I have been receiving a lot of backlash on the internet lately over my conscientious choice to abstain from voting in the mid-term elections this year, so I felt compelled to explain my reasoning, instead of continually exchanging jabs with those who attempt to make me feel guilty that my choice affected people negatively or that I made a mistake.
There are many reasons why I chose to abstain, and let me reiterate that this choice was conscientious. I did not refrain from laziness or being uninformed, although I understand the sentiment of those that didn't vote for those reasons, because growing up we are not taught about politics in a way that excites us or gets us wanting to be involved. It is always mundane and boring and, I believe, that was on purpose. The last thing the establishment wants is a well-informed public that knows their rights, because there would quickly be revolution if people understood what was really being done to them and internationally in their name. So back to why I made the choice to not vote. One of the primary reasons is money in politics. I believe that voting for the lesser of two evils, still leaves you with evil and that a two-party system, with no real opportunity for a third party candidate to become elected [although not impossible, see Kshama Sawant in Seattle!], is no system to live under. Enter money in politics and the ability for corporations, that are now known as people [WTF - thanks Citizens United!] to be able to contribute millions of dollars to a candidate, some of which is made known to the public, some of which is undisclosed. Many corporations oftentimes contribute to both candidates, so whomever gets into office will still uphold their interests. And we're not talking corporations that have the interest of the People at heart. We're talking oil profiteers, banks, chemical companies and individuals such as the Koch Brothers. I could go on, but that is another rant. The point is, do you really think that a politician cares about your $50 donation over that of the corporate millions? Obviously not. They beg and plead and give us sad puppy dog eyes to get our vote and then turn their back us once elected. This happens every single time. Ever since the invention and widespread consumption of television sets, campaigns have been run on the appearance and charisma of politicians. We elect a facade and pay no mind to their moral character and likely have no knowledge of their previous actions. We support and vote based on their ability to put us in a trance-like state, on them being someone we could see ourselves having a beer with or someone "just like us." But they're not like us, they're rich. That is the only way to be elected in this country is to be well-off. Someone "just like us" doesn't have the financial means to quit his or her job and hire campaign managers and stylists and speech writers. They likely do not know what it means to struggle, what it means to not be able to pay rent on time, to dumpster dive so you can eat, to ask for swipes on the train, because they've never experienced that life. And if they have, they've long ago suppressed it. When is the last time you heard of a politician that was once homeless or a military veteran that has been denied funding because his or her PTSD isn't considered to be a valid condition worthy of medical care? I know I haven't heard of one [prepares for someone to inevitably give me a story regarding one of these examples].
I abstained because they all have the same agenda and it includes making the lives of the poor and people of color a living hell. Continuing to stop and frisk, harass, intimidate, beat, murder, incarcerate, continuing to pass legislation that criminalizes homelessness, continuing to fight against raising the minimum wage while they enjoy every fucking luxury that is possible, continuing to cut pensions and food stamps while giving $3 BILLION of aid to Israel who can do absolutely no wrong in their eyes, even though they went on a genocidal rampage this summer and murdered over 2,000 Palestinian men, women and children. The U.S. is up in arms because of ISIS, yet says nothing of Israel and the IOF. Nor has it mentioned the beheading culture of Saudi Arabia, one of its allies. This exceptionalism is out of control and extremely disgusting. Before I go off on a tangent, that is also another rant.
What I have learned through this mid-term election is that voting for propositions and amendments are important. BUT, those propositions and amendments would have NEVER made it on the ballot if it weren't for people organizing throughout the year, rallying their communities, family and friends to support the legalization of medical or recreational marijuana or lessening or eradicating criminal convictions of people with small amounts of marijuana or drugs [Florida saw 80% for the legalization of medical marijuana, only for large corporations to spend a ridiculous amount of money right before the election and convinced people to vote against it]. These initiatives do not just appear on the ballot out of nowhere, they were fought for and for every one that did make it on the ballot, there are hundreds more issues that did not. And while voting for these may be essential in getting them passed and brought into law, simply casting your ballot and thinking you've done your part is NOT democracy. Fighting with your blood, sweat and tears so your voices will be heard is what democracy really looks like. Not standing in line and then checking a box and voila!, you've completed your duty and can relax for another two or four years. True democracy is being active in your community around issues that are personal to you. True democracy is building relationships and camaraderie and marching together in the streets. True democracy is not giving the excuse that you have a family and don't have time, it's saying BECAUSE I have a family and children, this is an absolute priority so that their futures will be better than what we have today.
Imagine if the $3.6 BILLION that was spent on the most costly mid-term election in history, would have been distributed to help people in need? Yes, $3.6 billion. Go ahead, THINK about what that much money could have done for you and your family. Still think they care about you?
In essence, I chose to abstain as a form of boycott. I do not believe in this system and I refuse to justify it by participating in it any further. I have given an attempt to work within it by helping a friend of mine run for city council last year as a Green Party candidate. The rampant corruption that we witnessed was atrocious, down to election day when the workers at multiple polls told people if they voted for a Democrat for mayor, they had to vote Democrat all the way down the line. That is voting fraud and extraordinarily illegal. Ultimately the white man who won [in Harlem!], a Democrat and also endorsed by the Working Families Party, was not out in the streets a single day, with the exception of November 5 when he show up to greet people, as if he had been out there fighting all along. I now live in his district and I haven't seen anything from him the entire time, nor has he responded to my emails.
In closing, we can agree to disagree. If you want to vote, I don't see any harm in it, but I will continue to abstain, at least when it comes to voting for another political goon. But do not stop at casting a ballot. The internet is an amazing place and you can research to find organizations in your local area that you can join to create real change and bring awareness to issues that are important to you or you can start your own. Make your voice heard more than one day every two or four years, make it heard every day. It is people being apathetic that causes living and working conditions to be so dismal. The establishment and the bosses will continue to get away with whatever we allow them to. They are not intimidated by one or two voices, but they are intimidated by a collective voice of the entire staff or of community members that know their rights and demand better. Let's put our differences aside and unite around our similarities.
THE PEOPLE UNITED WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED!
EL PUEBLO UNIDO JAMAS SERA VENCIDO!
