Why Vote?
Why vote, folk?
When government is for and by itself?
Not for you, nor I, Nope!
Nor for rivers, forests, dying for help.
When the constitution sits,
Truth hides, justice lies,
Crime jumps and victims fit?
For tax so the lax may relax,
Or the way I hold my tongue
For freedom to run?
Or for red tape paper mountains majesty,
Our children climb to amber graves of deficit?
For which 10 second TV smearer do I vote?
For which amendment neither attorney can quote?
For an independent, never to reach first base?
How did he ever enter the race?
Not even a nice face.
Vote yes, no, him, her,
This, that, with or without
An R, or more of the same,
Only the voters to blame.
Therein lies the vote, folk.
They need us scapegoats.
Apathy they love
To elect whom media shoves.
Yet why can't we vote
For NONE OF THE ABOVE?
Augustus / Redlands, California / November 1986
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Author:
Augustus (Pseudonym) (
Offline) - Published: November 6th, 2016 08:38
- Comment from author about the poem: I wrote this in 1996 while living in California, USA, a state famous for its amendments that were extremely well crafted to confuse the public. Example, for some, voting No meant Yes and vice versa. Not much has changed, except now the deficit is on the backs of our grandchildren.
- Category: Sociopolitical
- Views: 61
Offline)
Comments4
I feel as frustrated as you do in your questions. Thank you for writing this.
Written 30 years ago. Lots of frustration. Thanks.
This poem is very well written in rhyme. And I think it symbolizes alot of our fears and frustrations about the elections. Well done!
Our country is so divided. It's becoming uncivil. Thanks.
Thanks "A" ~ Our system in the UK is different because we do not vote for the Prime Minister (President) we vote for the individual Candidates in our Area. The Leader of the Party that wins most seats automatically become Leader or the Leader if a coalition. The new PM is always a "Devil we know" wit a proven track record. Because of problems with BREXIT (and possibly the USA after Tuesday) THERESA MAY may decide to go to the Country wit a General Election (the next one must be before 2021) but statistically only THERESA MAY (Right Wing Conservative) or JEREMY CORBIN (Left Wing Socialist) can win and Govern for the next five years, Also the PM always has a majority (singly or as a coalition) in Parliament. This enables them to win most of the issues. Theresa's majority is on 8 which is slender but it prevents an ultra-right wing revolt. By the way I enjoyed the structure and subject of your poem ~ please check mine ~ BRIAN
Thanks for the information on the British system. I am only vaguely familiar with it. In the US for years politicians served their communities and states for very modest wages and seemed to respond more to the populace rather than special interests, granted the special interests have been there for 200 years. Now they all at a national level are extremely wealthy, promise one thing and do another. (Especially to major coorporation interests are beholden) And at a local level they have salaries and pensions that are bankrupting cities around the nation. Thanks for your comments.
Thanks "A" ~ Yes globally Politics has gone PEAR SHAPED ! BRIAN
I like this x
Thanks.
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