Not Voting = Can't Complain??

Hello to all,

This is my first thread on here and I hope I’ve placed it in the right area. If not, please relocate.

Even before I was old enough to vote I was led to believe that my vote plays an important role in the shaping of my American country. I was told “it was my American duty” and “I should take great pride in having the right to have my voice heard.” I never once believed this rhetoric and I have always had a disdain for these political types as well as the theatrics of the whole process. Something about it never felt right to me. I’m 31 now and have yet to ever cast my vote, am I wrong? In all honesty I can’t bring myself to believe one word spoken by these criminals. Hell, I can’t even get past looking at them. Throughout the years I’ve observed the masses get spun into a frenzy by the MSM over these candidates and all I can do is shake my head in bewilderment.

Over the years I’ve heard a comment made by the political diehards and some old timers that doesn’t set right with me. When they hear that I’ve never voted their response is “if you don’t vote you have no right to complain and you’re not helping solve the problem.” I get so angry when I hear this comment being made that I almost become paralyzed by it. I have always felt that my tax payer status and the fact that I’m an American citizen already grants me my right to complain. I just don’t understand how they can even believe what these crooks tell them enough to even vote for them. Like their vote counts anyways, but that’s for another thread.

My questions for you are:

Do I still have a right to complain even though I don’t participate in our voting process? Am I wrong In my thought process?

I would like to hear your thoughts on this matter as maybe I’m missing something.

Thanks

Do you live in the USA?

Do you feel disenfranchised with the two party system?

Are you tired of the dog and pony show we have to witness every 4 years?

Do you believe (rightfully so, imo) that in recent elections we've had very little choice, it seems both the R's and the D's produce the same candidate, with the same foreign policies, the same economic policies, and they only differ in opinion on "buzz" issues that really are unimportant in the grand scheme of things?


I think as an American you have the right to abstain from voting, especially in a system that drives your choice for you - you don't actually have any real choice. So yeah, you have the right to complain. You can complain about the current administration but you can also complain about the US "democratic process" and how it gives people the impression that they have a choice when in reality they very rarely do.


I am with you, OP - I hate that old cliche too. I live in the USA, I have the right to say WHATEVER I want to WHOMEVER I want. Tell anyone who tells you otherwise to please refer to the Constitution.

I agree. You have a right to complain. What is the point of voting when you can really only vote for the regime anyway? Republicans and Democrats are the same. Voting is for suckers. We should do more than complain though. We should revolt.

reply to post by topdog30


You still have a right to complain. Ever see the "Don't blame me." Bumper stickers?

I didn't vote for Bush nor Obama.

I keep my political votes local as those are the ones that really effect me.

Besides, the POTUS is put into office via delegates, not the popular vote.

I've always been an advocate of having an 'abstain' box on ballots. That way, someone can show that they care enough to attend and 'vote' - whilst still registering their discontent.

reply to post by topdog30


I hate it when people tell me "If you don't vote you can't complain". To that I say "Don't blame me, I didn't vote for that crook"

You can complain about it as much as you want. Everyone deserves the opportunity to vote but not every person should be voting if you know what I mean. Every 4 years so many people pat themselves on the back, put on their nice "I voted" sticker and make themselves feel great because they spent 30 seconds researching who they are voting for.

People vote for who they want to drink a beer with or who they find most visually attractive or who they think acts the most like them. Lack of voter knowledge is the number one problem with voting.

You being upset with the crooks and not supporting any of them gives you all the ammo you need to complain. That all being said... I still go and vote, just not for one of the 2 people shoved down my throat. I will go out and vote for a 3rd party candidate. Maybe that might appeal to you more.

I vote against the 2 party system when it comes to president and as far as my state and local elections I research all the candidates to the best of my ability and try to find the one honest person for each position. Many good people run for office, they are just not usually connected enough to win. If all the disenfranchised voters came out and gave support to those people who are honest, we might have a shot.

It's quite the opposite, actually. If you voted, you have no right to complain, because you have actively supported this corrupted system...

Originally posted by mkpetrov
It's quite the opposite, actually. If you voted, you have no right to complain, because you have actively supported this corrupted system...

But if its corrupted, your vote couldn't have mattered, so you haven't supported it...

Originally posted by ComeFindMe

Originally posted by mkpetrov
It's quite the opposite, actually. If you voted, you have no right to complain, because you have actively supported this corrupted system...

But if its corrupted, your vote couldn't have mattered, so you haven't supported it...

Well it still expresses your will/attitude. So it sais: "Yes, i believe you guys, and i have faith in your status quo. Keep fooling us, please".

You can't beat the system if you don't even realize it must be beaten.

reply to post by sageofmonticello


I totally agree with you.

For the most part I am a conservative, but the Repubs or Conservatives have yet to put up a decent contender where I live. Most are crooked with a long record of such actions.

Not that the Dems in my precinct are any better, most of my county democrats are under investigation by the FBI or are actively on trial.

I look into the past of the candidate and see what I can see and base my vote upon their consistency and how they are there for their constituents.

Pols must be reminded that they serve us...not the other way around.

Originally posted by TinkerHaus
Do you live in the USA?

Do you feel disenfranchised with the two party system?

Are you tired of the dog and pony show we have to witness every 4 years?

Do you believe (rightfully so, imo) that in recent elections we've had very little choice, it seems both the R's and the D's produce the same candidate, with the same foreign policies, the same economic policies, and they only differ in opinion on "buzz" issues that really are unimportant in the grand scheme of things?


I think as an American you have the right to abstain from voting, especially in a system that drives your choice for you - you don't actually have any real choice. So yeah, you have the right to complain. You can complain about the current administration but you can also complain about the US "democratic process" and how it gives people the impression that they have a choice when in reality they very rarely do.


I am with you, OP - I hate that old cliche too. I live in the USA, I have the right to say WHATEVER I want to WHOMEVER I want. Tell anyone who tells you otherwise to please refer to the Constitution.

+1

If we are citizens and we don't have a real choice - we haven't had one in my lifetime - then not only do we have the right to complain but we should be shouting it from every corner.

reply to post by mkpetrov


It's a shame you are pre-judging not only the concept but the reality and the participants of democracy.

Voting does not automatically designate you are naive, 'fooled' by the system or a component of its (alleged) corruption.

I’m glad to see that others feel as I do, it helps to reinforce my beliefs and to know I’m not alone in my way of thinking. I often talk to those in my life about my thoughts on this matter, but they have been programmed since day one to take part in this destructive ceremony. They are so easily swayed by the promises made that they deny any facts brought before them stating otherwise. I find it difficult to understand how people allow themselves to be conned again and again.

Thanks to everyone who replied.

Of course you should vote. By not voting, you're saying you don't care who is President. If you don't care, then there shouldn't be anything to complain about.

Are you aware there are 20 candidates (not counting the ones that have withdrawn) for President this year? This link has a list of the current candidates. Scroll down the page a ways for the list.


Do some research. Find a candidate that best suits your opinions. If you don't like the Republican or Democrat selection, then vote Libertarian. Vote Socialist. Vote Reform. Vote for somebody.

In line with the threadtitle, I agree.
If you do not vote, you have no right to complain.
Here is my reasoning, even if you do not like the two paths that are given to you, the option to write in a candidate is still there.
IE you do not like Romney or BarryO, you write in Ron Paul!
You have then voted and done so with a clear conscience.

Originally posted by ComeFindMe

Originally posted by mkpetrov
It's quite the opposite, actually. If you voted, you have no right to complain, because you have actively supported this corrupted system...

But if its corrupted, your vote couldn't have mattered, so you haven't supported it...

You are still justifying the systems existence by voting, corrupted or not, so yes you are supporting it, corruption and all.

I dont vote and I complain ALL the time. I will not vote on a lessor of 2 evils. Seems to me a none vote by 300 million people and the same 300 million people march on D.C. might make a statement. But I am reluctant to see that happening, you know why? YOU wont stop buying gasoline for even a week.

Your Ranting a very over used cop out cliche

reply to post by rebellender


Thanks for stopping by.

Originally posted by ANOK

You are still justifying the systems existence by voting, corrupted or not, so yes you are supporting it, corruption and all.

And using your own logic, you participate in a democratic society generally which means you support it, corruption and all.

Originally posted by ComeFindMe
And using your own logic, you participate in a democratic society generally which means you support it, corruption and all.

Not really. What do I participate in exactly? Our 'democratic' system is simply choosing from a pool of representatives that has already been chosen for us. It is not true democracy. There is nothing else to the system that I can participate in, I wish there was.

If you vote you are directly participating in the system. I have no choice but to live, what should I do, kill myself?

So your logic is vote anyway, because you can't help living in the system that uses a corrupt voting system?

I do vote for some local issues, but even that is sometimes a waste of time because the Feds refuse to accept state law if they don't like it. Prop 215 for example was passed with a majority vote but the Feds still disrespect state rights, and thus individual rights.