August 27, 2008
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My Record Remains Intact
This morning, as soon as we finished talking about the weather — rain is keeping Greyfox from opening his stand at the weekly public market — we started in on politics.
Without exception, my votes on every candidate and issue in yesterday’s primary election were nullified by the majority of my fellow Alaskans. I haven’t voted with the winners here since 1974, when we elected Governor Jay Hammond.
To those who say “we” get the government we deserve, I give a big wet raspberry. They get what they deserve, and the rest of us have to take our lumps.
The other day, listening to the natterings of callers to a local radio talk show, I realized once again that when you add together the normal uninformed voters and the gullible ones most likely to be swayed by slick ads, the rest of us haven’t a chance at the polls. Doug and I were talking about that on the way to vote yesterday, and he repeated something that Mr. Stull, his high school history teacher, told his students, that unless you vote, you have no right to complain.
We voted for our bitching rights.
No matter how cynical you become, it’s never enough to keep up.
~Lily Tomlin in The Search, written by Jane WagnerTo succeed in politics, it is often necessary to rise above your principles.
~unknownPolitics, n. Strife of interests masquerading as a contest of principles.
~Ambrose Bierce, The Devil’s DictionaryThe cynics are right nine times out of ten.
~H. L. MenckenDemocracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.
~H. L. MenckenDemocracy is also a form of worship. It is the worship of Jackals by Jackasses.
~H. L. MenckenDemocracy is the art and science of running the circus from the monkey cage.
~H. L. Mencken
Comments (11)
Very good write and this one does it for me: Democracy is a pathetic belief in the collective wisdom of individual ignorance.
~H. L. Mencken
I think too often people get caught up in what others tell them rather then listen to what is said and to the body language of candidates…I also am a firm believer in actions…and watching the actions of the politicians….so far I am not impressed
Amen to the bitchin’ rights! I got awfully tired of people complain who didn’t bother votin’ (my in laws)
Exactly. I was chatting with a particularly dim bulb last night and he was blathering about how he wasn’t going to bother to vote this year because there was no point. Ok, fine, then shut the fuck up. If you don’t participate, you can just suck it!
“The State is the coldest of all cold monsters, and coldly it tells lies, and this lie drones on from its mouth: ‘I, the State, am the people’.” – Friedrich Nietzsche
I’d turn that around and say “If you do vote, you have no right to complain.” It’s actually quite a contentious thing, that, debated many times. But I can’t be bothered arguing over it, and I believe everybody has the right to complain anyway.
The biggest problem with democracy is an ignorant, apathetic and uneducated populace; a populace who cannot be relied upon to consistently act in their best interests. I wish I had a copy of my old teacher’s thesis on communitarian bioethics… he had a solution – or twelve. There are solutions out there; great ways to remedy these problems.
i’m with you on the “i always vote for the loser” page…although, sometimes, i will admit it, my vote goes to an ‘also ran’ with the intent to give enough votes so they might get their deposit back, just for standing up without a hope in hell of winning and saying what needs to be said. otherwise i will pay some little attention to the ‘rant and rile’ leading up to an election, make my vote (which buys me the right to participate), fully expecting the yelps of surprise when all of the election promises go out the back door next day.
I’m a square peg in a round hole state, so I feel your pain.
I vote ebcause ti is a privlidge and my right to do so. I am, however, not happy with any of the presidental candidates. I did like Obiden and was wishing it would be Obiden for pres. and Obama for VP. Hmm I may write in my cats name.
Good post.
Susu–What can you tell us about Gov. Sarah Palin?
Dessa
I’m hoping hard you have the time, energy, and interest to give us a clue about Palin. I’m stunned that McCain chose someone so new to politics, what with all his crowing about experience. The news is saying she’s a conservationist and reformist, but also an anti-abortion NRA-member.
So really, I’m dying to hear your 2 cents!
Yes, I am dying to hear your two cents worth on Gov. Sara Palin too. I am impressed by what I am reading and by her speech. I am pro choice but respect her decision to have a downs syndrowm baby. So what can you add?