Visual Culture

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Freedumb isn’t free

Thingsarefine.org remind all of us why it’s CRUCIAL to get out and vote next Tuesday.

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posted by Oberholtzer Creative Staff at 10:51 am

56 Comments »

i think the one with the “china” it’s the best idea. i will not vote anyway

Comment by Tattoo Designs — October 31, 2008 @ 11:18 am
Our votes don’t matter anyway.

Comment by meme — October 31, 2008 @ 12:18 pm
Which of your fine issues will actually be affected by the outcome of a vote on November 4? Your passion is commendable, but your sense of reality sucks.

Now, if we could vote for “None of the above” (who could actually be allowed to win), or if we could write down a thing for our leaders to do, then it might just be worth it to go into the voting booth. Otherwise, it’s a great big waste of time.

This year’s presidential race is between a communist and a Nazi. Why should I vote? Either way, I’m screwed. The only choice that makes sense is to withhold my vote and deny the winner my support.

We can ultimately make this corrupt government collapse if we, the people, withdraw our support through wide-spread systematic non-voting. Then we can re-build a system that will actually work for Americans. Be brave. We can make it happen.

Comment by Mr Fnortner — October 31, 2008 @ 4:28 pm
while I agree that our presidential race isn’t determined by popular vote and that you can argue that your vote doesn’t matter there, the races for all the local and state level offices are not at the mercy of the electoral college.

vote. vote for the people who will do the least damage in your immediate area, and nationally as your representative.

the president doesn’t (usually) do as much damage as the legislature. you should vote in those races because your vote DOES count.

Comment by PinheadX — October 31, 2008 @ 4:32 pm
You and enough people to make a difference all think the same.

Comment by Anon — October 31, 2008 @ 4:33 pm
yes to pinhead

Comment by Anonymous — October 31, 2008 @ 6:01 pm
Wow, so commendable Mr. Fnorter. I’m always amazed at the elaborate excuses people make for their apathetic submissiveness. The American population is asleep.

Comment by Thea Snoad — October 31, 2008 @ 6:15 pm
tattoo, mr f, nice to share opinions, but vote not, rant not. By not voting you accomplish nothing. Protest by spoiling a ballot or voting for yourself. Not voting isn’t a very good form of protest.

Comment by Elliotteaze — October 31, 2008 @ 7:03 pm
This is the most ridiculous concept I have ever heard of. To think that the most important and powerful nation on the face of the earth has such uncaring and dispassionate individuals is incredibly disheartening and disappointing. I have no respect for either McCain or Obama for that matter, but I would still vote to at least have one of the lesser evils in power, than the other. I cannot believe that the U.S. only has an average voter turnout of roughly 29%. It sickens me to think what could happen if only the idiots turn out. It is your right and duty to vote and as such you should do so even if you don’t like the candidates. I, as a Canadian, do not need to explain your voting system to you, but it is very clear that none of you know the process or its intricacies, for shame.

Comment by Asmodean — October 31, 2008 @ 8:48 pm
vote for change

Comment by francisonline — October 31, 2008 @ 8:52 pm
Nice work, the design is great.

However, wouldn’t a better campaign be something along the lines of “learn something THEN Vote” Telling people who have no clue to vote is what got us here in the first place (whatever place you think we are at).

Comment by Otter — October 31, 2008 @ 9:32 pm
Mr Fnortner, et al…. Steve Earle said “if you don’t vote, don’t bitch” He’s right. But if you systematically encourage people NOT to vote, eventually you’ll end up with a government based solely on the vote of only thousands, hundreds or conceivably only a single vote. Do you really want that asshole next door to decide for you?

Comment by Scott...Canadian — October 31, 2008 @ 10:16 pm
Wow, some of the comments are frightening. There’s more at stake than just the Presidency–Representatives, Senators and local bills are also on the ballot. Your choice is not limited to McCain or Obama, either. There are several other candidates for President and you can also write in whoever you want. Finally, the simple act of voting connects you to the community you depend on (whether you fully realize it or not, you DO depend on the community you live to maintain your lifestyle.)

Comment by spriggig — October 31, 2008 @ 11:37 pm
Did vote, and wrote. Saw more than just rote, from a side that is proud to listen. The Liberty and Justice for all folks we are asked to pledge to sure seem more devoted to helping the honest make a living than cons-only interested in self serving scams. Change is in the wind friends. A little more help from the medical departments and a little less guff about why your sick and who’s going to pay for it, will help us all. We should expect to try and find jobs to help one another, rather than scamming one another, is the solution to our health care crisis. And health care proactive could be a better way to fight wars for a people rather than against them? Our great new vertical take off war planes would also make wonderful ambulances for an approach to health care that would change the world’s attitude about America once and for all! We American’s hate not see’s and limiters of all kinds, and none of us lives on a commune. Most of us hate limited access neighborhoods.

Comment by worthruss — November 1, 2008 @ 8:02 am
Voting may actually be immoral in the grand scheme of things. I know that many of you who have not given this much serious soul-searching will react from your gut (much like nausea), but it is really a structured opportunity for a gang of people (the majority) to force their will on a slightly smaller group of people. The civics book calls this democracy. In reality it’s mob rule, often with a strong dose of vengeance. Listen to the pre-election rhetoric: “time for a change” they say. “Now it will be our turn.” “Can’t wait for a chance to get ours, and get back at the so-and-sos who had the power before us.”

The one thing that a government fears is lack of support, that’s why in many totalitarian governments that hold elections, the citizens are required to vote. It gives the government cover; something to hide behind to say that the people support the government.

We have to withdraw that support from our corrupt government in this country. We cannot go on choosing the lesser of two evils. It is immoral to do so. We must tell our government they are corrupt. We cannot empower ourselves, either, to gang up on our neighbors and steal their money (in taxes) to fund our excesses through the might of government force.

Can you not see that this is all wrong? Or are you too concerned that you might not have your turn to get something for yourself from the Treasury this time around? Make it stop. Shut down the system. Stop voting. It doesn’t change anything, and it only encourages them.

Comment by Mr Fnortner — November 1, 2008 @ 12:12 pm
Two things grab my attention:

Chinese dominance of trade and theocracy.

You get what you vote for. If your Congressperson or Senators keep voting for Chinese Most Favored Trade status vote for someone who opposes this. Until you elect someone who has a firm moral foundation you’re going to have this and other issues you detest to persist.

At present all I see is the danger of an islamic theocracy. If you are afraid of Palin’s convictions then it’s time you stepped back and got a whiff of fresh air. If you’re comfortable with immorality then quit whining because that has brought us to the present state we’re in. If you want virtue then you have to elect the virtuous. If you want honor then you have to elect the honorable. If you want integrity then you have to elect someone who understands it and puts it into practice.

Proverbs 14:34
Righteousness exalts a nation,
but sin is a disgrace to any people.

Comment by John Roper — November 1, 2008 @ 12:40 pm
So let me get this straight- people actually believe that the best way to make change is to… do nothing. Yeah, nice try sunshine.

The question that people need to as themselves is, “Can a guy who owns 10 homes and 13 cars, who graduated 894th out of 899 students and represents a party that’s been subverted by jingoistic, anti-intellectual, sanctimonious, nationalist demagoguery really understand me?” Then couple that to the realization that the way a candidate runs their campaign is the way they’ll run their administration.

Thank you. I’ll be voting for the guy who just paid off his student loans, who has studied Constitutional law and knows what its like to be middle class (which according to Grampy Mc Crankypants, ends at 5 million dollars a year).

By the way, wonderful illustrations. Foursquare.

Comment by shelly — November 1, 2008 @ 2:46 pm
Thank you shelly for the first intelligent response. If someone thinks their vote doesn’t count then they are TOO DUMB TO VOTE and SHOULD stay home!

Comment by Kevin — November 1, 2008 @ 3:20 pm
[...] of our previous posts has sparked an interesting “to vote, or not to vote” debate, but in all sincerity, some [...]

Pingback by Visual Culture » Gambling With Our Lives — November 1, 2008 @ 5:25 pm
you should’a made these into t-shirts…

Comment by drew — November 1, 2008 @ 5:37 pm
while some of you are on the right track by voting, some of you are fricken idiots. The whole message being the image paried with “don’t vote” is giving you reasons why you should vote. If i don’t want to vote, don’t its not going to change anything but then don’t go around telling people, hey i didn’t vote blah blah blah, no one gives a damn if your that ignorant.

Comment by jaboc — November 1, 2008 @ 6:22 pm
neat, I love propaganda posters!

Comment by jehan — November 1, 2008 @ 6:22 pm
Let’s be really clear about this issue: We have only five possibilities here:
1) The two candidates are both noble, forthright, honorable, righteous leaders, equally capable of leading the country for the next four years.
2) The two candidates are evil, despicable, scum, fit only for the guillotine, and shouldn’t darken the doors of the halls of power under any circumstance.
3) The candidates are human politicians, and are apt to have some good qualities and some evil qualities, and on balance they are indistinguishable.
4) Only one candidate is the righteous leader of the free world, but no one knows which, and the other one is scum.
5) Only one candidate is the righteous leader of the free world, and as a voter, I know which one it is.

Given the choices above, which actually do cover the waterfront (nothing is left out–look carefully), answers (1), (2), (3) and (4) can be anguished over but can be settled by random selection. That is, one answer is as good as any other. Voting is not necessary. Given the choice of whether to be mauled by pit bull A or pit bull B, it matters not whether pit bull A is brown or black, or that you chose her based on how cute her puppies were. You will be sausage in short order once you enter her yard. This logic applies in all the first four cases.

It is only smugness and delusion that allows choice (5) to exist. In fact, choice (5) is mere fantasy born of the constant drum beat of democratic statism. Edna Goldberg, around the turn of the last century, said that if voting changed anything, they’d make it illegal. She was a famous anarchist, and spent time in jail for her political opinions. Primarily, she scared the people in power. How many of you have that strength of character? Or will you, like sheep, just go vote because you think that you are invoking choice (5)? Don’t give this government the authority it needs to continue to abuse you. Withhold your permission by withholding your vote. Let it collapse from lack of a mandate, maybe not this election, but soon enough.

Comment by Mr Fnortner — November 1, 2008 @ 7:12 pm
From comment #27: That’s a ridiculous metric. Can an attractive hardworking black heterosexual Christian millionaire Harvard-graduate lawyer/senator understand me?

Hmmm… let’s see. Maybe because he’s, as you put it, HARDWORKING. Compare this to another candidate who abandoned a crippled wife to marry a woman whose personal worth is about oh… 200 million dollars. I’m not saying Senator Mc Cain isn’t hardworking; he is, but one has earned his personal wealth, the other… well, he had some marital welfare.

As for graduating from Harvard, do you think you just walk up to their doors and ask to be admitted? Maybe… just maybe Barack Obama graduated from Harvard because he EARNED it. Then maybe he graduated magna cum laude because… you guessed it, he EARNED it. So let’s play a little game of “compare and contrast”, shall we? What was John Mc Cain’s ranking from Annaopolis with his graduating class? I’ve met a couple of people from Harvard. Their altruism is much better than mine. So it doesn’t surprise me that Mr. Obama has spent time in S. Chicago. Ever been to S. Chicago? You should.

But let me turn this back to art because that’s what this page is about. Good art is provocative. These illustrations go straight to the most difficult challenges we face as a nation. Do we continue a path of corporate and Dominionist subservience or do we attempt to become a more perfect union? Not voting is an endorsement of the former. It’s called sardonicism and these posters cut to the quick.

Comment by shelly — November 1, 2008 @ 7:43 pm
Oh… and listen to Bill Hicks.

Comment by shelly — November 1, 2008 @ 7:44 pm
Well put Shelly. Clearly there are some delusional (and disturbed) individuals in this thread.

Comment by Thea Snoad — November 1, 2008 @ 8:46 pm
I’m not American (I’m British) but the decisions made in the United States has an effect on everyone else in the world, being a global superpower.

The right to vote is important, and by abstaining, it doesn’t effect any change, it just promotes lazyness and doesn’t show any intention of making a difference.

This election season, I think that there are decent candidates for president, moreso the Democratic candidate.. but the “our votes don’t count anyway” and “i will not vote anyway” comments are disgusting. Democracy is a privilege which is too oftenly abused.

Comment by Ian Hutchinson — November 1, 2008 @ 10:02 pm
Hmm, Obama and McCain both are pretty bad candidates…

Perhaps not voting would be better than voting badly, but I have to argure with Mr Fnortner on one point. If everyone stopped voting it wouldn’t make the government lose its power. It would give the government much more power. You see, if the public were to stop voting, you would have corrupt individuals and organizations stepping in and voting for candidates that support their interests. Also, if voting were to become obsolete or ignored, then the entire system would be open for manipulation from those with more ulterior motives…

I think it’s better to vote for an independent party candidate that you like or the lesser of two evils than to not vote at all. If nothing else you’d be keeping this slowly dying democratic system alive.

Really the whole political party system should be abolished… slowly though.

Comment by jxero — November 2, 2008 @ 1:01 am
Michael Palin and Sarah Palin…
One is funny and the other is bloody frightening,
a shame the wrong one is up for election.

You lot should vote, We in Australia are *fined* or *jailed* for not voting… but that’s fine as we’d vote anyway.

We’ve also been affected by you Americans because our damn PM was a Bush buttkisser, We’ve had enough of the Republicans.

Polls say that 70% would vote Obama in if we could do so.

Think hard about a president, it doesn’t just affect you, if affects the world.

You wanted to be a superpower, now you are and you have to live with that responsibility.

Not easy, is it?

Wolfie!

Comment by Wolfie Rankin — November 2, 2008 @ 1:29 am
To those advocating the abstention from voting:

How exactly do you propose we go about putting a government in place otherwise? It’s admirable that you want to affect change, but I’d really like to know what you think will happen if the people stop voting entirely. I want to know what you think will be a better governmental system.

Comment by B-Gad — November 2, 2008 @ 12:49 pm
VOTE DAMMIT!

yes, we all know the elections are fixed, as with bush, but still, there can be controversy if the popular vote is a landslide. OBAMA! go to my site and vote now!!

Comment by avidan the sane — November 2, 2008 @ 2:32 pm
It’s supposed to be taken SARCASTICALLY! As in “Don’t Vote… things are just fine the way they are.” The image is supposed to show you that things aren’t just fine. So you should vote.

Comment by sean — November 2, 2008 @ 2:42 pm
photoshopped

Comment by kanti — November 2, 2008 @ 3:00 pm
Dammit, people! If you don’t want to vote for either of the two big candidates, VOTE FOR A BLOODY THIRD PARTY. It’s a far more effective use of your vote than not voting or voting for the lesser of two evils.

Comment by Sauron — November 2, 2008 @ 3:37 pm
Voting is pointless when there is an electoral college. Either Obama or McCain will win. When McCain dies due to his health issues, a woman will be president. America should stick to tradition. Get rid of the electoral college and ill vote.

Comment by Thomas Hewitt — November 2, 2008 @ 4:09 pm
mccain won 3 years ago. that’s when they rebuilt his body. it’s only a matter of time before he glitches out, or his body just falls apart. then we’ll have palin who thinks dinosaurs were on earth 4,000 years ago. but it’s not like obama is any better. “two sides of the same coin, it’s all there to control you.”

peace be da journey.

Comment by tracecart — November 2, 2008 @ 5:08 pm
To all those that choose not to vote: What alternative(s) do you suggest?

I thought so.

Comment by Already Voted — November 2, 2008 @ 8:22 pm
[...] Don’t Vote Source: Visual Culture [...]

Pingback by Don’t Vote for Freedumb : ..:.:.. Todd And = Marketing + Media ..:.:.. — November 2, 2008 @ 8:49 pm
For those not getting Mr. Fnortner and what he proposes: He gets it. The ads are meant to be sarcastic, but he’s an Anarchist. (Albeit maybe a newish one — Emma Goldman dude, not “Edna Goldberg”). Anyway, while I agree with some of his points (at least on the most theoretical level), staying home on the 4th is not subversive — it does jack sh-t. Go vote third party if your ideals are out to one fringe or the other. (In most states it’s probably the biggest impact you can make.) Not empowering enough you say? There’s good news: you have 3 years and 364 other days in which to make change YOU can believe in.

Comment by matt — November 2, 2008 @ 9:06 pm
I am not against non-voters for two reasons. First, it goes along with the freedoms we enjoy in a free society. People can vote if they feel compelled, and sit home if they don’t. Secondly, I don’t want people to vote who either do not want to vote, or are uninformed. What is the point in telling people to go out an vote if they have no idea what they are voting for? It is a self-defeating argument. The message should not be to vote, but rather to vote responsibly, or otherwise sit home and vote for something you care about, like American Idol.

Comment by Mike — November 2, 2008 @ 10:52 pm
Anyone who tries to tell you that voting for the lesser of two evils is better than not voting is an idiot. Not only are our options limited but they’re just puppets. Our country is ran by the corporations that make money off of our ignorant lives. If you want to change something then be politically active, protest and speak out, don’t just vote because chances are the person your voting for has another agenda. Even if a legitimate candidate were to emerge he wouldn’t get good coverage in the media and other candidates would be over-hyped. I don’t understand why people can’t grasp this concept and the see the pattern.

Comment by Jacob — November 3, 2008 @ 8:48 am
Every Votes always did and more then likely will continue too count weather all votes get counted is another thing totally and if they use electronic voting machines there will be No paper trail if a recount is needed so they wouldn’t able too tell if the vote counted or not, thats why they shouldn’t use electronic machines in any voting areana especially when it involves people or their monies and besides they have people that are computer hackers and can get into any computer program and manipulate it, with mail in ballois you’ll a higher participation level or plain old show up at the puling booth and pull the leveler , they already use mail-in ballots and they have for years, there called absentee ballots

Comment by DickDonkey — November 3, 2008 @ 11:12 am
Again, the message “go and vote” is simply inefffective, and irresponsible. The message should be, vote responsibly, empower yourself by informing yourself on the candidates, and then vote. Volunteer to lobby if you feel so inclined. Get involved in local politscs, as they often affect us as much as the national election. Id rather have people in my state not vote for the sake of voting because it means that the fewer people who do vote are voting with purpose, and deliberateness.

Comment by Mike — November 4, 2008 @ 12:03 am
To all who do not vote couse you think the candidate’s (or party’s they represent) are no good. Don’t hold your vote but get active! Gather people around you and and run for president with your own party.

Comment by Me — November 16, 2008 @ 3:49 am
wow. it’s less a matter of whether your votes do anything THIS TIME, it’s about building momentum and actually SAYING SOMETHING. silence is consent. and so far, it looks like those who don’t vote are consenting to being someone else’s wage slave.

eventually you will be heard. eventually you will make a difference because you are saying something about how you want things to go.

because, it’s getting boring spending all your tax dollars on my new stable of cars… you’d think 20 would be enough…

Comment by WhiteRau — November 17, 2008 @ 2:51 am
Do not be fooled by their lies. Voting is by far not the only thing you can do for your community.

Comment by Angela D. Avis — November 19, 2008 @ 12:09 am
The underlying message is actually to vote… The fact that nobody gets it is a bit worrying. Do you WANT things to remain as they are??

Comment by Steven — November 19, 2008 @ 3:50 am
This opens up a whole list of issues that many people care about, yet don’t participate in voting to be able to change.

Comment by Tom Hicks — November 19, 2008 @ 7:52 am
We as Americans need to face reality: we are no long the most powerful and/or the most important nation on this planet. That’s a self-important dream we’ve been living in for a couple decades now. We produce nothing and spend all our money consuming goods from other countries (try to find something in your home NOT made in Asia). We are no long the force we once were– it’s time to stop policing the world and start taking care of the myriad problems we have on our own soil.

Comment by Joel — November 19, 2008 @ 10:54 am
uhh… i think you’re supposed to look at the image and then read ” don’t vote ” and then use a tiny portion of your brain and come to the understanding that these promote voting. am i wrong?

sorry if im repeating other comments. no time to read every one. anyway i’m canadian. congrats on finally making the right decision.

Comment by lonny — November 19, 2008 @ 3:29 pm
All you sheep actually beleive that something will change. Its so sad.

Comment by TB — November 19, 2008 @ 6:22 pm
Amazing artworks i love the freedumb one

Comment by Clubit.tv — November 19, 2008 @ 7:28 pm
Amazing posters!

The subtle health care system wins in my opinion.

Comment by Paddy — November 19, 2008 @ 7:56 pm
I think they are saying if you like what the image represents then don’t vote. It’s reverse psychology! Knuckleheads

Comment by jmzrbnsn — November 20, 2008 @ 1:25 am
interior design education…

Interestingly, this was on CNN last week….

Trackback by interior design education — December 10, 2008 @ 9:32 pm
amazing. the only problem with sarcasm is that not everybody is bright enough to get it.

Comment by hugh — December 30, 2008 @ 11:12 pm

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Thursday, October 30, 2008

Freedumb isn’t free

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