The government has a responsibility to represent and be responsive to *all* of its citizens
Absolutely. We're agreed on this.
Where we disagree is on this point: those who vote are exercising their best efforts to create a government that will (as best they can ascertain) represent them and their point of view. Those who do not vote are effectively stating that they are unable or unwilling to make such a selection. That being the case, their responsibility to have made such a choice abrogated, they lose (IMO) a great deal of their justification for complaint.
Jehovah's Witnesses don't vote (as it's part of their religion not to participate in earthly governments except by following such of their laws as don't conflict with G-d's), but they are still citizens and the government is still responsible to them. And they still complain: they even file lawsuits to enforce their rights.
To what extent do they work to bring about the laws which don't conflict with their Deity's? I understand that their litigation is important, and a part of such a strategy, but I cannot help but believe that humans are not called to create a government on earth that reflects their beliefs, rather than trusting to others to do so.
I assume you're exempting people who can't vote (minors, convicted felons) as well.
Yes; sorry, I thought it was implicit, but you're right. My point is that if you are eligible to vote and fail to do so, you have forfeited the moral authority to complain about getting the government you didn't want. (If your choice is the losing side, you can at least note that you did what you could.)
no subject
Absolutely. We're agreed on this.
Where we disagree is on this point: those who vote are exercising their best efforts to create a government that will (as best they can ascertain) represent them and their point of view. Those who do not vote are effectively stating that they are unable or unwilling to make such a selection. That being the case, their responsibility to have made such a choice abrogated, they lose (IMO) a great deal of their justification for complaint.
Jehovah's Witnesses don't vote (as it's part of their religion not to participate in earthly governments except by following such of their laws as don't conflict with G-d's), but they are still citizens and the government is still responsible to them. And they still complain: they even file lawsuits to enforce their rights.
To what extent do they work to bring about the laws which don't conflict with their Deity's? I understand that their litigation is important, and a part of such a strategy, but I cannot help but believe that humans are not called to create a government on earth that reflects their beliefs, rather than trusting to others to do so.
I assume you're exempting people who can't vote (minors, convicted felons) as well.
Yes; sorry, I thought it was implicit, but you're right. My point is that if you are eligible to vote and fail to do so, you have forfeited the moral authority to complain about getting the government you didn't want. (If your choice is the losing side, you can at least note that you did what you could.)