CMV: Voting in elections is the best way to bring about political change in America, and people that choose not to vote are directly responsible for the current state of affairs in American politics

<HTML> <BODY> <P>We definitely do not "live in a world where the electorate was informed and engaged...", and haven't for a long, long time. Here are some quotes from Lucinius Macer, ca. 73 BCE, trying to wake up his fellow Romans. They ring just as true today as they did 2,000 years ago: </P>

<BLOCKQUOTE> <P>"Those who were [allegedly] elected to maintain your rights have been led by personal interest or bribery to turn their power and authority against you. They consider it better to do wrong for hire than to do right without more payment. <BR> "They have now—virtually one and all—submitted to the mastery of a few men, who, under the pretext of carrying on wars, have taken possession of the treasury, the military, the provinces, and entire other nations. <BR> "In the meantime, you, like so many cattle—notwithstanding your greater numbers—yield yourselves to owners for use and enjoyment. <BR> "And, after being stripped of every privilege that your forefathers left you, save your own ballots, you then use those to choose not your defenders but your masters. <BR> "The power of the ministers and the decrees of the legislature you yourselves ratify, citizens, by executing them. You voluntarily hasten to increase and strengthen their despotism over you. <BR> "You must guard against craft, for by no other means can those in power prevail against the people as a whole. It is for this reason that they make plans to soothe you. <BR> "A kind of lethargy has laid hold upon you, and neither glory nor disgrace moves you. You have given up everything in exchange for your present slothfulness, thinking that you have ample freedom because your backs are spared, and you are allowed hither and thither by the grace of your rich masters. <BR> "The commons are treated as vanquished, and this will be more so every day, as long as your oppressors make greater efforts to retain their mastery over you than you do to regain your freedom from them.” </P> ~ Licinius Macer, democratic reformer, Roman Tribune (Plebian Council). Excerpts from an address to the plebian citizens of Rome, ca. 73 BCE (via <A HREF="http://www.attalus.org/translate/sallut.html#3.34">Sullust, Histories, Book 3.34</A>). </BLOCKQUOTE> </BODY> </HTML>

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