Rule 6. Locking.
Edit: Unlocking based on argument that this post is general rather than about the recent US election (OP to edit title). Edit 2: OP has chosen not to edit title. Locking.
Make them take the “Walk of Shame” like in the GoT.
No fines. Just make it even easier and better process. Mail in ballots and a federal holiday for the Presidential election.
They should shut up about politics. Not voting is literally a declaration that you don’t care who governs you. Voting is what gives you the right to complain about the government. If you didn’t vote, shut up.
They should shut up about politics
Not participating in fake, anti-democratic spectacles (somehow) “disqualifies” one from talking about politics?
This is just ignorance and whiny entitlement. Your “fake anti-democratic spectacle” is the hard-won achievement of generations of people who came before you. Boring liberal representative democracy is the exception in world history. Most people in the world have never had the opportunity that you have to influence your government. Not good enough for you? Well then get off your ass and do something to make it better. The very least you can do is vote, because out of two candidates, one is always better than another. If you can’t be bothered to do even that, then I for one don’t care what you have to say about politics.
is the hard-won achievement of generations of people who came before you.
Really? The generations of people who resisted and fought against THIS EXACT STATUS QUO would be proud of these glorified rubberstamping spectacles which only exist to legitimize elite rule?
Really?
Boring liberal representative democracy is the exception in world history.
Really? So the ongoing genocide your “boring liberal representative democracy” is funding is… an exception? The history books says otherwise.
Most people in the world have never had the opportunity that you have to influence your government.
Lol! Do I sound like a billionaire parasite to you?
then I for one don’t care what you have to say about politics.
What’s the matter, liberal? Is all the cognitive dissonance starting to make you feel queesy?
Do I sound like a billionaire parasite to you?
No, you sound like an ignorant decadent American college student.
an ignorant decadent American college student.
Those Yankee college students staging protests on US campuses are far better at “doing” democracy than all the voting you could do over a lifetime put together.
Perhaps it’s best that you don’t try to flex about something you don’t seem to know too much about, okay?
Should I have thoughts on them?
They’re definitely part of the reason why we are where we are. Not the only reason, but definitely a big part of it.
Additionally, I’ll say that their refusal to vote isn’t the protest they think it is. All it did was tell the powers that be that they trust everyone else to choose for them and that they’re fine with whoever wins.
As an anarchist, I respect their decision in the sense that participating in the state is fighting for the state.
I would tell them to vote though, and I myself vote when its needed, to avoid getting utter bastards as ‘legitimate’ leaders. Here in France it’s even easier because I’m not given the choice between only capitalists and fascists, i can vote for light versions of socialists.
I’m against fines, even light ones. If they are not strictly scaled to income, they always strike harder people who are struggling already than richer ones. And even if they do, it’s not fair to be forced to participate in a form of politics you don’t want.
Thank you. Sadly, the concept of legitimizing a government isn’t something most people understand enough to appreciate.
They actively brought about political disaster through idiotic, self-absorbed assholery and they will be licking it up for four long fucking years.
They actively brought about political disaster
You want to blame the people who didn’t participate in anti-democratic spectacles for the existence of said anti-democratic spectacles?
They can live with Brexit.
Everyone get’s what they asked for. The thing about the ubiquitous trolley problem is it has clear outcomes. That’s why it works. Whatever’s happening down the track, here we are. We had a lever we didn’t pull. Best learn to live with the choice, because there was a choice.
I don’t care. Popular vote doesn’t get presidents elected, and nobody local ever seems both interested and capable of making significant positive changes, at least that I’ve seen. It largely feels like theater, and in a race you can’t influence between two people pledging to continue genocide I can see why people would throw their hands up and say fuck everything.
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I’m not going to get on their case. I think that’s okay if they genuinely don’t care or don’t know what’s good for them.
and what if government tomorrow or (maybe far future) announced that they will be announcing fines for people who didn’t vote in order to maximize participation, would you agree with that decision?
You mean, as already happens in Australia and Belgium and maybe a few other places.
Seems fair to me. Democracy relies on participation. To not vote is effectively to vote against democracy. Fair enough, but that’s a dangerous road to go down. I think there should be a small price to pay for it.
Democracy relies on participation
You don’t exist in a democratic society. So what exactly do you want people to participate in?
No, the onus is first on you first to explain why “we don’t exist in a democratic society” and above all what is your brilliant plan for making things better. If all you can do is whine about why it’s all useless while you undermine the system by opting out of it, then frankly I’m not interested in anything you have to say.
No, the onus is first on you first to explain why “we don’t exist in a democratic society”
Did you vote FOR the ongoing genocide the liberal status quo is funding in Palestine as we speak, genius? Were you ever given the chance, hmm?
Yes or no?
If no, where is your “public power?” Where is the democratic power you should have if you actually existed in a democratic society?
To a non-brainwashed person, this would be perfectly obvious. But it’s not obvious to YOU.
above all what is your brilliant plan for making things better.
Now you are demanding solutions to a problem you insist do not exist. A bit incoherent, don’t you think?
while you undermine the system by opting out of it
ROFLMAO!
Good job demonstrating that you don’t have the foggiest understanding of the system you are defending.
Your argument for not bothering to get off your ass and vote in a US election is “Palestine”? America deserves what it gets.
So I guess it truly is YOUR genocide then, eh?
Colour me surprised.
Vote in what?
They probably couldn’t afford to miss a day to work, and they know from experience that neither party is going to do anything to change that.
