tuppence from a libertarian chaocratically inclined situationist
You really believe your vote - or mine - could in any way 'influence the system'?
You sir *are* a tonic!

I find it extremely distasteful to have to guess which of the professional liars on offer will prove the least offensive, and don't feel in the least bit obliged to do so. It just encourages them.

Politics is a rigged game, and like any human hierarchical system, tends to be one in which sociopaths and ego-driven control freaks are the most successful players.

I would say that it's actually voting, not abstention, that means you can't complain: I can complain as much as I damn well please thank you very much, as I haven't surrendered my mandate to anybody else to do it on my behalf - least of all someone blatantly in pursuit of power for their own ends.

And the idea that your vote is 'your one opportunity to attempt to influence the system', suggests a severe lack of imagination. Those rights that were fought for and won by our ancestors allow us some considerable leeway regards the pursuit and promotion of our ideals and objectives. If you feel strongly enough about something, please do get up and do something about it - just don't try and persuade me that voting is a particularly practical method of attempting to do so.
(kiki chunt now available in blank, Thu 6 May 2010, 11:19, 2 replies)

I find it rather disheartening that spastics can organise en masse and do a rick-roll
but when it comes to more serious aspects that would actually make a difference, they leave it to the hairy tree huggers who also have a predilection to smashing windows and attacking the police
(likeajackhammer, Thu 6 May 2010, 11:23, closed)

Yes, this.

( Je suis un vagabond is an unfunny, up your own arse middle class knob, Thu 6 May 2010, 11:26, closed)

Agreed.

(NoveltyCondomHead Clanks Wams., Thu 6 May 2010, 11:28, closed)

Agreed.

( jim_bob can herd cats., Thu 6 May 2010, 11:32, closed)

Voting is just one of the ways that we can influence the system.
But one of the more important ones. Protesting, be it through stopping traffic in a rural Devon village, or writing to your MP are also equally valid. But it all starts with going to the polling station.

Or at least, that's what I believe.

However, I do get what you say with regards to the voting system, which needs a serious overhaul.
( jim_bob can herd cats., Thu 6 May 2010, 11:32, closed)

My problem is that until we get PR
my vote counts for nothing as hell will freeze over, thaw and freeze over again before my constituency changes hands.
(bill, Thu 6 May 2010, 11:54, closed)

Aye...
It's just one of many aspects of the country that are stuck in the 19th Century.
( jim_bob can herd cats., Thu 6 May 2010, 12:04, closed)