'I am a non-voting Atheist'

[Sysem]

Fair point. I'm not saying that time never ends (my post may have implied that ) but its an accepted theory. If the world and life ends as we know it, the universe continues. I don't see that ever stopping. Else where would it go.

Your last statement doesn't really hold. You can't compare objects to time. Ie, that coin was still doing something before it was spinning. Just not what you made it do. Likewise, it was still there, and wasn't made from nothing.

I could very easily turn this to Christians (or any other religion), if god created the world and what ever else, where did he come from? Did he manifest from nothing?

 

[porchrat]

Okay, do atheists believe in science, or do they just not believe, nor think about anything they cannot see, hear, or smell?

"believe in science"?!? :wtf:

 

[Sysem]

"believe in science"?!? :wtf:

I ignored that

 

[porchrat]

I ignored that

I don't have it in me to ignore something that weird.

 

[EtienneK]

I am a voting Christian.

 

[cpu.]

Okay, do atheists believe in science, or do they just not believe, nor think about anything they cannot see, hear, or smell?

Science is a tool used by Christians (and other religious people) and atheist alike.
Other than religion there is no difference between us.

Does religion stop you from murdering someone? Does religion stop you from raping someone? Does a believe in God stop you from doing all kinds of bad things.
No. Good (moral) values that are not tied to religion DOES.

 

[WilD_CaT]

Doesn't anyone understand the swing vote?

If a large portion of a population decides to be neutral in politics and note vote, they become a huge threat to political parties, as the minute one party is able to sway em the other side is doomed.

If you become part of the swing vote, both parties will try to woo you and not make you angry.

That being said if you are in the minority, then you you really have no affect what so ever.

But don't call people stupid for not voting, you are the moron if voting for the wrong side further encourages their actions.

 

[LazyLion]

people are stupid for not voting.

 

[Palimino]

I choose to spend my time wisely and not waste it on a pointless exercise, knowing we have a totalitarian government who does as it wishes, in place...

I voted post 1994 once. When everyone was fooled by the ‘rainbow nation’ delusion (me included). I was so embarrassed and humiliated that I vowed not to vote again.

 

[Palimino]

Democracy is a privilege, not a right. You dont use it, you lose it.

When SA gets a democracy, I will review my options. As much as politicians fondly love to pontificate about SA’s democracy WE DO NOT HAVE A DEMOCRACY.

 

[extremist]

Agreed, If you aren't happy with any party and don't want to pick one at least go out there and scratch your ballot. It sends a far clearer message of dissatisfaction.

We've got a real bunch of pillocks in this thread, don't we? I'd just like to remind you "OMG VOTE OR DIE" twits that democracy also gives you the right NOT to vote if you so choose. If you have a problem with that right, hey guess what? You have a problem with democracy. So basically you're hypocrites.

I'm glad to know hypocrites are voting for change. Really gives me hope for our country's future.

Abstaining from the vote is fine, but then I have to (somewhat) agree with porchrat: go and register. If you have the time and inclination go and spoil a ballot.

But for the love of boerewors, mieliepap and atjar, go register at least.

The number of abstained registered voters tell a story just as much as the votes do. If you've not registered then your abstinence counts for nothing.

 

[Palimino]

As much as politicians fondly love to pontificate about SA’s democracy WE DO NOT HAVE A DEMOCRACY.

A hotchpotch of monarchies, tribal elders, chieftains and unions is not a democracy. A country with a primary school educated president, who has evaded the courtroom for corruption and criminal charges, which obliges him to dance to the tune of the puppet masters who helped in the evasion, is not a democracy. An ignorant lumpen proletariat who vote as directed by their tribal elders, etc. (besides, they have a free T-shirt) is not a democracy. A bureaucratic infrastructure of cronies and ‘struggle’ comrades are appointed who wouldn’t know democracy if it savaged their butt, is not a democracy.

Democracy? Bwhahahaha!

 

[w1z4rd]

When SA gets a democracy, I will review my options. As much as politicians fondly love to pontificate about SA’s democracy WE DO NOT HAVE A DEMOCRACY.

Uhuh. You have some interesting beliefs. Which I dont buy into.

 

[Palimino]

Uhuh. You have some interesting beliefs. Which I dont buy into.

So you believe post #52 is some demented version of ‘African’ democracy? Why even call it ‘democracy’? It’s not democracy as I know it.

 

[R13...]

So you believe post #52 is some demented version of ‘African’ democracy? Why even call it ‘democracy’? It’s not democracy as I know it.

Your issue is not so much with democracy. We do live in a democratic system but you don't like it cause your choice of leaders aren't in charge.

 

[murraybiscuit]

i guess it comes down to whether you want to make a difference or just sit back and let life happen to you.
voting is just one aspect of that.

 

[Palimino]

Your issue is not so much with democracy.

Yes, my issue is with democracy. We don’t have it.

We do live in a democratic system...

No, we don’t. Pontificating politicians would have you believe otherwise.

...but you don't like it cause your choice of leaders aren't in charge.

I have no choices, but I do believe that Zille would make a better leader than Zuma. This is not rocket science. Do you think otherwise? Who would you choose? Dumbo Zuma?

 

[R13...]

Yes, my issue is with democracy. We don’t have it.



No, we don’t. Pontificating politicians would have you believe otherwise.



I have no choices, but I do believe that Zille would make a better leader than Zuma. This is not rocket science. Do you think otherwise? Who would you choose? Dumbo Zuma?

Why is not a democracy? It's certainly not a monarch.

 

[Maddmatt]

A hotchpotch of monarchies, tribal elders, chieftains and unions is not a democracy. A country with a primary school educated president, who has evaded the courtroom for corruption and criminal charges, which obliges him to dance to the tune of the puppet masters who helped in the evasion, is not a democracy. An ignorant lumpen proletariat who vote as directed by their tribal elders, etc. (besides, they have a free T-shirt) is not a democracy. A bureaucratic infrastructure of cronies and ‘struggle’ comrades are appointed who wouldn’t know democracy if it savaged their butt, is not a democracy.

Democracy? Bwhahahaha!

It is a democracy, we got exactly what the masses of uneducated fools in this country voted for. Those corrupt "cronies and ‘struggle’ comrades" are pretty much a representation of SA

The ANC has steadily lost a small share of voters in the last few elections. If you're not out there voting for another party to knock down their votes, then you're just f**king useless and should shut up.
That's my opinion. You can call it what you want, but this "non-voting" because you "don't believe in the system" or some other bullcrap is just you doing absolutely nothing and contributing to SA being run by a bunch of fat lazy criminals.

Don't make excuses for doing nothing.
As for spoiling ballots, well I guess that sends some kind of message but it achieves nothing. At least you're getting off your butt though so I wont call someone useless for doing that, gotta give people respect when they at least try to do something positive.

 

[w1z4rd]

So you believe post #52 is some demented version of ‘African’ democracy? Why even call it ‘democracy’? It’s not democracy as I know it.

Its a democracy as the dictionary defines it. I dont know what wooh version you got.

A pretty solid one according to the democracy index: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Democracy_Index_-_The_Economist_-_2007.svg

I see the only countries with better democracies are welfare states like Canada and countries in Scandinavia.