Today saw the beginning of the end of society as we know it. For me this realisation came when I was in the vicinity of the A12. Right or wrong, the people of Essex and the wider population get to vote. But they choose to deny themselves, and the planet, the potential for development. What is barely a fringe political party which cannot even bother to produce a manifesto, UKIP, attracted more media time than Diana’s death: there everywhere. Why other associations don’t capitalise on the political void that UKIP exploits, is a mystery.
Has anyone reflected sufficiently to notice how the media now swings the right wing agenda to sell ‘headlines’. Some of us might be forgiven for giving a shit. On-lookers may even be forgiven if they mistook a polling station for a manifestation of democracy. With turnouts of less than fifty per cent it’s nearly impossible to recognise our democratic system as the one for which people have died, as one which has protected our freedoms. The Pankhursts dedicated their lives to winning women the simple right – to vote. It may seem ‘boring’ but unless more people defend our freedoms by utilising the ballot box, we are all doomed!
It’s not a massive ask to expect you to read two minutes of a manifesto to decide if your values reflect those of the political party you are going to vote for. But people don’t. UKIP aren’t just stealing the votes of the conservatives, they are also filching the votes of some traditionally left wing individuals who feel compelled to align themselves with the liberal elite. Farage and his cronies not only propose a far right wing agenda, but also the legalisation of hand-guns and demise of the welfare state which underpins our society.
If you support the UKIP agenda (if you can find it), as is your right in a liberal democracy: fine. But do participate. Had the traditional left wing voters read the words of the UKIP leader, before defecting to the right, they would find that these people want to strip society of all those things that support our vulnerable and weak. If you are happy to exchange education, health care, pensions and various other social benefits, in favour of mildly less tax: OK. But that’s not what the wider working class want.
No, failure to vote is a vote for the right. Democracy is precious and relies on participation. If you’re one of the few who support the beer swigging, fag smoking, toffs who want to minimalise the state, then that’s your right. But participate. Read their manifesto (new version yet to be published). Ask yourself, ‘What do I want/need from society?’ If the answer is nothing at all, vote UKIP. If you don’t vote then that’s another vote for UKIP. If you don’t like their agenda: fucking vote them out of the game! They already have an undemocratic hold on the media, and unless we defend society, what follows is disaster. Participate!
What we have in Western Europe didn’t just turn up on the doorstep. People died! Women couldn’t vote in this country until the early twentieth century and yet today young women voluntarily abstain from political participation due to a sense of dissociation from the more complex elements of a liberal democracy. I’m sure Sylvia Pankhurst would agree with the plea, participate in our democracy! If it happens that you support small-state ideology: fine. But be under no illusion, UKIP’s answer to all problems is to take money away from those in need. Worse, a no vote is a vote for the right. It’s not a huge ask to schlep to the polling station once every four years and occasionally buy a newspaper. Whichever way you look at it, without your participation, UKIP win. They already have a disproportionate hold on the media in comparison to other fringe parties such as the Greens. Don’t let them beat society into submission. We have the power to change things. Participation can empower the voice of the nation, without a vote an individual is an oppressed void.
In less than a year we return to the polls. We now stand on the edge of a political cliff. If you don’t care, fine. If you do? Exercise your democratic rights. It’s not hard nor is it a big ask. But if you give a shit about anything, vote. Without it, two thousand years of social development means nothing. Unless you understand what they stand for an explicitly support them, help vote out UKIP and the liberal agenda. Participate, or we all lose.
tomsrantspace 