[MD] Voting

[Micah]

Keith,

Was Plato referring to the ruling class? Or the slaves? Nothing worse than
apathetic slaves.

Rulers elected with less than 10% turnout would lack the moral authority to
rule, and the system would have to be changed. But your point is well taken,
imagine if Jefferson, Adams, Franklin, et. al. had your courage and instead
of revolution, they  reformed the monarchy...but maybe that's what they
actually did - using the vote as an ingenious way of placating their
subjects.

You know if I was dumb enough to swallow inane bullshit like "don't abdicate
your responsibility by not participating", I guess I would vote. Your fear
of change is palpable.

Micah



-----Micah, Tuesday, August 07, 2007 21:46-----
Not voting is the revolution. Can't you imagine what would happen if less
than 10% voted? Don't you already see the government desperation at the lack
of involvement? Saying "no I will not be a part of this sham" is the first
step. The true "intellectual" leaders will then come forward.
-----

I can see what would happen if less than 10% voted: Elections would be
decided on the narrowest of platforms catering to those who did bother to
vote.

Reform the elections system by: adopting Instant Run-off Voting or
Condorcet's method to allow people to vote their conscience while not
feeling they're "throwing away" they're vote on an "unelectable" (but
forthright & worthy) candidate, and by supporting Clean Elections by
providing full public funding to candidates who agree to live by spending
caps and forego private donations to keep politicians out of the pockets of
moneyed interests & allow those "intellectual" leaders more interested in
policymaking than fundraising to actually be competitive, but don't abdicate
responsibility by not participating.

As Plato said, "The price of apathy toward public affairs is to be ruled by
evil men."

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