If you don't vote, don't cry later when things don't go your way.

So you're only allowed to complain about the government abusing you if you chose for them to abuse you?

Wow, you really are stupid.

Dumbo.

:roll:

Trad, it's a commonly held principle here in the US, that if you don't vote, you don't really have a pot to s--- on when it comes to complaining about the state of the country or what the president does.

It's difficult for Tradman to understand this mindset. A large part of his RC.com persona is b----' about the US, while never actually doing anything to improve the situation.

Wow, that's really odd.

I guess things are a bit different here: if the government or anyone else for that matter abuses or exploits somebody, it's considered to be wrong whether or not the victim voted at an election several years ago - these are two entirely unrelated issues.

To paraphrase (part of) Thomas' post, and give my opinion:

If you don't vote, don't cry later when things don't go your way.

If you like none of the candidates, put an empty enveloppe in the box, tick both cases, cross out the ballot paper, do whatever you want, but please go vote.
You will honor Democracy, this very democracy you want to set in Iraq. You will show the world that you care for your country, for its policy and especially its foreign policy, you will show teh world that you are not a herd of sheeps.
See what happen in Kosovo : people boycott the elections and then are not represented. Should they cry thereafter? See what happen in Ukraine : eelctions are being manipulated. See what happen in Tunisia : Ben Ali is being elected for the 4th time with over 95% of the votes and no one says anything because this country is not too poor. See what...

Our law doesn't extend the right to behave badly to those who are unopposed.

Considering that you're a foreigner, I'm not sure there's much you can do

"why do you consistently b---- and moan about things that have practically zero impact on your life?"

Your restaurant illustration nicely shows the flaw in your reasoning: the decision about who becomes president is not intrinsically related to the later abuses.

For example, was going to war with Iraq mentioned in the 2000 election campaign? I don't think so. So then why abstaining from that election in some way imply the abdication of the right to comment on Iraq?

A better way of using your analogy would be this: you're going to a restaurant with friends, and you nominate someone to decide which restaurant to go to. You refrain from voting. As well as choosing a restaurant, the elected leader then steals your money and beats you unconscious.

Don't you have a right to complain about that?

.

Well stop complaining about me not doing anything you idiot.


If you don't like what I say, killfile me.

:roll:

You choose to ignore my point 1

In this conversation, we now have two distinctly different threads of discussion:

1. Do you have grounds for complaining after you don't use your voice?
2. Do you have the right to complain when being mistreated? (by anyone)

I completely agree with your point 2.

You choose to ignore my point 1.

If you don't vote, don't cry later when things don't go your way.

Hmm.

No, your assertion was that if you don't use your voice then you have no right to complain when you are mistreated:[/quote[

Incorrect.

[quote=tradman]It's certainly possible to assert, as you did in your point 1, that you have no right to complain if you don't use your voice. But why would you be complaining unless you were being mistreated? And if you were being mistreated, as you agree wouldn't you have a right to complain?

Why would only people who vote have a right not to be mistreated?

Nobody has the right o be mistreated. I told you that 5 posts ago.


- d.

We ended up getting a slime bucket for mayor. While I'm not being mistreated - I'd still love to complain that Mr. Slime bucket is in office - 'cept, I don't really have a place to, because I refused to exercise my voice in the election.

So if you don't vote, you forfeit your right to complain in a vapourous, inconsequential way about vague things which don't affect anyone.

Gosh, I wouldn't want to lose that right.

Just vote. Just go out and do it.

WRONG!

If you don't know the issues, stay home. If your political knowledge comes from Fahrenheit 9/11, don't vote.

Just "going out and doing it" is completely irresponsible.

That's like saying: If you want a car, just go get one. Don't shop around, don't INFORM yourself, just go out and do it. :?:

Quite honestly the only thing I'm really concerned about is that there is a decisive election victory - one way or the other.

So if your political knowledge comes from those great phone calls from Wayne LaPierre (I always hang up on the dork) - at least do your own due dilligence first before making your mark. Yep I'm the NRA and I vote only not for the guy they wanted me to vote for.