Monday, September 8, 2008

Mute Monday - Stop and smell the politics







7 comments:

Anonymous said...

I loved the roadsign, though am fairly sure it's CGI ? Mind you not sure I can work out your affiliations and have never heard of mute mondays - now there's a concept I'd love to sell to the Boss!
j

Mr. Nighttime said...

J-I picked up the concept of "Mute Monday" from a couple of other blogs that I hang on. Of course, some of them also have "HNT-Half Naked Thursdays," but, ah, I don't think I'll be going there. ;-)

Anonymous said...

That road sign is stunning...

I'm not sure who took this shot,
but every time I see/read a post like yours I realize how profoundly America has changed after 8y of attempts by the Bush admin to
rape the US constitution,
take away the inherent rights of all Americans and destroy America's standing in the world.

The world is waiting, may America make a wise choice in November.

There won't be a second chance to do it right.

We have mandatory voting in Belgium (you get fined if you don't show up versus registration in the USA)

Belgium believes it's a citizens duty to vote, not a simple open invitation.

Many groups have fought for their right to vote (women, black citizens, etc): this duty should not be taken lightly.

Mr. Nighttime said...

Peter-While I would like to think that the state of Connecticut would be so bold, alas, that was merely a fine work of Photoshop.

"Belgium believes it's a citizens duty to vote, not a simple open invitation."

It is more than a simple invitation. It is the civic duty here of every citizen here to vote as well. We consider it a right, but I don't agree that one should be fined if one does not vote. I understand the logic behind it, but I don't agree with it. From my point of view, this is something that is part of one's personal freedoms and liberties. It is no something that should be forced upon a citizen. However, I do firmly believe that if on chooses not to vote, then they have no right to complain about the leaders that are selected.

I also am appreciative of those that fought for my right to vote, and look to those in my own family that emigrated from elsewhere in the world to obtain the right to vote, amongst other freedoms that they did not have.

Anonymous said...

re HNT - depends which half, of course!
j

VioletSky said...

I believe that if one "chooses not to vote" then one should at least make the effort to get oneself to the polling station and 'spoil the ballot'. Not making any effort is tantamount to apathy. And there is already too much of that.

Anonymous said...

An update: Belgians obviously are at liberty not to vote:
casting a blank vote or abstaining from voting is perfectly OK.

What is not OK in Belgium is not showing up at the polling station without a valid reason. Political apathy is not acceptable over here.

I just watched a French TV channel, documenting the apathy amongst lower-social-class US citizens and their efforts to convince them voting would make a difference.

Imagine everyone voted in the USA: it would change the face of American politics (and possibly get rid of some of the political ads avalanche)