Greenbean950 writes:

Would you vote against a referendum for higher taxes or other such proposed increase in state power? Not for a person who is promising anything, just the "issue" itself that are often up for a vote?

RW response:

This is a perfect example of how one can get caught up in the idea that voting can help. A vote against a tax is a con.

Some readers will recall the 1978 California Proposition 13 that decreased property taxes by assessing values at their 1976 value and restricted annual increases of assessed value to an inflation factor, not to exceed 2% per year. It passed.

It was a big hullabaloo at the time. It was a magnificent halt to exploding taxes in California.

Don't make me laugh.

Income taxes and sales taxes were raised instead. People flee the state now more than ever.

The huge pro Propsition 13 rallies and vote turnout was a waste of time.

If there ever was a tax that lowered taxes and spending at the same time and prevented any other taxes from being raised, I would, of course, vote for it. But that is not going to happen anytime soon.

Governments almost always advance under democracy. Even the US Constitution was an advance in governmental power over the Articles of Confederation.

Donxon writes:

The victims of state criminality who are locked up for non-violent behavior will only be released or retained based on voting. American forces deployed overseas on crazy missions will come home or remain deployed based on the outcome of elections. Taxes and regulations will increase or decrease depending on the outcome of elections. Should we just send our condolences to the Ross Ulbrich's and starving Yemeni children of the world? Not voting may marginally disentangle you from the state's crimes, but so long as you pay taxes, your paycheck has blood on it same as the rest of us.

I see voting as an act of sabotage...