I read an interview with Russell Brand a couple of years ago in which he railed against current politics, then admitted he didn't vote. Since then he's come up with a reason why. Perhaps in preparation for this stint editing the New Statesman, probably because no one would face Jeremy Paxman without thinking up a couple of excuses/plausible explanations/escape routes. Mainly I imagine because it makes for a good routine and paints him as the reclining revolutionary. I got sent a press release that was simply the Paxman interview on YouTube.
When Paxman asked, increduously, if it was true Brand had never voted Brand - like a school child who has forgotten his homework so many times now the stories come naturally though not plausibly - answered in a slight frenzy. Oh those politics, they're on the kitchen table where he left them, in his minds eye he can see them.
When Paxman asked, increduously, if it was true Brand had never voted Brand - like a school child who has forgotten his homework so many times now the stories come naturally though not plausibly - answered in a slight frenzy. Oh those politics, they're on the kitchen table where he left them, in his minds eye he can see them.
"I don't get my authority from this pre-existing paradigm which is quite narrow and only serves a few people" the paradigm being one in which everybody, after much blood, sweat, tears, death and force feeding, gets the chance to vote for a range of parties. The paradigm which only serves the decreasing number of people who vote. Arguably I vote every chance I get and I do not get the result I wish for every time.
That is because unfortunately, nay unwisely, democracy is not built around me for reasons such as fairness. No, it doesn't seem fair to me specifically. But still. Brand has yet to come up with an alternative system beyond it being something that shouldn't pollute, should decrease the gap between the rich and poor, tend to the population's needs and smell nice. The alternative is...find a benevolent dictator.
That is because unfortunately, nay unwisely, democracy is not built around me for reasons such as fairness. No, it doesn't seem fair to me specifically. But still. Brand has yet to come up with an alternative system beyond it being something that shouldn't pollute, should decrease the gap between the rich and poor, tend to the population's needs and smell nice. The alternative is...find a benevolent dictator.
| Russell I know you're kind of spiritual so perhaps you will agree with me in my strong belief that Feargus O' Connor, Joseph Rayner Stephens, Thomas Cooper and other chartists are giving you the finger from beyond the grave. | an alternative system shouldn't pollute, should decrease the gap between the rich and poor, tend to the population's needs and smell nice. |
Because this is a feminist site we're pretty familiar with the history of women's suffrage but we should take just as seriously the history of the chartists and universal suffrage. Does that mean we vote at every chance in honour of the dead disenfranchised? Well I am not saying we cross that box with tears in our eyes but acknowledging your voting priviledge might bring more change.
"It is not that I am not voting out of apathy. I am not voting out of absolute indifference and weariness and exhaustion from the lies, treachery and deceit of the political class that has been going on for generations"
I kind of...intermittently get Russell Brand. I like that he demonstrates how fun and engaging being flamboyantly intelligent is. However, with only 1 in 4 18-24 year olds voting and no doubt maintaining that disengaged attitude - perhaps buoyed up by his 'revolution', justifying it by saying there is no one to vote for - an increasingly specific group of people will use their vote and get the change they want. You bring in the revolution with your voice and your vote is your voice.
The message you are trying to send by not voting might be apathy, it might be disgust, it might be absolute bloody joy at the status quo. It doesn't matter because nobody hears it. That message will languish on some neglected landline's answermachine, never picked up.
And hey, Russell, if you don't know how to register just say - the link is here.
Squeamish Kate
"It is not that I am not voting out of apathy. I am not voting out of absolute indifference and weariness and exhaustion from the lies, treachery and deceit of the political class that has been going on for generations"
I kind of...intermittently get Russell Brand. I like that he demonstrates how fun and engaging being flamboyantly intelligent is. However, with only 1 in 4 18-24 year olds voting and no doubt maintaining that disengaged attitude - perhaps buoyed up by his 'revolution', justifying it by saying there is no one to vote for - an increasingly specific group of people will use their vote and get the change they want. You bring in the revolution with your voice and your vote is your voice.
The message you are trying to send by not voting might be apathy, it might be disgust, it might be absolute bloody joy at the status quo. It doesn't matter because nobody hears it. That message will languish on some neglected landline's answermachine, never picked up.
And hey, Russell, if you don't know how to register just say - the link is here.
Squeamish Kate
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