You have the right not to vote

I vote now but for years I exercised my right not to vote, in spite of forces that tried to tell me I was the worst of all possible citizens.

I was raising small children and teaching literature to other people’s big children. My focus was on home, family and a large Old English Sheepdog who was a full time responsibility on her own.

Like Candide I just wanted to take care of my garden.

I tried to avoid the news of the day because I felt helpless and overwhelmed by the impending crises of the times.

They were:

• The Coming Ice Age which would send glaciers down our neighborhood streets, carrying away lawn furniture and tomato plants.
• The Hole in the Ozone which would melt the arctic ice caps and bring beach front property to those living in higher elevations.
• The Death of the Oceans which would pretty much curtail those long romantic walks along the beach.
• The Daily Mantra of all the food and drinks which were destined to kill us.

Who would I vote for? The one with the most lawn signs? Who would I vote against? The scariest TV ads? I didn’t have the time or inclination to inform myself on issues or personalities to make intelligent choices.

My hero was the 90-year-old woman who said: "I never vote. It just gives the son of a bitches confidence.”

 

Comments

[Dennis the Vizsla]

Hmm, that 90-year-old woman might have been on to something ...

[jackie]

don't vote..don't bitch.

[Khyra]

Sadly, the short attention span theatre mentality is dooming us all...

I'm also getting the khat khraps of hearing all the negative of why we need to vote out 'x' person yet I see very little tangible 'it can be fixed by doing this or that'

I'll stop...I'd like to sleep tonight ;-)

[Tracey]

Haha, what a great quote that is!

I'm ever mistrustful of politicians ... and perhaps becoming even more so as they years go by.

[dog beds]

Oh, I can see wanting to hunker down and focus on tending your garden. But I guess it depends on how you define the boundaries of your garden. I'll agree with Khyra, though, that negativity doesn't do much good for anybody. One of my favorite quotes about politics: "Opposition is easy; governance is hard."
- - - - - - - -
Jack@PDB

[the 4Bs]

with the extremely negative campaing advertising that goes on, i would like to boycott the entire process.

[T. T. Douglas]

Of course it is your right not to vote, but I agree with Jackie. Don't vote, don't bitch. My parents fled from a regime where you had no vote, no voice, no nothing so it really is nice to be able to say I'm not going to vote because I choose not to. Me, I'll be heading to the polls tomorrow and taking my two boys (ages 6 and 4) so they see what the experience is like.

[Tammy]

I used to only vote in presidential elections. I never knew enough in the off years to feel like I was choosing smartly. Now, I probably follow politics too closely, but I do vote. Every time there is an election. I like our process in Oregon - there are only mail-in ballots. No need to get out to the polls - just remember to drop your ballot off before the deadline! :)

We don't have TV, so I have been spared (thankfully) all of the negative ads I've heard so much about this year!

[Henry]

If you have the right not to vote, I say exercise it if you are truly agains their policies. Not voting shows your preference just as much as voting.

Nice quote btw ;)

[pam]

Women fought for the right to vote ... and it was a literal fight ... so I've always felt I had an obligation to uphold. But I could always see your point too. In the words of The Onion:

Americans Bravely Go To Polls Despite Threat Of Electing Congress http://j.mp/bQpqMr

[Marie G]

Only vote if you know the candidates and the issues.

[mb.]

this is why I love early voting- I can get to the poll almost anytime within the two weeks beforehand. There is always one issue or candidate I have an opinion about, although I am quite sure every time I have voted, there is at least one I left blank. I feel like voting on something I don't care/understand undermines the vote of the person who does care.

[Tax accountant]

Not to vote is a right indeed and it also expresses something: that you are out of options.

[Baby Monitors]

I think we are all dissilusioned by today's politics and so many of us now do not vote.

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[Wedding Dress Berkshire]

who to vote for? They are all just as bad as each other!

[Bonbons]

Who should I vote for here in France? For Sarkozy? Never!

[Holiday abroad]

Voting is a right. Not voting is an option.

[Self assessment tax returns]

Voting is a social responsibility too!

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