SNIP No one who has not ever held civic elected office has any room to complain. Voting, obviously, is not enough.
This first comment is for the naysayers and those who might see an opportunity to drive a wedge. Nightmare and I have gotten along well for years, sharing many PMs. Do not for one second think that what I am about to say in any way detracts or subtracts from my opinion of his contributions. I am literally using his comment merely as a springboard for something else for new readers. This
is not aimed at Nightmare; it is for new readers.
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The Bill of Rights guarantees our right to complain.
Huh, Ciitzen!?!?!
Oh, yes.
How is that, Citizen? Wait, wait, Citizen. (sigh) Yes, Citizen. We understand everybody has a right to free speech. The First Amendment says so.
No. I wasn't talking about free speech. I was talking the constitutionally protected right to complain.
Which Amendment is that, Citizen?
The First Amendment.
The First Amendment has multiple rights. The right of free press, speech, assembly, two on religion. Can you remember the last right?
The right to petition for redress of grievances.
What is a grievance?
A complaint.
I assure you, gentle reader, that no where in the constitution--not in the constitution itself, nor the amendments--is there any requirement that you have to vote, or even participate at all, in order to be accorded the rights in the Bill of Rights.
So, when some hard-nosed fella who guesses he's got
the answer tells you that you have no right to complain if you do not personally contribute, just whip out the preceding and lay it on him. You don't have to vote in order to have a right to complain. You don't have to volunteer somewhere in order to have the right to complain. You don't have to make any contribution at all. Not one. Your right to complain arises from your right to self-ownership. Anybody else interferes with that self-ownership, even in the tiniest degree, you can complain.