Why the apathy?

[xtratoy]

Washington has a very important initiative (I-594) coming up for a vote this November. I have been talking to all the gun owners I know about the importance of voting NO on this. It is disappointing the amount of people who tell me "I don't waste my time voting". All I have to say is that if you can't spare 5 minutes to fill out a ballot to keep your rights from being infringed upon by the likes of Micheal Bloomberg and other liberals elites to not only benefit yourself but your fellow gunowners you deserve what you get. Maybe you can't put your joystick down or quit playing that game on your cellphone long enough to vote, who knows the reason, but when this law passes all I can think to say to you is "Go **** yourself you lazy ****!

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[Blitzkrieg]

At the federal level in this state it's truly hopeless, but we CAN have an impact via initiatives, and anyone not voting down 594 is a traitor, period

 

[Caveman Jim]

Years ago whe I was a young cave dude out in the world making a good living by working 80 hours a week, I did not bother with voting, I was too busy working then partying and sleeping.

Once the cash cow dried up (contract cable splicing) I had time to smell the roses and could have kicked myself in the arse for being so ignorant and so unpatriotic!!!
Since then, I now advocate for the protection of the Bill of Rights against ant and all threats.

Too bad there are many that follow my ignorance of the past.

 

[Martini_Up]

I think your friends feel as below:

The older I get the more I find voting for rights absurd. Doing so implies they can be taken away, like privileges.

"A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of the socialist State, the privilege of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall be infringed"

Change the 2nd to the above then I can understand voting or rather infringing upon keeping and bearing arms.

"I came into this world screaming and covered in someone else's blood. With the rampant tyranny seen today, I expect to go out the same way" - A Modern Patriot.

"When they kick out your front door(to collect your 2nd Amendment privileges)
How you gonna come?
With your hands on your head
Or on the trigger of your gun"- The Clash

"When you think it's time to bury your weapons, it is in fact time to dig them up" - Unknown... but sounds like A Modern Patriot

 

[dobeman]

part of my apathy in general about voting is that Washington (DC) long ago stopped listening to the will of the people. Congress forgets who voted them in. They pander to special interests and money lobby. frankly - we - the people - have lost our voice. So despite what we can do at the local ballot initiative level, at the federal level anything at the state level can be overrided by the stroke of a pen. Our Constitution is but a piece of paper to legislators anymore - something to be trounced and pissed on. And you say vote out the politicians and vote in new 0nes - the only people aspiring for political office are likeminded corrupt power hungry politicians. They should all be booted out.

 

[Martini_Up]

part of my apathy in general about voting is that Washington (DC) long ago stopped listening to the will of the people. Congress forgets who voted them in. They pander to special interests and money lobby. frankly - we - the people - have lost our voice. So despite what we can do at the local ballot initiative level, at the federal level anything at the state level can be overrided by the stroke of a pen. Our Constitution is but a piece of paper to legislators anymore - something to be trounced and pissed on. And you say vote out the politicians and vote in new 0nes - the only people aspiring for political office are likeminded corrupt power hungry politicians. They should all be booted out.

Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss

 

[Doc In UPlace]

Maybe you just know the wrong people.

Part of winning a war involves making your enemy believe there is no hope in winning, that any resistance is futile. In this way, measures are passed with little resistance, the populace is now in a state of apathy and laziness and so they get the government they deserve and that the wealthy can buy off with "campaign contributions".

Democracy is not a thing you HAVE, it is a thing you DO.

Finally, there is no corner on the market for "elitism". Although the averages vary, the majority of congress critters are millionaires.

Center For Responsive Politics reports:

Of the 534 current members of the House and Senate, 268 had an average net worth of $1 million or more in 2012 – up from 257 members in 2011. The median net worth for members of the House and Senate was $1,008,767.
The wealthiest member of Congress? That's Rep. Darrell Issa, a California Republican, who had a net worth between $330 and $598 million.
The reports found that there wasn't much distinction between the two parties – congressional Democrats had a median net worth of $1.04 million as compared to about $1 million for Republicans. In both cases, the averages are up from last year, when the numbers were $990,000 and $907,000, respectively.

Does anybody really believe that -400 k is going to make somebody with a million dollars "ordinary people just like me?"

 

[Riot]

At the federal level in this state it's truly hopeless, but we CAN have an impact via initiatives, and anyone not voting down 594 is a traitor, period

^This...

Blitz and I don't agree on a lot of issues, but people really need to educate themselves on I-594. This is either willfull ignorance (choosing to have your head in the sand) or you are negligent and don't care about the impact this bill has upon you.

I'll be honest, if it wasn't for this forum or gun-buddies on Facebook, I would have never have known about I-594 (I don't watch TV or the news, minus a few PodCasts and radio). But I garantee you I look at every initiative when I vote (hell I even look up the candidates that are up for election but not on this BS two-party ballot, their views and how they've voted in the past). Anything I'm still unsure about or nuetral about, I leave blank. But not voting when you're not a felon? Yeah, those guys need to find a new country to live in.

If you are a gun owner and vote "Yes" on I-594 you might as well just start taking pictures of your guns now so you can show them to your grandchildren in a scrapbook later what they looked like.

 

[dobeman]

I don't live in Washington. I can't vote on I-594, though, certainly we will face a similar thing here in Oregon soon enough. I've read through I-594 and I would vote No on principal. That said, isn't it a natural conclusion to the Gun Control Act of 1968? I am surprised states have gone this many years without requiring instrastate FFL/background check gun transfers. We don't have a popular vote ballot initiative system at the Federal level. We have a representative form of government in the US. Back in 1968 - how many Americans were for/against this Act (rhetorical question)? The elected representatives in Congress passed it - those that believe in the American system would say that it reflected the will of the people. i.e., if the Gun Control Act were a ballot initiative, the American people would have voted it in. Right? well,maybe not.

Gun Control Act of 1968 has been around a long time. Criminal element still has found a way to obtain guns. Pass I-594 in Washington, and next Oregon - the criminal element will still find a way to obtain guns.

So sure, while you can, vote down these initiatives at the State level. At the Federal level soon enough though, we will all be steam-rolled by an act of Congress (the will of the people, right?) that could nullify any state level initiatives. There are precendents already where Federal government has said screw states rights and done its own will anyway.

And to the point above that if you vote yes on I-594 or don't vote at all you are a traitor - I challenge that whomever let the Gun Control Act of 1968 (and any amendments) pass are the real traitors.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I think your friends feel as below:





"I came into this world screaming and covered in someone else's blood. With the rampant tyranny seen today, I expect to go out the same way" - A Modern Patriot.

"When they kick out your front door(to collect your 2nd Amendment privileges)
How you gonna come?
With your hands on your head
Or on the trigger of your gun"- The Clash

"When you think it's time to bury your weapons, it is in fact time to dig them up" - Unknown... but sounds like A Modern Patriot

Except, at that time those who are capable will not wait to be attacked by a goon squad

 

[Blitzkrieg]

And to the point above that if you vote yes on I-594 or don't vote at all you are a traitor - I challenge that whomever let the Gun Control Act of 1968 (and any amendments) pass are the real traitors.

Lots of traitors, and it didn't start in 1968, and hasn't ended yet

 

[TacticalDragQueen]

Panem et circenses

Big screen tvs ,football teams, and cheap beer...why care about things that matter when someone else is taking care of them for you?

 

[Sgt Nambu]

I campaigned against I-594 with phone calls to friends and relatives in WA, and a small donation. If I can do that when it's not my ox being gored (yet) I would think that every WA member on here could manage to vote. Very sad if that krapp bill passes!

 

[Burt Gummer]

Apathy because we live in an Oligarchy/Plutocracy, NOT a Republic (never was supposed to be a Democracy folks).

Corporate interests and our global financial elite owners control things, not 'voters.' Your opinion means nothing. Voting is just there to give you the false illusion of freedom. The informed know this, although they are the vast minority among the drones and minions.

Yes, if you live in a small town and you are voting for a Sheriff, then perhaps your say means something. Anything important though - forget it. Your vote for one puppet vs another is absolutely a worthless endeavor. Pride will not allow you to accept that however.

Important puppets are selected, not elected.

Voting is actually part of a brilliant system of control. Slaves who do not believe they are slaves are the best slaves. Americans believe they are free, but nothing could be farther from the truth.

But why am I even bothering to say such things? Most are simply too programmed to possibly see the truth.

Our 'rights' to privately own guns WILL be going away at some point. Simply put, our controllers are cunning and brilliant and we are .... incredibly gullible and stupid.

Click on You Tube bottom of video.

If actually believing you have choice, that you are 'free', makes you feel better more power to you; however some may say ignorance is not bliss.

What is truly sad is that the owners of America are completely exposed, but no one cares anymore; put a fork in us, we are done.

 

[TacticalDragQueen]

The pot stuff in the last election killed our state. Our rights are not something we vote on.

 

[Riot]

I campaigned against I-594 with phone calls to friends and relatives in WA, and a small donation. If I can do that when it's not my ox being gored (yet) I would think that every WA member on here could manage to vote. Very sad if that krapp bill passes!

Good on you, I think I'll start calling people on Monday...

 

[Blitzkrieg]

Got our ballots yesterday, but no voter's guides.. I wonder if this is by design?

 

[xtratoy]

I hear what you are saying Burt and it seems like most of the other replies I have seen are of the same mindset. I for one still think that a vote on the state/local level can accomplish something. I would like to at least preserve my ability to pass down my collection to my son and daughter without some Asshat in Olympia deciding if they can or can't have it or taxing the value to the point where they won't be able to accept my gift to them. Myself, I am not ready to circle a spot in front of the fireplace 3 times, then lay down and lick my nuts and wait for master to give me a treat. Blitkrieg, I received both ballots and voters guide.

 

[Blitzkrieg]

I'm in Thurston Cty and didn't. I'm going to give it till Monday and then raise heck

 

[Brutus57]

I've voted in every general election since I turned 18. I voted against Carter and then for Reagan later. In WA I voted for Dixie Lee Ray (Nuke energy is a good thing built in the right place). and then a straight OWL ticket on the rest of that ballot. I have missed some school levies (my kids are all raised) and a few primaries but make sure I vote in generals. I'm telling everyone I know to vote no on 594.

Brutus Out