if i was in psychological operations, and i had a target demographic that was extreme and resolute in their distaste of government, and i needed to take them out of the political process since they would always vote against bureacracy, war, funding, and budget expansion, the way i would do it would be simple... i would push the idea that if they engaged in the political process at all, they were 'supporting government'. I would create slogans like 'vote harder', and mock people who suggested political engagement of any kind.

for this reason alone, while i understand the sentiment, a part of me always thinks people who repeat this stuff are either stupid, regurgitating what the cool kids say, or they are feds.

Reply to this note

Please Login to reply.

Discussion

I think this literally happens, and by activists of various stripes not merely state security services.

Most people who say those things are sincere, but I'm always sus on those who brag about non-voting without putting forward any alternative organised means of pushing back.

If their grand strategy is "don't vote; stay in bed and play xbox" then they're either a Fed or a useful fool.

Dude, 100,000%. It really comes down to just stupid or fed.

Elections matter. Especially when done with paper ballots. There is a social contract on the monopoly of force that is sanctioned by public consent. That force is what drives the direction of a state or nation.

The vote is the people's opportunity to voice when that consent has been withdrawn. If at that time, a ruling authority does not relinquish control of that force, then the people have a right and mandate to match it and regain control of their collective destinies.

Like it or not, society has a process. The revolution doesn't start until there's a legitimate grievance. The only grievance that warrants a display of force, is when force is used against the will of the people. Then it's a violation... And all bets are off.

The easiest path to avoid civil war, is to limit the authority so that it never has to forcibly wound back. If you boycott the process, you create a space that becomes plausible deniability for the authoritarian... Because there was an election held, and they won because you didn't dissent... Which is implied consent.

Boycotting the process is self-censorship for the benefit of the tyrant.