"Don't vote"

[Ella]

In September there will be elections in Germany, and right now a video on youtube is discussed which tells people: "don't vote". Prominent people (and semi-prominent ) out themselves as non-voters, say how senseless it is to vote ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wfi_i...eature=related) Of course this is all ironic and is supposed to provoke people to do the exact opposite.
It follows (or at least trys to follow ) the example of a commercial that was made before the american election: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vtHw...e=channel_page (I think this one was fantastic, btw)

Well, I must say that I'm pretty annoyed by the German video, and if you are able to read the comments on youtube you can see that a lot of people take this video seriously. I'm not annoyed by the conception as such, but by the outcome, which is just bad, because the message at the end of the video still remains: don't vote. But the message should be: there are consequences if you don't vote and miss your chance to raise your voice. Even if there is only one thing in this country you care for then you should vote.

Anyway.

What do you think? About these videos and their message and the way they try to transport their message.
And what do you think about voting in general? What makes people abandon their rights? Or isn't it a right too: to decide not to vote?

(And remember there were two (!) episodes in Dr. Quinn which dealt with elections. )

[Lizzie]

Interesting topic

The way I see it is: what would happen if everyone decided that their vote was pointless and no-one voted at all?

A lot of people in this country are very fed up with politics at the moment, and there has recently been a big row and scandal (to be honest I've heard enough about it, but there's info here for anyone who's interested). The general public are pretty disgruntled. But some people... how can they complain about how things are and how politics works if they didn't make any effort to influence it with their vote?

Originally Posted by Ella

What do you think? About these videos and their message and the way they try to transport their message.

The approach seems a bit weird to me. I wonder whether it might reinforce some people's anti-voting opinions actually. Maybe it is worth a try for some people though.

"What makes people give up their rights?" Laziness? Feeling like their vote won't make any difference anyway? Feeling like voting is something only certain stereotypes of people do? Not wanting to vote in order to protest against current politics?

Originally Posted by Ella

Or isn't it a right too: to decide not to vote?

I suppose it is, but only if you accept the consequences it might have if everyone decided not to vote. Which could be very serious.


(Btw, from the comments: LOL, I didn't know there was the expression to do with 'the country going to the dogs' in German too! Many people in the UK are saying that too. I don't agree though. Some things are problems, oh yes, but there is actually a lot that is good.)

[Maria]

Applause für making this a thread!!! It's so important to VOTE!!!!
Not to vote boosts up the slobs!!

In my job I had to deal with a lot of campaigns. In ma 35 working years there were a lot of elections. And I had to listen to a lot of speaches, when politicians promised a lot, sometimes things they never could do!!!
But being interested means to ask them questions, so let them know there are people who mistrust their promises. Very often I was able to discuss with politicians to press about topics, to challenge their promisses. I learned a lot this way, and I only can say today: Not to vote is the wrong way!!!
If serious people don't vote, the "slobs" of politics will get in leading positions.

Responsible people have to vote!!! Without them only the chaotic citizens will give their votes and bring their problematical leaders into high positions. Just Germans should think about the past and avoid such a thing!!!!

Every citizen of Germany who loves this land and its people is obligated to vote. Living in freedom should be a commitment to take every election very seriously. Its a privilege to be able to vote in freedom! Don't forget this!!!

[Geertrui]

I think this is very interesting. Belgium is one of the few countries in where it is compulsory for everyone to vote. I don't know what's best, compulsory or not, but I know that I always will vote, to let hear my voice. In contrast with many others, I really like to vote and I think it's exciting to wait and see the results LOL.

[Gemma]

I strongly agree with you Ella and Geertrui. I knew it was compulsory to vote in Germany. In my country it is being fashionable not to vote. And this because of the voting legislation, causes that minor and usually fascists parties are increasing their power, I guess it's the same in Europe.
I think if we value democracy, we should vote, on behalf of those who can't vote and live without their freedom.

[Ella]

No, Gemma, it is not compulsory to vote in Germany. And a lot of people dont vote. Too many. I deeply agree with all of you about the importance to vote, but I also think that it is a democratic right to have the choice to vote or not to vote. This is freedom too. People should feel their responsibility for their country; we don't have that many opportunities to have influence in it's fate. Voting is the most important one.
But the question is how can you make people feel this responsibility. By a video like the one above? As I said the American version (even if I think it's too long actually) is able to make you think, but this lame German copy certainly not.

[Gemma]

Oops, sorry. I meant in Belgium.

[Dr. Slicker]

Originally Posted by Lizzie

But some people... how can they complain about how things are and how politics works if they didn't make any effort to influence it with their vote?

That´s a very good point and forces me all the time to vote on general elections. So I´m in in September for the Germany-election too. But I remember one or two times regarding special elections (sub-country and European ones), when I refused to vote and was fine with it.

Regarding the current state of the main German political parties, I can´t see huge differences between them. They kinda tend to be neoliberal, and even the Social Democrats are leaving their roots in a disgusting way.

So I will give my vote with the consciousness, that I have the choice between parties I deeply deny (traditionally and recently) and others, which are little and chaotic altogether. A loose-loose game for me.

[Maria]

Originally Posted by Maria

Applause für making this a thread!!! It's so important to VOTE!!!!
Not to vote boosts up the slobs!!

In my job I had to deal with a lot of campaigns. In my 35 working years there were a lot of elections. And I had to listen to a lot of speaches, when politicians promised a lot, sometimes things they never could do!!!
But being interested means to ask them questions, so let them know there are people who mistrust their promises. Very often I was able to discuss with politicians to press about topics, to challenge their promisses. I learned a lot this way, and I only can say today: Not to vote is the wrong way!!!
If serious people don't vote, the "slobs" of politics will get in leading positions.

Responsible people have to vote!!! Without them only the chaotic citizens will give their votes and bring their problematical leaders into high positions. Just Germans should think about the past and avoid such a thing!!!!

Every citizen of Germany who loves this land and its people is obligated to vote. Living in freedom should be a commitment to take every election very seriously. Its a privilege to be able to vote in freedom! Don't forget this!!!

---------- Post added at 17:09 ---------- Previous post was at 17:04 ----------



Hi Gemma,

You were not so wrong at all, --- past times in East Germany (DDR) voting was compulsory, and they were forced to vote for that leading communist party. Kruemi could tell you something about that time ....

[Gemma]

Oh, same that happened in Russia then. That's what my husband tells me.
Ok, this is a question for you German friends, are fascist parties legal in Germany, parties that give their support to Hitler's government. In Spain there are these kind of parties as I mention in the other thread. They are legal and many people would like to have them illegalized as they support violent acts against pro secesionist parts of the country for exemple and in their programmes they support changing the political status and abolish democracy. They can be voted when there are elections all over the Spanish state and they can do demonstrations.

[Geertrui]

I almost can't believe this still happens these days! Well, there are organisations here which has sympathy for the nazis, like Bloud and Honour but their actions are forbidden. However, they succeed to organise some concerts.
Here, a daycare center is closed recently because the woman who took care of the children has affections to the Nazi regime. There hung a poster of Hitler on the wall and there were a lote of books concerning the Nazis all in the presence of children.

Anyway, I don't think it's democratic to be able to vote for such parties.

[Kahle]

Well, we have a fascist party called NPD - a lot of people would like to see them illegalized (me included).
Anybody feel free to explain more about it - my head is quite empty right now...

[Gemma]

What's incoherent in Spain is that those parties which are supposed to support terrorism in Pays Basque, something similar to Sinn Feinn in Ireland, have been illegalized because they don't blame publicly terrorist actions by ETA, the terrorist Basque organization. But those parties that support fascism all that happened during the dictatorship and who would gladly use violent methods to against Catalonia or Pays Basque, for example, they are not illegalized.

[Kruemi]

Originally Posted by Maria

Kruemi could tell you something about that time ....

Yep, I could. Actually, I was quite startled at the library the other day when a 16-year-old said something completely wrong (that all 14-year olds were forced to get the *Jugendweihe*, which is the non-religuois way to welcome young people in the world of adults).
And actually, it is kind of a tale, too that we were forced to vote for the SED (the party which ruled the GDR), because we voted secretly. Apart from that, there were some other parties you could vote for as well. That the result was always an overwhelming majority for the SED is a different matter to discuss ...
Although I still don't know whom to vote for, I will definitely go - and if only to make sure that the NPD (a fascist party, the heir of Hitler's NSDAP) won't get a seat in our government.

[Maria]

Good thinking, krümi. To vote is a privilege everybody should take very serious!!!!