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Mark · Site Admin Joined: 13 Nov 2007 Posts: 1052

The Significance of Voter Turnout

http://www.opednews.com/maxwrite/diarypage.php?did=10518

Excerpt:

A high turnout is generally seen as evidence of the legitimacy of the current system.

Look at this as a message for the future, not one for the upcoming election. Surely you’ve already made your mind up how to act this time. You’re voting for X, Y, Z or someone else. Your choice, whichever it may be, is an honorable one and you are convinced you’re doing the best you can to bring about real change. Once you have your man in office, you’ll put his feet to the fire. You’re not quite sure how to go about it but it’s just about all there is left for you to do. Put his feet to the fire you hope to be able to ingnite. The one you want to take office has won, he’s in and he’d better do as told; not by the big corporations but by the people. We the people. Bottum-up, that’s how democracy works. If he doesn’t listen to us, you say, we’ll just impeach him. Well, good luck with that. Bush highly deserved to be impeached. Was he?

dyfet · Posted: Sat Nov 01, 2008 1:12 pm Post subject: De-legitimizing false democracy

The electoral system of the United States works precisely as it was designed to. First-past-the-post, by assuring only one winner, amplifies the views of the best financed minority in society into an exclusive monopoly. This is dollar democracy at it's "best". Mass civil disobediance through non participation remains the best way to de-legitimize this. When the polling place on election day is as deserted as a ghost town or a restaurant with a known "health inspection problem", then we know our job is done.

Mark · Site Admin Joined: 13 Nov 2007 Posts: 1052

Exactly, David, and very well said.

Anyone who can post to opednews and would care to leave a comment there and/or email the article to their friends using the opednews "email a friend" button, would really help a lot. Being banned there, I can't do it, but I did "digg" it and more diggs are also appreciated.

curt · Guest

many many thanks for your help, Mark & David. Circa 50% already refuse to participate, for various reasons. Voter turnout this time around will be higher than ever with so many helpless souls try to "save democracy", "keep Palin from becoming pResident" or to "keep the Repugs from grabbing another four years". The list of excuses for participating in yet another scam is long. Much can be done without our having to vote. The main thing is still to get the word out, to educate, to influence and to expose the system for what it is.

I tried to log in, to no avail. Perhaps I should become a member before trying again.

Keep up the good work and thanks again.

curt aka tony forest (on OEN)

Mark · Site Admin Joined: 13 Nov 2007 Posts: 1052

Voting integrity editor Joan Brunwasser on opednews posted an article with voting stories including one about an immigrant couple that didn't get their absentee ballots so they spent $5,000 to fly home to vote. They said they had green cards and lived in the U.S. for years and worked and paid taxes, but couldn't vote, so now that they're citizens they want to vote.

Sure proves that having money doesn't make you smart.

Good to see you here, Curt, and I'm glad that we could help.

Guest · Posted: Wed Nov 19, 2008 1:16 pm Post subject:

i've always thought that if the blanc vote was taken into account, i would then vote. But the thing is: i don't believe in voting. No matter what your choice is, i suspect the one decided for the best agenda of the domination of others will be at the desk.
That's a good article.
Democraty lost its meaning. Voice to the people, this has simply never happened & voting is nothing but a delusion.

pelagus

Mark · Site Admin Joined: 13 Nov 2007 Posts: 1052

Thanks, Pel. Good to see you here.