I have question about people who dont vote....?

Question

I have a friend that hasnt ever voted, but is always complaining about things that elected officials are doing "Bush is ruining the country, etc". I always tell him he doesnt have the right to complain because he didnt vote and make his voice heard, am I wrong? He has always been told it doesnt make any difference, and his voice doesnt matter. I always tell him he should vote, so he can have a say, but he doesnt listen. Am I right or wrong?

Answer 1

i think if u don't vote.

you shouldnt complain.

Answer 2

he also can't be blamed now can he since he didn't pick any of the evils.
i don't think people who don't vote are at any kind of fault and can't complain, unless they just don't vote because they are lazy. the problem is with the current voting system coupled with the fact that their are really more or less only two parties to pick from. we really need a "none of the above" on there as well, one that can actually count and win an election, resulting in a do over, or something, new candidates please perhaps?
with that having been said, it is more important, and your vote goes a longer way, in local elections, so yes while nationally voting, your vote means very little (and national is also where the process is most messed up) locally it can be very important.
i have always seen not voting as a vote in itself, you are refusing to take part in a system that is not meeting your needs and aren't picking someone that doesn't really represent you. too many people who do vote tend to vote for one person because they don't want the other to win...this is the messed up part that we the people can at least fix, you should be voting for the person that will represent you and your views, not the one that doesn't but doesn't less than the other guy.

Answer 3

He is right and you are right. He is right in that our votes don't really mean anything or count on a national level. Unless you are voting for mayor your vote is not counted. It is all decided by the electoral college. Also who is he supposed to vote for? When was the last time that Americans had a good choice for president? They are all the same. They all have the same political agenda when you get right down to it. They all belong to the same country club. The best quote I have ever heard was that we get 50 choices for Ms. America but only 2 for president. But you are right. He doesn't have a right to ***** any more because all the rights of the American people are slowly being taken away. Just watch, they are going to come arrest him in the middle of the night and take him in for questioning as a suspected terrorist and then lock him up for 2 years with out due process all because he bad mouthed the president or the war on the telephone.

Answer 4

It is always advisable that you use your rights as voting is one of the fundamental rights of the citizen. If everyone think of not voting then there is no meaning for elections.
This is happening everywhere and people are keeping themselves from voting and the correct person is not getting elected at all.( 50% voting can't choose a proper leader)
Regarding his complain again it is freedonm of expression so don't mix up things and he is free to express his views and also to talk about the same.
Any how he must vote and motivate and advice others too.

Answer 5

If you don't vote you shouldn't have the right to complain unless you have a valid reason for not voting (IE you're not allowed to because you're a felon is a good enough reason. Lol) But America's system of say presidential elections are grossly out of date. The electoral college worked great in the early 1800's when people were so space out it was impossible for them to get together in one place and have everyone vote but that time is past. Look at the 2000 election, Gore won the popular vote but thanks to the electoral college votes we ended up with bush. But voting is still important.

Answer 6

You need to tell him that him along with all the others that believe that their voices don't count are the reason retards like Bush are running the country. Everyone else who is voting(the majority not everyone) are the ones voting for these dumbies. Ask him how would he feel if the government took away voting rights from the public because of people like him.

Answer 7

You aren't right or wrong considering that this is only your viewpoint on the situation. Opinions aren't fact or fiction. If your friend chooses to complain about legitimate problems in our country without having "voted for" the politician that may be the cause of the "ruin", I'd say he's quite observant and well within his freedom of speech to express this. Alot of people are not interested in politics until it affects them....maybe now he will vote.

Answer 8

Wow, I shared that view all my life, and I still do to a point.

I go and vote, but if I figure out both candidates are not people I can support I do not vote for either. I used to pick the lesser evil but now I feel it is our duty to not vote sometimes...

But only on certain races or issues. Just not voting at all is not right and those people wont shut up.

But do you want idiots like this voting or what?

I don't want them voting. So I pretend to listen.. but I do not argue my side with them, just listen until they run out.. of bullsheep.

Answer 9

In 2000, Gore lost to Bush in a district (I think in Washington, but I may be remembering this incorrectly) by 36 votes. EVERY vote counts.
If nothing else, I am sure that half the reason politicians can do all the things they do is that they figure, with so few voters, who is going to stop them?
I am so with you though. If you don't exercise your right to vote, you have forfeited your right to b***h!

Answer 10

In this country, he has a right to complain either way, particularly if he pays taxes. Tell him not voting then complaining is akin to washing your hands with your last bottle of water before walking into the desert. The consequences are a result of poor planning.

Answer 11

I don't agree. Here's why.

I'm don't support either the Democrats or the Republicans. And there hasn't been a viable 3rd party candidate since Perot, and he dropped out of the race mid way, ruining his chances.

Since, there is no possible way that the person I might vote for is going to be elected, because of the way the electoral college works, what does it matter whether I vote or not?

Isn't my voice, influencing how other people might vote, at least as valuable to the political process. In the last election, 8 of my friends told me that the things I mentioned caused them to change who they voted for. By not speaking, and just voting myself, that would be one vote, rather than eight. Which has more influence on the process?

Voting is one way we exercise our right to participate. Speaking is another. I don't think one is inherently more valuable than the other, but if one is, I think it's our ability to speak and potentially influence others.