The Power of Peaceful Dissent

The oft delivered commandment - from pulpits to lecterns, from soap boxes to platforms - is the following:

Vote. 

Your vote - matters.

If you don't exercise your vote - you throw away your voice. 

Even if no candidate appeals to you - it is still your civic duty - to vote. To not vote - is a failure of your civic duty.

Even if you do not vote for a candidate - but, rather, vote against a candidate - it is still your human responsibility - to vote. To not vote - is a failure of your humanity.

Your vote - is the exercise of your moral conscience. To not vote - is unconscionable. 

Vote.

But -

Let's look at these commandments -

Let's see - if by doing so - it becomes clear - that there is an alternative -

~ * ~ * ~

The Hypocrisy of Commandments to Vote

I. Your vote - matters.

In a Democracy - our vote matters - absolutely -

In a Republic - our vote does not elect (i.e. the next President) - instead, our vote elects representatives -

Though these representatives are under an implied imperative - constitutionally and morally - to represent us when they cast their votes (i.e. for the next President of the United States) - these representatives have long since eschewed any imperative - constitutional, moral, or otherwise - to vote by our duty, our responsibility, our moral conscience -

Rather - we - vote for representatives - who subsequently vote as voters independent of their responsibility and obligation to represent any voter - except - them selves -

Because - at the end of the day - this is - how Republics overtly and explicitly protect governments (and societies) from Democracies run by 'mobs of populism' - (so to speak) -

However - this is also - how Republics fail - (as well as representative Democracies) -

By eschewing our will -

The will of our representatives - whose interests may differ - vastly - from our interests and our will - may transform a government for the people - into a government for a small minority -

Verily - this - is how the framework of our national government - has devolved into a framework for protecting the interests of crats (aristocrats, plutocrats, autocrats, technocrats) over nots (not aristocrats, not plutocrats, not autocrats, not technocrats) - despite vehemently attested protections ostensibly afforded by the institution of a Republic over a Democracy -

*

II. If you don't exercise your vote - you throw away your voice.

Since - our vote elects a representative, or a mouthpiece, if you will - who is under no obligation (per se, per above) to align with our will, much less our voice (i.e. for the next President) - this commandment clashes with reality - first and foremost - not only of our national election (i.e. for the next President) - but also - the reality of mouthpieces who demonstrably, consistently, predictably align too often with the interests of crats over nots -

Indeed - our vote as our voice - is true in a Republic - only if - our representative as our mouthpiece - resolutely, resoundingly, tirelessly - represents our voice -

If our vote - elects a representative - who voices its self and its voice - rather than our self and our voice -

how exactly - is this vote - our voice - ?

Whether we vote or not - it is not voting itself - that throws away our voice or not - rather - it is our representatives - that throw away our voice - by usurping our voice for its own -

*

III. Even if no candidate appeals to you - it is still your civic duty - to vote. To not vote - is a failure of your civic duty.

Though - not voting - is a failure of civic duty -

This commandment pits two competing civic duties - side by side - and hoists one higher than the other - without articulating legitimate grounds for doing so -

For though one civic duty is to vote - another is to elect a government that serves our interests and our will - as people and as citizens -

We are under no constitutional nor moral obligation whatsoever - to elect a government that repeatedly, demonstrably, intractably aligns too often with the interests of crats over nots -

For such a government is not a government for the people - such a government is a government for a small minority - whose interests too often scaffold social, economic, and political systems and institutions that perpetuate the interests and the will of crats - too often - at the expense of nots -

*

IV. Even if you do not vote for a candidate - but, rather, vote against a candidate - it is still your human responsibility - to vote. To not vote - is a failure of your humanity.

Not voting - is only a failure of human responsibility - inasmuch - as government is a human responsibility - therefore - participation in government (i.e. via voting) is a human responsibility -

However - as with above - this commandment pits competing human responsibilities - side by side - and hoists one higher than others - without articulating reasonable grounds for doing so -

For though government is one human responsibility - another - is to pursue - freedom, liberty, equality, justice, mercy, compassion, peace, unity -

Therefore - by what right - do candidates who do not represent - the interests nor the will - of freedom, liberty, equality, justice, mercy, compassion, peace, unity - for all people, for all citizens, for all kind - deserve - a vote for -

For - no matter how it is explained, much less advocated - a vote for - is a vote for - no matter why - a vote was cast - even if a vote was cast - as a vote against another candidate -

*

V. Your vote - is the exercise of your moral conscience. To not vote - is unconscionable.

As with above - this commandment pits competing moral imperatives - side by side - and hoists one higher than others - without articulating valid grounds for doing so -

Not least because moral conscience is exactly what is lacking in far too many candidates for far too many political offices across this great land and this wondrous granverse -

Nevertheless - with respect to a moral imperative to vote - such a commandment relies on an assumption of the immorality of not voting -

Which - certainly poses the question -

What about the immorality of voting contrary to moral imperative - ?

Verily -

Are we not all possessed of the natural intrinsic moral imperative to vote for governments guided by virtuous moral fiber - ? For are not governments guided by unvirtuous moral fiber - or immorality, if you will - governments driven by imperative contrary to the interests and the will of people and citizens - ? Moreover - are not representatives of such governments - who persistently maintain social, economic, and political poverty of morality - implicitly and explicitly - undeserving of our vote - on the grounds of moral conscience - ?

~ * ~

The Alternative to Two Evils - Is Not the Lesser

The right to vote is a luxury.

For some. It is earned. With citizenship. And adulthood.

For others. It is disenfranchised. With crime. And punishment.

For far too many, the right to vote is a privilege. Awarded some. Denied others.

Nevertheless, the right to vote is also a ruse.

In so many ways beyond the obvious, the right to vote obfuscates the truth - of how our government works - who runs our government - and what interests and will our government serves -

By masking the real power of voting - and the real powerlessness of votes -

Behind a charade of plutocracies and oligarchies - masquerading as Democracy - (or enlightened Democracy, if you will, viz. masquerading as a Republic masquerading as a Democracy) -

If -

every. candidate. - is for the interests and will of plutocracies and oligarchies - who. is. the. alternative. - ?

If -

every. alternative. - is for plutocracies and oligarchies - what. is. the. alternative. - ?

Surely - ?

The. answer. is. not. - the lesser of two evils - ?

Really - ?

This - is what our right to vote - has devolved to - ?

The. right. to. elect. - the lesser of two evils - ?

Really - ?

This - is what the luxury and the privilege of our right to vote - is now reduced to - ?

The luxury and the privilege to elect representatives who. promise. Democracy. - but deliver. Plutocracy. and. Oligarchy. - ?

Is the power of our vote - so impotent, in fact - that no matter how we vote - our vote is for the interests and will of crats over nots - ? Is the power of our vote - so futile, in fact - that no matter who we vote for - no matter what we vote for - our votes are reduced to tacit compliance with social, economic, political systems and institutions - for crats by crats - ?

For does not - the real power to vote, the real power to enact laws, the real power to run a government - rest not within the hands of nots who vote - but crats who vote, crats who enact laws, crats who run governments - bereft of civility, bereft of humanity, bereft of morality - (for all intents and purposes) - ?

If -

every. alternative. - is evil - is the lesser - more civil, more humane, more moral - ?

Or -

is such grounds - for voting for evil - in fact - illegitimate - unreasonable - invalid - ?

Because -

no vote against a greater evil - mitigates - voting for evil - regardless of qualification as the lesser -

For -

a vote for evil - is - a vote for evil - !

~ * ~

The Power of Peaceful Dissent

Underlying the commandments - delivered from pulpits to lecterns, from soap boxes to platforms - that fiercely urge - nay stridently demand - our vote -

Is the assumption - that not voting - itself - is not a choice of action -

Moreover - that not voting - itself - is a passive failure to act -

But -

Like not eating is a choice of action - for a hunger strike - like not working is a choice of action - for a labor strike - like not consuming is a choice of action for a boycott - like not moving is choice of action for a protest -

Not. Voting. Is. A. Choice. Of. Action.

It is the choice of dissent.

My dissent.

Of the hypocrisy of commandments to vote.

It is the choice for choice.

My choice. 

For though my choice via vote is reduced to inert utility via a government that serves the interests and the will of crats over nots - my choice via not voting is a choice that matters.

Not voting. Is. My voice.

A voice that cannot be denied by any representative.

For not voting is my action. Not the action of any representative of my stead or my behalf. Therefore. Not voting is my voice. Not the voice of any representative who usurps my voice with its own.

The power to not vote. Is wholly mine.

It cannot be stripped from me. With rhetoric that obfuscates the truth and robs me of my power to act - congruent with civic duty, human responsibility, and moral imperative -

It cannot be severed from my arsenal of action. By those seeking to justify their rightfulness - and establish a fabricated narrative - a mandate, if you will - to perpetuate, fortify, defend - legitimize, propagandize, nay, sanctify - the reign of crats over nots -

It cannot be denied me -

for if the power of dissent - if the power of choice - if the power of voice - if the power of action -

is denied me -

what is the alternative - ?

tacit compliance with plutocracy and oligarchy - ?

complicit cooperation - with social, economic, and political systems and institutions that persistently rob people and citizens of governments that serve the interests and will of all people, all citizens, all kind - ?

Verily -

When will virtue - matter more - than serving the interests and the will of the few over the interests and the will of all - ?

Indeed -

When will - freedom. liberty. equality. justice. mercy. compassion. peace. unity. - for all - matter enough - for all of us -

To step from the brink of division and unite as one people, one kind -

To set aside our petty grievances and immaterial differences and cleave under an ethos of duty and responsibility and conscience that encompasses that which is true - of all -

alas

silence and grace

but bring us so far

fortitude and courage

will wage the bloodless war

of

who should lead all

the riches and the rags
of

who should free all

of the tail that wags

for

to lead is to give

to serve to protect
to

lot especially all

dignity and respect

then

our lives of riches
then

our lives of rags

will no longer justify

the fat reign of haves

oh!

not by complicit consents

nor by tacit accords

will I faithfully idle

as crats prevail as lords

for

we are not nots

we are not haves

we are all kith and kin

'neath the skin we're in

thus

lest all forget

the truth of what is ours

the power of peace restores

what hate blindly devours

fin

Note (I)

section (I) above - conflates Republic and representative Democracy - since the commandment (I) itself - conflates Republic and representative Democracy - by implication and inference -

Note (II)

poem above modified from The Tail Wags Tyranny (tvfs) -

~ * ~

More

In the raucous tempest of all the voices clamoring to be heard -

it is not surprising that it is near nigh impossible to hear -

the truth -

much less -

the advocacy of peace -

for the truth - and peace - do not cohere - to scripts of differences and divisions -

Indeed -

scripts of differences and divisions -

are often expelled forth from bullhorns of bluster and blather masquerading as truths -

as often - as expelled forth from bullhorns of hatred and intolerance and ignorance masquerading as sacrosanct righteousness -

In the end -

enmity solves no - social, economic, political ill -

for -

misanthropy destroys our wherewithal to relate to each other, see past that which trivially and superficially and immaterially divide us -

misanthropy robs us of our capacity to communicate with each other, negotiate collaboratively together, live amongst each other with respect and dignity -

verily -

lest our misanthropy harken an age of swords and pens - enslaved to truths upend -

let us not sow - seed by seed - within the very matter of the granverse -

let us not sew - stitch by stitch - within the very fabric of time immemorial -

every difference that divides us - has divided us - will divide us - 

every where - every when - as always ever so -

Instead -

let us embrace - a vision. a dream. a future.

of freedom. liberty. equality. justice. mercy. compassion. peace. unity.

for all - not a few -

Not by color. Nor creed. Nor nation. Nor gender. Nor religion. Nor sexuality. Nor ancestry. Nor education. Nor employment. Nor career. Nor family. Nor class. Nor status. Nor income. Nor zip code. Nor tribe. Nor history. Nor ability. Nor lack. Nor past. Nor transgression. Nor nobility. Nor conceit. Nor vanity. Nor award. Nor applause. Nor mark. Nor possession. Nor loss. Nor membership. Nor error. Nor fault. Nor disease. Nor affliction. Nor challenge. Nor misery. Nor accolade. Nor triumph. Nor title. Nor boundary. Nor label. Of. Any. Kind. 

Because -

freedom. liberty. equality. justice. mercy. compassion. peace. unity.

is - 

a vision. a dream. a future.

of all - for all -

Is it not - ?

Or -

is your solipsism such - is your narcissism such - is your greed such - is your avarice such -

that the only vision - that the only dream - that the only future - that matters -

is yours - ?

That the only freedom. That the only liberty. That the only equality. That the only justice. That the only mercy. That the only compassion. That the only peace. That the only unity.

that matters -

is yours and your kind via your label that divides you - from the community of - all of us and all kind across this granverse that scaffolds - all life - 

every who - every what - every where - every when - every how - every why -

semper et perpetuum - ?

- M.