Non-Partisan Anti-Voting League of America or NPAVLA
Gentle friends,
This is an idea I have been working on for some time and I believe that it is ready for criticism and review. Many of you on my friends list will already be familiar with it and so I ask you for your help in solidifying the delivery and directing some non friends listers here. The end goal would be to expand, solidify and jazz up these ideas to the point that I could write a tract, make posters, etc...(picture the antithesis of a 'Rock the Vote' booth)...that's where I want to get. So here you are:
To those that are disillusioned with the state of the country, I propose this:
Stop voting.
Considering the recent political and governmental state of things, it seems readily apparent that something is not working the way it should. I don't think it is a big jump to make to say that something is critically broken. If you think that things in this country are just fine, or that all it's going to take is to get the other party in office for 4 years to make it just fine, this is the place to stop reading. I'm not going to argue that with you.
However, for those of you who do feel that in some way things have just gotten turned around and it's going to take some radical changes to get headed on the right track, consider this:
Stop voting.
Your voice is not being heard. You are being spoon fed a sense of ownership, of participation, of choice, and you are going away satisfied that you have made a difference, done your duty and spoken your mind.
When your candidate loses, do you sit for the next four years in self righteous gloating, declaring, 'if my guy had won, this would all be different'? If so, you have no right. Implicit in every ballot that is cast is the declaration that, 'here is my preference, but I will submit to the will of the majority and with cheer'. The democratic process is not win or lose and then you can wash your hands of the responsibility. By submitting that ballot and taking part in this system, you are re-signing that social contract that says, 'here is my approval, whatever the results may be, I give my consent. Go forth and rule in my name'. The other option:
Stop voting.
Think for a moment on this: On the corner is a restaurant that serves chicken or fish. When you pay, you place your order. The owner tells you that if most of the rest of the diners order the same thing, then that's what you all get, but if they order the other dish, then that is what you all will be served.
Now, while the food is good, this arrangement probably works. Perhaps you would have preferred a succulent chicken dish, but the fish is actually quite tasty. It was worth the risk and you don't mind being seen as a paying customer.
But when the chicken is dry and bland and covered in maggots and the fish has obviously been nibbled by the cat, well I wonder how long you would keep ordering there. In case you haven't figured it out, your order here is analogous to your vote. Whatever should you do?
Stop voting, unless you like dry chicken or nibbled fish.
The immediate question that springs to mind is, how is this going to make things better? If you cannot think of a hundred things that can cause change, but don't grant consent to the system, maybe you aren't the man for this job. Don't think that voting is the only way to cause change. Don't think that taking one action once every four years constitutes the whole of your options. Dissent also causes change. Recognizing the figures that are in power does not grant consent. Pester, harass and harangue until they get the point. Protest, rally and scream on street corners until others get the point. Etc... ad infinitum.
But don't roll over, don't give consent, don't sell your right to criticize. Don't be part of the problem. Don't sign your name to these deeds being done.
My problem is that I have been thinking these thoughts for so long that I have lost the track of my initial delivery of these ideas. Please comment on the clarity of my intent, the soundness of arguments, how can I improve the case to sway the masses...? Please direct any of your friends that might be interested in this discussion to my journal.
This is an idea I have been working on for some time and I believe that it is ready for criticism and review. Many of you on my friends list will already be familiar with it and so I ask you for your help in solidifying the delivery and directing some non friends listers here. The end goal would be to expand, solidify and jazz up these ideas to the point that I could write a tract, make posters, etc...(picture the antithesis of a 'Rock the Vote' booth)...that's where I want to get. So here you are:
To those that are disillusioned with the state of the country, I propose this:
Stop voting.
Considering the recent political and governmental state of things, it seems readily apparent that something is not working the way it should. I don't think it is a big jump to make to say that something is critically broken. If you think that things in this country are just fine, or that all it's going to take is to get the other party in office for 4 years to make it just fine, this is the place to stop reading. I'm not going to argue that with you.
However, for those of you who do feel that in some way things have just gotten turned around and it's going to take some radical changes to get headed on the right track, consider this:
Stop voting.
Your voice is not being heard. You are being spoon fed a sense of ownership, of participation, of choice, and you are going away satisfied that you have made a difference, done your duty and spoken your mind.
When your candidate loses, do you sit for the next four years in self righteous gloating, declaring, 'if my guy had won, this would all be different'? If so, you have no right. Implicit in every ballot that is cast is the declaration that, 'here is my preference, but I will submit to the will of the majority and with cheer'. The democratic process is not win or lose and then you can wash your hands of the responsibility. By submitting that ballot and taking part in this system, you are re-signing that social contract that says, 'here is my approval, whatever the results may be, I give my consent. Go forth and rule in my name'. The other option:
Stop voting.
Think for a moment on this: On the corner is a restaurant that serves chicken or fish. When you pay, you place your order. The owner tells you that if most of the rest of the diners order the same thing, then that's what you all get, but if they order the other dish, then that is what you all will be served.
Now, while the food is good, this arrangement probably works. Perhaps you would have preferred a succulent chicken dish, but the fish is actually quite tasty. It was worth the risk and you don't mind being seen as a paying customer.
But when the chicken is dry and bland and covered in maggots and the fish has obviously been nibbled by the cat, well I wonder how long you would keep ordering there. In case you haven't figured it out, your order here is analogous to your vote. Whatever should you do?
Stop voting, unless you like dry chicken or nibbled fish.
The immediate question that springs to mind is, how is this going to make things better? If you cannot think of a hundred things that can cause change, but don't grant consent to the system, maybe you aren't the man for this job. Don't think that voting is the only way to cause change. Don't think that taking one action once every four years constitutes the whole of your options. Dissent also causes change. Recognizing the figures that are in power does not grant consent. Pester, harass and harangue until they get the point. Protest, rally and scream on street corners until others get the point. Etc... ad infinitum.
But don't roll over, don't give consent, don't sell your right to criticize. Don't be part of the problem. Don't sign your name to these deeds being done.
My problem is that I have been thinking these thoughts for so long that I have lost the track of my initial delivery of these ideas. Please comment on the clarity of my intent, the soundness of arguments, how can I improve the case to sway the masses...? Please direct any of your friends that might be interested in this discussion to my journal.