Not free to complain

Bruce Ramsey says, “If you didn’t [vote], that’s OK, too. You are free to complain” and tells of his aunt who stayed well-informed but chose not to vote [“Even if you didn’t vote, you still have the right to complain,” Opinion, Nov. 7].

We expect folks who complain about leaves in the yard to pick up a rake and get to work. How is voting different? Is it that single votes are hardly ever decisive? Well then, maybe I won't join that bucket brigade when there's a fire or pick up that soda can on the sidewalk.

Is it that none of the candidates are good enough to support? Then find someone who is and vote for that one — Democrat, Republican, or otherwise. Is it that governments do bad things and you should not feel compelled to support that? Might be — but there aren't too many true anarchists. More likely, you just don't want to do the hard work of choosing among imperfect alternatives.

Auntie, time to pick up the rake. You're not better than the rest of us.

— Jim Whitehead, Mercer Island