Tutu won't vote next year

[Syndyre]

Absolute Crap.

I will not vote and it is my right to do so. I pay taxes - it is my hard-earned money being paid over - and THAT gives me the right to have a say in government and/or criticise them.

And about your statement "Well if no party is worthy of your vote perhaps you should consider starting your own ", that is even more crap ! I trust you are aware that most people have actual careers, for which they were educated and in which they excel. Why would I want to leave my day job and form a party? How ridiculous. I have no political ambitions, no-one will force me into it and if the parties on the ballot paper are all mediocre, I refrain from supporting them.

What you do privately is your own choice. Paying taxes should arguably give you more say over government than a non-taxpaying citizen but that's another argument.

Public figures like Tutu should refrain from making statements like that that effectively undermine democracy though, even if they choose not to vote in private.

 

[Alan]

Absolute Crap.

I will not vote and it is my right to do so. I pay taxes - it is my hard-earned money being paid over - and THAT gives me the right to have a say in government and/or criticise them.

And about your statement "Well if no party is worthy of your vote perhaps you should consider starting your own ", that is even more crap ! I trust you are aware that most people have actual careers, for which they were educated and in which they excel. Why would I want to leave my day job and form a party? How ridiculous. I have no political ambitions, no-one will force me into it and if the parties on the ballot paper are all mediocre, I refrain from supporting them.

Don't vote. Then just don't complain either.

As for the starting your own party. That was a joke hence the ""

 

[d-_-b]

I will not vote and it is my right to do so. I pay taxes - it is my hard-earned money being paid over - and THAT gives me the right to have a say in government and/or criticise them.

And how will you have a say in government without voting?

The idea behind voting is to vote for a party that will express your point of view in parliament, because you have a real job you excel in and thus don't want to start your own party. If you don't vote for a party there will be no party to express your views.

I'm not saying the system is not without its flaws but by not voting you are only breaking a broken system a little bit more and thus your contributing to the broken system and not trying to fix it in any positive why. And thus without contributing I do feel you have no right to complain.

But please remember this is only my humble opinion I tried to explain. I do understand that your paying taxes, and it is in your fair right not to vote.

Lastly by only paying taxes and not voting aren't you just throwing money at a problem and hoping that it will sort it self out?

Kind Regards,

 

[chiskop]

I'm not saying the system is not without its flaws but by not voting you are only breaking a broken system a little bit more and thus your contributing to the broken system and not trying to fix it in any positive why. And thus without contributing I do feel you have no right to complain.

I'm not sure that negative voting - ie voting for a party that doesn't represent your views, just because it is not some other party that doesn't represent your views - solves anything either?

Yes, not voting is not ideal, but I'm not sure what the alternatives are (if you feel that there is not a party for you).

 

[Syndyre]

I'm not sure that negative voting - ie voting for a party that doesn't represent your views, just because it is not some other party that doesn't represent your views - solves anything either?

Yes, not voting is not ideal, but I'm not sure what the alternatives are (if you feel that there is not a party for you).

There must be a party that represents your views more than another party. If not then an argument could be made for voting for the opposition, it wouldn't make much difference in SA but in a more competitive political environment it could mean a coalition government which would be forced to be centrist, probably the best option if you don't like either of the parties.

 

[d-_-b]

I'm not sure that negative voting - ie voting for a party that doesn't represent your views, just because it is not some other party that doesn't represent your views - solves anything either?

Yes, not voting is not ideal, but I'm not sure what the alternatives are (if you feel that there is not a party for you).

True, But now this is where it is getting personal: Why is there a not party that is representing your views?

I do believe the question needs its own thread and maybe someone must create it *hint*hint* but I'm going to ask it here: What do you want in a party that you feel non of the current South African parties can offer you?

chiskop I'm not saying you must answer the question, it is just a general question I'm putting out there for anyone that feels they cant relate to a party in RSA.

Regards,

 

[Zenbaas]

Don't vote. Then just don't complain either.

As for the starting your own party. That was a joke hence the ""

+1!!!!

 

[Alan]

I'm not sure that negative voting - ie voting for a party that doesn't represent your views, just because it is not some other party that doesn't represent your views - solves anything either?

Yes, not voting is not ideal, but I'm not sure what the alternatives are (if you feel that there is not a party for you).

It's not solving it's managing. If you had a choice between being on the receiving end of policies that result in 50 murders a day or 20 murders how can you not chose the lesser number . By justifying chosing neither by saying you cannot support policies resulting in 20 murders a day you're leaving it up to somebody else who might pick the worse policy. Your sensibilities might be in tact by not chosing but 30 more people will die a day because of it

 

[chiskop]

Because alan, I don't believe that any of the SA political parties have the kind of ideas that I would consider helpful in reducing murder rates, or any of the things that I might prioritise.

 

[d-_-b]

Practically speaking, how exactly did someone voting DA in the previous election get a say in government??? They have no more or less rights than I do !!

Think about it.

Ok, how would you like to have a say in government? It is easy to point out mistakes, but hard to do something to fix those mistakes.

Yes, by voting alone your not going to change allot nationally but by getting your peers to vote and making those peers to make there peers vote you will have a snow ball effect and at the end of the day you tried and standed up for something you believe in.

We as South Africans likes to be spectators, criticizing each and everyone without lifting our finger and the problem is this mentality spills over to municipal elections where if one votes the chances of making a difference in your area is much higher.

But you don't have to listen to me, I'm just one in a million trying to do what I believe is right. Do you really believe not voting is right?

Think about that,

ps. Please note I'm not saying we should all vote for the DA. I'm only saying instead of sitting on your butt and complaining, find a party that shares your views and go vote for them. In most areas it will not take you more then 10 minutes.

 

[chiskop]

Yes, by voting alone your not going to change allot nationally but by getting your peers to vote and making those peers to make there peers vote you will have a snow ball effect and at the end of the day you tried and standed up for something you believe in.

That's the problem - among the current political parties there isn't one that I believe in.

But you don't have to listen to me, I'm just one in a million trying to do what I believe is right. Do you really believe not voting is right?

I never said it was right. If there is a party you can support and believe in, it's certainly not right (not to vote). I don't claim to have the answers and I'm not suggesting that anybody who wants to vote shouldn't. I'm just uncomfortable with the current choices.

ps. Please note I'm not saying we should all vote for the DA. I'm only saying instead of sitting on your butt and complaining, find a party that shares your views and go vote for them. In most areas it will not take you more then 10 minutes.

This has got nothing to do with convenience. Again, there's the "find a party that shares your views" caveat.

Get off your high horses everyone who thinks that they know what is best - I've said that I'm not convinced about not voting, but that I have no confidence in any of the political parties that we have. It is a choice that I take very seriously, but I'm far from convinced about any of our options.

Your vote is yours to use as you like - now stop telling me I must vote.

 

[EtienneK]

There shouldn't even be any discussion! Just go out and vote!

 

[d-_-b]

Get off your high horses everyone who thinks that they know what is best - I've said that I'm not convinced about not voting, but that I have no confidence in any of the political parties that we have. It is a choice that I take very seriously, but I'm far from convinced about any of our options.

Your vote is yours to use as you like - now stop telling me I must vote.

Chiskop I never said you must vote, on the contrary:

...I also believe it is your right not to vote...

I'm also not sitting on my high horse, a forum is a place to debate topics, ideas and ideals. And that is exactly what I'm doing.

But like they say: never talk politics, religion or rugby. Because it is sometimes to emotional for some people and even I'm guilty of this.

Kind Regards,

 

[Alan]

Because alan, I don't believe that any of the SA political parties have the kind of ideas that I would consider helpful in reducing murder rates, or any of the things that I might prioritise.

Well I'm sure Zille and the DA would be rather significantly better at dealing with crime, corruption, poverty alleviation... than Zuma and co.

 

[JungleBoy]

Well I'm sure Zille and the DA would be rather significantly better at dealing with crime, corruption, poverty alleviation... than Zuma and co.

There are other parties like the ID, UDM, ACDP, IFP, FF,AZAPO etc. Care to elaborate why you picked the DA in particular?

 

[dlk001]

Zille preaches the ANC Gospel more than strategies significantly better at dealing with crime, corruption, poverty alleviation etc. Maybe she should start a mass marketing of what DA could do better and attract non-voters and voters of other parties.

 

[Alan]

The DA has been reasonably successfully in running Cape Town the only metropolitan council not run by the ANC. No other opposition party runs a such a large metropolitan council. The IFP are a mess. They can't even hold their base in KZN . The other parties are so far behind in support they haven't a chance anyway.

I'm interested in what ANC gospel they preach, Arms's deal kickbacks for pals? aids prevention shower techniques, everybody not in tune with the party are racists and coconuts? Appease Mugabe, african potatos and beetroot to treat aids, sabotarged nuclear power plants, We got no coal?

 

[BigAl-sa]

I'm with blu. I last voted in 1994, and have no intention of voting this time round. Someone did mention a tax criterion which I agree with, until I get a vote related to the amount of tax I pay, why should I waste my time by going through the motions with my vote counting the same as someone sitting in the chook who tried to murder me?

 

[fskmh]

Practically speaking, how exactly did someone voting DA in the previous election get a say in government??? They have no more or less rights than I do !!

Think about it.

Because it means more seats for them in parliament and lends credence to the notion of accountability that the constitution mentions in section 1 of the founding provisions:

http://www.info.gov.za/documents/constitution/1996/96cons1.htm

1. Republic of South Africa

The Republic of South Africa is one, sovereign, democratic state founded on the following values:

1. Human dignity, the achievement of equality and the advancement of human rights and freedoms.
2. Non-racialism and non-sexism.
3. Supremacy of the constitution and the rule of law.
4. Universal adult suffrage, a national common voters roll, regular elections and a multi-party system of democratic government, to ensure accountability, responsiveness and openness.

So my argument would be that to expect accountability from our government is to accept ones duty to vote.

With all due respect to the opinions expressed in the thread about not voting, my take on it is that it is a copout. South Africans have universal suffrage, and you all know what it took to get there, and now people don't want to use it?
As JungleBoy mentioned, there are parties other than the DA. If you're unhappy with the status quo then vote for one of them if the DA is so unpalatable to you, but at least vote.
I also think it's sad that Tutu might influence others not to vote, given his high profile and history of activism during the 80s.