"If you don't vote, you have no right to complain!"

[steve-in-kville]

I'm not a political person. But next week's election does have me paying attention. So for those who choose not to vote, how do you reply to the above statement?

Keep it civil!

[MaxPC]

3 Options
1. You could always point out the fact that the 1st Amendment legally gives you the right to complain regardless then quote the 1st Amendment verbatim:
"Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances."

2. You could keep it humorous and say: "Not my circus, not my monkeys."

3. Or wish them a blessed day and tell them you'll pray for them...then do!

[steve-in-kville]

2. You could keep it humorous and say: "Not my circus, not my monkeys."

As of late, that's been my attitude towards a lot of things!

[ken_sylvania]

I'm not a political person. But next week's election does have me paying attention. So for those who choose not to vote, how do you reply to the above statement?

Keep it civil!

If the statement was directed at me in response to my complaining about our elected leaders, I would say thank you for the reminder and affirm my thankfulness for the government that we have. I'm of the opinion that Christians have no business complaining about their government.

On the other hand we need to understand that one may discuss legitimate problems without complaining. It's a very fine line and I think many of us cross it long before we are aware that we do, but I wouldn't say that everyone pointing out the dysfunction in government is complaining about it. To complain is to express dissatisfaction or annoyance. I am not dissatisfied with the elected leaders we have. They are roughly the caliber of people I expect to run for office. Historically some have been better than the current crop but many (most?) have been worse.

[Robert]

There is plenty enough to complain about without complaining about the elections.

[ken_sylvania]

There is plenty enough to complain about without complaining about the elections.

But I hope you choose not to complain about it!!!
You know how when you ask people how they are some will say "O, I can't complain." I like to tell them that they can if they want to, but they've chosen not to.

[PeterG]

I try not to complain in the first place. Our government could get noticeably worse and still be above average, by my reckoning.

[temporal1]

I'm not a political person. But next week's election does have me paying attention. So for those who choose not to vote, how do you reply to the above statement?

Keep it civil!

the subject line saying has been around a long time.
thankfully, it's a saying, something to think about, but, not yet a law!

over decades, i never have felt obligated to respond to it.
people are free to believe that, if they choose. voting is a privilege, not a mandate.

in those countries where votes are mandated, it seems, the second requirement is who to vote for! so, that's not where we want to go. imho.

[Judas Maccabeus]

I'm not a political person. But next week's election does have me paying attention. So for those who choose not to vote, how do you reply to the above statement?

Keep it civil!

the subject line saying has been around a long time.
thankfully, it's a saying, something to think about, but, not yet a law!

over decades, i never have felt obligated to respond to it.
people are free to believe that, if they choose. voting is a privilege, not a mandate.

in those countries where votes are mandated, it seems, the second requirement is who to vote for! so, that's not where we want to go. imho.

That is where a "Donkey Vote" comes in.

J.M.

[Josh]

I'm not a political person. But next week's election does have me paying attention. So for those who choose not to vote, how do you reply to the above statement?

Keep it civil!

the subject line saying has been around a long time.
thankfully, it's a saying, something to think about, but, not yet a law!

over decades, i never have felt obligated to respond to it.
people are free to believe that, if they choose. voting is a privilege, not a mandate.

in those countries where votes are mandated, it seems, the second requirement is who to vote for! so, that's not where we want to go. imho.

Australia has compulsory voting yet has fair and honest elections with two big parties and quite a few small third parties.