[MD] Voting

[Keith A. Gillette]

-----Micah, Wednesday, August 08, 2007 05:47-----
Was Plato referring to the ruling class? Or the slaves? Nothing worse than
apathetic slaves.
-----

It is an ironic quote coming from Plato, who was no friend of democracy.

-----Micah, Wednesday, August 08, 2007 05:47-----
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.
-----

Actually, I welcome & work for change. I support organizations involved in
both of the reforms I recommended.

I don't believe either of your premises: that somehow the system will be
magically fixed if voter turn-out continues to decline (unless it's "fixed"
as in further rigged for the perpetuation of those in power while only 10%
of the population is bothering to pay attention) or that such change would
be analogous to the American revolution, which as I recall, involved a small
group of individuals actively working for independence & willing to back
their intentions up with their very lives, rather than sitting on their
hands.