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problem is that the electoral system neither counts blank ballots (as do, for example, trade union elections in france, which make them into a type of protest vote in that they actually register) nor does it juxtapose the number of people who do vote against the number registered in any given election. that means both forms of protest/abstention are erased, and the counting system generates its own justification. this is a problem, in that it also erases the space for dissent within the electoral system, pushing it outside--but since this is america in 2008, that seems to mean it pushes dissent to watching tv. or writing pissy posts about things on messageboards. for example. doing nothing.
if that is the case, then what dfw said is obvious.
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a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle
spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear
it make you sick.
-kamau brathwaite
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