Jesus.... What with the main page updates gone I have jsut discovered that this thread has come around three times in the last five days, And I just discovered this:
6079_Smith_W wrote:
"You were quite ticked with me when I accused you of wanting to get rid of voting, and you said I was mistaken. Then you said quite clearly that you think voting sometimes serves democracy, and that sometimes it does not.
So if you are going to accuse people of supporting colonialism and other things you don't like by voting, I think it is fair to look at what you are basing those claims on, because I don't think you are being consistent here. And furthermore, I don't think your argument is fair to a lot of people who are trying to effect change in our political system."
Tobold Rollo:
I accuse people of supporting things they themselves don't like by voting. Are you a fan of neo-liberalism and colonialism? Didn't think so. So it's not just things I don't like.
I don't question the good intentions of those who vote, nor do I question the good intentions of those elected to office. I question the possibilities of actually attaining the social democratic goals we (not just I) seek through an electoral system designed by the very people who loath social democracy. Do you think they would have built a system that would do anything but reinforce power?
My response:
In the first place, you have made no connection whatsoever between the act of voting and support for the party which ultimately forms govenrnment
Secondly, you claim not to blame people, yet you turn up right after the election and basicaly accuse those of us who voted of supporting the conservatives by voting. This is not the only time you have backed off when you were called on shit, and claimed you were just the messenger, or just reporting other peoples' claims.
Aside from the fact that you are just presenting an argument with no foundation whatsoever, this passive aggressive approach is really annoying.
You have already said your objection to voting depends upon the outcome. How come you are once again refering to it as a game rigged from the outset to fail?
You talk about achieving social democratic goals? I seriously doubtyour idea of social democracy is the same as mine, so you can dispense with the "we" talk. I for one don't imagine that I speak for 90% of the people, even though almost 40 % of them voted for a party I strongly disagree with.