The next time someone says, "If you didn't vote, you can't complain."

[somebody-else]

To me, that is just about as UN-American as the saying, "America, Love it or Leave It".

Bill of Rights, Amendment One: Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the government for a redress of grievances.

Nowhere does any American document say that if you don't vote, you lose your freedom of speech.
Nowhere does any American document say that if you don't vote, you lose your right to protest.
Nowhere does any American document say that if you don't vote, you're not an American.

But saying, "If you don't vote, you can't complain." DOES say that.

[riqster]

1. I say this instead:

"If you didn't vote, I won't listen to you complaining". First-amendment friendly!

[sharp_stick]

2. If you didn't vote

you're a self-entitled douchebag but I'll never say that they have no right to complain.

After all what would the average self-entitled douchebag do with all the hours in a day they'd have if they weren't whining about one thing or another? Taking that away from them would just be inhuman.

[riqster]

6. "Fight for your right to be a douchenozzle!"

The Beastie Boys missed the boat on that one, IMNSHO.

[Demit]

3. No it doesn't say that. Don't be ridiculous.

[jberryhill]

4. I don't believe anyone says that as a legal proposition

I believe it is stated as a moral proposition.

I have heard people say "You can pick your friends, and you can pick your nose, but you can't pick your friend's nose." That is not correct either. It is indeed quite possible to pick your friend's nose if your friend is a consenting adult. So they got that one wrong too.

[Blaukraut]

5. You do have a right to complain, but you don't have the right

To be taken seriously. You do forfeit that when you choose not to vote.

[ebbie15644]

7. If you don't vote

You have the gov't you asked for!

[riqster]

8. Like Geddy said, "if you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice".

Not crazy about the band's on-again, off-again crush on Rand, but that line is appropriate. Those who choose not to vote have chosen to allow others to control their lives for them.

Why would I choose to listen to such a pathetic, lazy eedjit?

[wryter2000]

9. Nonsense

Having wryter2000 tell you to shut your trap if you didn't vote doesn't violate your Constitutional rights.

[QuestionAlways]

10. If You Don't Vote, You Don't Count

is the political reality