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Saving Democracy: The Don’t Vote option

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proud2BlibKansan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-02-07 07:59 PM
Original message
Saving Democracy: The Don’t Vote option
After many years of political disappointment, more progressives, liberals and conservatives – and certainly moderates and independents – know in their hearts that voting for Democrats or Republicans is a waste. Just imagine if voter turnout was cut to 25 percent or less! Let the whole world see Americans boycotting a broken and corrupt political system and rejecting what has become a delusional democracy. To keep voting in an unjust political system makes us willing political slaves that the rich and powerful elites exploit.

Just leaving the major parties is not good enough and, besides, most Americans are not party members. We need a bolder strategy. We must humiliate the political elites in both major parties and the corporate interests that support both of them. We can send a shock wave throughout the political establishment by not voting in the 2008 presidential election.

Stop playing THEIR game. Take back control. Take back YOUR nation. Time to boycott voting. This strategy is consistent with the thinking of Gandhi and King: peaceful resistance to political tyranny that can bring the corrupt system to its knees. Ultimately, the most effective protest is through civil disobedience – to visibly and stubbornly refuse to respect what has become a corrupt, untrustworthy system. Before it can be fixed it must be deconstructed and then rebuilt. Taxation with misrepresentation means we need a Second American Revolution; it must begin – not with violent action – but with massive withdrawal by citizens that have seen the light. We have a good head start with about half of eligible voters already so turned off that they don’t vote. Obviously that has not been sufficient to change the system.

There will be negative, defensive knee-jerk reactions to this audacious strategy. Let’s examine them:

http://www.mytown.ca/hirschhorn/
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leftchick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-02-07 08:03 PM
Response to Original message
1. I would vote for a third party
before not voting at all. I believe showing support for a person I believe in will send more of a message than not voting ever will.
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proud2BlibKansan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-02-07 08:07 PM
Response to Reply #1
2. I agree
But I did think this article was interesting.
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leftchick Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-02-07 08:11 PM
Response to Reply #2
4. it certainly is
thank you for posting it. I hope some take it as seriously as it is intended. I smell a change in the air.
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proud2BlibKansan Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-02-07 08:15 PM
Response to Reply #4
5. I sure hope you are right
I am more than ready for a change.
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uppityperson Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-02-07 08:07 PM
Response to Original message
3. Only problem with that is the whole world knows the system is broken/corrumpt already
Edited on Tue Oct-02-07 08:22 PM by uppityperson
How about taking back control by voting? How about by getting everyone to vote? How about getting everyone to vote for their local representatives? And then their state ones? And then the Federal ones? Criticize all who do not represent you and vote instead for those who do. I'd rather vote for whom I want than against someone I don't want, but do that if necessary. Rather than not voting at all GOTV for a non dem/repub candidate. And start running yourself.

Let the world know? They know. They care. They shake their heads. Not voting won't do anything except let that 25% decide for you.

Edited to say interesting article, though I disagree. Thanks for posting it.
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papau Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-02-07 08:19 PM
Response to Original message
6. "We must humiliate" - sorry - you're just giving power back to the GOP-& they don't fell humiliated
- ever

:-(
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bemildred Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-02-07 08:22 PM
Response to Original message
7. Vote in the primaries.
Voting is your one chance to express yourself in the political process. Never give up.
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porphyrian Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-02-07 08:22 PM
Response to Original message
8. Voter turnout isn't far from only 25 percent now, averaging around 33%.
Most of us are not represented by our "representatives." However, I'm not sure abstaining from voting is the way to make a difference. In fact, it's likely why we're in such a shitty position now.
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Tierra_y_Libertad Donating Member (1000+ posts) Send PM | Profile | Ignore Tue Oct-02-07 08:26 PM
Response to Original message
9. Passive resistance as strategy? Maybe.
No longer cooperating in a corrupt system?

Who knows? It might work.
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