The Art Of Doing Nothing And Achieving Everything?
Exploring the nihilistic 'don't vote' narrative
When you are totally disillusioned by what’s on offer, when you are presented with a Hobson’s Choice, what do you do? Do you choose anyway, figuring that you are at least able to choose the ‘least worst’ option or do you exercise your right not to choose by doing nothing? For millions of British voters on 4th July, this is the dilemma they face. Bob Moran definitely thinks you should not engage at the ballot box, put your feet up at home and watch the ‘system’ collapse from within:
I disagree. So does Dr Clare Craig:
Bob and many other people believe in the Art of Doing Nothing To Achieve a Significant Something. Negative can be positive. Not in mathematics it can’t. You need two negatives to achieve a positive: e.g. 7 - (-4) = 7 + 4 = 11. Not turning up to vote is just one negative as far as I can see. It will only result in the tyrannical regime assuming that it has implicit consent to govern without a popular mandate.
It’s not much to ask if you are totally disillusioned with the available candidates in your local area. Get out. Take the dog for a walk, and on the way express your total disillusionment and discontent at the ballot box by spoiling your ballot paper, not just any old how, but by specifically writing ‘None of the Above’ or ‘I Do Not Consent’. If millions of people do this, it will send a positive message that they cannot ignore.
We don’t need voter apathy or nihilism, we need positive, direct action. We need openly expressed peaceful rebellion - or the only option will be openly expressed violent rebellion.
Of course you should go to the polling station. Cast a positive vote if you can (I will be voting SDP), a negative one if there is no better choice, or spoil your ballot paper. I have done the latter on several occasions, always adding an extra comment. If you do none of the above it lets politicians off the hook. They ignore a low turnout. It's difficult to ignore millions of spoilt ballot papers.
Restore Magna Carta and bring back Trail By Jury.
Arrest the bankers for usury, which is illegal under MC, and fraud.
Get rid of the BoE and resort to a govt issued currency backed by the wealth of the nation. Get rid of income tax.
A new party with these as manifesto commitments would get my vote.
In the meantime it's probably NOTA but I don't who is standing yet.