How can I convince my parents to vote? (page 2)

J. Hofer

but what would voting change? they'd be voting adults in a cult...

or do you think the topic of voting would shake their world so much as they'd leave the org?

Broken Promises

@Broken Promises brainwashed adults in a cult, are totally different then normal adults.

Your point?

blondie

So many non-jws do not vote. In the mind of jws voting is right up there with joining a church and taking a blood transfusion things that more non-jws are apt to do.

AnneB

If your parents don't vote it may not be just because they are Jehovah's Witnesses. Lots of non-witnesses don't vote.

Sometimes people view governments the same as they do corporations, and in that case they reason that voting for something they're not a part of just doesn't make sense.

As far as voting within the JW congregation, JW's are a part of that group so voting makes sense. As the article quoted above states, there's no harm in the act of voting, it's when and where that have to be considered.

AnneB

Terry

Participatory democracies grant us the illusion that we have a say.

But, what we have individually is a veto only. A one vote veto.

It takes coalitions to create movements with real power.

Like em or hate em, the Tea Party illustrates this best.

Sitting at home on your butt shaking your fist at some political party or person gets you nowhere.

Join a large group and start raising issues and a different dynamic kicks in.

But, once you join this GROUP you, once again, only have a one vote veto within the group dynamic.

Sifting, sifting, sifting and filtering within groups allows the LEADERSHIP to steer.

Brute Force is what politics is about and not the inspiring speeches.

Politics is dirty brute force dressed up as inspirational blah blah blah.

We are motivated and controlled by FEAR and ANGER. We are directed and inspired to be AGAINST the other party.

Voting is a form of warfare.

Finally-Free

Politics is the art of making shit appear palatable just long enough to convince people to eat it. The truth of an issue often bears little resemblence to the work of the high priced political spin doctors. I've been working for some of the best of them for the last 10 years. The only reason I vote at all is because my job depends on it.

W

Band on the Run

I have been active politically since high school. Political Science was my major. Every vote counts. Voting is perhaps the most powerful force in a democracy. When you aggregate your vote with others, you do weild power. Bush v. Gore shows how very different results emerge from elections. Tom Daschle, the former Senate majority leader, told a story about political power. Trent Lott, the Minority Leader, gave tribute to Strom Thurmond, a Republican Senator from the same state, when Thurmond finally retired. Lott got carried away with overly praise worthy description. The civil rights Istruggle escaped his attention. Thurmond was a racist segregationist who went out of his way to block prudent legislation. Daschle was present during the praise session. B/c it was Thurmond's retirement, he did not offer his own strong views of Thurmond. He did not endorse Lott's views. As soon as he got back to his office, Daschle started fielding telephone calls from the civil rights movement. He was bluntly told their support for a presidential bid would end if he did not change his tune. He sobered up and called a press conference. He retracted his earlier silence and made it very clear that Thurmond's record as a segregationist must be acknowledged.

He did not move to be nice to the movement. His future was at stake. Collective groups can weild this power. Women have a powerful lobby. It could be stronger. Politiciams must all kowtow on women's issues since hard evidence shows women will vote against candidates who do not support children and women's rights. I recall Paul Simon's lyrics about the candidate's debate and whichever way you lose. It is not true. When people are active in their local parties and fund raise, their votes become very powerful.

I spent many hours canvassing for Obama. My goal was not to be nice to Obama. I spent the time and donated money because I care about certain issues and Obama would caretake those issues more carefully. It was my self interest that motivated me. George Bush fueled antiAmerican sentiment. I want to travel throughout the world or walk down a NY street without being bombed.

Voting acknowledges you are part of a community and that you are fulfilling your most important civic duty, with the exception of paying taxes. It is potent. All around the world people are putting their lives on the line to have the same right to choose to not vote. Not voting is a choice here. No choice exists in many places.

J. Hofer

yes, collective groups wield power. mobs for example. or lobbies. but votes? that's the "new" panem et circensis to keep people satisfied.

Terry

Those who hate America and Americans won't change their minds. No matter who is President.

Imagine being a Jehovah's Witness and meeting a nice Catholic or Baptist and changing your mind about them being

worthy of destruction. That sort of thing.....

The radicals who hate us can't hate us more than they do already.

Hate is hate.

Politcal leaders are merely symptoms and not the disease itself.

What is wrong with the world or a society within is what is individually wrong: BELIEF that you are RIGHT.

Giordano

I live in a small city of 7,000 and voting is very very important. A couple of bad city council person's or school board members can really impact local conditions. I don't care if you live in a big city ..........politics is always local and your collective vote counts if not so much on the national level certainly on the local level and state level. If witnesses don't want to vote because they have embraced a delusional belief system that's sad. If you don't vote your an idiot.

How can I convince my parents to vote?

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