Thinking of spoiling your ballot?

[Die Neue Zeit]

Instead of abstaining, is anyone here of voting age thinking of spoiling their ballots during elections and associating themselves with fringe movements in favour of spoiling ballots (http://www.spoiledballots.com/)?

I don't think this remark of mine is revisionist or reformist. After all, Lenin did say this:

"They themselves share, and instill into the minds of the people, the false notion that universal suffrage 'in the present-day state' is really capable of revealing the will of the majority of the working people and of securing its realization."

[I would also cross out, in addition to the traditional political parties, ANY self-styled socialist or communist party that runs candidates in elections, thereby proving themselves to be reformists (even the most sectarian of the bunch like the pseudo-Trot parties in France, notwithstanding my beef with genuine Trotskyism and Stalinism).]



On a theoretical level, does this kind of movement count as some sort of "popular front," and what is the viability of this movement in terms of showing working-class folks that the political systems in the developed world and elsewhere are a sham?

[People's Councillor]

Simply the fact that a party is running for office within the current system does not automatically confer the label "reformist" on that party. Parties may run candidates for office for a number of reasons. If those reasons include only changing certain laws and leaving the general structure of the system in place, then the label "reformist" applies.

However, as mentioned, parties do run candidates for other reasons. Some include in their platforms promises to transfer private assets to public (read State) ownership, others include planks that can be characterized as revolutionary. Those, however, would only become operative once they have attained a majority in the legislature, in other words, the ability to pass those laws. If a law a party participates in a parliament because they feel it is the best tactic for carrying out their revolutionary purpose, then that party cannot be called reformist.

Other reasons: groups might want to increase their national visibility by running candidates in elections, though that is not their main tactic. Groups might be trying to highlight a particular issue that others are neglecting. They might dislike other tactics.

The point is, basically, that running a candidate in an election is simply a tactic, and that any tactic is acceptable in the attainment of revolutionary goals. Just as we condone armed revolutionary struggle if that is the best tactic to use at the time (well, I do, I don't know about you guys), then we must also condone electioneering if it is the best tactic to use at the time.

Oh, and to answer your question, I am not eligable to vote. :P

[Demogorgon]

Writing something like "they are all ****s" on the ballot paper, while politically pointless may be amusing enough to do it occasionally.

I do believe in voting for the Socialist parties when there are real ones there though, particularly in systems of proportional representation. The amount of publicity even a few seats in the legislature can ahieve can not be overestimated.

[People's Councillor]

The thing is, there are fewer and fewer real socialist parties out there. Which...sucks.

Still, if you're just going to vote in order to spoil your ballot, you're wasting your time. Also, you're wasting trees. Think of the trees!

[luxemburg89]

It depends how you wanna look at it. By voting for an undesireable party, such as labour, you would be, in effect, taking votes away from an even more undesireable party, the tories.

However another factor you may want to consider is ehich party would it be easier to overthrow in a revolution?

[Die Neue Zeit]

Originally posted by People's [email protected] 09, 2007 03:23 am
The thing is, there are fewer and fewer real socialist parties out there. Which...sucks.

Still, if you're just going to vote in order to spoil your ballot, you're wasting your time. Also, you're wasting trees. Think of the trees!
I suppose there are environmental concerns that must be addressed, but what about electronic voting employed in some countries?

[cubist]

i spoil my vote

[arielle]

Just put your own name on the ballot. Get everyone to do it

[People's Councillor]

However another factor you may want to consider is ehich party would it be easier to overthrow in a revolution?
THIS!


I suppose there are environmental concerns that must be addressed, but what about electronic voting employed in some countries?
Well, electronic ballots are rather difficult to spoil unless you hack the system. And if you can hack the system, why not just change all the votes to the most desirable party?

[Die Neue Zeit]

Originally posted by People's [email protected] 11, 2007 03:38 pm

However another factor you may want to consider is ehich party would it be easier to overthrow in a revolution?
THIS!


Huh?


Well, electronic ballots are rather difficult to spoil unless you hack the system. And if you can hack the system, why not just change all the votes to the most desirable party?

But then you could easily create fake votes, even out of those who didn't show up to vote. ;)

Then, of course, there's what Stalin said. :D