Voting is Begging

Don't beg, Occupy! Just some short thoughts on voting. The Punk Patriot can be found here: http://punkpatriot.blogspot.com/ He also has a Youtube channel.

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[SaimDI]

Hope you enjoy a Republican administration, because that's what your voting strategy supports.

[buddhagem]

@SaimDI Unfortunately that's not how our system works, SaimDi. The winner, in this country, is determined by who raises the most money. It's really that simple. And it's going to be very tough for any of the Republicans to beat Obama at this; Obama who has already set records for money raised from Wall St. The voting stuff is a red herring. Pay attention to the money raised and where it comes from. That's how our electoral system works. 90%+ winners out spent opponents.

[buddhagem]

@SaimDI I know they are good at scaring you; it's a good cop bad cop routine if ever there was one. And it works well at keeping a small minority of Americans (roughly 40% of the voting age population) going back to the voting booth to keep out the "bad guys" Check out my latest video "Voting is the 1% of Politics" and try thinking about politics as a process much larger than yes/no votes. Think about the roles we don't get to partake in because we pay others to do them for us (representatives)

[dirmilj]

Occupy movement is a good sign, any reaction is better than no reaction. However it's to a large extent intellectually bancrupt. Almost all demands puth forth in its name (I know, it does not represent all views) are just demands for free stuff, but these things are not free. It is an appeal to the same structure that f-d us over, to extend their power even further and "take care of us" like they have done so well so far. No, free politically independent action is needed, just like you say.

[MrEniena]

@buddhagem I owe you an apology. I wasn't in a good mood when I posted the comments and I lashed out when I should've kept my comments civil. Now that I'm back in the cool, let me try to understand your plans.

If you're making a new society, then it stands to reason that you should also go further that non-voting like refusing things such as conscription and paying taxes. Are you willing to go that far to cut yourselves off from this government? Cause they won't be happy if you do.

[th3inquisitiv31]

unfortunately, the 99% cannot grasp this concept

[buddhagem]

@MrEniena Could you clarify what I ignored? Sometimes comments get jumbled here. Non-voting isn't a strategy or a technique towards change. Is that where this confusion is coming from? We are building a new society right now. It's happening all around you whether you know it or not and most of us simply don't have the time or inclination to play the charade of voting. Of course it's a fight. It's a class war. And we plan on winning.

[MrEniena]

@buddhagem No it won't. You've completely ignored my last comment when I said that non-voting will merely create a system that will rule with an iron fist. Ignoring it's not an option as they will simply force people to acknowledge and obey it.

Peace isn't going to cut it then as that's like standing still and letting a monster devour you. The founders knew this after peaceful protest failed and were forced to fight rather than just defy.

Unless you're ready for that, enjoy slavery.

[buddhagem]

@MrEniena Non-voters already far outnumber those who vote, even in election extravaganza years like this one. Last Presidential election non-voters: 90 million. Voters: 70 million. And that doesn't count roughly half the population that's not even allowed to vote. No, the government isn't going away but as we build a better world it will become increasingly irrelevant in the lives of many.

[MrEniena]

@MrEniena Since I've gotten no response from you, let me continue.

What do you intend to do if enough people do not vote? The government is not going to go away, will keep functioning and will certainly make things worse as it could operate without the will or consent of the majority much more than now. You would be making a monster through your non-voting and your Gandhi tactics won't cut it then as they will be ignored more.

What are you going to do? Occupy more vacant spaces?

[carousel66]

heres a question whats more scary to big business 100 people dressed in black clothes carrying protest signs camping out and making the hard working tax payer pay even more for the police to kick them out after they have been told to leave. OR 100 people going to college and getting a law degree, becoming lawyers, filing a case against the 99% and taking them to court, while the second may be hard, well thats what grants are for, nobody said your cause is gonna be easy

[MrEniena]

@buddhagem The lone strategy of not voting isn't going to make a difference. The system is still going to hold onto our leashes. The only real change is that, without the consent of the majority, leaders would be chosen for us. At best, this would cause others both in and our of America to question our government's credibility in ruling without popular consent given we are founded upon "by the people, for the people."

In order to dent the system, people need to do more than that.