“If voting made any difference, they wouldn't let us do it.”
— Mark Twain, or Emma Goldman, or Philip Berrigan ...
Take your pick!
What do Mark Twain and the anarchists have in common? Apart from being credited with the same quote, they knew the electoral process was a rigged circus.
Because he passionately blended stand-up with anti-voting, comedian George Carlin was called a closet anarchist ... which would explain why he dressed in black. With a choice of “Donald v. Hillary,” non-voting is poised to soar and non-voters will be excoriated once again as "irresponsible." They need the Carlin Defense.
Carlin abstained for two reasons.
First: “It's meaningless; this country was bought and sold a long time ago.”
Second: “I believe if you vote, you have no right to complain.” That's the opposite of what you usually hear; usually, you hear non-voters have no right to complain. “Where's the logic in that?” Carlin demanded.
Voters put politicians into power ... which means voters have no right to complain. He continued, “I, on the other hand ... who did, in fact, not even leave the house on election day, am in no way responsible for what these people [politicians] have done and have every right to complain about the mess you [voters] created ... “
Non-voters should memorize Carlin's words. They should print them on cards to shove at reproachful voters. Abstainers should also remember they are legion. In the 2012 election, only about 58 percent of eligible voters did so. More than 40 percent did not. That means “non-voter” would have won the election if it had run as a candidate.
Abstainers are on the side of the angels and should never apologize. Voters who cast secret ballots to promote crooks should feel ashamed, not self-righteous. Instead, those voters tell the decent people to shut up. “Stop complaining!” they shout.
In a word, NO.
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