Great post my friend.
A small protest, but oh... how poignant!
Stand up for your families at EVERY opportunity.
Apologies for this slight diversion from your Topic.
I can't be bothered making 10 posts before I can start a thread and this IS connected.
My Solution to ' Voter Apathy '
I have heard people say that they don't vote "because… "(There are many reasons. e.g. The politics threads are full of good reasons).
I usaully say, "I never vote, because I refuse to give my CONSENT
I thought about this for some time, until I came to the conclusion that there needs to be a easy, cost free, simple solution, for people like me, who
are alienated from the political process, for whatever reason, to make an impact on every election.
So I thought, instead of GIVING my vote, why not WITHDRAW my vote instead. Use elections as a way of registering my PROTEST.
I decided that there is a need for a device that will be recognised as a mark of protest.
Something a bit more significant than 'a spoilt vote' which can easily be dismissed as 'mistake'.
So I have come up with a mark of protest . And here it is:
( picture of 'Chi Rho' should be here) Doh!
"WITH THIS SIGN I WILL CONQUER!"
Just six little words that the Emperor Constantine spoke when he used this sign. And boy did he did conquer.
When we go to vote, we are asked to select a candidate by making a mark on the ballot paper.
The mark that we are asked to make is this: X
Well the next time I vote, I will make this mark.
Marking the 'X' acknowledges that I am USING my vote, as is my right.
But by adding the ' P' (protest) I spoil (or withdraw) my vote from any of the listed candidates. (as I intend)
In fact I will put the Protest mark (XP) against ALL the candidates to make absolutely sure that, they know that NONE of them are acceptable,
and to make sure the paper is spoilt.
I Protest that the limited options on this ballot are excluding me my right to use my vote fairly.
For me, it will be my way of saying:
"I DO NOT GIVE MY CONSENT TO ANY OF THESE CANDIDATES TO ACT ON MY BEHALF".
I know that If I don't vote, not even a protest/spoiled vote, then I am not saying anything.
Many people already spoil their votes in protest, this is not new, but they are just dismissed as simpletons who can't even put an X on a ballot
paper. "the idiots spoiled their ballots by accident again"
It can't be a mistake if a 'protest mark' is used, because it shows I know exactly what I am doing. No mistake.
In the UK the validity of a election may be questioned if there is an unusually high proportion of spoilt votes, and the actual number of spoilt votes
is stated by the returning officer at the count. So protest voters could even measure the effect of their protests.
Of course I'm not encouraging anyone to spoil their votes, but if people started doing it... I would probably have a wry smile.
Well that’s all that people really need to know about my solution, It is as 'simple' as that.
A little about this 'Protest Mark'.
This very old design, that is made using the Greek letters X & P, In the past it has been credited with bringing incredible results, often against
overwhelming odds, by those who were wise enough to use it.
X = chi ( pronounced Ki ) or 'Magnetic Susceptibility' or 'multiplied by' or 'No' or 'Wrong' or 'marks the spot' or 'a mark made when
voting'.
P = rho ( Pronounced 'ro' ) or 'Density' or 'Protest when voting'
Together we get the design that is termed The 'Chi Rho' ( Pronounced 'Cairo' as in the Egyptian Capital ).
Chi Rho is said to stand for chreston, meaning "good", but there are many interpretations:
xp = key = Christ = a very sucsessful computer operating sytem = Constantine's sign = Orion = SOMETHING IMPORTANT, etc, etc.
Peace & Love
p.s. If some kind soul could post a picture of the 'Chi Rho' for people to see, I would be grateful. I don't know how to do it.
and remember... Great Oak's from little Acorns grow.