to vote or not to vote. that is the question

[perspolis#1]

Is there any example in the world history that boycotting of any election has gained anything?

Actually there was. Sort of.

In the U.S.S.R in 1989 they voters crossed out the names of the candidates. Some even wrote their own candidates onto the ballot. Gorbachev had to allow these winners to take office. And this led to the fall of the United Soviet Socialist Republics.

Wait! that gives me an idea :--biggrin

http://books.google.com/books?id=Bz...mijO4F&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1

 

[MohammadLin]

It's a legitimate teaser for the regime he sides with. Equally legitimate would be anti-IR people teasing him when Isalmic Republic doesn't exist in its current form anymore(in a couple of decades).

Thanks for ur note Sorosh jan, for me the decision is pretty simple, like any decision I make in my life, my options are not ideal. if I can't get the best job in the world, I won't stay unemployed!! I'll get the best possible one that I CAN at that moment, meanwhile, I'll work towards better!! However, if someone need more thourogh reply Behnoud puts it in best words possible:
[ame="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QGxLuS-pEJY"]YouTube - ‫مسعود بهنود وانتخابات حکومتی‬‎[/ame]

BUT, perhaps I needed to have applied tone to my question. Why HE (out of all the people) is raising the question. Just read his own responses in this thread, and you would know what is the point of this thread

On a more serious note, I feel sorry for the IR opposition groups. As an outside observer for the past 30 years I've noticed that these poor people are always at least one step behind every move that IR has made.

Conclusion:: basically don't vote, if you are IR opposition, so that you FEEL you are not one step behind.

IMO, if you believe in the IR system then you should go ahead and choose the candidate that you think best represents you. But if you don't believe in the IR system then the question for you will be to vote or not to vote?

Sorry, to reiterate, So why are you asking this question? You just answered yourself!

I'm not making a case against voting. I still haven't made up my mind myself.

So you are saying you don't believe in the IR system. Interesting. [not that it really matters, but just curious]

 

[Ali(ISP)]

Do you wish to see Rafsnajani as the next undisputed Supreme leader of Iran or not?

i always find it interesting when people say this. its not exactly like khamenei is going to give up his seat!

also, even if khamenei got ill say in 5-6 years time, hashemi would be way too old himself. Khamenei is much younger than rafsanjani anyway. hashemi is 75 years old right now, but khamenei has not even reached 70. i think the idea of hashemi replacing khamenei as a leader is a non starter.

 

[SirAlex]

 

[member of day]

اكر خاتمي رئيس جمهور ميشد الان بعد از جهار سال امريكا قلدر تر شده بود همين احمدي نجاد براي بوش و امريكا خوب بود خيلي حالشون را كرفت

 

[ashtar]

BUT, perhaps I needed to have applied tone to my question. Why HE (out of all the people) is raising the question. Just read his own responses in this thread, and you would know what is the point of this thread

Conclusion:: basically don't vote, if you are IR opposition, so that you FEEL you are not one step behind.

na aziz e man, ki goft shoma rai nadi? berin rai bedin.
4 years ago I warned on this very board against sitting on the side and not voting and some people like yourself asked the very same question your asking now: "Why HE (out of all the people) is raising the question." The result is that today members like Niloufar who were "screaming their lungs out" 4 years ago against my posts now admit they made a mistake 4 years ago encouraging people not to vote.

Why do I raise the question? because unlike most of the active members of this board I don't believe in anything the mass media or any government has to say. In the words of late George Carlin: "I like to do this moronic thing called, thinking."

So you are saying you don't believe in the IR system. Interesting. [not that it really matters, but just curious]

There you go again confusing the big picture. I'm telling you that the big picture here is more than just Ahmadinejad or Mousavi and you should think about the consequences of your action in the bigger picture and longer term and there you go zooming the focus 1million x more on me and my personal beliefs. If you're going to zoom, zoom on the horizon not in front of your foot.

 

[Javeed]

Actually there was. Sort of.

In the U.S.S.R in 1989 they voters crossed out the names of the candidates. Some even wrote their own candidates onto the ballot. Gorbachev had to allow these winners to take office. And this led to the fall of the United Soviet Socialist Republics.

Wait! that gives me an idea :--biggrin

That's a great example of voting effect and not boycotting effect. People won by voting and not staying home.

 

[masoudA]

What is funny is that some of you think the votes are actualy being counted !!! In a country where the whole judicial system is a fraud, and most robberies are police induced - do you realy think your votes mattter ?

Stop giving legitimacy to IRI -
Mr. Ashtar - You are more correct than you know - the people who set-up these election games for Iranians - are not Iranians. Neither are those who set them up for the Americans.

 

[a123321r]

 

[Niloufar]

na aziz e man, ki goft shoma rai nadi? berin rai bedin.
4 years ago I warned on this very board against sitting on the side and not voting and some people like yourself asked the very same question your asking now: "Why HE (out of all the people) is raising the question." The result is that today members like Niloufar who were "screaming their lungs out" 4 years ago against my posts now admit they made a mistake 4 years ago encouraging people not to vote.

excuse me? when I did "encourage ppl not to vote"? I voiced my opinion at the time never encourage ppl what to do and what not to do. ppl make their own choices!
+ I was very much against boycotting last Parlimantary election that resulted in hardliners' majority.

So dont twist the reality. Its never too late to learn from past wrongdoings and prevent another 4 yrs of catasrophic management of our country.

 

[ParissaD]

I agree that a President is a real poppet in IRI. It's about choosing between "bado badtar". Do you really think that if we don't go voting, IRI won't choose a President and will suddenly go away?! Not voting is totally childish and for uneducated people who believes in what the iranian TV in LA tell them...
By not voting, we increase the chances to see the ugly face of Mr Ahmaghinejad again! Let's, at least, show that we don't want him anymore. People have fought for theyr right to vote, let's be civilized.

 

[ashtar]

It's about choosing between "bado badtar".

This notion of "choosing the lesser of two evils" is just some bullshit line that the powerful elite made-up to convince the poor sap mass into accepting their miserable state of being instead of standing up and saying that they neither want the more nor the lesser of evils but rather the good and the righteous.

Ever heard of the "good cop, bad cop" psychological tactic?

Like I said before, I'm not saying if you should vote or not. If you believe in the system as whole then the choice is obvious and not voting will be utterly stupid. But if you are against the system or simply don't believe any political system in general and you care about the future then you need to have a long-term strategic vision that will help you not only choose your own short-term tactics but also recognize and disarm the opponent’s tactics. And by long-term I don't mean just the next month or four years.

I don't have the time to explain the various consequences of voting or not voting at this time. But one quick example of the consequence of a mass voter turnout in this election will be the solidification of the bi-partisanship style in the IR which is being modeled after the US political system. What does that mean for you as a common lay person? It means the same thing that the US voters have been going through for 2 centuries now. It could mean that in 4 years time (when the relationship between US and Iran has been restored and economy mildly improving) the question in next coming decades will no longer be changing the constitution of IR or even the vetting of the candidates by the Guardian council. There will be two main parties who will control the majority of resources and media and they themselves will vet the possible candidates and anyone who does not abide by their rules and beliefs will be cast aside and will not have a chance of even registering for the elections. The people's focus will be on changing parties in each election as is the case in US while both parties will be controlled and answerable to certain powers and interest groups who will be controlling both parties equally. And election after election for 2 centuries to come you and your children and grand-children will continuously be justifying your state of being by choosing between the "lesser of two evils".

The above is just one of the many possible consequences and the milder and more pleasant ones. If I find the time I will try to give you more.

 

[deerouz]

Ashtar jan, I have to admit you are very convincing when you argue on the anti-IRI side. You were wasting your talent in the AN camp!

BTW you now sound like General Parsaian of a couple of years ago, and General sounds like you a couple of years ago. Have you guys switched identities?

 

[ashtar]

Ashtar jan, I have to admit you are very convincing when you argue on the anti-IRI side. You were wasting your talent in the AN camp!

I'm just tired of reading the same sorry complaints day in and day out. 4 years ago they were saying lets not make the same mistake as 4 years ago when we voted for Khatami. now 4 years later they're saying lets not make the same mistake as 4 years ago. 4 years from now again they'll be saying lets not make the same mistake as 4 years ago.

Akheh at some point it's not fun and interesting anymore seeing the same team lose constantly.

BTW you now sound like General Parsaian of a couple of years ago, and General sounds like you a couple of years ago. Have you guys switched identities?

If General finds out what you've said he's going to either kill himself, kill you or both. LOL

ma koja va General koja. If I had half the IQ of General I wouldn't be wasting my time posting kos o sher on this board. LOL

 

[a123321r]

ma koja va General koja. If I had half the IQ of General I wouldn't be wasting my time posting kos o sher on this board. LOL

makes you wonder why the general with ALL of his IQ wastes his time posting......... on this board! lol

 

[ashtar]

makes you wonder why the general with ALL of his IQ wastes his time posting......... on this board! lol

It's called too much of a good a thing.

BTW, haven't heard from him for a while. Where is he?

 

[Iranpaak]

It's called too much of a good a thing.

BTW, haven't heard from him for a while. Where is he?

Fekr konam rafte bashe sare mazreae tootfrangi bill bezane.

 

[ParissaD]

Ashtar:
By not voting, you won't be a hero and make the government gooresho gom koneh...that's what we all want, but it won't happen that way.