Spoiling ballots: the future for democracy?

I don’t know if any of you have noticed the statistic in the news that 1 million Italian citizens may have deliberately spoiled their ballot papers (exclusive of the disputed papers that the Berlusconi side are questioning), then there is very much hope for those who believe the world political model is not sufficiently democratic towards social needs over private entities.

If everyone protested with their ballot paper instead of just walking on the capital streets with signs and slogans, think how much positive change could be brought about in a completely peaceful, moral, legal AND democratic manner.

Empress Touch wrote: I don’t know if any of you have noticed the statistic in the news that 1 million Italian citizens may have deliberately spoiled their ballot papers (exclusive of the disputed papers that the Berlusconi side are questioning), then there is very much hope for those who believe the world political model is not sufficiently democratic towards social needs over private entities.

If everyone protested with their ballot paper instead of just walking on the capital streets with signs and slogans, think how much positive change could be brought about in a completely peaceful, moral, legal AND democratic manner.

or they could just not turn up to vote. as far as i know there are very few countries where voting is compulsory. the true silent majority.

australia being one of those, but even here you can just turn up and get your name ticked off the list and just put a blank paper in the ballot box.

In theory, but you can't say you outvoted everyone else by staying at home. Part of the problem is getting the British media NOT to publish spoiled ballots under the 'Others' column.

that reminds me of berthold brecht when he said about the old GDR something like the govermnent needs a new people.

one of mine. "what if we had an election and no one came?"

I have voted ONCE, on the good friday agreement, I voted yes. It's the only time I ever felt there was a single thing in this country I could put my voice behind. The rest of the time, the choice is between assholes who define themselves purely in terms of what they will do to the "other" or do to protect "us" from "them". pathetic wankers.

I wouldn't POST in a ballot

I dont believe in Democracy. I think the future should be a centralised Communist Dictatorship, in which power is held by a few in the auspices of the many. While we're at it, Private Ownership should be banned as well. And, we should ban religion, law enforcement and venture capitalists, as in this perfect society, everyone would care for each other and share so these things would be no longer needed.

Uncle Liam wrote: I dont believe in Democracy. I think the future should be a centralised Communist Dictatorship, in which power is held by a few in the auspices of the many. While we're at it, Private Ownership should be banned as well. And, we should ban religion, law enforcement and venture capitalists, as in this perfect society, everyone would care for each other and share so these things would be no longer needed.

LOL

There's ONE point there i'd sign up to, can u guess which? :D

Steve Campbell wrote:

Uncle Liam wrote: I dont believe in Democracy. I think the future should be a centralised Communist Dictatorship, in which power is held by a few in the auspices of the many. While we're at it, Private Ownership should be banned as well. And, we should ban religion, law enforcement and venture capitalists, as in this perfect society, everyone would care for each other and share so these things would be no longer needed.

LOL

There's ONE point there i'd sign up to, can u guess which? :D

well liam has said exactly the opposite of all he usually exposes.

as for you cambo. that is an easy one banning fairy tales.

;)

NO points Ron it was a no brainer :D

Liam probably thought I'd subscribe to the lot hehehe.

I'm somewhere between a caring capitalist and a greedy socialist

EDIT: Don't recall Liam yelling about the joys of fairy worship round these parts.

Steve Campbell wrote: ;)

NO points Ron it was a no brainer :D

Liam probably thought I'd subscribe to the lot hehehe.

I'm somewhere between a caring capitalist and a greedy socialist

EDIT: Don't recall Liam yelling about the joys of fairy worship round these parts.

ok he hasn't. now i will defo go to bed.

i've always wondered what would happen if everyone voted for kermit the frog?

AgentWood wrote: i've always wondered what would happen if everyone voted for kermit the frog?

they'd ignore like they did here when some insane number of people including me listeed their religion as Jedi Knight on the census.

Boring bastards

you were not ignored. read the fourth paragraph down.

Surely you agree with me, dearest?

AgentWood wrote: you were not ignored. read the fourth paragraph down.

They mock the ways of the force...NO RELIGION indeed.

turned to the dark side they have.

Next time I'm writing fundamentalist physicist or orthodox flying spag monsterist

Uncle Liam wrote: Surely you agree with me, dearest?

I TOLD you Liam...on ONE point ;)

the problems are :

1. Blank ballots are not counted. I would like a ballot, like in Russia, with which you "vote against everyone" to express your point of view. Therefore, that means that you are interested by politics and not by the politicians who stand for the election.
2. Politicians are elected for a five years term (at least here). They say that they have all the rights because they have been elected in a democratic manner, even if millions of people (who believed all their lies and voted for them) are in the streets after six months of ruling !!! i.e. Chirac elected with 82% in 2002 and 83% of French saying is a cunt in 2006... I wonder how he still may think that he is our president...

So if people are in the street, that should be a signal for a new change, new elections... But they keep their privilèges to the very last day of their five years term !!! And a last word about the street. The street is something that Politicians take care of, say, six weeks before elections. Otherwise, they do not know what is going on there as long as they live like kings in their ministries.

Uncle Liam wrote: Surely you agree with me, dearest?

why, always.

“Blank ballots are not counted. I would like a ballot, like in Russia, with which you "vote against everyone" to express your point of view. Therefore, that means that you are interested by politics and not by the politicians who stand for the election…

Yes, but it is no good if only one person declares this in a legal, moral, democratic way. If you don’t happen to like or agree with anyone on your ballot paper, it may help to ask whether the problems are as wide-reaching as the solutions need to be imaginative.

…so if people are in the street, that should be a signal for a new change, new elections... But they keep their privilèges to the very last day of their five years term!!!”

Yes. Is this because all politicians never have and never will care about the society who elects them? Or do they lack the power (specifically, the teeth), to do what is necessary to provide what needs to be provided.

Good post Jiphy. More of this would be brilliant!