Is voting an act of aggression?

[Sand Dancer]

I am of the opinion that voting is an act of aggression, hence why I don’t vote.
You are using armed force (via the state) to implement your will upon others within a geographical region.
Is this not true?
“If you don’t vote, you can’t complain!” Is the old saying, but I say “If you vote, you can’t complain!”
Fishing for debate don’t mind me

It's become that. Political party has become a litmus test for who we can be friends with or even be nice to. It's pathetic.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

It's become that. Political party has become a litmus test for who we can be friends with or even be nice to. It's pathetic.

It varies with country.

 

[Sand Dancer]

It varies with country.

I am speaking about the US.

 

[mikkel_the_dane]

I am speaking about the US.

Okay.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Okay.

We seem to be the anomaly among developed nations.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

It's become that. Political party has become a litmus test for who we can be friends with or even be nice to. It's pathetic.

Why's that bad?

The Republicans - and on this side of the border, the PPC - support some pretty heinous things.

I would be a pretty bad friend to many people I care about if I was all buddy-buddy with those who were trying to make their lives Hell.

Edit: when political divides are between people who share the common goal of making the country a better place and helping its people, but just disagree on the best way to achieve it, sure: friendships across party divides are fine. But when someone's actively trying to burn the country down... well, **** that person.

 

[Sand Dancer]

Why's that bad?

The Republicans - and on this side of the border, the PPC - support some pretty heinous things.

I would be a pretty bad friend to many people I care about if I was all buddy-buddy with those who were trying to make their lives Hell.

Edit: when political divides are between people who share the common goal of making the country a better place and helping its people, but just disagree on the best way to achieve it, sure: friendships across party divides are fine. But when someone's actively trying to burn the country down... well, **** that person.

I think it's bad if you generalize all of the "other side" as bad or see them as evil. Like you said, most people are trying to make things better; few are actively trying to hurt people. Those that are trying to hurt people are few and far between. I try to see others as people first, and if they are nice, friendly and considerate, then I don't care what else they are.

 

[9-10ths_Penguin]

I think it's bad if you generalize all of the "other side" as bad or see them as evil. Like you said, most people are trying to make things better; few are actively trying to hurt people. Those that are trying to hurt people are few and far between. I try to see others as people first, and if they are nice, friendly and considerate, then I don't care what else they are.

I would say that the Republican party platform is bad enough that anyone supporting it is not nice, friendly, or considerate.

 

[Sand Dancer]

I would say that the Republican party platform is bad enough that anyone supporting it is not nice, friendly, or considerate.

It used to be a decent party. It would improve if they jettisoned the religious right.

 

[Deidre]

I don’t see it as “aggressive” but it would be nice to vote in favor of a candidate as opposed to casting my vote against the other. I think the two party system is rather broken.