If You Don’t Vote, You Don’t Exist
Politicians know voting is about power, and you should, too
A friend of mine with whom I worked in municipal government made a pointed observation.
“People who live in trailer parks don’t pay taxes and they don’t vote,” he pointed out. “As far as I’m concerned, they don’t exist.”
Based upon his statement, I’m sure you can imagine how much consideration elected officials give to residents of trailer parks. In case you’re pondering the matter, the answer would be zero.
With his statement, he revealed a reality that is known to politicians, but often not discussed publicly: voting is about power. If you don’t vote, you have given up your power.
Throughout my career as a political activist, I have heard various arguments regarding whether it’s worth it to vote or not. “People are dying for the right to vote,” argue posters displaying pictures of South Africans, Eastern Europeans, or Chinese people at Tiananmen square protesting for the right to vote. The picture of the man single-handedly blocking the Chinese tanks is good for that.
