What is democracy? LO15693

Sherri Malouf (sherri@maloufinc.com)
Sat, 8 Nov 1997 10:23:18 -0500

Replying to LO15665 --

> People who do not participate in a system that was designed for
> participation have absolutely no right to complain when the system
> does not work in their favor.

If you had read the message properly before reacting, you would have read
that I did not vote until I was 30. I am now 41 so I have been
participating for over ten years.

> Perhaps if you, and the millions like
> you, had been participating since you were first able, our system
> would not be as skewed as it is right now. The problem with the
> apathetics in our world, is that they do nothing until it affects
> them. You're right, that is NOT democracy. That is arrogance and
> selfishness on your part. It is because of your complacency that you
> now have to suffer with some one who has figured out how to manipulate
> the system to his advantage.
> How did he do this?
> Simple.
>
> P-A-R-T-I-C-I-P-A-T-I-O-N

Would things be different if I had voted between the age of 18 and 30?
Who knows. Does my vote make a difference? Who knows? Why do so many
people not vote? Because the system sucks. It is full of bias and driven
by money and personal interests. I have not been complacent -- I have
been disgusted. I hated our government because of the Vietnam War. I saw
first hand as a teenager what a screwed system we have. We were millions
and millions saying NO and no bastard in the government heard us. Why
should I participate when I learned that I was powerless at a very young
age? I was 13 years old and I protested. I couldn't vote but I stood out
there and protested. And no one paid attention. Daily I saw horrifying
pictures of people dying and the body count was announced daily. I was
young and I ached for my world and I hated our government for ignoring us.
The message was sent loud and clear. The desires of the American people
do not matter to our wonderful elected officals. It is well known they
lie to get votes and then do what they please. No mystery there -- it's
politics. But as I got older I decided it was the only system we have and
I have to be involved. So yes James, I vote. It is a farce in my mind --
it always is the choice of the lesser evil. I vote for people who have,
from what I can tell, integrity. I never vote for who might win. I never
vote to keep someone else out. In the years I have been voting -- no one
I have ever voted for has won -- except for my Senator, Senator Squires.
I did vote for him and I have talked to him about the situation. > > Now,
you are being forced to participate. Now, _you_ have to figure > out how
to manipulate the system, and your neighbor has a huge lead on > you.

I am being forced to participate in a very different way.

> You say that we settle for mediocrity. I hate to tell you this, but
> those mediocre, inept individuals in _your_ government were elected. A
> process in which you did not participate. Perhaps if the apathetics
> started paying attention, they would see the ineptitude and take
> action, BY VOTING.

Again -- I have been voting.

> Here's a great example of New Hampshire complacency in action.
> The Governer of NH recently sponsored legislation to raise the tax
> on cigarettes by 12c per pack ion order to raise money for the states
> education system. The measure was voted down. The tobacco PACs had
> basically camped out at the state house, peddling their influence to
> the lawmakers. Governor Shaheen said in a speech later that she was
> exceptionally disappointed in the lack of public response and noted
> that the welfare of the children had been sacrificed for the sake of
> tobacco company profits. I was a resident of NH then, and I called my
> rep (Bev Hollingsworth) to express my displeasure before and after the
> vote. That action, citizens apathy and lawmakers greed was a
> contributing factor to us selling our house and moving to MA. I still
> think it was the right move.

I know a lot of people here want to be left alone -- that is why they move
out to the woods. I know that is what I want. I run a company, my
husband works full time, we have a three year old, our lives are very
full. I don't have a lot of time to keep an eye on our lawmakers. It is
also why I am alone in this fight -- if people haven't been affected
personally by it -- they don't care. Our whole system which involves
powerful industries paying big money to lobby support is a no win
situation for me sitting out in the woods -- I just do not have that kind
of money or time. In fact, I do not know how I will be able to fight this
thing.

> Do you even know who your rep is? I was even tempted to call Bob Smith
> (do you know who he is?) but I knew that would be pointless because
> his support (for and from) polluting industries and the tobacco
> companies is well known. He was _voted_ into office. Again, a process
> in which you did not participate.

James -- it seems as if you have decided to continuously punish me on this
forum and use me as the brunt of your frustration with the lack of
response by people to politics. Is it not the very system which has
created this? You have continously through out this message attacked me
and belittled me with very little knowledge or understanding of who I am.
Yes -- I know who my reps are and my Senator.

> Do I think that your neighbor is right? Certainly not, The obvious
> issues of safety and property devaluation aside, it is a complete lack
> of consideration for his neighbors.
> I wish you luck in your quest, but feel that it was your own

It is not my complacency. It is the fact that we have a system which is
not representational. I am alone in this fight as are some other folks
who have tried to deal with this. We are all trying to get together but
there is a lot you don't know and don't understand about the situation.

>[Host's Note: Why is this thread on the LO list? I've distributed these
>msgs, and I do reject things I feel should not be on the list, because I
>feel that the issues are mirrored in our organizations in which the
>governed are also ineffectively represented. When I say "represented"
>I don't mean unions; I'm talking about everyone. Dilbert is so popular
>because there are problems in our organizations, problems that mirror
>Sherri's problem up in NH. ...Rick]

Rick -- I wrote what I did because I feel it is very applicable. I have a
monster fight on my hands and the monster is a system which has gone
crazy. It is a very real mirror for what happens to people in
organizations. I also think the way I have been treated in this post is
also the way people are treated who protest the way systems work. They
are judged and sentenced by others in the system before they are
understood. The government is a huge organization which we are all
members of -- I hope that somehow some good will come of this because the
whole thing is very dirty politics. And some people are being hurt deeply
by it.

Sherri
Sherri@maloufinc.com

LMA, Inc, The Growth Company
Tel: 603-672-0355
Fax: 603-673-7120

-- 

sherri@maloufinc.com (Sherri Malouf)

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