Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!uakari.primate.wisc.edu!crdgw1!uunet!pcserver2!ddsw1!learn
From: learn@ddsw1.MCS.COM (William Vajk)
Newsgroups: comp.org.eff.talk
Subject: Re: Amendments
Message-ID: <1991May03.144614.13531@ddsw1.MCS.COM>
Date: 3 May 91 14:46:14 GMT
References: <1991Apr28.061119.18402@eecs.nwu.edu> <1991Apr28.225438.16387@milton.u.washington.edu> <1991Apr29.234221.15210@chinet.chi.il.us>
Organization: Sares No Organization Like Dis Organization
Lines: 57

In article <15210@chinet.chi.il.us> Patrick A. Townson writes:

>I haven't voted in an election -- federal, state, municipal, school board,
>whatever -- for almost 30 years. 

>*If* there were a CC, provided the hotshots would let it happen without a
>lot of harassment of the attendees, you are damn right I would attend, as
>would large numbers of people who really care, but refuse to play along
>with the establishment.  A CC would create some major changes in this
                               ^^^^^
s/would/could/-----------------|||||

>country; the kind of changes we've needed for about a century now.


In idle anti-establishment supports, feeds, and nurtures the establishment
through silence.

What is the difference between a silent contented citizen and a silent
discontent citizen ?

Outwardly, and from the political viewpoint, nothing at all.

By default, all non-votes are counted as votes for the status quo.

It was pointed out to me a number of years ago that folks have the right
to not care about politics and the political process. But at the same
time, folks who don't participate don't have carry much validity with
me when it comes time to complain.

The political process in this country isn't limited to election times
even for the 'average citizen' (whatever that means.) Every time each 
of us remains inactive when we KNOW we should participate, we have once
more failed to have our vote counted. And in this I include all those times
folks don't make a phone call to the mayor's office, or to their
representative at whatever level of government happens to demand our 
attention at the moment. I include all those times each one didn't send a
letter to the editor of your fave-rave publication in response to some issue
they just wrote about. The political process is broad based enough that all
the opinion forming/gathering media are included. Usenet has not yet achieved
such status, though based on the increasing recognition in the mainstream
media (see NOVA, _ConFusion In A Jar_) we are going to rapidly achieve that
importance.

If I sent a copy of your article to Washington, do you think the government
is going to send out a team to beg you for your opinions ?

Hardly.

Seems they only concern themselves with two classes of folks. The ones who can
and will do something about matters of concern to them, and those who through
disability are unable to. The rest ? Seems they actively disenfranchise 
themselves. 

After all, the politician's aim is to please, no ? :-)

Bill Vajk