Didn't Vote? Tell Us Why!

I didn't vote because I don't trust MPs to represent my interests. Although I feared the National Party grabbing power I also saw the Labour Party and the smaller parties as not much better. I didn't want to vote becuase I didn't want my vote to be misinterpreted as support for the system of representation or support for neo-liberal capitalism generally. I hope my not voting wasn't interpreted as apathy but it probably was. I wish I could have voted for nobody or none of the above on the form!

p.s. i was tricking. i did vote. i figure it legitimises the system far less than using money, drawing a benefit, accessing public health care, or having the technology to access indymedia online. so there.

I agree with what a lot of people have posted here.

I believe that National and Labour are the same by both having been sold out to big business, only out for themselves and appeal to people's lower nature: greed. (Also, a lot of the other parties are the same. The NZ Frirst party appears to me to be the worse.)

Shame there isn't a no confidence box on the polling papers that voters can tick for the national and local elections. That way if a candidate doesn't get the votes over the no confidence result then they get dumped. No questions asked. This is what happened for the elections for the student association when I was at uni. This way people can still vote with out feeling dirty and/or being called an apathy person.

Of course not voting is always a choice!

kia ora koutou katoa
Can any please explain why I as a working class low income person would vote? I cant see it at all myself. I am being asked to use a system put up by our rich masters, run by their Middle class servants to help the rich keep their postions of power and greed? I think not. There is surely something much better which includes all of us not just a few power hungry rich white bastards. Voting is like democracy and freedom. Something the rich put up as a time waster fro all u mugs who take part. It keeps u busy working towards somethings that dont exist and cant wont be delivered. Voting for the greens to me is so bloody stupid. Why? They are more middle class than the labour party. How is that better for the working class? Why do u always expect the MC to help the working class folks? They only want control over your lives to help their rich masters (yes I know masters is male ). Dont vote is a good cal but as u say waht then? Here's a good suggestion. How about talking to each other, finding what we ahve in common, build relationships slowly and build something that will stand for a long time . If u dont build relationships 1st you have fuck all. You need to know, trust and understand who you are standing beside when the shit hits the fan. Good luck all. Aroha me te rangimarie ki a koutou katoa

Kia ora Emma
well I struggle with ism s myself but that area is where I would feel comfortable. All makes sense really,building relationships and caring for each other. Oh I can hear the Middle class screaming now "caring and love is all very well but we need to get on". Well we dont need to get on we need to justt simply..get on ...with eeach other. Why do we use govts/rich people as spokespersons when clearly they are only self interests at heart. Any ways the very best of luck to all who seek a new and more caring planet what ever titles u give yourself. Rangimarie me te aroha ki a koutou katoa.

hey there !

if all the disenfranchised didn't vote, do you think that there would be public hospitals or welfare benefits for people with kids and bills to pay? i don't.

i think that if even who is screwed over by the unjust system didn't vote that something much worse than don brash would be running the show and that the people and the planet would be even more screwed over than we are now.

but voting is not the be all and end all. the real work does need to be done in the communities.

kia ora
so going to the polling booth isnt agreeing with them??? I think it is. I think the only way to change things is to turn ur back on the whole fucken crap and look at something new. Sorry folks........voting hurts the working class....that is clear. If some want to use scre tactics like Don Brash then I am sorry u have been folled again. Building the working class poor up to see we can count means far more to me than him or the fears. When are u going to fight instead of being scared if u think like that. Be brave.

if people didn't vote and then politicians decided to start closing public hospitals I'm sure people would engage in direct action to stop the closures. do you think ruling elites more afraid of people's direct action or that they might lose their manufactured consent?

well, shit, if you think closing public hospitals will bring about more permanent change, maybe you should have voted- for National or ACT.
direct action didn't stop rogernomics gutting this countries assets and social conscience. neither did voting- but i still advocate for both as tools of social change.
but if you do think closing public hospitals is a positive thing i guess it's going to be hard for us to reach agreement. cos i think state owned state funded welfare, health and education are socially beneficial and i'd fight like fuck to keep these services.

"i think state owned state funded welfare, health and education are socially beneficial and i'd fight like fuck to keep these services."

Obviously Duncan is a liberal and not an anarchist. What about the idea of a public health service owned by communities? Elected health boards was meant to be a step towards this.

Having health services run by non-profit NGOs whose irrevovable charter prevent them from running as a for-profit business or paying their administrators more than they pay the doctors and nurses would be another step. Getting beyond state funding is much more complicated.

Let's examine the current health funding cycle:
workers> shops and services> GST> state>
workers> shops and services> suppliers, management investment and shareholders> company tax, high rate taxes and divident taxes> state>
workers> low rate taxes > state>
state> health boards> health orgs> health care
(sorry if this is unclear it really needs to be a flowchart)

Getting away from both state-controlled and corporate-controlled health care (illness industries) means bypassing all the steps between workers and health orgs. Which is I guess what you would call a revolution.

Well, just to confuse you all, I voted Labour *because* I think they'll fail to make things better for their core supporters in the organised working class. I'm not insane, or at least if I am I have company - there's a well-developed tradition of argument for this sort of 'hanged man' way of voting. My explanation is here:
http://indymedia.org.nz/newswire/display/37362/index.php

Btw, Duncan, hope to catch up with you if you are taking a holiday back in NZild...

Hey, I feel this no confidence vote could be a goer! I don't think it would get more votes than most parties as most people in mainstream society are braindead drones. The proof is that Labour and National get most of the votes.

I think this discussion is a great idea. cheers Strypey.
A few comments:
Duncan - you really need to read better and not jump for a fight. Stop playing games too. Waste of time. Tell us what you think will help rather than just criticising.
Tara - I don't think this discussion is negative. Why do you? We should be listening to what people think on such important issues as voting. You also insinuate that activists don't do any community building voluntary work. I challenge you to look behind any social movement, campaigns or similar projects and count the anarchists there. You might be surprised.
Maatua - Tena koe. You hit the nail on the head with some of your comments. Voting for government is voting for our middle/upper class rulers and giving them power to keep on ruling. It is the working class that makes society run so why do we vote for rulers? The benefits, education and healthcare etc will be here (and NO doubt better) whether they're around or not. They need us not the other way around. Respect yourselves people. We can do things much better.
Kia kaha e hoa ma....

looking at the number of comments that have been added to this discussion - most of them pretty reasonable - I think a NotApathetic site for Aotearoa would be really useful once this article drops off the newswire. I have made contact with Sebastian, any more volunteers?

The no confidence thing sounds ok and we agree with maatua. Voting with the way things are you are only supporting the middle/upper class fatcats while us lower/working class get downtrodden as usual. Hence why we think the no confidence vote sounds ok as it might address some of the issues people are hving with the current election system. However like :-( stated pity it'll won't happen. Thanks Strypey for sparking off the these comments!

It's like being asked to vote in a beauty contest where all the contestants are ugly as bugly.