More ranting...this time over democracy.

I'm partial to watching Jonathan Ross (BBC1, "Friday Night With Jonathan Ross"), and I was quite enjoying the show, including the interview with Andrew Marr, until the point where Andrew proclaimed that he thinks "the main thing is that if people don't like the way the country's run and they haven't voted they've got absolutely no right to winge. If you don't like it, go out and vote." Aaargh.

What part of my right to choose to NOT vote does this political commentator not understand? More importantly, his lack of understanding on the point demonstrates the fragile nature of trust that the public may or may not have for media and media "experts" that is far more dangerous than the politicians themselves. The level of ignorance over a basic right of choice, not even getting into the subsequent free speech argument post abstention, for me reflects badly on not only his own skewed views, but the fact that he doesn't appear in his time as a political correspondant to have grasped the nature of his role to the public at large.

Long live Jonathan Ross.

Note: For the record, I have voted in some elections in the past and have also conciously chosen not to vote in some elections in the past. I cannot speak to my future actions yet.