Not voting is considered a form of expression. Do non-voters 'violate' the American concept of being a part of the solution?

SGT Efaw (Mick) G. - It may be "free" speech but it is absolutely worthless if you choose to sit on the sidelines is the point I am making.

SGT Efaw (Mick) G. - Then vote for Gary Johnson, sitting out is NOT a solution.
If Gary gets enough votes to qualify party status for the next election that would get their attention FAR more than 50% of the people sitting out the election which is some thing the elites count on far more.
Sitting out the election and then bitching about the results is a cop out and that IMO makes the bitch worthless, free speech allowing it.

PO1 Richard Cormier -

You're making a few logical fallacies. If you assume that I participate in the hypothetical mugging by being mugged, then you have to assume that I'm participating in the election by continuing to be a u.s. citizen. Therefore, I am participating whether I vote or not.

My "can I bitch, pretty please" IS ridiculous. It's ridiculous that any American citizen would try to tell another amcit they have no place criticizing their own government.

Non-veterans DO decide veterans rights. Have you never noticed that government officials are civilians, and there is no uniformed service requirement to, for instance, work at the VA? Become an elected official? Work as a congressional aide? "Consult" for one of the many D.C. think tanks who drive policy?

COL William Oseles -

You're assuming that people don't vote because they don't care. I'd like to see your statistical data on that. Peer-reviewed and published, I'm assuming.

I'm only participating by voting? Are you SUUUURE about that? You can't think of ANY other ways a civic-minded citizen might choose to participate in his/her government? Are you really sure?

Finally, maybe there's a chance (there isn't, but we can still play games of conjecture here I guess) you've convinced me that even if you are incorrect, there is some value to what you're saying. So I'm casting a vote. My vote is for No Confidence. Now I can butch all I want and you can't tell me it's irrelevant.