In answer to my need of a succinct argument for my relatives who refuse to vote (and why they should vote for Kerry, I will add)-- the excerpt below, from an article written by Johathan Schell for Mother Jones:
Each country that plunges into nightmare -- whether Germany under Hitler, the Soviet Union under the Bolsheviks, Chile under Pinochet, or, for that matter, Iraq under Saddam Hussein -- travels there along its own path. The American political system -- based on free elections, the rights of citizens, and the rule of law -- is, though under the severest pressure, still available for use. If it is lost, and the full American nightmare descends, there will be many causes. They will include the militarization of foreign policy, global imperial ambition, the loss of balance among the branches of government, the erosion of civil liberties, and the overwhelming influence of corporate money and power over political life -- all present before Osama bin Laden made his appearance. But at every step of the way the skids will be greased by the national capacity, conferred by the media and exploited by politicians, to produce and consume illusion, which, though hardly an American monopoly, may be the specific form of corruption most dangerous to American democracy.Posted by Antigeist at October 26, 2004 11:56 AM
Stop trying to destroy the small business owner!
( I kid because I haven't had my flu shot )
Damn! You've discovered my plan!
Freaking small business owners. They've got it coming to them, no?
Posted by: antigeist at October 26, 2004 02:26 PMWow... we think alike (see my website for proof). I struggle not so much with friends and family who won't vote, but people who won't listen to reason, instead insisting on stubbornly and blindly supporting Bush. Scary shit.
Love your site, by the way (found you through Vidiot).
Posted by: Ayelet at October 26, 2004 08:07 PMThanks Ayelet. Hey, if *shudder* the worst happens in this election...think you've got room for a lady, her fella, and a really swell dog up there in the woods? I'll bring cheesecake, and pastrami from Katz's...
Posted by: antigeist at October 27, 2004 09:13 AMGlad to hook up two of my favorite bloggin' gals.
Heck, you got more room up there? Or should we all just head to Canada?
Posted by: Vidiot at October 27, 2004 10:41 AMYeah, I've toyed with the Canada idea. Even have a friend in the GWN who has offered to marry me, and hook my fellow up with a gal of his own too (all on paper, of course, for citizenship--the only 'swinging' going on around here involves listening to Duke Ellington.
But as sappy as it sounds (and as much as I protest), I honestly love my country. I think it is the most magnificent, inspiring, amazing experiment ever endeavored by mankind, and as such, worth fighting to continue; particularly while it's very foundation is under such profound stress. So I'm going to stick around. I'm sorry, but this rogue gallery of privileged fuckers pushing a one-track, self-serving prime directive can't have our country. Nope.
Posted by: antigeist at October 27, 2004 11:55 AMI've thought about it. Not long and hard, just added this to the background noise. Here's a stab:
If your relatives are convinced that "The System" and "The Government" are "irreversibly corrupted," then why pay taxes? I mean, why not just unplug? Forget the zip code, the tax bracket, the Social Security number and really go and LIVE. Or, since they're so damn smart, why not play the fucking game? That way, one would have enough loot to either buy toasters and socks for "The People" or shake a little cash at some blow and a flat screen tv. Either way, at least they gain some marginal control in their lives.
I had an analagy about the frequency of waves and not wanting to swim and a whole routine worked out, but realized that analagies don't apply.
Just vote or die already, okay?
[ Also, I'd like to go on record and state that the whole Ashlee Simpson "flap" is a sign that Bush is going to lose. "What do you mean, LIP SYNCHING?!" ]
Posted by: Red Ghost at October 27, 2004 02:03 PM