Russell Brand graffiti, Shoreditch. Image: Flickr/ duncan c
It has been about 18 months since Russell Brand’s proud proclamation of not voting, concluding at the last minute with an election omni-endorsement for Labour, SNP and the Greens. In the intervening period of justifiable outcry he became a symbol of political disillusionment and less accurately, apathy. His history of activism added substance to his outrage unlike some of his armchair detractors. He knows democracy is more than voting even if he originally rejected that essential act.
It became fashionable to attack Brand in the same way we attack politicians. But what about us critics, die-hard voters who pride themselves as engaged in politics? Is simply performing our one act of democracy every 5 years as unhealthy as Brand’s pre-voting stance?
