09-24-2008, 01:44 PM | #1 (permalink) | |
is awesome!
|
Who Cares? -David Foster Wallace on political cynicism
Quote:
Above the race and gender "firsts" this election presents us with it is more notably the first time in recent memory that neither candidate represents their respective party's previously established power structure. Democrat voters chose Obama over H. Clinton at least in part because of impatience with the continued impotence of the current Democratic Congress. McCain was selected over the more seemingly mainline candidates Huckabee or Romney due to Republican establishment's collapse under the weight of their own incompetence. So it seems that cynicism hasn't prevailed thus far in this election cycle. Still, I've heard a fair share of "It doesn't matter"s and "nothing will change"s from people this year. How do you, the various TFP politicos, respond to political apathy and cynicism when you encounter it? |
|
09-24-2008, 02:21 PM | #2 (permalink) |
Eponymous
Location: Central Central Florida
|
I raised this point in a thread some time ago and you'd be surprised at the number of TFPers who will rationalize that they have the right to choose not to vote.
Personally, I feel that anyone who has the right to voice their opinion or has had their ancestors, family or gender fight oppression in order to obtain that right has an obligation to vote. It saddens me when intelligent people express such apathy, cynicism and worthlessness.
__________________
We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess. Mark Twain |
09-24-2008, 05:02 PM | #3 (permalink) |
Upright
|
No worries about McCain getting too far from the Bush policies, they've got Bush's best people on the job training them in the "correct" answers - Washington Post - Steering the McCain Campaign, a Lot of Old Bush Hands
|
09-25-2008, 11:03 AM | #4 (permalink) | |
Upright
Location: Phoenix, AZ
|
Quote:
But I do agree, people should vote, if only to show that we are paying attention. |
|
09-25-2008, 05:17 PM | #5 (permalink) | |
All important elusive independent swing voter...
Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia
|
Quote:
__________________
"The race is not always to the swift, nor battle to the strong, but to the one that endures to the end." "Demand more from yourself, more than anyone else could ever ask!" - My recruiter |
|
09-25-2008, 06:58 PM | #6 (permalink) |
Easy Rider
Location: Moscow on the Ohio
|
We have had this discussion in the past usually around election time so I apologize for the repetition and will take the position of the non-voter.
I look at our system as one controlled by the ruling class; our polititians and their associates, families and friends. The only question to be answered in these elections is which party gets to direct the corruption this time around. Votes for third parties are looked at as wasted, votes for Nader are votes taken away from the Democrats, votes for the Libertarian are votes taken away from the Republicans and neither one has a chance anyway. The heated discussions over which party is worse is just a distraction from the reality that both are. I wish just once we would show our collective disgust with the system and when they have an election no one shows up. The elections are rigged to put a Democrat/Republican in office. We should not feel obligated to endorse the corrupt polititians with our vote. Voting gives the impression that we actually think there is a choice and the system is working. |
09-25-2008, 07:27 PM | #7 (permalink) |
Addict
Location: Cottage Grove, Wisconsin
|
Not voting, or even a massive refusal to vote by itself won't do anything. After all, it's still within the framework of The System, which tell us that voting is crucial. By not voting you say "my vote is a potent symbolic raspberry directed at the Man." But how is that Raspberry going to work itself into fundamental change? How do you get from the non-vote to direct rule of workers councils, if that's what you want? In a way, the non-vote protest affirm the importance of parliamentary politics, but if there is to be fundamental change, voting will be a relatively minor issue. Either the change happens and voting affirms that change, or change renders the vote irrelevant. So, if someone out there is working for fundamental social change, and is truly too busy to vote, well, more power to them. Otherwise, it's kind of silly to think that this most passive of gestures will make any sort of difference.
Another trap is to think that all elections are the same. Voting can be crucial at some points, at others, not so much. |
09-26-2008, 02:02 AM | #8 (permalink) | |
Eponymous
Location: Central Central Florida
|
Quote:
I doubt if I'd be the only one working day and night to keep people from voting if the outcome could/would potentially change anything.
__________________
We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess. Mark Twain |
|
09-26-2008, 11:55 AM | #10 (permalink) |
Super Moderator
Location: essex ma
|
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.
__________________
a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear it make you sick. -kamau brathwaite |
09-26-2008, 12:49 PM | #12 (permalink) | |
Eponymous
Location: Central Central Florida
|
Quote:
That's why I call it anarchy. If there is an answer, educate me. I have no idea. I'm guessing it would revert back to GW until new nominations occurred? Doesn't sound like a happy place to me.
__________________
We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess. Mark Twain |
|
09-26-2008, 01:23 PM | #13 (permalink) |
All important elusive independent swing voter...
Location: People's Republic of KKKalifornia
|
I think rational choice would be one way or the winning candidate would have to meet a minimum amount of votes. Therefore protest votes could actually play the role of spoiler.
__________________
"The race is not always to the swift, nor battle to the strong, but to the one that endures to the end." "Demand more from yourself, more than anyone else could ever ask!" - My recruiter |
09-26-2008, 01:39 PM | #14 (permalink) |
Super Moderator
Location: essex ma
|
if no-one showed except for, say, 20 people nationally, the way the voting count works is that the percentages would be calculated for each of the more or less interchangeable representatives of the dominant class using that 20.
of course, that would not prevent a collapse of the electoral system as a whole. they call this a motivation crisis, which is the result of a legitimation crisis. what it would mean would be a function of the arguments made by various political movements before that. not participating in a rigged election can be the only "rational" choice. but you'd have to be persuaded that it was rigged, along with pretty much everyone else.
__________________
a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear it make you sick. -kamau brathwaite |
09-26-2008, 02:02 PM | #15 (permalink) |
Eponymous
Location: Central Central Florida
|
Thanks, RB. I think.
What if there were no dominant class? Am I understanding that you're saying that the electoral system would save the day? I didn't realize it would still work, but I was assuming a 0 turnout. But surely at least the candidates' families would vote.
__________________
We are always more anxious to be distinguished for a talent which we do not possess, than to be praised for the fifteen which we do possess. Mark Twain |
09-26-2008, 02:06 PM | #16 (permalink) |
Super Moderator
Location: essex ma
|
i was just talking about the way the counting works in the states.
once capitalism is finished, we can start thinking about there being no dominant class.
__________________
a gramophone its corrugated trumpet silver handle spinning dog. such faithfulness it hear it make you sick. -kamau brathwaite |
09-27-2008, 03:38 PM | #17 (permalink) |
Dumb all over...a little ugly on the side
Location: In the room where the giant fire puffer works, and the torture never stops.
|
__________________
He's the best, of course, of all the worst. Some wrong been done, he done it first. -fz I jus' want ta thank you...falettinme...be mice elf...agin... |
09-27-2008, 06:06 PM | #18 (permalink) | |
More Than You Expect
Location: Queens
|
Quote:
But change doesn't come overnight and while I may be naive by thinking we can actually make this a better country, one president at a time, armchair apathy gets us nowhere.
__________________
"Porn is a zoo of exotic animals that becomes boring upon ownership." -Nersesian Last edited by Manic_Skafe; 09-27-2008 at 06:09 PM.. |
|
Tags |
cares, cynicism, david, foster, political, wallace |
|
|