every one knows that they have several rights given to them by the government. yet little do most know is that those rights come with responsibilites.
everyday i see people who complain about the government, complain about the things that are going on. yet when they have the chance to do something about it, like voting for example, most people don't, and the cycle continues.
im sorry im pretty much braindead at this hour, but does anyone see where i'm getting at? anyone understand the point im trying to make?
I understand, agree, and even have ideas how to encourage. I'll start with voting. Election day should be national holiday. Jobs could even make it a paid holiday but could be allowed to require proof of voting to be eligible for the paid day off. Many workplaces do this for sitting on a jury. I also think that the party system should be disbanded and voting done solely on merit. Too many morons vote straight tickets and do not even know who or why they vote that way. I didn't even vote a straight ticket at my fist election at 19. Hell that was even a non presidential election. Though I must confess that I don't make it to very many odd year elections. The day of those elections for some reason is not always the 1st Tuesday following a Monday and that looses me for some reason.
"If voting changed anything, they would ban it" - Emma Goldman
Honestly, voting does very little. Despite the campaign of "change," what has changed? CEO's are still screwing people over. Troop numbers are increasing in Afghanistan. Unemployment is growing. The US is still bombing Pakistan and Colombia. "Free trade" is still making the third world a miserable place. Etc...
Voting is merely a small part of a larger process which vaguely influences the values of a body of people over subsequent generations.
"Change" starts as a notion, and perhaps this notion engenders action, as variegated and sporadic as it may be. Looking for the clear signs of change in a dynamic world is like the watched pot that never boils.
Strange as this sounds everyone on this forum or any forum for that matter is maintaining one of their civic responsibilities. I forget which founding father said it but whomever stated it said that it is our responsibility to exercise our rights guaranteed under the constitution and its amendments. I tried to google it but could not find the exact quote so if anyone does find it I really would like to remember who said it. But remember that the constitution was drafted by individuals who were arguably much smarter than us (I do believe that but that is for a separate argument) and willing to fight and die for something they believed in. Not because they believed enough to join in service of their country (please I am not trying take away from our soldiers at all!) but because they believed enough to start the fight for independence. Read a little about what they were striving for. Find old history books because I find they use more facts and less bias although they are getting much harder to find.
Till the next time I have a thought. random or otherwise.
That is our job to enforce. The 18th amendment prohibited alcohol. The 21st repealed the 18th. But Americans let it happen but fought hard (mostly by breaking the law) to remove it. The first 10 amendments were basically clarifications by the founding fathers. It is still up to us use our rights or give them up to the federal government. Fight hard for each for smarter men than us knew how valuable they are.
