The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #160890 Message #3820284
Posted By: Steve Shaw
13-Nov-16 - 06:48 AM
Thread Name: BS: Brexit again
Subject: RE: BS: Brexit again
So, Iains, if I don't vote in this democracy of ours, in which voting is voluntary, I somehow need to shut up and have no cause for complaint, etc., eh, when things go wrong, or stand by when I'm accused of "not being arsed?"
Well, a couple of things. First, no-one has the right to know why I didn't vote. Suppose I just couldn't decide. Suppose I thought that none of the candidates were worthy of office. How would you know? What justification would you have for assuming that I simply hadn't been arsed? And why are those kinds of decisions any less honourable than voting for someone I'd be extremely reluctant see in office? I actually think that it's far more honourable to not vote because you admit that you don't understand politics. An awful lot of people who do vote don't have a clue about politics. In a democracy, that should worry us, big-time.
Next, the money that the government spends comes from the taxes, equally, of people who vote and people who don't vote. I have no choice but to pay that tax (though some multimillionaires seem to have a choice). I think that gives me exactly the same right to whinge, moan and hold the government to account whether I voted for them, against them or not at all. Absolutely no-one has the right to criticise non-voters or to make unjustifiable assumptions as to why they didn't.
As for The Guardian being the repository for softie sandal-wearing liberal treehugging pinkos, etc., you are simply demonstrating your ignorance. Unlike the tabloids, the Guardian does not mix news reporting with comment. The Guardian fearlessly invites contributors from the full range of the political spectrum, including occasionally one or two who I regard as detestable scumbags. There's a lot wrong with the Guardian. But you really should read it some time instead of ignorantly parading your prejudices. If you want to live in a real fantasy world, read the Mail (maybe you already do). And I do read the Mail fairly frequently, when I can pick up a free copy. I do have to hold my nose.