Every time there is an election my work colleagues complain that they have to vote (voting being compulsory in Australia). “What’s the point of me voting? My vote is not going to make a difference.” Then my mother’s voice goes off in my head “Suffragettes made so many sacrifices so we can vote.” Visions of Africans with their hands chopped off to prevent them from voting come to mind as do the struggles of women in the Middle East. Emotions dwell up in me and I am on the attack. “We are so lucky to live in a democracy. You should cherish your freedom. Everyone can make a difference.” “Prove it. Martin Luther King, Sister Teresa, Mahatma Gandhi, Adolf Hitler, Nelson Mandela – what more proof do you need!”
Although we cannot all be ‘significant’ movers and shakers in history, our voice is important and can be heard and heard loudly. We can vote Governments in or out and with minority parties holding the balance of power every vote is crucial. We can influence policy through putting pressure on politicians via emails and letters, protest rallies, media correspondence (letters to editors, talk back radio, TV presentations), YouTube, Facebook, joining political parties or lobby groups. In the words of Paul Kelly “from little things big things grow” The death of Mohammed Bouazizi was the catalyst to the Arab Spring. Who could predict that the death of a street vendor would lead to the downfall of many Middle Eastern governments?
To those not interested in politics I say to you start to care. Politics affect every aspect of our lives from the price of petrol, food, health care and education to our rights for abortions, marriage, childcare, a safe workplace and a safety net when we’re unemployed, elderly or frail. If we don’t take an interest, if we don’t keep checks and balances on governments, then our human rights will be suppressed and we are leaving the door open for a tyrant to rule.
We should never take our right to vote for granted and we should not disenfranchise ourselves through apathy. Instead we should be grateful that we are citizens of the free world, and out of respect for others not so lucky, we should exercise and embrace our right to vote and be heard.
Photo Credit
Recent Amanda Makrides Articles:
- Cut Waste, Save the World. Part 1: Fridge Audit
- Blow the Whistle
- Watching The Clock
- What the World Needs Now
- If It’s Too Good To Be True…
“If voting could change things, it would be illegal.”
Being a U.S.A. citizen, I cannot speak about Australian politics. In the U.S. the entire political apparatus has been under the direct control of the ruling class for some time now. This includes the press, the debate forums, the campaign finance system, the lobbying cartels, the writing of laws and regulations, foreign policy and any other significant aspect of societal governance.
Once every two or four years the ruling class allows us to choose between two candidates who’s only substantial differences are about cultural issues that matter little if any to the elites. E.g. Mr. Obama has delivered almost nothing that would distinguish him from Bush II though his campaign rhetoric led millions to believe he would be vastly different. Mr. Clinton (accused of being a leftist) killed untold thousands of innocents in Iraq and elsewhere, delivered NAFTA to corporations that wanted cheap, unorganized labor, crushed welfare, and undid regulations which led directly to our current economic disaster. How has voting changed anything?
While I agree with your sentiment, I understand why people feel disillusioned with voting. It’s not hard to see why people think their votes don’t count. More often than not politicians on both sides are only telling their constituents what they want to hear. When they’re voted in, their promises are revealed to have been empty. I’ve often wondered why I bother when I know neither side is going to have my best interests and the interests of liberty in general at the forefront. That’s a tough thing to get over. It’s easy to become apathetic. And I don’t know what the answer is. I just know something has to change.
Its important to voice your opinions between elections not just at the voting booth. You keep the pressure on by phoning, emailing etc your local member. Don’t let them off the hook. They are there to serve the electorate not themselves. You can also send letters to the editors of local newspapers or attend rallies to add public pressure. At the polling booth, if I am unhappy with the major candidates I vote for an independent to reward their efforts for standing and to encourage them to stand again in future elections thus promoting democracy and choice. In Australia many of the minor parties are gaining increasing power because the major parties need then to stay in power. A vote for them is often a vote for change.
If candidates are telling their electorate “what they want to hear” prior to the election its because they’ve been running surveys in the lead up to the election. So its important to voice your opinion all the time and get like minded people together so pollies have to listen eg through a lobby group, petition, even a facebook page.
Finally, as Plato said “The price of apathy towards public affairs it to be ruled by evil men”.
Don’t be disillusioned. Do something positive about it.