Elections and Democracy
Well, many people seem to have been shocked by the elections results, but I am not shocked too much. Surprise comes for people who don't know much about how democracy works (again I am not claiming that we have got true democracy).
Democracy talks about majority of the society deciding how the society should be managed and governed. But it is important to remember that majority means majority of those people that explicitly practice their right to vote. So if most people want somebody to be their representative, they have to explicitly show their interest by casting their vote. If you do not practice your right, then it means that you do not care much and you are delegating your rights to other people. If "so-called" majority decide to boycott the elections, then they are delegating their right to the minority, which I think happened in the recent elections.
So those who didn't vote cannot criticise the situation, as they allowed the minority to choose the president. Once the president is elected, all of us, including those who didn't vote need to respect the selection of the majority of people who cared about and attended the elections.
Mehran,
As you may know and base on the final result, we’ve seen near 65.5% (29,317,042) of Iranian citizens voted on Friday's presidential elections. So obviously we are facing to the majority of the ppl not the minority!... regardless to the result which each one of us have our argument about, seems not right if you say “majority decide to boycott the elections, then they are delegating their right to the minority, which I think happened in the recent elections.”…
To be honest with you, I personally believe that me and you are the minority… ppl of “OUR” type are the minority… kinda ppl whom after eight years still have passion to improve the situation reflected on their point of view.
(at June 19, 2005 02:07 PM)
I was a bit shocked by the result, but am not anymore.
The hardliners learnt a very important lesson 8 and 4 years ago, a lesson that many people forgot. While a lot of people decided not to vote and forgot the miracle they created 8 years ago, the conservatives supporting the mayor organised their forces and voted in big numbers. Result? Their power of will is reflected in the numbers, and if no cheating is found, they have successfully chosen their favourite president, and will rule us for 4 years.
(at June 19, 2005 02:39 PM)
And Amir, I don't think our type of people is the minority. We need to learn from our mistakes.
(at June 19, 2005 02:40 PM)
West Ender,
Just do me a favour and give me hint of your learning during first 4-year period of KHATAMI or so-called “miracle”!!? … How about second period? What you really expect ppl to learn?
We are the minority because 11 millions (one-third) voted for Ahmadi-Nezhad and Karoubi whom either they sounds were familiar and genuine to the poor people or pledged to pay to them each month! There is 6 millions (21%) for Hashmei, and only 4 millions (13.5%) for Moeen, who was most nearest to Khatami and Participation Front of Islamic Iran, regardless to rest 8 millions for the other candidates.
(at June 19, 2005 03:12 PM)
Thanks to the people who boycotted the elections, all the votes went to Ahmadinejad and Rafsanjani. Yes, I agree with this post, especially this sentence:
"If you do not practice your right, then it means that you do not care much and you are delegating your rights to other people. If "so-called" majority decide to boycott the elections, then they are delegating their right to the minority, which I think happened in the recent elections."
I believe we (Iranian people) still need to learn a lot. Our behaviour is immature and our expectations are very high.
Sorry for what happened. If the new president and his crew leave the law unchanged, we will see each other in the elections 4 years from now. Good Luck and Good Fortunes to you all.
(at June 19, 2005 03:48 PM)
How can all of you give all sorts of comments but never mention the fact that the elections were rigged. Even if people like me had voted, it would have been the same story.
It seems that you guys think that this stupid mayor really got all those votes!!! Mehran, I would like to vote but not to killers and traitors. Instead of blaming everything on people who boycotted the elections, try to think how this mayor got all the votes.
(at June 19, 2005 04:53 PM)
Guys,
I didn't mean to criticise anyone, and we shouldn't be. The point is that we all had the same goal, but we chose various approaches. I understand that the elections might be rigged, but still it doesn't justify the major difference in vote counts. Masoud Behnoud has got a very good story on this (http://roozonline.com/panjereh/007938.shtml) If we were a good student, we should have tried to get 14 rather than 10.
What we can't claim (and the election results support this idea) is that Iran is the land of the democrats and reformists but the government is the only problem. Reform takes time. As some of you mentioned we are still not mature enough as a democratic society and the government is just a reflection of the society.
(at June 19, 2005 09:53 PM)
I shamelessly go around and copy and paste the same thing:
I hate to vote for Rafsanjani. I suspect the whole thing is a conspiracy to throw Rafsanjani and an ultra-conservative to the second round. Rafsanjani has been humiliated many times in the polls in the past. This way he hopes many people who crushed him before in the polls to come crawling back to him this Friday. It will be his coronation when he picks up 95% of the votes. But on the other hand ...
Ironically the stakes are higher in the elections in a quasi-democracy of Iran than a democratic America.
Republicans and democrats being in the White House has indirect effect in the day to day life of ordinary people. Or at least the connection is not easily seen (e.g. you have to be savvy enough to know that your neighbour's job loss could have been averted by Washington being tougher on outsourcing.)
In Iran where government's policies are so penetrating that they affect people's outfit and the way they step into the washroom cubicals, voting is very crucial.
There is a saying where I live among the older generation that goes something like you can't complain if you haven't voted, so vote if you want to continue complaining.
(at June 19, 2005 10:57 PM)
OH well,,,,
we need to look at what we have done. and by the way is not only us all the parties ( i mean all) have to look at their movment as well.
( why dnt we start a persian weblog???)
:)
(at June 20, 2005 01:46 AM)
i share my idea:
in my point of view boycotting the election was useless, if you can find a candidate who can improve the situation. i vote for Dr Moien since he is the reformist with a clear resume and also he worked in a GROUP(a point that others had not taken into account ).By the way talking about Moein is useless . Guys ! consider that since the diffrence between Hashemi and AhmadiNezhad is so close therefore the votes that have been left for Ahmadinezhad are being so important .
i will definitely vote for Hashemi in the second round while i realy hate him . but on the other hand, with Ahmadi nezhad , my people wont have a primry freedom as a humen . this is a truth that our people selected . i will never justify the people who want to boycott the election again since i think they worthy of such a president. i discussed to some many of people who did not attend .their idea are meaningless in my point of view . they should consider that no european country will cut their relationship with Iran due to the Ahmadinezhad or someone else since 1- Iran has oil and now the cost of the oil is in the highest level (No more Comment) 2- 60% of people attended last week this is the fact so it means that people want to decide for therselves by voting (it could be by boycotting but now it does not) .
Finnaly i just want to mention one sentences which could be as a conclusion :
KHALAYEGH HAR CHE LAYEGH
(at June 20, 2005 01:50 PM)
I am trying to think outloud here (i.e. I haven't decided what I am doing on Friday, but here is a thought).
As I said it before, the second round of voting is just a sham meant to get people worked up and make them to vote Rafsanjani. His coronation was debated long time ago. He wouldn't have thrown his hat (i.e. turban) into this election race if leader's hand wasn't behind him. The system is pushing him forward to smooth over international rows over Iran's nuclear activities and so on. He is the only one that regime can trust in saving its butt in the current sticky political situation. Without him they have trouble weathering the upcoming storm -- I am not saying it would be impossible for them, but just difficult.
The point I am trying to make is that his coming to power is certain. Even if hypothetically Ahmadinejad's supporters outnumber Hashemi's voters, our good mullahs will adjust the numbers to let Rafsanjani win.
Moral conclusion: Don't make him a hero by your vote. There will be enough shocked and emotional people who are regretting their boycott by now.
It's funny to see people who voted inthe first round like me opt out and people who didn't care vote now.
(at June 20, 2005 07:49 PM)
what has happened to people,have they lost their minds?read the comments on BBC about people prefering Ahmadinejad and how he treats Shahrdari's staff?I just feel these people are from 15th century! God bless those who understand and have no way just to watch and suffer.
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