Last night as I was between the moment of consciousness and the kind of consciousness where you're not really conscious but where you're conscious enough to have dreams and stuff, (Possible over use of the word conscious) I had a thought.
It was about the notion that, if you don't vote in elections you can’t complain about the result. My thought was that this idea is nonsense, and while my mind was drifting in an out, an analogy came to me.
Two politicians are running for election. Alan the politician makes a manifesto pledge that, should he be elected, he will start hitting people in the face with a crowbar. He runs on this principle, he drives it home at every rally, and every interview.
Barry the politician hails from a party at the other end of the spectrum, and is fundamentally opposed to Alan's crowbar policy. They argue back and forth in every debate. Barry vitriolically lampoons Alans crowbar pledge, and says it’s absurd, and remnant of a failed ideology.
Barry comes out with his own manifesto. He swears before a crowd of screaming supporters on live TV that he will personally kneecap every person he comes into contact with, with a steel baseball bat, and will increase spending to hire more bat wielders. He proudly waves said bat at every town-hall meeting. His campaign bus is emblazoned with the words "ITS BAT TIME!"
Now, meet Dave. Dave is a voter. Dave is appalled by both candidates. He neither wants to be smashed in the face by a crowbar, nor does he wish to be kneecapped with a baseball bat. He is flabbergasted that either of these politicians have any support, as their policies seem so illogical to him as both will lead to him (and others) being hurt.
Dave decides he’s not going to vote. He’s going to stay at home. Friends question him about who he wishes to vote for, to which he responds "no one". His friends are appalled. He’s not taking part in the democratic process. "People died so you could vote" they say. "Every vote counts", they intercede. "I'm just not voting. Both those candidates are terrible, and I'm not going to vote for someone that's going to bring harm to me or others". His friends chastise him for being naive and go on their way.
Election Day comes, and it’s a close run thing, but Alan takes it. 53%-47% with a 70% turnout.
Barry graciously accepts defeat, while claiming to his downtrodden fans that "The bat will be back!" holding it above his head defiantly.
Alan is sworn in before an ecstatic crowd. Notably there are many young voters in the crowd. TV pundits claim that Alans new and bold crowbar vision won over many people on the campuses in the constituency, who were tired of the old baseball bat driven politics of their parent’s generation.
Alan stands before them and states loudly that "I campaigned on smashing people in the face with a crowbar, and as God as my witness, I mean to see it through....starting RIGHT NOW!" At which point he slams the crowbar into the security guard standing next to him.
The crowd goes wild, cheering, with the kids attending, waving plastic crowbars in delight.
Some days later, Dave is walking to the store, when a suited man walks right up to him and cracks him right on the nose with a crow bar.
A kind stranger helps him to his feet as the suited man leaves. Dave is shocked. The stranger says "Yes, it’s terrible. Ever since Alan got in, his administration has been hitting people with crowbars, don't blame me though, I voted for the bat guy. It really annoys me that so many people didn't vote....this is what happens!"
Dave says nothing other than "Thank you" and proceeds down the road...still bleeding.
As he walks away, he thinks to himself "This is ridiculous, I'm emigrating to the country across the sea...I hear that their government only punches you in the gut, now that’s freedom"
This is what I think of pretty much ALL elections.
...I thought all this....and then fell asleep.
