HomeMay the Fourth be with you
On not being apathetic
Local election day today, and, as I said on Saturday, I won’t be voting for either of the two candidates I have.*
No doubt the politicians would write me off as an Apathetic Non-Voter. That’s because, whenever someone chooses not to vote, the politicans write it off as if it’s the voter’s problem. They never seem to consider what everyone else is telling them: that it’s the politicians who have the problem, not the voters. Politics is the cause of low turnout, not the result of it.
Having said that, we get the politicians we deserve, and clearly right now we don’t deserve much. So, even if you don’t vote today,** go out and do something less boring else instead. If, like me, you know voting won’t make a difference, go out and do something that will.
* Is it legal to say that at this time of day, or should I be waiting until after the polls have closed? When I saw that there were only two candidates, incidentally, my first thought was: “Bah, why didn’t I think to stand myself?” Vote for the Symbolic Forest Party – a genuine choice! Vote for the Symbolic Forest Party – the local party for local people! Vote for the Symbolic Forest Party – we hate politicians as much as you do! I’m strongly for more independent members in local government, as long as they are relatively sensible.
** Although of course only about 50% of British adults will be eligible to vote anyway today, depending on where you live.