(11-04-2014 01:20 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(11-04-2014 01:09 PM)jh Wrote:  

(11-04-2014 12:49 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  You have lost your right to ***** about the process, sorry.
If you don't participate, don't complain, and keep your trap shut...

I must have missed that part of the First Amendment.

If anything, people who don't participate in the system have more right to complain about it than those who do (although everyone is actually equally entitled to complain). After all, those who participate have decided that the system is good enough to warrant their participation. Those who don't have made no such determination.

I disagree, simple as that...if you don't vote, don't ***** about the system.

I'm with UM.. yes, you have the right not to vote, but when it comes to complaining about who got elected, you gave up your "right" to complain because you didn't make a choice when it came down to it.

(11-04-2014 01:20 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(11-04-2014 01:09 PM)jh Wrote:  

(11-04-2014 12:49 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  You have lost your right to ***** about the process, sorry.
If you don't participate, don't complain, and keep your trap shut...

I must have missed that part of the First Amendment.
If anything, people who don't participate in the system have more right to complain about it than those who do (although everyone is actually equally entitled to complain). After all, those who participate have decided that the system is good enough to warrant their participation. Those who don't have made no such determination.

I disagree, simple as that...if you don't vote, don't ***** about the system.

If you disagree that the First Amendment protects the right of people who don't vote to complain about the system, then no, it's not as simple as that. Because that is a dangerous assault on one of the founding principles of our country. An assault that is thankfully protected by the very amendment you are attacking.

Lets take a look at felons. In many states, they don't get to vote. Can they complain about the system? Or what about people under 18? Do they have no right to complain? Did blacks not have a right to complain when Jim Crow laws left them disenfranchised? Of course they did , because the right to complain is completely uncoupled from whether or not a person voted.

There's a difference between not being eligible to vote, jh.. and choosing not to vote.

(11-04-2014 01:26 PM)DaSaintFan Wrote:  I'm with UM.. yes, you have the right not to vote, but when it comes to complaining about who got elected, you gave up your "right" to complain because you didn't make a choice when it came down to it.

My Congressional vote is between a guy who couldn't win American Idol and a hapless GOP incumbent. My Senatorial vote is between Hagan and a guy that I personally do NOT like.

I'm all in on voting for state and local stuff this year. Not so much federal.

I thought about it, but ended up just voting mostly Libertarian.

(11-04-2014 01:26 PM)DaSaintFan Wrote:  

(11-04-2014 01:20 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  

(11-04-2014 01:09 PM)jh Wrote:  

(11-04-2014 12:49 PM)UofMemphis Wrote:  You have lost your right to ***** about the process, sorry.
If you don't participate, don't complain, and keep your trap shut...

I must have missed that part of the First Amendment.

If anything, people who don't participate in the system have more right to complain about it than those who do (although everyone is actually equally entitled to complain). After all, those who participate have decided that the system is good enough to warrant their participation. Those who don't have made no such determination.

I disagree, simple as that...if you don't vote, don't ***** about the system.

I'm with UM.. yes, you have the right not to vote, but when it comes to complaining about who got elected, you gave up your "right" to complain because you didn't make a choice when it came down to it.

I agree. Of course, the 1st amendment gives anyone the right to voice their opinions, but when it comes to an election, if one didn't bother to get out and vote, don't expect many people to care about said opinions on the outcome.

(11-05-2014 09:16 AM)VA49er Wrote:  I agree. Of course, the 1st amendment gives anyone the right to voice their opinions, but when it comes to an election, if one didn't bother to get out and vote, don't expect many people to care about said opinions on the outcome.

I don't expect many people to care about my opinions regardless of whether or not I voted.

(11-05-2014 10:31 AM)jh Wrote:  

(11-05-2014 09:16 AM)VA49er Wrote:  I agree. Of course, the 1st amendment gives anyone the right to voice their opinions, but when it comes to an election, if one didn't bother to get out and vote, don't expect many people to care about said opinions on the outcome.

I don't expect many people to care about my opinions regardless of whether or not I voted.

Well played. Folks take stuff on here to seriously anyway.