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Make an Effort for Election Day

Dave C | 03.05.2007 19:21 | Social Struggles

There are still two hours left to register your disgust at our sham democracy by spoiling your ballot...

In today's upside-down political world, silence is consent. Didn't vote? That must have been because you supported the winner, but thought it was a foregone conclusion. Or maybe you supported the loser and didn't think victory was possible. Either way, the thought that you might just be disgusted at the entire system, or think that all politicians are as bad as each other, will never cross the mind of the mass media or your 'Elected Leaders'.

Stay at home today, and they'll assume you'd have voted in the same proportions as those who did, if only you could be bothered.

Spoil your ballot, and not only do you register a small protest at the system, but you'll bring down everyone else's score as well!

Imagine, for example, an election in which 50% of the populace vote, and they vote 40% tory, 60% Labour. The media and government will declare a massive labour victory, and say 60% of the populace support Labour.

Now imagine if those 50% who didn't vote spolied their ballots. Once totalled, the scores would come to 30% Labour, 20% Tory, 50% Spoiled - a much more accurate picture of how the people I know feel!


Spoiling the ballot is easy - just waltz into the booth, write 'Nobody' (or 'Everybody', or 'Me'...) at the top, in the blank bit, put a nice clear 'X' next to it, hand it in a waltz right out again. I've already done it - so can you.

Dave C
- e-mail: Gitboy@Action4Peace.Org

Comments

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Thing is...

03.05.2007 22:36

I don't actually care what the politicians think. It's not their minds I'm trying to change, but those of working class people. To that end, I did an extra bit of stickering today, amongst other things.

Neon Black
- Homepage: http://dreaming-neon-black.blogspot.com

Carrick Knowe Golf Club

04.05.2007 00:49

I just thought this would amuse and placate some of the Vote Nobody campaign, you did reach somebody in Scotland. Carrick Knowe is quite a posh part of suburban Edinburgh surrounded by quite poor areas. A man there today has delayed the vote by smashing up the ballot boxes with a golf club while ripping up the ballot papers. Up here the ballot papers are machine-read so can't even be folded. They are trying to stick them together with sellotape. There is no indication as of yet whether he is a disgruntled middle-class golfer or a disgruntled working class anarchist, both of whom employ the same weapon ( a nine iron).


"THE count in the Edinburgh West constituency has been delayed after a man attacked ballot boxes with a golf club. Police were called to Carrick Knowe Parish Church Hall in Saughton Road North at 8.25pm on Thursday, after a man walked into the building and began smashing up ballot boxes.
An official intervened and the police were called, while the man then began ripping up blank ballot papers. No-one was injured.A 36-year-old man is expected to appear at Edinburgh Sheriff Court tomorrow charged with breach of the peace and vandalism."


I was door-chapping tonight. I had to ask one wee seven year old lad if he knew if his mum had voted. He said, 'I can't say for sure, cos she is still at work, but I am sure she could have. Because she is running the count.'

Taking part in this election has encouraged my faith in my local area - the kids are cheekier than I'd hoped for, more aware than I'd hoped for, and their mothers are prettier.

Danny