I understand many have given their lives (ostensively) to secure my right to vote....however, do I not have a right NOT to vote? And why am I being judged so harshly for my political (or lack thereof) views?
2006-07-08 19:00:42 · 16 answers · asked by leofina 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Civic Participation
No, you have the right not to vote. People tend to think this is a democractic process and voting matters, so they get a little intense about it. It's your choice though. That is what freedom is about.
2006-07-08 19:05:57 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
Before the last election I had only voted once in my life.
- I usually don't like ANY of the candidates in the race. Career politicians really make me ill.
- I didn't think that my one tiny vote, in the wave of votes from all over the country would count.
- I thought that even if I did vote and "my" candidate won, he would be "stonewalled" or renege on his promises once in office.
Two things happened to change my mind.
-The first was, I now work in municipal government and see where my vote counts in many ways.
-The second was the situation in Florida where the presidential election came down to just a tiny few votes.
It is VERY important to vote. All the tax money allocated to your community is allocated by voting base. They will tell you it isn't - it is. You can make a HUGE difference in the way your immediate environment (your schools, roads, everything) is run by voting for your local Mayor, City Council persons, and County Commissioners. These people are not career politicians (usually). Go to their house and talk to them. Go to meetings and be a part of the process. Volunteer for Boards and Commissions. This is the glory of our Democratic society at work, be a part of it!!
By the way, I am pretty sure the word you were looking for is "ostensibly".
2006-07-09 09:45:37 · answer #2 · answered by Carla&Len C 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you're a US citizen, you have the right not to vote. But there is an ethical issue you may not have considered.
Your country's policy makers, aka the people you could be voting for/against, have a tremendous impact on the whole world. People die, ecosystems are destroyed, crimes are committed, when bad people make bad decisions and have the power of the USA behind them.
Since the officials comprising the government of the United States are elected by the people, the people are ultimately responsible for their governments actions.
In an election, politicians are equally impacted by votes and absence of votes. If a corrupt politician comes into power because people did not oppose him, those people are as responsible for his subsequent actions as those who elected him.
If you just don't want to be bothered to learn about such things, ok. If you don't want to vote, ok. You have that right. But you should not be surprised that people don't respect you for exercising that right.
Understand, your choice doesn't keep your hands clean.
2006-07-12 15:35:47 · answer #3 · answered by functionary01 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is the right of each citizen to choose to or not to vote. Voting in an election only gets an individual into office, once there, it is our job to keep them in line for the good of us all. You still can have MASSIVE influence on policy, laws and outcomes of decisions that effect us all. Simply pay attention to what is occurring in government, watch C-SPAN, Read the news, stay informed and when something of importance arises, write congress, the senate, sign public petitions, be active to have true influence on what gets done. Participating in public affairs is what really counts in steering the course of any country.
2006-07-09 02:12:06 · answer #4 · answered by bufferedbrain 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think you have the right to not vote, and the right to criticize the people voted into office by others. You don't cancel out your right to one by not doing the other. Welcome to the true America.
*Should* you not vote? Well, I suppose that would require you to care about politics and the future shaping of the country. If you look at what Bush has done to our nation, it should make you care. I'm not sure about you, but knowing that we have a president that people are afraid of and don't like, but don't do anything about, makes me sick.
You are free... at least until Bush or another person elected into office like him changes that.
2006-07-09 04:31:56 · answer #5 · answered by Madame Gato 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Well I can understand you not voting if it was against your Religion to vote (for instance Jehovah's Witnesses are not allowed to vote, Nation Of Islam banned voting too but Louis Farrakhan lifted that ban).
In fact if ya ask a Jehovah's Witness which Candidate they prefer they will say "im neutral to all Candidates, I will respect whoever is the Winner."
Although in a way it prolly was a good thing they didn't vote in 2004 cause they would have been in a pickle over who to vote for since they are Anti-Abortion (reason for them to vote Bush) but they are also Anti-War (reason for them to vote Kerry although Kerry himself voted to go to War in the 1st place).
However if it is not against your Religion to vote and you feel strongly about issues then you should vote and if ya don't wanna vote then don't complain about who is in power and so forth.
When I told someone I was voting for Bush this person said she agreed with Kerry more but that she wasn't voting.
Now as much as I wanted Kerry to lose I did not do a celebration dance, instead I said if you feel that strongly you should register to Vote and start voting in Elections.
2006-07-09 02:48:57 · answer #6 · answered by MrCool1978 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you don't vote and you have a "lack" of political views - that's fine. If you don't vote and you have political views, then that is NOT fine. Unless you vote, you don't have a right to criticize the government.
2006-07-09 02:18:28 · answer #7 · answered by Daisy 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
George Carlin said he doesn't vote, and only those who don't vote have the right to complain about who was elected because they didn't put him there you did. But I don't make the money he does so I just vote.
2006-07-13 05:03:32 · answer #8 · answered by crusinthru 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You have the right not to vote... just don't complain when you don't like whats going on. You could have helped prevent it had you voted.
2006-07-09 02:03:10 · answer #9 · answered by sum gui 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I feel it is wrong. But one of the great things about this country is the freedom of choices we have. You might get some mean comments but you don't have to fear government repercussions for not voting.
I do not agree with not voting, but the truth is it is your choice to vote or not. No one can make you.
2006-07-09 02:31:58 · answer #10 · answered by JFra472449 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋