Rallentanda wrote an interesting reply to yesterday’s blog; my reply to her reply was a bit long so I thought I would post it here instead. She wrote:
…in Australia voting is compulsory by law.If one fails to vote you receive a heavy fine $300 and if you fail to pay on time your drivers license is taken away and if you continue to fail to vote any property you have is confiscated and you could also receive a prison sentence. Be grateful that you can exercise your freedom not to vote!
I have often thought about this. There is a part of me that likes the idea of a compulsory vote – if you prefer not to vote, you could spoil your ballot – but I’m against it in principle. I think that to be forced to vote is as bad, in its own way, as being refused the vote: it should be a democratic right to abstain, if that’s what you wish. My problem, and the reason for yesterday’s shameless diatribe to guilt the lazy into voting, is that getting the vote has been such a hard-won battle over the centuries that it’s like spitting in the faces of those who fought for it. Our freedoms are being eroded by stealth – statutory instrument, anyone? – and we are too idle to stop it. When we refuse to stand up and be counted, we end up not counting for much.
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Yesterday’s prompt required us to write about a picture.
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Two Beautiful Things
A bloody baby
and his brother, screaming their
way into my heart.
The Laughing Housewife 
Hi tillybud. I thought this was an interesting topic, so I started writing and writing and writing. Apologies if it’s too long and/or ranty, but that’s what happens with politics, eh?
I am a young man who chooses not to vote. I’ve had my fair share of negative receptions to this, usually via the same logic as your own: many fought and died for the right to vote, and in not doing so, I am violating their memory in some way. Those who fought for that cause did so bravely and admirably. They fought for what they believed in. I fully respect that, and I am grateful to them. However, I fail to see how, in choosing to not vote, I disrespect them in any way, especially when you consider my reasons. Take the example of pro-cannabis campaigners in Holland who toiled for their freedom to choose how they live their lives. Is a Dutch citizen who now chooses not to partake disrespecting their efforts? No. They’re clearly not. They have the right to (which is good) but there is no obligation.
If this example seems too unimportant in comparison to voting, consider the debate on euthanasia which has flared up in Britain recently. Many are suffering greatly for the right to help loved ones end their suffering consentially. If they succeed, is some future person disrespecting them (spitting on their faces, if you will) by choosing not to be euthanised (even though they have a legal right to) and suffer through till the end? No. They are merely exercising their liberty, which is essentially what any rights campaign is about. I’d like to think those who have suffered for past freedoms would respect and understand that.
Australia’s system seems ridiculous to me. I’m not a great fan of Australian politics, and policy like this is precisely why. Forcing people to vote? Not only is that questionable in terms of rights, it’s also just a silly concept in itself. The vote of someone who truly believes in a party or politician, or at least enough to cross their box, and is well versed enough in their policies, is obviously valuable and important. They have reflected, considered and made an informed decision that they hold in hope. But is the vote of someone who’s just turned 18 (assuming that’s the legal minimum age), who perhaps has no care for politics at all, and who goes to the ballot only to avoid losing their driving license a valuable and important vote? Is it a vote that will help preserve the democratic ideals of freedom and justice? No, it’s no use to man nor beast. It’s just a random mark on a piece of paper; and you have to assume this happens quite a lot. Yes, they may have ‘done their part’ so that when their friends ask, ‘Did you vote?’ they can proudly say, ‘Of course! Who wouldn’t!’ but do they deserve a pat on the back? This isn’t what those who died for the cause would have wanted. And Plato would roll in his grave.
I am not a lazy non-voter. I am not ignorant. I am reasonably well versed in political philosophy. I have a mix of liberal, socialist and anti-capitalist leanings. I’ve never felt attached to or fond of a party or politician (certainly not one who could realistically win enough seats to have much or any influence). I’m not even mildly enthusiastic about any of them. I’ve never thought Yes, this is the party for me! (not for want of trying, by the way). Like many, I don’t particularly trust politicians. Most are unashamed careerists, and those that aren’t inevitably get caught out leaving brothels and resign. I even have issues with the very concept of representative democracy itself. Anarchism sounds increasingly appealing to me.
So should I vote? I don’t like Labour at all, but I despise the Tories. I’m not a nationalist, so the SNP don’t appeal (although some of their policies do). Should I pick the lesser evil? I’m told that a lot. Seems odd to me. Should I spoil my ballot? All that achieves, in my eyes, is that it will make people think I’m a democratically considerate objector, and not a lazy, uncaring bum. And, to be honest, I don’t care much for appearances. I’m not going to vote just for the sake of being counted or to feel like I’m a small part of history. Just as before, I don’t think that’s what the defenders of democratic freedom fought for. They wanted citizens to be empowered and confident in their political contribution. And I just don’t feel that way at all. A lot of others feel that way too, obviously. And if we do, it’s likely because we’ve been disillusioned by democracy and disappointed by politicians time and time again. We non-voters aren’t all lazy, cold and uncaring, we’re just not feeling it.
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I have to admit Daimler you sadden me: maybe you’re not lazy, but you’re apathetic, and by the sounds of it somewhat authoritarian. You choose not to vote simply because none of the parties you agree with won’t come to power, yet how will they ever come close to even a single constituency if you don’t fight the cause for them and help? If you don’t make a stand for what you believe in then why believe in anything?
You say you don’t care what people think of you, yet in that case why would you care if they see you as a ‘democratically considerate objector’. Your logic seems somewhat fallible.
Neither is voting simply a matter of not ‘disrespecting’ those who have fought hard for a cause, as demonstrated by your Pro-Cannabis point, it’s about far more than that. Instead it’s about enforcing what you believe in, in an equal forum, where all parties have an opportunity to explain what it is that drives them – usually in the form of manifestos. Ahh, i hear you cry, but all parties are not equal, that’s why the lib dems have been out of power for so long. But what of the independents who, with no party machine to drive them, take that stand? What of the Greens, who look certain to take at least one seat in the general election. It’s not about power, it’s about believing in yourself and your views.
You don’t trust politicians, yet do you know who your MP is? Have you ever met them and talked with them about the issues that matter to you? If each MP is simply a career politician or a fool, then why do we have MP’s like Frank Field, someone who fights not for his job, but for his constituency and his country.
We’ve had anarchism in this country, just look at the small communities that existed even 200 years ago, living a life where they never leave the homes they were born in. Were it not for the unification that Representative Democracy brings, you wouldnt even be sat at your computer reading this comment, as you’d be too busy trying to scrape by on a small plot of land, toiling to survive.
As for Plato, the man despised democracy, and argued the exact same thing that every monarchy, oligarchy and dictator has, that we should have a ruling class who knows what is best for the rest of us ‘common folk’. At least in a democracy you have the right to exercise liberty, and choose who has rule over you, instead of being told who it is that you have become a slave to.
I feel sad for you Daimler, no, I pity you as you just don’t seem to care about the very things you believe, and that is a crime far worse than not voting ever could be.
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ToryBoy,
I’d like to think I’m clearly not apathetic. I have feelings on political issues as thought out and considered as your own, I’d wager. I just disagree with you on my application of them. So please drop that term. It’s wildly inaccurate. And just how am I authoritarian exactly? How can I put in the a-side in my previous post that anarchism appeals to me more and more, and have you deem me authoritarian? If you based this appraisal on my brief reference to Plato, then see below. I obviously understand that the smaller parties need supporting votes too to establish themselves, and the old if everybody thought that way sentiment, but I would vote for a smaller party, regardless of whether they’d win seats or not, as long as I had significant attachment or faith in them. But this isn’t the case; I just haven’t found that yet (like I said, not for a lack of trying) and therefore I don’t. Your point here attacks a position that I am just not in. It’s not like I strongly believe in the policies of the Greens (for example) but choose not to vote for them because I feel it’s futile. Your point is off-target and misapplied. I’m not failing to understand the basics of democracy, thank you very much. And re-read my point on caring not for appearances. You misread it. I don’t go to the polls and spoil my ballot precisely because I don’t care if I appear to be democratically considerate and active. This makes perfect sense.
Again, I am aware of what democracy is supposed to be about. I am aware of the ideals. Reading the script back to me doesn’t address anything.
And yes, actually I have personally met two of my local MPs on separate occasions, and I’ve at the very least heard about the policies of others through friends (or otherwise). One I didn’t like at all, the other I thought was at least respectable. What’s your point? Maybe I’m just harder to convince than yourself? Maybe my views are less conventional and harder to have accurately represented for me? Frank Field? Well, even if he is an honest and hard-working guy, I still wouldn’t have voted for the man because I don’t like his right-wing policies. Doesn’t he consider Thatcher to be a heroine? Maybe I’m taking my limited understanding of his views out of context, but no thanks, not for me. That okay with you? The day a politician appeals to me enough in personality and policy, I will vote for him or her in good faith. Maybe I didn’t labour that point enough before, or maybe even with that stated I’m still a baddie in your eyes. I don’t know.
With regards to anarchism, you are blatantly oversimplifying the theory, which has it’s own flaws, but also strengths and appeal. Find some literature on it if you aren’t familiar with the many modern conceptions of it. Without widespread capitalism allowing for what is essentially the enslavery of sweatshop workers who put together the components of my cheap computer, I probably wouldn’t be sitting here reading your message either. Does it follow from that that capitalism is necessarily good in every way and I should support it without question? No, it doesn’t. Likewise, democracy. It has major flaws. It has achieved fantastic things and terrible things. You portray it in a sickeningly all-positive light.
I aware of Plato’s oligarchical politics. In this regard, I don’t agree with him in the slightest; I referenced him only because possibly uncaring Australian forced voters having political power would have upset him greatly. I don’t think we should have ruling classes or classes at all, obviously, and I know democracy aims to achieve this, but can you honestly claim that it delivers on this? Can you really? British democratic politics have often favoured and bolstered the wealth, status and power of the upper classes. This is most apparent when you live in one of the most deprived areas of Britain, like myself. You might say that in a democracy one has the appearance of being able to excercise their liberty. For example, did you choose Gordon Brown for prime minister? Who voted for him? No one did. Isn’t that silly? The system has it’s flaws. Have firm and unwavering belief in democracy if you like—it may well be the best of a bad bunch—but come on, it is at least fair to criticise the democratic machine. Doing so doesn’t make me a criminal, as you hilariously imply.
And please don’t offer me your pity. You sound like a priest (which perhaps ties in with your seemingly dogmatic and blind faith in democracy). I’ll happily debate with you if you engage your manners; otherwise, let’s just leave it here.
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I had to chuckle at this poem…I didn’t realized that you mandatory voting…I suspect that some of politicians wouldn’t like that because maybe more people would pay attention to the real issues. 🙂
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tillybud,
I really enjoyed your poem. And as far as voting goes I don’t. I don’t live my country and don’t intend on moving back there either.
Pamela
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