Somebody please give me a reason to vote in a General Election when I am disgusted by all poltical parties...?

Question

...on the ballot, and by the filthy first-past-the-post voting system?

Mark B <--- So only when I vote for someone I don't agree with, to enact legislation on my behalf (and with a mandate) that I don't agree with, can I then complain about it???? Does that make any sense at all???

Answer 1

Because over the course of our history MANY people have died so you can have that voice. The worst thing you can do is silence it yourself so willingly.

Answer 2

You either mean that you are disgruntled with the labour party and seek to justify this by blaming all the other political parties, or you want the party with the least votes to hold sway in a 3 party system. You only have to look at the way the UK labour party set up the electoral system for the London Assembly to see how wrong that would be. One party has gained well over 50% of the 14 candidates open by direct election by London's electors. They are swamped by 11 losers supporting the labour party. We need someone to disband this assembly in the same way as the GLC was sunk.

Answer 3

Just three points to add in this interesting debate
1. Remember for the bad men to succeed , the good men just need to say silent , (and also not to vote)

2. Our right to vote was won by sacrifice of others, never forget it. (already said by another contributor but it needs to be repeated.)

3. Would more people vote if the voting system was fairer. No more 'first past the post' but change to a proportional system
Remember in the UK , both Blair and Thatcher enjoyed massive majorities while polling less than 50% of the popular vote!! How just is that?

Answer 4

Sir,
I, for many years now, have not voted for candidates so much as I've voted against them. Once in a great while I'll vote for a candidate who hasn't a chance, and who is really not a good candidate but who has a major platform plank or two which is in synch with my ideals. The hope is that others will vote for the same reasons and though losing, the issue will garner interest. .
My most disheartening observation is that the democratic process seems to have degenerated into an exercise of finding the lowest common denominator of values and policies. This has been a disaster in the United States, and through its policies, in the world. Though sorely tempted to just skip the process I've persevered because the alternative is to completely give up governance to the "annointed."

Answer 5

Disgust with political parties is a perfectly legitimate position in the early 21st century, when they are generally all mired in contempt for the public and corruption of the political process. I grew up being lectured that "people had died for the right to vote", and so one had to use the "power" that we've inherited, but I'm not sure that argument holds weight. If you have disgust for the parties and the process, then you're perfectly within your rights to not vote. Perhaps though we could do something loud and alternative. How about setting up a protest website - "Votes for sale". For all those who share a disgust in the process and the parties, get people to register their names, and count up the votes that can be "bought" by any party cynical enough to come out and publically buy them - how about that as a way of drawing attention to the corruption and perversion of the democratic process? The press would have a FIELD day ;oD

Answer 6

When I dont agree with either of the 2 parties nominees I vote 3rd party . This way my unhappiness with theryre system is documented in polls. Do not stay away and not vote. Vote for a 3rd party. Voice your displeasure on the record where it shows up at the Voting Booths. This year I am Voting for Ron Paul. If he is not in the General Election I will choose a 3rd party candidate to support and Vote for them.

Answer 7

You sometimes have to pick the best of the worst. If you dont vote than you really shouldnt complain about who gets elected. I always tell people to start working to change the system if they dont like what they see. No one is stopping you from running for office if you feel you could do a better job. I dont particularly like either main party or the candidates that they are offering but i at least try to work locally to make some changes. Right now I'm helping homebound to get applications for absentee ballots so that they can vote in the primary.

Answer 8

Is "Spooky" an alias for Alistair Campbell ?. New job - scour the boards.

Looks like a plant to me.

A "true gentleman" neither asks of or tries to to influence another person's politics.

As a low paid self employed person my chances of voting for the "Islington Dinner Party" are well below zero.

The only people they help is themselves and their "chums" -"where is that nice villa of yours ??"

Back to the question - please vote even if you spoil your ballot paper. Either that or vote for one of the parties that really hack the career politicians off.

The "government" was voted for by less than 25% of the electorate - which means by simple arithmetic that 75% have not given them any kind of mandate.

Don't vote and the bar stewards (what ever colour rossette they wear) will treat you as "compliant"

Answer 9

You call yourself a true gentleman, well a true gentleman thinks not only of himself, but of others around him, the majority of people in this country are suffering big time due to the horrendous way we are being treated by the howard government, If you were a true gentleman, you would help those who were less fortunate than yourself, to have a better future, that is why you should not waste your vote, a vote for labour is a vote to improve the lives of those less fortunate than the perfect gentleman.

Answer 10

I believe it is possible to vote for "None Of The Above" as an option in some electoral systems to show disapproval for all the candidates.

Answer 11

I do think that you have to vote not for the political party but for the guy who is smart and can change the bad to the good. And I know this kind of guy. His name is Joe Biden and I found his thoughts really smarts,
Here you can find ten reasons to vote for Joseph Biden:
http://4Biden.com