'How many times am I going to have to shout "BY THE PEOPLE, FOR THE PEOPLE!" before someone listens?'
The way democracy seems to work is that you are actively encouraged to participate in it once evrey four years or so in elections. That is it. You tick a box next to a name, and that is all that's required of you, thank you very much. If you don't agree with the policies of the government, then you've just got to sit tight for a few years and then have your say with another vote.
The problem is that when the acceptable form of protest about a government is "well, don't vote for them next time", not only are we all forced to wait for a few years before seeing any possible change, but meaningful protests are marginalised. We're not active participants in this democracy; the political parties want our vote every few years, and's that.
Note to self - give more thought about leaving country.
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branchandroot
no subject
Date: 2006-12-30 08:59 pm (UTC)The way democracy seems to work is that you are actively encouraged to participate in it once evrey four years or so in elections. That is it. You tick a box next to a name, and that is all that's required of you, thank you very much. If you don't agree with the policies of the government, then you've just got to sit tight for a few years and then have your say with another vote.
The problem is that when the acceptable form of protest about a government is "well, don't vote for them next time", not only are we all forced to wait for a few years before seeing any possible change, but meaningful protests are marginalised. We're not active participants in this democracy; the political parties want our vote every few years, and's that.
Note to self - give more thought about leaving country.