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Who else doesn't vote?? And why???

81 replies

sweetheart · 18/04/2005 13:48

I was having a peek on "The Sun" website this morning and saw they have launched a campaign to get younger people to vote.

I am 24 and have never voted - not even in a local election.

I don't vote because -

I don't know much about politics or what each party stands for
I don't have the time to find out
And whatever pre-election promises are made they are normally a load of bollocks anyway.
Plus, from what I've seen - I don't like any of the candidates.

Is there anyone else out there the same or am I just being a irresposible citizen by wasting my vote.

Oh btw, dh is 25 and he doesn't vote either!!!

OP posts:
enigma · 18/04/2005 21:33

Jeez,

The Australian approach is positively fascist.

Also how on earth can anyone say it should be a legal requirement to vote - what if you are an anarchist (who don't believe in government but rather believe in unfettered free will for all) it's obviously not right to ride rough shod over their human rights when they don't believe in democracy....(for anarchists democracy is coercion of the minority by the majority)

I'm not an anarchist btw, I'm an 'apathist'

whatsername · 18/04/2005 21:56

I'm also 24 and I've voted once since I've been eligable.

Don't see the point really, they are all as bad as each other. Green comes as close to my views as any and we never have a local Green candidate. It's not apathy, it's disillusionment with not having my voice heard. I was all for Labour when they were first voted in and look at the mess they've made. I wouldn't vote for Labour, or Conservative...or Lib Dems....

We are due to be away this year and I have applied for a postal vote. Not sure whether I will use it or not.

Off to read that newsround site...

Dior · 18/04/2005 22:00

Message withdrawn

JoolsToo · 18/04/2005 22:02

not point reading the manifesto unless you can believe what they say?

expatinscotland · 18/04/2005 22:02

I have not naturalised due to lack of funds, even tho I am eligible to apply. Therefore, I cannot vote.

JoolsToo · 18/04/2005 22:03

bet thats frustrating for you expat?!

expatinscotland · 18/04/2005 22:04

Yes, it is Jools. But such is life. Dh will be voting. I made sure his records are in order b/c I feel voting is really important.

JoolsToo · 18/04/2005 22:05

me too! (but not just for the sake of it I'm afraid)

expatinscotland · 18/04/2005 22:06

Well I would hope it's not just for the sake of it, Jools!

As my dad always said, 'If you didn't vote when you could have, you have no right to complain about whomever is elected.' His political views have always been diametrically opposed to mine, but at the end of the day, the people spoke and elected whom they did.

JoolsToo · 18/04/2005 22:08

its just some on MN advocate even if you don't know who to vote for - at least go and spoil the paper - don't quite see the point?

deegward · 18/04/2005 22:09

U have to say I am shocked and a bit disgusted at poeple's attitudes of why they don't vote. I don't anything about it, doh find out then! I canot believe people are sooo stupid. or even don't vote for someone, use your vote against someone else! We may as well live in a communist state where noone is allowed to vote, or heh we could end up with a Mugabee if people don't give a sh*. I'm sorry i just didn't think there were so many people who thought it acceptable NOT to vote!

Dior · 18/04/2005 22:13

Message withdrawn

whatsername · 18/04/2005 22:24

Surely it should be down to the politicians to inspire us to vote? If I thought that any of them would actually do what they promise, or if there was actually a difference between any of them then I might vote. They spend so much time slagging each other down, telling us why we shouldn't vote for the other party, all to detract from the fact that they are all crap.

Lets face it, they are all in it for their own agendas, not actually for the good of the country. Whichever party gets in, they are all going to screw up the country in their own way.

enigma · 18/04/2005 22:24

deegward,

I have a BA Honours degree in Politics and have mused hard and long about this subject, and consider it a perfectly acceptable choice not to vote. But then I guess I'm "sooo stupid"

deegward · 18/04/2005 22:25

I just don't see how you can reasonable complain about anything when you haven't voted. You in this country voting for an individual constituency candidate, someone who is duty bound to respresent you at parliament. Yes they belong to a party, but not all Labour MP liek nor agree with Tony Blair, and likewise with Tory and Lib Dems. We are NOT even though president Blair would like it voting for or again him, we are voting for the 5 or so candidates in our wards. That's why I can't see how you can't fid someone you would trust more than others.

deegward · 18/04/2005 22:27

I'm sorry, but yes I would say that anyone who doesn't vote is stupid, because it allows the marginals to get into power, and god knows where we end up. I am going to take a previous's MN advice and stop posting on this thread, as long as you can sleep that's the main thing. I certainly couldn't

enigma · 18/04/2005 22:31

Life is very black and white for you isn't it deegward?

Yes, have a good sleep. It might clear your head.

deegward · 18/04/2005 22:32

Very clear head, enigma! I think to vote or not is very black and white, it's either yes or no! Can't see the grey of maybe

whatsername · 18/04/2005 22:34

Bollox about them representing me. They are there to represent their own agenda.

enigma · 18/04/2005 22:44

Deegward,

what I meant is that life is black and white for you because you just don't seem to be able to take on board that there might be legitimate reasons not to vote. You seem very closed minded on this subject - sorry to be direct.

I would be interested to see how you would address the point I made about anarchists further down the thread - since anarchism is a coherent political philosophy (not just about unwashed hair and anti capitalism rallies)and they have pretty solid reasons for not voting

Tortington · 19/04/2005 00:54

women died for the right of richer women to vote - not all women however the principle stands i think - the right TO vote rather than the right TO choose to vote.

the point about marginal seats stands. in oldham the BNP got in - in more than one area around the time of the riots becuase people couldn't be arsed to exercise their vote. the next time they did!

i don't see how i can personally bitch about education, the nhs, immigration policies, refugees, higher crime, never seeing a policeman, having to wait in casualty for 6 hours if i am lucky with my children, not being able to get an NHS dentist, of my THREE children which shall i choose to put through university? i cant afford all three. will i have a pension when i retire? what will the value of my works pension be? would i be able to afford to re-train in another field if i so chose to do so and would the oppertunity to do that be in existance?

if you don't believe in a candidate you should get off your arse and go and spoil your paper - write at the bottom " none of the above they are all tossers" but get off your arse.

to have an argument which goes - i am not well up on political things its a bit complicated and i havent really looked into it - thats shameful. absolutley shameful.

www.spoilyourvote.co.uk/
a get off your arse and spoil your vote

www.marxist.org.uk/htm_docs/comm5.htm
great argument for not voting

www.channel4.com/history/microsites/H/history/guide19/part04.html
a good historic guide not too indepth

www.socialistworld.net/eng/2005/04/05britain.html

this came rom the link above
"According to a Mori poll in February, only 45% of people were definitely intending to vote, and that this could result in an actual turnout of 51%. Those who will not vote are overwhelmingly working class, ?traditional Labour voters?."

made me think about te number of candidates all dressed nicely in their suits i have had knocking on my door - rosettes blowing in the breeze - white smiles abound. errrrmm that would be none - ever.

i have nearly always lived in a council or HA house and i never had someone shaking my hand at the door, asking my views, urging me to vote. thats becuase i am sure its seen as a waste of time. poor people traditionally don't vote - why go round a council estate and waste a day?

well my vote will count you two faced political bstards, and one day you will clamber to the door of the majority electorate - which will not be the right of centre. they cut benefits for thosee who dont vote - so it doesnt matter. thats wy i vote. i vote becuase my grandad and nanna argued over which poster tory ( my nanna) or labour ( grnandad) they were passionate about it.

when i was a kid my mum owned her house ( still does) i remember being picked up in a car by tories and driven personally with my mum and my nan to the voting booth - they drove us there in a ded posh car becuase they knew their vote counted. it was like being royalty on that day with posh people driving us around - like voting was ded important. i will vote becuase i personally feel discgraceful not doing - its my nistory, its my beliefs, its my right - fought for not by emiline pankhurst - but thousands of working class people.

i will vote becuase its one in the eye to those who count me as "one of them on that council estate - all scroungers, druggies, alchies, everyone got a soical worker" i will vote because i have the same voice as any one else regardless of income and intelligence. i will vote becuase iknow i can trust myself more than i can trust unknown white middle class fckwits to look after my interests and the interests of my children and their children

whatsername · 19/04/2005 01:00

Do you think we should be obliged to vote Custy? What is the point of voting just for the sake of it? What's it going to change?

Tortington · 19/04/2005 01:40

i answered why i think there is a point to voting.

i think in a "free" "democratic" society it would be an oxymoron to march people in chains down to the polling station.

Tortington · 19/04/2005 01:41

i answered what it might change too.

what is not voting going to change?

suzywong · 19/04/2005 01:45

I always vote because I care to remeber that is was not so long ago that women were prevented from voting and many women stuggled and sacrificed so that could have universal representation

Most of the time I do it out of respect for those women

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