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"If you don't vote, you have no right to complain!"
Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2016 6:42 pm
by 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!
Re: "If you don't vote, you have no right to complain!"
Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2016 7:33 pm
by 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!
Re: "If you don't vote, you have no right to complain!"
Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2016 7:39 pm
by steve-in-kville
MaxPC wrote:
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!
Re: "If you don't vote, you have no right to complain!"
Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2016 8:25 pm
by ken_sylvania
steve-in-kville wrote: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.
Re: "If you don't vote, you have no right to complain!"
Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2016 8:52 pm
by Robert
There is plenty enough to complain about without complaining about the elections.
Re: "If you don't vote, you have no right to complain!"
Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2016 9:04 pm
by ken_sylvania
Robert wrote: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.
Re: "If you don't vote, you have no right to complain!"
Posted: Sat Nov 05, 2016 9:17 pm
by PeterG
I try not to complain in the first place. Our government could get noticeably worse and still be above average, by my reckoning.
Re: "If you don't vote, you have no right to complain!"
Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2016 5:17 pm
by temporal1
steve-in-kville wrote: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.
Re: "If you don't vote, you have no right to complain!"
Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2016 8:20 pm
by Judas Maccabeus
temporal1 wrote:steve-in-kville wrote: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.
Re: "If you don't vote, you have no right to complain!"
Posted: Sun Nov 06, 2016 9:15 pm
by Josh
temporal1 wrote:steve-in-kville wrote: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.