To vote or not to vote – that is the question

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Some events have been flying around lately – like the , the Arabic riots, the Japanese disasters, the royal wedding or the death of Osama Bin la Den…but, my point here is not to address any of those subjects…materials of information and even more specific details you will find all over the place in the news…

As in Canada today is election day…I want you to think about something…your right to vote and the decision of putting out there your vote or not.

I realised that these days more and more people do not use enough their right to vote.
People assume that their vote doesn’t count or that they don’t have a lot of choice.
But, voting is not only about the right that you have it’s also about responsibility.

 

 

Voting patterns

Voting is a method by which a person can express an opinion or make a decision on a certain matter.
In politics voting implies the election of a representative for the government.
Usually, our days - legal citizens of a country, older then 18 or 21 years old are allowed to vote, no matter their background, their race, origins or sex.
It wasn’t always like that.
Some time ago, still not that long, only men who were richer and in a high social position could vote.
Women, other races then the majority, or uneducated people weren’t allowed to vote.
Some of these people obtained their right to vote not further then 50 years ago. So, maybe your grand-mother wasn’t allowed to vote- just ask her for details!
Some of the voting rights were obtained through a lot of work - law suits, strikes, revolutions...

Think about that when you think that you may or not go to vote.

Maybe you think that your vote won’t make any difference. But 1+1usually = 2.
In 1876 Hayes won the elections in the United States by one vote. You still think your vote is not important? And that was just one example.
You may think that your indifference to elections will be shown in the percentage of people who vote. Ya, that may be true - but in some or in most countries if the percentage is too low a new election will be held. Certainly you have more time to analyse your options, but... in the same time - think that a new election is usually as or even more expensive then the first one. With what money? Figure this out by yourself!

You also may think that those who are in power will manipulate the votes on their own will. Which is pretty much true in a non-democratic country or a coercive government. BUT, as long as there is also somebody else out there that vote the same thing as you did - you can get in touch with that person and make public your point.
We live in an era of high technology where news travels faster and faster. Plus, your discontent can be easily get public through different tools of social media- twitter, facebook, hi5, myspace, blogs, forums, or mobiles. etc.
You can easily become part of those that make history.
So, ya - your vote counts- your opinion counts! And, a good example of this is the impact of social media in the Moldavian Revolution, also known as Moldavian Twitter revolution – or the start of Arabic riots.
The point I’m trying to make here is that indifference does not count! Ignorance has denied people’s right to vote. Indifference has made people be crushed by different political systems. We all have the gift of free will: we can be quiet or we can express our opinion. Expressing something is not usually easy.

You can go to vote- and your vote may not count - but still you are expressing your opinion. If you still think the vote didn’t express your view you can go further with the process. It’s all about choices and actions.

Don’t be indifferent to a thing that was achieved so hardly!