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Not Apathetic

Tell the world why you're not voting - don't let your silence go unheard

They're not voting because...

I'm not voting because every political...

I'm not voting because every political party essentially stands for the primacy of government over the individual. Power is delegated by us to parliament, not the other way round. All wish to legislate to solve problems, often in an idiot knee-jerk fashion.
The assumption is always that if you don't vote you must be thick. I have 5 As at A Level, a Cambridge degree, and read the Times daily. I am interested and engaged in politics, and this is WHY i cannot vote for anyone.

written 14th Apr 2005

Responses

Bri replies: Ooh aren't you a clever little person. And The Times? Wow!

written 14th Apr 2005

Bri replies: Another thing...

"The assumption is always that if you don't vote you must be thick"

Erm...who, exactly, assumes this?

written 14th Apr 2005

Pablo replies: You say you read The Times as though somehow this gives you intellectual credentials.

Silly boy.

written 14th Apr 2005

Jon replies: Oooh, "I'm too clever to vote!"

Get over yourself.

written 14th Apr 2005

SW replies: Wouldn't you rather that than the usual attitude where people see the front page of the Sun on the train and then set themselves up as an authority on the strength of it?!

written 14th Apr 2005

Ash replies: I agree with you 100%, that's the exact reason i'm not voting too.

written 14th Apr 2005

piersh replies: Thank goodness the parties do stand for primacy of government over the individual. Without government there would be chaos. The point is to vote for a government that represents your values.

written 14th Apr 2005

SW replies: And if there isn't one?

written 14th Apr 2005

piersh replies: I'm sure that in the spectrum between RESPECT on the left & the BNP on the right, you'll find something that comes close. Nothing will match exactly of course.

written 14th Apr 2005

SW replies: Personally I'm an advocate of the Peak Oil theory; coupled with the problems of the environment even the Green party go nowhere near far enough. So at least for me, there is no-one. My hope is that turnout will be so low, reform of the electoral system will be forced on whoever wins and then maybe we might see the start of effective change. But until then, I refuse to give legitimacy to a process which is obsolete and undemocratic.

written 14th Apr 2005

Gavin replies: I think there is a reasonable argument that stupid people are less likely to vote. Whether it's true or not, some people think it is the case - if you don't vote, it may be assumed that you can't be bothered or you're not interested (this is, of course, the whole point of this site - to explain that this is not the case).

The Times gives a reasonable rundown of current events and political opinions. The Times bit was to show that he/she has an interest in and awareness of current affairs and news in general. Maybe it's not your paper of choice, but it succinctly makes the point, you petty idiots.

The intellectual credentials were clearly provided by the exceptional A-Levels and the Cambridge degree.

written 14th Apr 2005

John Dee replies: Apologies, but I feel that "I read the Times" does betray someone who is over-confident in their intellectual prowess and ability to discriminate objective reporting from corporate agenda.

The Times does not print objective news any more than the Sun does, it just uses longer words.

written 14th Apr 2005

Michael replies: Are the times and the sun not owned by the same person and ran on the same agenda, merely different target consumers?

piersh makes a goodpoint about the whole spectrum, only problem being not all parties stand in all constituencies (in mine the choice is simply red blue or yellow nothing else) also i think the BNP although extremely authoritarian are in fact a left wing party not a right wing party. a lot of their policies are closer to traditional labour than conservative.

written 15th Apr 2005

Adam replies: The Times is a load of crap, at least the Sun readers *know* they are reading crap!

written 15th Apr 2005

Michael replies: But do they? I know a good few Sun readers who think that the most important things that happen in the world are reported in that very paper. They have no idea what goes in the majority world but could write a first class theses on whats happening in 'celeb land' and which 2 bit slapper is shagging which moronic footballer.

sometimes i dont know whether to laugh or cry.

written 15th Apr 2005

John Ball replies: Piersh says, "Without government there would be chaos."
Correction: WITH government there is chaos. And the explosions are a lot more spectacular.

written 16th Apr 2005

Gavin replies: He / she did not say that they *only* read the Times. It's a convenient short hand for showing they take an interest. I am sure the Times is not perfect, but it at least makes some effort to cover some issues. Anyway, the quality of newspapers is surely for another time. Some guide to a person's interest, level of education and social group is useful whe a point such as theirs one is being made. Sneering at their qualifications and choice of newspaper is petty and irrelevant, especially when these are key to the point that is being made.

written 18th Apr 2005

Gavin replies: Anyone who says things such as "Ooh aren't you a clever little person" and "Silly boy" to someone who is making a point should consider their motives for such comments. The point was in the line "I am interested and engaged in politics, and this is WHY i cannot vote for anyone" - the other stuff was just background.

written 18th Apr 2005

Tom replies: I believe very strongly in the rights of the individual (I've even got The Prisoner on DVD). I voted Lib Dem as I feel they are most committed to protecting those rights.

written 7th May 2005

About Not Apathetic

NotApathetic was built so that people who are planning not to vote in the UK General Election on May 5th can tell the world why. We won't try to persuade you that voting is a good or a bad idea - we're just here to record and share your explanations. Whether ideological, practical or other, any reason will do.

A lot of users would like us to mention that if you spoil your ballot paper, it will be counted. So if you want to record a vote for "none of the above", you can.

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