Why I Will Not Be Voting In the 2024 Presidential Election

Fred Bates - Tuesday, October 29, 2024 

Our system of government is corrupt and dysfunctional, and I refuse to give it legitimacy by 

casting my vote

On November 5th, I will not be voting in the 2024 Presidential Election, just as I haven't voted in any recent elections. One of my primary reasons for not voting is that this country is a joke! I mean this in all sincerity. During this election cycle, both presidential campaigns have spent a great deal of time on hateful rhetoric that has overshadowed their policy proposals. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr said, "let no man drag you so low as to hate him." He also said we must learn to live together as brothers, or we will perish together as fools. It appears that the Republican and Democrat parties have decided to dishonor Dr. King's legacy by being fools with their hateful rhetoric that is clearly destroying our nation. 

Democrats are making the claim that Donald Trump is an existential threat to democracy, and Republicans are saying the same about Kamala Harris. Both parties are wrong. Democracy is not on the ballot this year and has not been on the ballot for years because of widespread public corruption. What I find so disappointing is that many Americans appear to be buying into this rhetoric by both parties when it comes to this fraudulent claim about democracy being on the ballot. The lack of civility by both parties during this election cycle disgusts me. I want no part of this embarrassment. 

It's not that I have a thing against voting. I have a more personal reason for not voting. Not voting is my form of non-violent protest against the racist and discriminatory manner in which I have been treated by San Jose city officials, the US District Court in San Jose, and the 9th Court of Appeals; and the refusal of Congress and other authorities with the responsibility of oversight to do anything about it. This entire blog has been devoted to exposing the appalling conduct of these officials during litigation of three federal lawsuits I filed against the City of San Jose for discrimination based on my race and disability. I'm black/African American. So far, I have not been able to get any government officials at any level to open an investigation into my allegations that these officials committed several public corruption crimes, many of them felonies. Here are some of the officials I have made formal complaints to, all to no avail: former Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, former Speaker of the House Paul Ryan, former Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Jerry Nadler, former Chairman of the House Judiciary Committee Bob Goodlatte, former Chairman of the House Intelligence Committee Adam Schiff, Senator Lindsey Graham, Senator Chuck Grassley, Senator Dianne Feinstein, VP and former Senator Kamala Harris, FBI Director Christopher Wray, Inspector General Michael Horowitz, former Attorney General William Barr, Chief Justice John Roberts, former Chief Judge of the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Sidney R. Thomas, Santa Clara County California District Attorney Jeff Rosen, and the Santa Clara County Civil Grand Jury. This, however, is not a complete list of all the officials I have made complaints to regarding the misconduct of San Jose city officials and the federal courts.

As you can see, the officials that have failed to take action on my complaints are Democrats and Republicans. Not a single one has had the integrity or courage to provide oversight of the corrupt 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and the US District Court in San Jose for their egregious misconduct that has undermined democracy, and the rule of law. This is governmental corruption at its worst. It does not matter who wins the presidency, or which party takes control of the House and Senate, it will not save democracy. Democracy simply cannot flourish if our judiciary operate with no accountability and refuses to adhere to the rule of law and precedent. However, I acknowledge that democracy cannot exist without an independent judiciary. But democracy requires a balance between an independent judiciary and oversight of the judiciary that provides accountability. This principle applies to all three branches of government. So far, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and the US District Court in San Jose have treated me with the same lack of regard for my constitutional rights as Bull Connor did for black voting rights activists in Birmingham in 1963. The 9th Circuit Court of Appeals and the US District Court have engaged in misconduct with impunity. I refuse to give legitimacy to a corrupt system of government by casting my vote. Below are links to some of my other blog posts that provide details about the misconduct of San Jose city officials and the federal courts:

A Cheating Scandal in the Silicon Valley - Justice for Sale: The Backstory to My Lawsuits Against the City of San Jose! (crnctz.blogspot.com)

A Cheating Scandal in the Silicon Valley - Justice for Sale: San Jose City Officials and Federal Court Officials Engaged in Criminal Misconduct During Litigation of My Lawsuits Against the City (crnctz.blogspot.com)