If You Don’t Vote Don’t Complain

You can’t complain about the outcome of an election if you don’t vote. It affects the outcome when so many people say, “well, I’m just 1 vote, it doesn’t matter.” In the 2016 election, voter turnout was over 50%. More than 50%. 42% of eligible voters choose not to vote. That is huge. If Donald Trump doesn’t reflect America and the majority of people don’t like him, then those people who didn’t vote handed him the election.

A double sword is used to attack anyone who criticizes the injustice of any law or the character and ideologies of a candidate that has won office. You can’t complain if you don’t vote. You consented to the outcome if you voted. You can’t complain.

You either consented by participating or you can’t complain because you didn’t participate. It’s a way to stop political debate and discussion. When Obama was President, people tried to shut down his critics with arguments like “Social Contract” and “We are the government”.

It’s one of the many rhetorical strategies people use when their positions do not stand up to scrutiny so they try to dismiss any argument hoping that they never have to contend with their own inconsistencies. They would probably say, “You voted.”

The only time your vote makes a difference is when there is a tie. That has never happened. Everyone else has an equal say over your property as you do. If the majority gang up on you and spend your money in a way that you don’t like, then don’t complain and just take it silently. Most people think of Democracy as a deity.

People can act like you consented and then change their minds with some sloppy language. It is a concept that has been ingrained in most people’s heads since they were young enough to walk. Imagine if your school chooses a new mascot for its basketball team.

The candidates are referred to as a ‘Turd Sandwich and a ‘Giant Douche’. Both mascots are stupid, and you don’t want either of them. You have three options when it comes to voting. Either you vote for the TS, which is disgusting, or you don’t vote at all.

Which option seems to be the most logical? Is it possible to vote for a mascot that doesn’t really represent you? Do you want to make it known that you don’t support either candidate? What little I have left to say won’t change your mind if you choose the former. Think about what the next logical step would be if you chose the latter.

Should you make your opinion known, either in one on one discussions or in the school newspaper, or should you just shut up and say nothing about what you think the mascot should be? Some people don’t think any of the choices they are presented with represent themselves, so instead of voting for someone they don’t believe in, they just don’t vote. They still join discussions about politics since they have opinions.

The First Amendment of the US constitution gives you the right to peaceably assemble, petition the government for grievances, or to express your opinion in a variety of venues. In most countries, the same is true. Voting is not required to exercise those rights. The right to complain is important. People complain about the status quo and others take action to change it. If you disagree with a policy, you should complain. You should complain even if you didn’t vote. No one will know you didn’t vote. You are doubly negligent if you don’t take any other measures to change a bad situation.

When the US Constitution was written, most people couldn’t vote, but they could complain. Women complained because they couldn’t vote. Slavery, not being allowed to vote, and drunken and alcoholic husbands and fathers were some of the things they complained about. The husband was in charge. His children would starve if he spent all the money on liquor. Children didn’t have any rights other than the ability to complain. Women got the right to vote and children got child protective services after the abolition of slavery. Every American has the right to complain. It is in the First Amendment. Voting is the least you can do. You can give me money. You have the ability to canvass. You have the ability to write letters. You have the right to protest.

If You Don’t Vote You Can’t Complain

You can start a Super PAC and make a lot of money. You can run for office on your own. There is always something more they could have done. We all feel guilty when a candidate we don’t like is elected. For most Americans, the outcome of their vote is decided by the number of Congressional and local races, not just for the Presidency by the Electoral College. I strongly encourage you to vote. It’s the least you can do. The Presidency isn’t the only thing on the ballot. In my home state of Maryland, there’s a ballot issue that will allow friends of mine the right to marry who they love, and that may hang on a few votes.

Some issues on your ballot can affect whether or not you are informed. We all need to stop treating elections in apocalyptic terms. The Presidential race is said to bring about the end of the world if you vote for the other guy. You probably wouldn’t notice, except that you’re riveted to the national news because it’s so exciting.

The tone is awful because of that. On a daily basis, there are a lot more relevant issues in your community. If you’re too disgusted to vote in the national campaign, you can still learn about the bonds for the library, the members of the school board, and the local sheriff. When people tell you that you can’t complain about it, the fact is that the complaints are probably about Big Picture issues that go so far beyond your vote and this election that honestly, I’m not sure how well informed any of our votes are. You can vote on what you know.