If you don't vote, you can still complain. Complaining is a fundamental human, pre-human, and non-human right, recently guaranteed by the First Amendment. Your odds of getting listened to are fair-to-middling, and not dependent on whether you vote.
Technically true.
However, it is also said that complaints without solutions are empty. And it seems to me that casting a vote is a straightforward first step toward a solution, if the problem is a dislike for those governing (and their policies). There are lots of other solutions, but short of working outside the system or in different directions in the system (litigation, for example) to achieve changes, voting is an explicit signal of intent to create the government one wishes.
So I disagree, mostly. If you don't vote, you have a significantly less valid complaint about the government than those of us who do, unless you have done the work outside of voting that makes up for it.
*****
On a whole other topic, I urge you to read David Neiwert's reporting at Orcinus (http://dneiwert.blogspot.com), if you don't already do so. His writing is not light, nor easy, but he addresses some serious and valid concerns, and his recently completed series of posts on what he calls pseudo-fascism in America is superb. (Part 1 (http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2004_09_19_dneiwert_archive.html#109028353137888956) Part 2 (http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2004_09_26_dneiwert_archive.html#109563628314780505) Part 3 (http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2004_10_03_dneiwert_archive.html#109596147171278590) Part 4 (http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2004_10_10_dneiwert_archive.html#109694976530359103) Part 5 (http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2004_10_17_dneiwert_archive.html#109755467135245579) Part 6 (http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2004_10_24_dneiwert_archive.html#109858062597237163) Part 7 (http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2004_10_31_dneiwert_archive.html#109902109250035295)) Let's hope that this sort of reportage is not only still permitted post this election, but that it becomes less necessary.
*****
And with that, and the kids waking up (I promised they could come with me to the polls), I am off to vote. I just wish I lived in Ohio, or Pennsylvania, or Florida.
no subject
Technically true.
However, it is also said that complaints without solutions are empty. And it seems to me that casting a vote is a straightforward first step toward a solution, if the problem is a dislike for those governing (and their policies). There are lots of other solutions, but short of working outside the system or in different directions in the system (litigation, for example) to achieve changes, voting is an explicit signal of intent to create the government one wishes.
So I disagree, mostly. If you don't vote, you have a significantly less valid complaint about the government than those of us who do, unless you have done the work outside of voting that makes up for it.
*****
On a whole other topic, I urge you to read David Neiwert's reporting at Orcinus (http://dneiwert.blogspot.com), if you don't already do so. His writing is not light, nor easy, but he addresses some serious and valid concerns, and his recently completed series of posts on what he calls pseudo-fascism in America is superb. (Part 1 (http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2004_09_19_dneiwert_archive.html#109028353137888956) Part 2 (http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2004_09_26_dneiwert_archive.html#109563628314780505) Part 3 (http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2004_10_03_dneiwert_archive.html#109596147171278590) Part 4 (http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2004_10_10_dneiwert_archive.html#109694976530359103) Part 5 (http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2004_10_17_dneiwert_archive.html#109755467135245579) Part 6 (http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2004_10_24_dneiwert_archive.html#109858062597237163) Part 7 (http://dneiwert.blogspot.com/2004_10_31_dneiwert_archive.html#109902109250035295)) Let's hope that this sort of reportage is not only still permitted post this election, but that it becomes less necessary.
*****
And with that, and the kids waking up (I promised they could come with me to the polls), I am off to vote. I just wish I lived in Ohio, or Pennsylvania, or Florida.