Complaints are Futile – Voting is Not
We complain habitually about income, jobs, prices, education, taxes, and a dozen or so more situations that we feel helpless over.
The barrage of complaints is futile. Nothing will change because of complaints. Those with the most and often the loudest complaints are those that also do not vote. A typical reason for not voting is “Why should I vote, politicians don’t care.” That may be true, but do we ever consider why “they” do not care. The answer is simple; because your failure to vote delivers another message to those in office, YOU don’t care either.
The solution is obvious. If the complainers begin to vote en-masse, the recipients of those votes will notice and once they have your attention (and your votes) they will remember and will develop an interest over legitimate concerns.
The 2020 Presidential election was decided in several key states by a few thousand votes per state, Georgia 12,670, and Arizona 10,457. The margin in some others was a little higher but considering that literally millions did not bother to vote means that those many millions had no voice in determining their future in the upcoming few years. Those that chose not to participate have no right to complain.
A complaint is almost in the same category as worrying. Worrying about an expected event has one of two possible outcomes. The event will occur, or it will not. If it happens, worrying did not stop it and the time used up worrying was wasted. The same as if the event does not happen, the time spent worrying, was also a waste.
Complaints are almost in the same category, except that voting may result in the complaint being heard and brought to the attention of the winning side who may have the authority to act on it.
If the candidate who wins ignores the complaints or their promises to take action, voters have the means to remove them from office.
Voting offers significant benefits. Citizens get to choose representatives expected to act on their behalf. Those elected are accountable to voters and can be voted out in the next election. Voting helps encourage a greater interest in policies, issues, and candidates. Voters can influence important policies about health care, environment, and education. Voting in huge numbers improves the legitimacy of government, adding better and more diverse representation plus credibility. Voting is a powerful tool for people to have a voice in government and help shape the future of their society.
So, stop complaining; do something that can be useful. VOTE!