>>Dimitry;
>>
>>When it comes to voting, politicians in office really do not care about the views of those who elected him/her. Consideration to the views of voters is not given until shortly before it is time for an election or reelection. Voters have short memories.
>>
>>Politicians are controlled by lobbyist and other politicians who trade favors and create pork barrel spending, along with related political party agenda. What is desired by the voters is forgotten once a politician is in Washington D.C.
>>
>>Tom
>
>Tom,
>
>I agree with what you are saying about the politicians. But the problem I see is that too few people vote in this country. Many of my friends often complain about this or that but when I ask them "did you vote?", they always have an excuse not to. I then tell them to shut up and stop complaining. If voting is not the way to improve the situation where it needs to be improved, what do you suggest? revolution? <g>.

This vote or shut-up argument is rubbish. Voting is not a solution to career politicians and human greed. It is a fallacy to believe that one should not have a right to complain unless they vote. Government should act to the benefit of the people of a country. Government are there to serve a nation, not the other way around. Whether one votes or not is irrelevant to that larger mission.

A better measure as to whether one has the right to complain is whether one contributes to society by way of taxes, charity work, military service, and so forth. I am not a citizen of SA yet I work, pay taxes, employ, contribute, educate, and help. May I not complain? Voting and elections has become a type of sport for the masses and a way for politicians to keep themselves in power.