Do you vote?

[Rhyfelwyr]

Despite being a politics student, I've never actually used my right to vote, and I don't plan to in the coming election either.

At the end of the day, all the major parties are made up of career politicians. There are no ideological differences any more, just a few minor differences that you would have to be an expert economist to understand the consequences of.

And even then you can only see that if you wade through all the that is being churned out by the leaders during their campaigns. The Chanell 4 stuff they are doing with the alternative look at the elections gave some good insight into things, really highlights how it is all about rhetoric and never substance.

Not that this is all bad for me. IMO, apathy is a sign of a healthy democracy. If you live in a country that is stable enough that the differences between the major parties are nothing but purely symbolic and emotional symbolism based off their histories, then great!

But I'm just going to let the career politicians get on with it, I won't be wasting any of my valuable daytime TV time going to the ballot box for them (on that point, I am very angry that have cancelled some programmes for election stuff ).

But for the politically-aware orgahs of the Backroom, do you vote?

[LittleGrizzly]

I do, but in all honesty I think I only do so I can legitimately complain without considering myself a hypocrit. I think my voting card or whatever you get sent out hasn't arrived for some reason so maybe I will miss this election...

[Beskar]

If you don't use your right to vote, you cannot legitimately complain about who is in power. Even if you voted for a party who might not win, like the Greens, at least you voted and used your democratic rights, and you can complain.

Let's say only 50% of those who can votem did not vote. The 50% who did not vote cannot complain legitimately, as if they voted, they could have brought any party out there in to power, due to the numbers.

If you thought Labour and Conservative are careerists, why not vote for some one who you thought wasn't one? Why not campaign for someone or even go about creating your own party? Why not even run yourself?

If you got the power to potentionally change a system, and do not use it, then it is your own fault.

[LittleGrizzly]

On the other side of the coin, the reason we have caereer politicians and no change is because a large part of the population thinks like do (albeit mostly at a much lower level) even if only the ones of those who were intrested went out and placed thier votes it would be a start (it could get the ball rolling so to speak)

[Centurion1]

voting is a duty. and beskar is right you cant complain unless you yourself vote.

because people who dont think their vote matters is why such a huge chunk of the population does not vote.

[Myrddraal]

There's also some truth in the idea that not voting is a vote for the extremes. Those who support extremist causes are pretty much certain to vote. By failing to vote, even if it is a protest vote or a vote without thought, you are increasing the power of every other voter in the country. If all those without strong views didn't vote, then the election would be deciding between the BNP and the Green party.

Obviously that would be pretty extreme, but the principal is the same nonetheless.

To answer the question, I will be voting for the first time this election, which will be my second opportunity. I reckon a 50% record isn't so bad