your soul: do not play at all. Obligation to vote? No go, you cannot intimidate people to go voting if they do not want to vote - and still call that "freedom". It's tyranny that blackmails people to give it moral legitimation and forgiving of all sins. __________________ If you feel nuts, consult an expert.

06-13-13, 05:11 AM	#3
Spiced_Rum Ace of the Deep Join Date: May 2013 Location: Enjoying a run ashore Posts: 1,129 Downloads: 69 Uploads: 0	So many dilemmas for those of us with the right to vote, and how we use our freedom: Be apathetic and do not bother going to vote. Be apolitical, go and vote but not care who you choose. Vote but spoil your ballot paper. Vote by posting blank ballot paper (not really certain whether this is any different from spoiling the paper). Vote and chose a candidate/party closest to your viewpoint, or most important issue(s). Tactical vote and choose a candidate/party to block the candidate/party you really would not want to win. # IMO freedom gives me the right to vote if I want to and allows a choice of several different parties. I may complain about who is in post/power but at least I made an effort to vote. __________________ Spiced_Rum "The only rocks I want to see are in my glass, and covered with lashings of Spicey and Coke"