Cunt Key

[mashman]

I believe in some systems, a non vote is counted as a vote for the status quo. The effect is the same, anyway, with a "right" leaning government. Their supporters are more liable to vote than not.
Where there is choice (ie, not 3 parties all the same - as in the UK), if you want to change anything by conventional methods, you should vote. And, under MMP, vote strategically. Unfortunately, too many people seem to have trouble with this concept.

Hierachcical stupidity plays a part here.......

My non vote is a strategic vote. Rather that than a protest vote which accomplishes absolutely everything and encourages change.

[Oscar]

My non vote is a strategic vote. Rather that than a protest vote which accomplishes absolutely everything and encourages change.

You should stand then.
I certainly wouldn't vote for you...

[mashman]

You should stand then.
I certainly wouldn't vote for you...

When I get my ducks in a row I intend to do that very thing.
No surprises there as you're displaying typical voter behaviour.

[SPman]

Someone casting aspersions of stupidity should probably use a spell check.

Do you actually know what hierarchical stupidity is?.....

[Oscar]

Do you actually know what hierarchical stupidity is?.....

The propensity of people to assume that people above them in the hierarchy are automatically smarter and/or better informed than them.
It is a great theory to use if you're trying to explain outcomes or opinions that you don't agree with.
It can also explain why, despite you knowing just how smart you really are, you are getting nowhere in life....

[Swoop]

Did you lose something?

No.
But apparently leftists' have. They will also be losing their "leader" in the foreseeable future too.

1/3 of the country think he should be in power, 1/3 (+ a bit) think he shouldn't and 1/3 (- a bit) think its not worth voting anymore.

There is also a percentage who are too stupid to be allowed to vote.
A case in point. A family friend decided to vote for Winston. Unfortunately she couldn't see his name on the voting papers.
She lives in the East Coast Bays electorate...

[SPman]

The propensity of people to assume that people above them in the hierarchy are automatically smarter and/or better informed than them. - Also the propensity of people at the top of a hierachy to become totally disconnected from those at the bottom.
It is a great theory to use if you're trying to explain outcomes or opinions that you don't agree with. - true
It can also explain why, despite you knowing just how smart you really are, you are getting nowhere in life....

Can also be termed "functional stupidity"
Mats Alvesson and André Spicer, writing in Journal of Management Studies (49:7 November 2012) present “A Stupidity-Based Theory of Organizations” which details studies they have done into it - a bit wordy, but sort of lays things out.

Functional stupidity is neither delusional nor irrational nor ignorant: organizations restrict smartness in rational and informed ways which serve explicit organizational interests. It is, if you will, a sort of “enlightened stupidity”:

Functional stupidity is organizationally-supported lack of reflexivity, substantive reasoning, and justification (my italics). It entails a refusal to use intellectual resources outside a narrow and “safe” terrain. It can provide a sense of certainty that allows organizations to function smoothly. This can save the organization and its members from the frictions provoked by doubt and reflection. Functional stupidity contributes to maintaining and strengthening organizational order. It can also motivate people, help them to cultivate their careers, and subordinate them to socially acceptable forms of management and leadership. Such positive outcomes can further reinforce functional stupidity.

I often wonder how much people are affected in their general lives, those who are allied with, or work in such organisations, (Large businesses, corporations, government, etc ) when they're subjected to this - perhaps this ties in with the Milgram theory that 2/3rds of people will obey or go along with perceived authority even if they think it's morally or ethically wrong.

I've always been an anarchistic loner who's done his best to avoid anything that reeks of a structure, so where I am in life is just fine.

[mashman]

There is also a percentage who are too stupid to be allowed to vote.
A case in point. A family friend decided to vote for Winston. Unfortunately she couldn't see his name on the voting papers.
She lives in the East Coast Bays electorate...

The ironic thing that this election has shown is that the left will not vote for their own party if they have little confidence in it. The right will vote for the right irrespective. The left is the thinking mans totty... quite possibly why tories rarely breed outside of their political circles and have such a retarded view on life.

She wanted to vote for Winston, whoop dee... and OMG she doesn't know how the political/voting system works (or doesn't as the case is). Irrespective, that is the exact same sentiment used when a right whinge voter ticks that box. Vote nat local candidate, party vote nat. Both can communicate what they like in their candidate/party and the odd policy here and there, yet both voting for reasons other than policy. Rather be dead than vote red oft being the cry I've heard.

[avgas]

Those who don't vote are saying that they are happy with the status quo. If they wanted a change then they would vote. Simple really.

Because the alternative would be voting for the status quo?

So just to clear this up:
- if you don't vote you are happy with the government, so you don't feel the need for change.
- if you do vote you should be happy with the government because you voted for them.

Your right - it is simple. I believe the term is "lose-lose situation".
But who knows - your elected government might deliver exactly what you ever wanted in life. If so - congratulations to you, and I am so horribly wrong.

[avgas]

There is also a percentage who are too stupid to be allowed to vote.
A case in point. A family friend decided to vote for Winston. Unfortunately she couldn't see his name on the voting papers.
She lives in the East Coast Bays electorate...

I bet she gave up and voted for National or Labour. Which she knew as "Red team" or "blue team".

[avgas]

Whats wrong with not voting? If you went into a shop and there was nothing you liked would you buy something just because your there?

"Welcome to the store sir, how can I help you?"
"I was hoping to buy some food"
"Certainly, Red of Blue?"
"No, I don't think you understand - I need something that will fix my hunger"
"Red, Blue or Green......I might even have some black stuff lying around"
"What do they taste like? Is there a difference?"
"Well not really - there is a subtle difference in taste.......but they all taste like shit"
"Well will it cure my hunger?"
"No actually, in fact if you go with the blue one it might make you hungrier"
"What about the red one?"
"Ah good choice - the red one will just make you shit more often"
"That sound terrible - what about the black and the green ones"
#blank look#
"You're not one of those weirdo's are you, no one eats black or green - its full of crazy shit"
"No but red and blue sound horrible to eat - so I think I should try something else"
"Ah! Well unfortunately even if you buy black or green, your going to have to eat some Red or Blue anyway."
"What the fuck, why would I have to eat some red or blue, if I buy black and green"
"Because that is how we sell black and green, usually Black comes with blue, and Green usually comes with Red.....but it changes every day"
"So basically nothing here is healthy, or food, or going to cure my hunger - in fact everything here is bound to put me in a worse position than I am right now"
"Correct sir - but which would you like?"
"None - didn't you hear what I said"
"As so you mean blue sir - a fine choice"
"NO! I said none, I want none!!!"
"No sir you have to have one - its the law, now sit back and eat your blue"
"This isn't even fucking good for meejskdnfsjklbgsuidfuisfhbekj....."

[MisterD]

The ironic thing that this election has shown is that the left will not vote for their own party if they have little confidence in it. The right will vote for the right irrespective.

No, the tribal left will vote for the tribal left - it appears that a hard floor of about 24% of people vote Labour because that's what Grandad did, and about another 10% will vote for other left parties if the Labour Party are in utter disarray.

On the other side a similar number will always vote National, even when they're in utter disarray (what did Blinglish get? 22.4%?)

There's then a chunk of vote that floats in the middle that wants reassurance and stability and competence in whoever they're voting for but doesn't like one party to have too much power hence Winston's vote increasing and limiting National's vote (they only have the ability to govern alone because of the wasted vote that went to the CCCP), hence also the highwater mark of Untied Future in National's obliteration under Bill.

[Banditbandit]

I bet she gave up and voted for National or Labour. Which she knew as "Red team" or "blue team".

I hope she knew which was which ...

[mashman]

No, the tribal left will vote for the tribal left - it appears that a hard floor of about 24% of people vote Labour because that's what Grandad did, and about another 10% will vote for other left parties if the Labour Party are in utter disarray.

On the other side a similar number will always vote National, even when they're in utter disarray (what did Blinglish get? 22.4%?)

There's then a chunk of vote that floats in the middle that wants reassurance and stability and competence in whoever they're voting for but doesn't like one party to have too much power hence Winston's vote increasing and limiting National's vote (they only have the ability to govern alone because of the wasted vote that went to the CCCP), hence also the highwater mark of Untied Future in National's obliteration under Bill.

Did you ask them all?

Voters, they're all fucked in the head, especially those who vote for the lesser of two evils. "So sir, would you prefer nails through the palms or through the wrists.".

[sidecar bob]

When I get my ducks in a row I intend to do that very thing.
No surprises there as you're displaying typical voter behaviour.

you could call it "The Delusional Self Righteous Party"
Or the "All Day To Waste Arguing On The Internet" party