General Discussion

RadiationTherapy

(5,818 posts) Tue Nov 6, 2012, 06:59 PM Nov 2012

Political Communication and the Act of Not-Voting

Apathy, criticism of the electoral system and those permitted to take part, and the act of not-voting are as legitimate modes of communicating and participating in the national political conversation as is voting, being patriotic, and misty-eyed with democratic gratitude. Those who don't vote are certainly entitled to complain and one may say that by withholding their vote, they are.

So vote, or don't...everyone is communicating something at election time.

7 replies

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Political Communication and the Act of Not-Voting (Original Post) RadiationTherapy Nov 2012 OP

People who don't vote are saying, "I don't give a shit." Tobin S. Nov 2012 #1

Does a sense of disenfranchisement equal not caring? RadiationTherapy Nov 2012 #3

I like that MUCH better than the notion that undecideds by a certain date shouldn't be allowed... cherokeeprogressive Nov 2012 #2

In my political communication class, a student said voting is a right that should be mandatory. RadiationTherapy Nov 2012 #4

That makes me fear for the future every bit as much as knowing there are DUers who would cherokeeprogressive Nov 2012 #5

I am sure there is a weird sci-fi idea in there...exercise your rights or be punished. RadiationTherapy Nov 2012 #6

2084 n/t cherokeeprogressive Nov 2012 #7

Tobin S.

(10,418 posts)

1. People who don't vote are saying, "I don't give a shit."

Reply to RadiationTherapy (Original post)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 07:02 PM

Nov 2012

I don't know about you, but I'm going to have my say.

RadiationTherapy

(5,818 posts)

3. Does a sense of disenfranchisement equal not caring?

Reply to Tobin S. (Reply #1)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 07:06 PM

Nov 2012

I don't think so. The non-voters I know are very passionate about life, freedom, and social issues like gay marriage and women's rights. Some of them believe it is an absurd puppet show, others believe the presence of civil rights on a ballot is offensive and proof. I don't, but I wanted to take a different perspective on the act of not-voting rather than the "they don't care" angle. I haven't met too many people who merely "don't care."

cherokeeprogressive

(24,853 posts)

2. I like that MUCH better than the notion that undecideds by a certain date shouldn't be allowed...

Reply to RadiationTherapy (Original post)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 07:03 PM

Nov 2012

A post making just that statement got hella recs just a couple of weeks ago.

Vote, or not. It's your privilege and your right, but NOT your duty. I'm fine with that.

RadiationTherapy

(5,818 posts)

4. In my political communication class, a student said voting is a right that should be mandatory.

Reply to cherokeeprogressive (Reply #2)

Tue Nov 6, 2012, 07:10 PM

Nov 2012

When I pointed out the strange conflation of "mandatory" and "right" and asked her if that sounded odd to her, she didn't think so. She thought the notion of a "mandatory right" was a legitimate recourse to our "crisis of democracy."