A little thought regarding voting

[SophalotJack]

Originally posted by: cr0ssfire
I agree, to an extent, with the OP. I think that voting is an important freedom that we enjoy, and one that should be exercised as often as possible. However, you need to also understand when people don't vote not out of laziness but out of a disgust with the current state of the election system - that is, when they feel that there is no legitimate candidate(s) to vote for.

They're still voicing their opinions, but in a different way.

I myself didn't bother to go to the polls because I am deathly fed up with both parties. I'm tired of both Democrat and Republican politicians saying and doing anything to get elected. I'm tired of the scandals, I'm tired of all the mudslinging, I'm tired of having so many policies which are slowly doing America in. And I'm sure sick of the election year commotion! Every time there's an election any more, I get absolutely deluged with political ads wherever I go.

What do I see when I go driving? Billboards that say "Vote Joe".
When I pull in the neighborhood, what do I see? Signs for "Vote Joe" on peoples' lawns.
How about when I go home and watch TV? Commercials for "Vote Joe" and why Joe's opponent is 'troubling' or 'unqualified'.
Or if I turn on the radio? Programs with Joe or his supporters on there, saying "Vote Joe".
When the phone rings, what do I get? Joe's people yammering at me to "Don't forget to get out there and Vote for Joe!"
Or when I go check my e-mail? Spam saying "ROCK THE VOTE and Vote Joe".

It's mind-boggling to me how much money in advertising gets flushed down the toilet every election year.

you can save yourself the pain and just vote joe, right?

 

[piasabird]

If you didnt vote, you dont have a right to complain!

 

[Toastedlightly]

Originally posted by: cr0ssfire
I agree, to an extent, with the OP. I think that voting is an important freedom that we enjoy, and one that should be exercised as often as possible. However, you need to also understand when people don't vote not out of laziness but out of a disgust with the current state of the election system - that is, when they feel that there is no legitimate candidate(s) to vote for.

They're still voicing their opinions, but in a different way.

I myself didn't bother to go to the polls because I am deathly fed up with both parties. I'm tired of both Democrat and Republican politicians saying and doing anything to get elected. I'm tired of the scandals, I'm tired of all the mudslinging, I'm tired of having so many policies which are slowly doing America in. And I'm sure sick of the election year commotion! Every time there's an election any more, I get absolutely deluged with political ads wherever I go.

What do I see when I go driving? Billboards that say "Vote Joe".
When I pull in the neighborhood, what do I see? Signs for "Vote Joe" on peoples' lawns.
How about when I go home and watch TV? Commercials for "Vote Joe" and why Joe's opponent is 'troubling' or 'unqualified'.
Or if I turn on the radio? Programs with Joe or his supporters on there, saying "Vote Joe".
When the phone rings, what do I get? Joe's people yammering at me to "Don't forget to get out there and Vote for Joe!"
Or when I go check my e-mail? Spam saying "ROCK THE VOTE and Vote Joe".

It's mind-boggling to me how much money in advertising gets flushed down the toilet every election year.

I agree here. My views aren't represented by the candidates, no point in voting (also fed up and such).

 

[chambersc]

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly

Originally posted by: cr0ssfire
I agree, to an extent, with the OP. I think that voting is an important freedom that we enjoy, and one that should be exercised as often as possible. However, you need to also understand when people don't vote not out of laziness but out of a disgust with the current state of the election system - that is, when they feel that there is no legitimate candidate(s) to vote for.

They're still voicing their opinions, but in a different way.

I myself didn't bother to go to the polls because I am deathly fed up with both parties. I'm tired of both Democrat and Republican politicians saying and doing anything to get elected. I'm tired of the scandals, I'm tired of all the mudslinging, I'm tired of having so many policies which are slowly doing America in. And I'm sure sick of the election year commotion! Every time there's an election any more, I get absolutely deluged with political ads wherever I go.

What do I see when I go driving? Billboards that say "Vote Joe".
When I pull in the neighborhood, what do I see? Signs for "Vote Joe" on peoples' lawns.
How about when I go home and watch TV? Commercials for "Vote Joe" and why Joe's opponent is 'troubling' or 'unqualified'.
Or if I turn on the radio? Programs with Joe or his supporters on there, saying "Vote Joe".
When the phone rings, what do I get? Joe's people yammering at me to "Don't forget to get out there and Vote for Joe!"
Or when I go check my e-mail? Spam saying "ROCK THE VOTE and Vote Joe".

It's mind-boggling to me how much money in advertising gets flushed down the toilet every election year.

I agree here. My views aren't represented by the candidates, no point in voting (also fed up and such).

There is an option called the "Write in." Use it.

 

[Mermaidman]

People who don't bother to get off their asses to go vote probably shouldn't be voting. What's worse--low voter turnout or uninformed voters?

 

[Baked]

Been voting since I turned 18.

 

[MazerRackham]

I voted today, and I'm proud of it!

 

[gocubs2k5]

I understand your sentiment, and I do agree that voting is important. Living in a state where a democrat hasn't taken the electoral votes since LBJ in 1964, it is hard to muster enthusiasm to go and vote where my choice doesn't make a single bit of difference.

I do take issue with your reasons as to why people were fighting in previous wars. The wars were seen as a means to an end. Besides, in the American Revolution I would be generous in saying 40% of the colonists actually supported the revolution, and many others would flip flop back and forth depending on who had the upper hand. it was about money. not voting...money. as for the other wars, it was to put down the advances of a dangerous country and their ideals. in ww2 they fought to stop Hitler. my grandfather who fought in ww2, and my dad who went to vietnam didn't fight for some noble cause. they fought because they were drafted and had no other choice. don't romanticize these men, because in the end they are all human. that is why i love history. during my undergrad i was able to study many different time periods and countries. the most interesting thing i learned was that even a great man can be an asshole. thomas jefferson is a chief example of this.

voting is important, but i beg to differ on the motivation of those who fought for this country.

 

[essasin]

I didn't vote for Arnold today!

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: DarkKnight69
I sit here and look at the post of people asking if they should vote or if it is worth the time and effort and I have come to a relization.

Up to 50,000 men died fighting to give all americans the oppertunity to have free vote and be released from foreign rule in the American Revolution.

Over 126,000 united states soldiers died defending your freedoms in the first world war.

Over 292,000 united states soldiers died defending your freedoms in the second world war.

They fought to protect the very right to choose your own government, to allow you to decide who controls you. It is one of the greatest rights of free peoples to decide who will represent them...

I think it is a little sad that you cannot decide if you wanna get off your ass and goto a damn polling station to excersise that right. Seems to me that their lives are kinda a waste if you are not willing to vote.

There are people in this world that would kill or die for the right to have free vote...

But but but but...

Manditory voting was something the Communists did, and our military was at war with them for what, 50 some years...

That would mean the military is defending our rights to choose to vote or not?


Whatever, the logic in these threads are always funny. People always want everyone to have rights & choices & freedoms... except they always want to turn right around and impose their will onto others... It's always funny. If someone didn't vote, it in no way means they are disrespecting, or ungrateful for the military and what they do for this country.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: apologetic
And soldiers still defend our right to vote

Yes they do. However, OUR right to vote, nor any of OUR freedoms is not why they are fighting and dying in the current war.
Let's hope that they come home soon, and (relatively) unscathed.

 

[KLin]

Only 33.6% voter turnout in California :thumbsdown:. At least I voted :thumbsup:

 

[0roo0roo]

Originally posted by: SmoochyTX

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
Does my vote really matter? The elections are just a giant 'whose the best salesmen, or who belongs to what party' anyway.


If I could actually see a meaningful informative debate between the candidates for governor where I live, or even for different judges, I'd sure as hell watch, and vote. But the fact of the matter is that we get VERY little actual information about the candidates without having to jump through hoops to get it. I see their names all day long on tv, see which party they represent, and see one or two bs 'sales' techniques. Aside from that, I know sh!t about them. And its difficult to really get very good information.


Furthermore, in presidential elections, does my vote really even matter? Nope. Electoral college basicaly makes my vote pointless, as I live in a heavily republican area. If I vote republican or democrat, it really doesn't matter because one vs 100k doesn't do crap. Even if I tell ALL my friends to vote too, its like 20 vs 100k, still nothing. It might be something if my vote didn't get THROWN AWAY, and the popular vote actually deteremined presidential elections, but thats simply not the case.

The whole election process is BS. So why should I cast a vote for a candidate I know very little about? Maybe I should do it based on what party I agree with more? Oh wait, bi-partisan politics SUCK. Guess I won't vote then.

First of all, this isn't a presidential election. Second of all, do you expect the candidates to show up on your door step and introduce themselves? Getting to know their beliefs, voting history, etc is up to you as a voter.

In this day and age, if somebody can't research potential political candidates and decide who they want to vote for then it is the voters' fault. This isn't 1800. This isn't 1900. This isn't 2000.

Even after all of this, if every single person voting for (example) an Independent candidate felt their vote didn't or wouldn't count, even if the voters for that candidate was in the majority, then what's the sense of allowing more than a 2 party system?

I suppose everybody would be happy with a purely Democrat vs Republican ticket the rest of their life right?

*Sorry, but I'm just tired of hearing people say their vote doesn't count. It doesn't matter who you vote for but if you don't vote just because you don't believe it doesn't count, just think. Can you imagine how much change could happen in that circumstance?*

yea what a twat, if everyone thought like him the democrats wouldn't have taken back the house and couple seats in the senate. goddamned apathetic losers. he doesn't vote, he gives up all right to complain.

and voting is f*cking easy in cali. i'm a permanent absentee voter easy as doing netflix.

course the pamphlet was rather thick this time. i so hate propositions and all that bs. the politicians should be making those choices so they can be held accountable.

 

[jjones]

Not voting is as important as voting. I wish more people would take the time to not vote.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Excellent rant, once I turn 18 I plan on using my awesome voting powarz to their maximum extent.

 

[allisolm]

Originally posted by: chambersc

Originally posted by: Toastedlightly
I agree here. My views aren't represented by the candidates, no point in voting (also fed up and such).

There is an option called the "Write in." Use it.

Like that is of any use.
In MN, where Toastedlightly's profile shows him, write-in votes aren't even counted unless a candidate who is registered as a write-in requests it in writing prior to the election and then they only count his votes.

In FL, where chambersc's profile puts him, the only write-ins you can make (and have them counted) are for candidates that are already registered as write-in candidates.