tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029034067422190629.post6343473651209420068..comments2023-10-08T02:10:12.457-07:00Comments on Without Shoes: Voting Is An Obligation Not A RightBenjamin E. New Esq.http://www.blogger.com/profile/16099351501264894438noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029034067422190629.post-15834978876817681922007-12-09T22:49:00.000-08:002007-12-09T22:49:00.000-08:00Paul, I can not disagree that the mechanics of vot...Paul, I can not disagree that the mechanics of voting are and have been being manipulated. Citizens can demand changes if they get involved,<BR/>I would like nothing better than to insure every vote counted and certainly there are well organized and financed forces that are working to the contrary. Gerrymandering has gone on for an awful long time, it became institutionalized by the "Contract ON America" crowd. The basic idea of our democracy is a good one. It is indeed in need of some serious maintenance after this last 30 years of attacks from forces of fascism wrapped in the flag. It can only be done if we the people demand it. These same forces of autocracy are counting on people who oppose them to give up. Use absentee ballots, they aren't as easy to discount. Let's start making some noise about the redistricting. The electoral college will likely be staunchly defended by states with small populations as it gives them undue power. One person=one vote I say.<BR/>Again if we demanded it in large numbers and made some noise we could effect change. I am not ready to throw in the towel and allow fascism to win, not yet.Benjamin E. New Esq.https://www.blogger.com/profile/16099351501264894438noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6029034067422190629.post-71839713563593892562007-12-09T10:51:00.000-08:002007-12-09T10:51:00.000-08:00You are neglecting some extremely relevant facts, ...You are neglecting some extremely relevant facts, although the facts you present are quite important as well. <BR/><BR/>For Congressional elections, most research I've seen suggests that about 85% of elections are settled by redistricting. Doesn't this make it considerably less of an "obligation" for me to vote when the odds are very slim that my vote will matter?<BR/><BR/>For presidential elections, a very limited number of Americans' votes have any potential to matter because of the arcane electoral college system. What is my "obligation" to vote in a state where there's no statistically significant chance that my vote will matter?<BR/><BR/>More importantly, the fact that all the research on the electronic voting systems find them to be profoundly flawed, and intentionally and systematically so, combined with the fact that the election machine companies have no accountability to speak of AND clear loyalties toward the Republicans makes it seem even more absurd to say I have an "obligation" to participate in a system where there's really no reason to think my vote will be counted.<BR/><BR/>We each have an obligation to participate in our democracy, but for many years now very powerful factions have gone to great lengths to render voting meaningless. In addition, if those who do vote delude themselves into thinking they've discharged their "obligation," surely they'll be less likely to participate in more meaningful ways.<BR/><BR/>Our democracy has been intentionally broken and there are no serious efforts underway to repair it, rendering voting pointless at best in nearly all situations.Unknownhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01917298063587016719noreply@blogger.com