Over the past few months I have been following political campaigns, just like many people have been. I could write about the political situation and how we are doomed, and for a week or so I such said plans. But then something else has grabbed my attention that I would like to address.
I have heard many people talking about our right to vote. I have read many status' and tweets about how if it all goes wrong, it's the fault of those who didn't vote. I've heard people discussing how it is disgusting that people have died so that we have the right to vote, and yet we see a 60% turn-out as a good turn-out. There were 14 million people who were eligible to vote in the recent election that did not. I get the distinct impression that many people find this unacceptable.
I disagree.
I would like to make it clear to people that I am not against voting. I am not against politics and I am far from one of those people that make statements such as "it doesn't matter because they are all the same" or "I'm not interested in politics". I am very interested in politics and like to know what is going on in my local constituency. Last year I became a member of the Labour Party as I wanted to show my support for a party that I believe can, and will (at some point), lead this country to a better place.
This year I am one of those 14 million who did not vote. Not because I didn't want to, but because there was a problem with my registration. If I could have done, I would have done. I choose to exercise my right to vote. And that is exactly what I have; a right to choose to vote.
People who view a democracy as a place where others are wrong for not doing what they choose to do are very, very misguided. People did not die so that we HAVE to vote. They died so that those of us who are interested in voting, can do. There are people out there who genuinely do not care who is and who isn't in power. There are people out there who genuinely believe that no matter who they vote for, they won't benefit and that they are screwed either way.
This raised many questions in my mind, one being; is it right to force these people to vote? I could make a statement such as "it is wrong to punish people for doing something they want to." But the fact is, we punish people all the time for doing something they want to. Just because I choose to exercise my right to vote, does not mean people are wrong for not doing so. They have the right to choose not to vote.
For those who do vote, society puts a sense of responsibility on them for any outcome that may follow. Going back to my previous overheard/read comments such as "I blame the people who did not vote"; I can sum up these very common comments with three words... Media Created Thoughts.
I don't think it's right to place blame, but I do think it's right to hold responsibility. If it all does go wrong under this next government, surely the responsibility should be held by those who wanted this government.
Is it just me who finds the irony in having a democratic system where a government dictates to it's constituencies that they must vote? Or am I missing something?
CJ5
I have heard many people talking about our right to vote. I have read many status' and tweets about how if it all goes wrong, it's the fault of those who didn't vote. I've heard people discussing how it is disgusting that people have died so that we have the right to vote, and yet we see a 60% turn-out as a good turn-out. There were 14 million people who were eligible to vote in the recent election that did not. I get the distinct impression that many people find this unacceptable.
I disagree.
I would like to make it clear to people that I am not against voting. I am not against politics and I am far from one of those people that make statements such as "it doesn't matter because they are all the same" or "I'm not interested in politics". I am very interested in politics and like to know what is going on in my local constituency. Last year I became a member of the Labour Party as I wanted to show my support for a party that I believe can, and will (at some point), lead this country to a better place.
This year I am one of those 14 million who did not vote. Not because I didn't want to, but because there was a problem with my registration. If I could have done, I would have done. I choose to exercise my right to vote. And that is exactly what I have; a right to choose to vote.
People who view a democracy as a place where others are wrong for not doing what they choose to do are very, very misguided. People did not die so that we HAVE to vote. They died so that those of us who are interested in voting, can do. There are people out there who genuinely do not care who is and who isn't in power. There are people out there who genuinely believe that no matter who they vote for, they won't benefit and that they are screwed either way.
This raised many questions in my mind, one being; is it right to force these people to vote? I could make a statement such as "it is wrong to punish people for doing something they want to." But the fact is, we punish people all the time for doing something they want to. Just because I choose to exercise my right to vote, does not mean people are wrong for not doing so. They have the right to choose not to vote.
For those who do vote, society puts a sense of responsibility on them for any outcome that may follow. Going back to my previous overheard/read comments such as "I blame the people who did not vote"; I can sum up these very common comments with three words... Media Created Thoughts.
I don't think it's right to place blame, but I do think it's right to hold responsibility. If it all does go wrong under this next government, surely the responsibility should be held by those who wanted this government.
Is it just me who finds the irony in having a democratic system where a government dictates to it's constituencies that they must vote? Or am I missing something?
CJ5