Voting and Civic Duty

[gigolohitman]

It looks like this might be a really influential and important election. As such, I'm certainly going to vote. However, please ignore people who tell you that you have a duty to vote. You don't. You still get to complain, as long as you didn't vote for a party who had already said they would do something

Comments

[moussaka_thief]

I'm definitely a 1/2, probably a 2 as I have been too busy at work to engage as much as I'd like. Bah.

[gigolohitman]

who would you 1 for if you had time, and why?

...You still get a right ot complain....

[tyrshundr]

I disagree with your statement that the right to complain exists for people who did not vote, save agreeing where they did not vote because they actively did not want any of the candidates.

If, given the opportunity to vote and the opportunity to have a postal vote if you cannot actually vote on the day, you cannot be bothered then you are voluntarily excluding yourself from the Demos.

Rights exists with concomitant duties; anyone who wants a right to complain about government has a duty to either vote or actively refuse all available candidates.

This idea is almost as fallacious as the suggestion any vote for the candidate you wish elected could be a "wasted vote".

Re: ...You still get a right ot complain....

[gigolohitman]

It isn't fallacious at all. You might disagree with it, but it certainly isn't a fallacy.

In fact, the right to complain is enshrined in our legal system - I'm perfectly entitled compain whether I voted usefully, decided not to vote, or voted without really being informed, and diluted the impact of reality on the political process.

Or even, come to think of it, if I don't have the right to vote and never will. I sometimes criticise American foreign policy, for instance. That's my right, and not voting doesn't remove it.

Re: ...You still get a right ot complain....

[tyrshundr]

You might disagree with it, but it certainly isn't a fallacy.

A fallacy is, inter alia, an untrue belief. You believe that people who have not voted through apathy have a right of complaint; I hold that untrue; hence I hold your view a fallacy.

...if I don't have the right to vote and never will. I sometimes criticise American foreign policy, for instance. That's my right, and not voting doesn't remove it.

If you have no right to vote there is not commensurate duty to vote; as no duty exists you have a liberty to complain.

Re: ...You still get a right ot complain....

[gigolohitman]

Ah, so you meant "this idea is almost as wrong as the suggestion..."

To me, a fallacy means an error caused by unsound thinking, or the unsound thinking itself (which is why you can list fallacies - argument from authority, ad hominem, argument from consequences...). I think this is a far more common usage, right?

Anyway, the statement is factually correct - I have a right to complain. That right is being diminished by banning peaceful protests in certain places, but I still have that right, and it is granted regardless of whether I voted, deliberately voted in a way to cause harm, voted in ignorance (and caused harm or didn't) or voted in an informed way.