Basically, if you don't do anything about it, then you can't complain, because it's clearly not so bad that you're prepared to do something about it.
Hence, if you don't vote, then you can't complain (oh - except in that childish, teenage, "they're all bastards" manner, which is exactly and only that, and will be taken equally as seriously as a child not eating their supper then complaining that they're hungry), because you didn't even try to change things by using the power you had.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 6 May 2010, 10:37, 2 replies)

I think that's bollocks.
Every party has stuff that I disagree with, and have done stuff in the past that I shouldn't forgive, but I'd have to forgive their past and agree to the things I disagree with if I vote for them.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Thu 6 May 2010, 10:45, closed)

Then you need to get over yourself and accept that parties change, priorities change, and there's only one way that you can change things
Or, y'know, you can just sit there and whine about how it's all so unfair and that you don't like it, but just don't be surprised when people don't take you seriously when you do so.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 6 May 2010, 10:50, closed)

What? How is that even relievent to what I just said?
I shouldn't vote because I've not educated myself on the issue enough, I'm saying that I don't agree with any party on every issue, so would be voting for something I don't believe in.

Or is this one of those "Woooh, I'm so politicly aware, I'm voting so I can look down on people who don't" things?
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Thu 6 May 2010, 10:58, closed)

No, I think this is one of those...
..."do something to try and make a difference, rather than act like an apathetic pedantic tosspot" kind of things.
(NoveltyCondomHead Clanks Wams., Thu 6 May 2010, 11:00, closed)

Why is it down to me to 'make a difference' ?
Would you like to choose my vote for me? is that what you want? You can have it if you want.
( G/PP 💩💩💩💩💩&#128, Thu 6 May 2010, 11:01, closed)

Alrighty, fine. But..
...agree that abstaining from voting comes with the caveat that whatever happens over the next 4 years (that is politically influenced) is absolutely fine with you, irrespective of what actually occurs.
(NoveltyCondomHead Clanks Wams., Thu 6 May 2010, 11:06, closed)

No one's asking you to agree with every party on every issue.
They're asking if you WANT - to assess them and vote for who you feel is best to do the job.

Wrap it up cynically if you like - "who do you think is the least bad?"

Either way, either do something to change the system (or not, if you like it how it is), or accept what you're given.

If you don't say what you want, don't complain about what you get. No one's telepathic.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 6 May 2010, 11:07, closed)

What a load of old...
...bollocks.

Effectively you're restricting yourself to only ever voting for a party and a candidate which not only do you agree with 100%, but also which has never in the history of it's politics done anything which it now considers contrary to it's aims.

Never gonna happen. The point others are making is that if you don't bother to exercise the tiny bit of power you have over the future of the country, then you are being a tad hypocritical if you then moan about the state of said country. Bit like never tidying you're flat and then whinging that it's untidy.

Also, lack of knowledge of the policies and pledges of the major parties is not a valid reason to avoid voting - it's only once every 4 years: get off your fat arse and find out, work out which party - on balance - you believe to be best for the country (rather than just your pocket), and whatever happens over the next 4 years at least you'll know you did what you thought was best.
(NoveltyCondomHead Clanks Wams., Thu 6 May 2010, 10:56, closed)

I can complain...
simple fact...
(likeajackhammer, Thu 6 May 2010, 11:06, closed)

You can indeed. Whether or not it's valid or not is a different matter.
I can complain that I can't fly unaided.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 6 May 2010, 11:08, closed)

"valid"
that's even worse than not having a right...
(likeajackhammer, Thu 6 May 2010, 11:13, closed)

a right what?

(NoveltyCondomHead Clanks Wams., Thu 6 May 2010, 11:14, closed)

A right moan.

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 6 May 2010, 11:16, closed)

My right moan...
..was removed as I had a lump on it. My left moan has swollen to fill the available space.
(NoveltyCondomHead Clanks Wams., Thu 6 May 2010, 11:18, closed)

Sexy tiem!

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 6 May 2010, 11:19, closed)

How so?

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 6 May 2010, 11:16, closed)

because there are people voting BNP and want "the blacks" removed from britain
I on the other hand am not a racist cunt, and the reasons I'm not voting are out of my control...

are you saying that the racist's argument is more valid than mine?
(likeajackhammer, Thu 6 May 2010, 11:19, closed)

No, but I'm saying it will be more successful in being heard.
That's why you should vote. THere are 99 nice people, and 1 BNP person.

If all the nice people don't vote, and just complain that they're not voting because they pay tax, and that one BNP person votes, then those 100 people will be represented by, and thus assumed to be, a BNP group.

That's how it works.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 6 May 2010, 11:21, closed)

no no no...
I didn't say that I'm not voting BECAUSE I pay tax - I'm saying I have the right to moan (between elections) because I pay tax, regardless of whether I vote.

Let's not talk cross purposes here (because we're getting off point - or at least my original point) I think everyone SHOULD vote - I just don't think people should dismiss their views just because they didn't vote...
(likeajackhammer, Thu 6 May 2010, 11:27, closed)

Ah - icy.
To a certain extent I agree with you, except I think everyone should vote and should be obliged to vote.

But yes - I'll listen to people who didn't vote if they're prepared to offer a substantive alternative.

Just complaining that they don't like whoever got in, however, I will treat with short shrift.
( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 6 May 2010, 11:30, closed)

I think that's what I was trying to say.
But writing this at work, dealing with idiots both around me and on the end of the phone tends to sap the mind somewhat.
( jim_bob can herd cats., Thu 6 May 2010, 11:33, closed)