Anyone just going to say "the heck with it" and not going to vote?

[ballmode]

Merica, F' Yeah

 

[Riverhound777]

This will be the first time I haven't voted. I never got around to registering since I moved. Just lazy. And for those saying I can't complain, big whoop. I'm not one to talk about politics anyway. Being in CA Obama will win no matter what, so that doesn't matter. And as far as local politics, I just moved here so I don't think I have a right to vote on things I don't know about anyway. Call me pathetic, I really don't give a shit.

 

[ggnl]

I'm a democrat living in one of the most solidly republican states in the country. I haven't voted since 2000. I support my party with my wallet.

 

[Uppsala9496]

Voted a week ago. Was suppossed to be out of town tomorrow, but my trip got cancelled.
About 10 pages of judges to either select 'no' or 'yes'. An 'all no/yes' option would have been a lot quicker. For those I let my 9 month old daughter pick yes or no. She liked pushing on the screen.

 

[Codewiz]

Originally posted by: dreadpiratedoug

Originally posted by: NFS4
If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about or praise the direction of the country. If you don't vote, STFU, sit back, and enjoy the ride.

If someone is THAT far removed from reality that they don't even have the guts to go into the booth and pick a candidate -- hell, write in a candidate, or just vote for local offices -- then I think that person is pretty pathetic..

I think it's pathetic that someone wants to knock on someone for exercising their right. I don't keep up enough with local politics to get into those, but either way I'm not quite sure who would be right for the country as the POTUS in that election. So I abstain.

Contray to the beliefs of most, local elections matter the most. Too bad no one ever really researches their local elections.

 

[Codewiz]

Originally posted by: ggnl
I'm a democrat living in one of the most solidly republican states in the country. I haven't voted since 2000. I support my party with my wallet.

You used to be able to say the same thing about North Carolina. Now it is a swing state....

 

[ElFenix]

Originally posted by: NFS4
If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about or praise the direction of the country. If you don't vote, STFU, sit back, and enjoy the ride.

If someone is THAT far removed from reality that they don't even have the guts to go into the booth and pick a candidate -- hell, write in a candidate, or just vote for local offices -- then I think that person is pretty pathetic..

if only there were a 'neither' box

Originally posted by: Codewiz

Contray to the beliefs of most, local elections matter the most. Too bad no one ever really researches their local elections.

i have something like 50 down ballot elections with all the judges that are up. the local league of women voters guide is 31 pages.

 

[Anubis]

i will vote but i am definitly not going to be voting for that stupid jackass or old wrinkely elephant

 

[sactoking]

Originally posted by: NFS4
If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about or praise the direction of the country. If you don't vote, STFU, sit back, and enjoy the ride.

If someone is THAT far removed from reality that they don't even have the guts to go into the booth and pick a candidate -- hell, write in a candidate, or just vote for local offices -- then I think that person is pretty pathetic..

I've never understood this mentality. Why is participation in the process the gateway to discussion of the process or its results? If Obama is elected and turns America socialist, why should only the McCain voters have the 'right' to complain? If McCain is elected and starts 100 wars, why should only the Obama voters have the 'right' to complain?

If I, as an informed voter, look at the two major-party candidates and cannot in good conscience cast a vote for either, should I be forced to go to the polls and vote for "the lesser of two evils"? Or, possibly worse yet, vote for a third-party candidate that I have no allegiance to or knowledge of, just to 'send a message'? Let me tell you, voting third-party just to vote accomplishes no more than staying home does.

If anything, those who decide not to vote because there are no acceptable candidates may have MORE of a right to complain than the voters. If you voted, then presumably you liked the candidate you voted for. If that candidate lost, well then you're SOL. If you don't vote, you don't even have a candidate that's a POSSIBILITY of being acceptable. Not only can you complain about the choices the victor makes, but you can also complain about the lack of representation in the election.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: dreadpiratedoug

Originally posted by: NFS4
If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about or praise the direction of the country. If you don't vote, STFU, sit back, and enjoy the ride.

If someone is THAT far removed from reality that they don't even have the guts to go into the booth and pick a candidate -- hell, write in a candidate, or just vote for local offices -- then I think that person is pretty pathetic..

I think it's pathetic that someone wants to knock on someone for exercising their right. I don't keep up enough with local politics to get into those, but either way I'm not quite sure who would be right for the country as the POTUS in that election. So I abstain.

See, I just don't get this. How can you live in a America -- live in a city/town -- and NOT know something about local politics or the people that are involved in what affects you on a day to day basis? Politicians (I'm talking both local/state and national here) that affect how much you pay in taxes, how much funding your local public school may be getting, how benefits may be affected for our troops, or how your healthcare may be affected... the list goes on and on.

I think that living in a bubble when it comes to these kinds of things is what's wrong with America.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: Codewiz
Contray to the beliefs of most, local elections matter the most. Too bad no one ever really researches their local elections.

That's one reason why I wouldn't want to vote for local stuff... I don't know the candidates at all. I know my brother's told me before that he didn't vote a couple times because he simply knew none of the local candidates and refused to just select someone based off party affiliation. In other words, make an informed vote rather than just be a voting zombie.

Although one interesting political thing. When I was watching House last week (off the air!), there were three political ads in a row all for the same position. One ad would be praising this one guy and all he's done, the next would be for some other dude and then the last one said all this bad shit about the first guy. It was kind of amusing... political overload!

 

[CptObvious]

I tried to vote but they won't let me. Stupid Florida ID requirements.

 

[dougp]

Originally posted by: Codewiz

Originally posted by: dreadpiratedoug

Originally posted by: NFS4
If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about or praise the direction of the country. If you don't vote, STFU, sit back, and enjoy the ride.

If someone is THAT far removed from reality that they don't even have the guts to go into the booth and pick a candidate -- hell, write in a candidate, or just vote for local offices -- then I think that person is pretty pathetic..

I think it's pathetic that someone wants to knock on someone for exercising their right. I don't keep up enough with local politics to get into those, but either way I'm not quite sure who would be right for the country as the POTUS in that election. So I abstain.

Contray to the beliefs of most, local elections matter the most. Too bad no one ever really researches their local elections.

Yah, I understand about locals - but it's pretty hard trying to find consolidated information about those running.

 

[NFS4]

Originally posted by: sactoking

Originally posted by: NFS4
If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about or praise the direction of the country. If you don't vote, STFU, sit back, and enjoy the ride.

If someone is THAT far removed from reality that they don't even have the guts to go into the booth and pick a candidate -- hell, write in a candidate, or just vote for local offices -- then I think that person is pretty pathetic..

I've never understood this mentality. Why is participation in the process the gateway to discussion of the process or its results? If Obama is elected and turns America socialist, why should only the McCain voters have the 'right' to complain? If McCain is elected and starts 100 wars, why should only the Obama voters have the 'right' to complain?

If I, as an informed voter, look at the two major-party candidates and cannot in good conscience cast a vote for either, should I be forced to go to the polls and vote for "the lesser of two evils"? Or, possibly worse yet, vote for a third-party candidate that I have no allegiance to or knowledge of, just to 'send a message'? Let me tell you, voting third-party just to vote accomplishes no more than staying home does.

If anything, those who decide not to vote because there are no acceptable candidates may have MORE of a right to complain than the voters. If you voted, then presumably you liked the candidate you voted for. If that candidate lost, well then you're SOL. If you don't vote, you don't even have a candidate that's a POSSIBILITY of being acceptable. Not only can you complain about the choices the victor makes, but you can also complain about the lack of representation in the election.

If you don't care about the top party tickets, what about the local races? Those are VERY important in the day to day lives of citizens.

 

[GTaudiophile]

I'm voting for a third party candidate.

Or why not just go, vote for yourself, and then add the line on your resume that you received votes in the 2008 Presidential Election?

 

[darkxshade]

Originally posted by: NFS4
If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about or praise the direction of the country. If you don't vote, STFU, sit back, and enjoy the ride.

If someone is THAT far removed from reality that they don't even have the guts to go into the booth and pick a candidate -- hell, write in a candidate, or just vote for local offices -- then I think that person is pretty pathetic..

Question: If I were to have the guts to go to a booth and pick one and he wins and turns out to be a bust, do I still get to complain about the direction of the country? By not voting, I think I do get to complain if either of them win and does a horrible job. Now the right that I don't have in this choice is taking credit for voting if either of them does a great job. And as I've said, I'm not impressed with either of them or their ability so I decide not to vote(for the POTUS). Locals is another matter.

 

[Q]

If I have to wait in a long line I'll just leave.

 

[Anubis]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: dreadpiratedoug

Originally posted by: NFS4
If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about or praise the direction of the country. If you don't vote, STFU, sit back, and enjoy the ride.

If someone is THAT far removed from reality that they don't even have the guts to go into the booth and pick a candidate -- hell, write in a candidate, or just vote for local offices -- then I think that person is pretty pathetic..

I think it's pathetic that someone wants to knock on someone for exercising their right. I don't keep up enough with local politics to get into those, but either way I'm not quite sure who would be right for the country as the POTUS in that election. So I abstain.

See, I just don't get this. How can you live in a America -- live in a city/town -- and NOT know something about local politics or the people that are involved in what affects you on a day to day basis? Politicians (I'm talking both local/state and national here) that affect how much you pay in taxes, how much funding your local public school may be getting, how benefits may be affected for our troops, or how your healthcare may be affected... the list goes on and on.

I think that living in a bubble when it comes to these kinds of things is what's wrong with America.

i dont watch the news or read the paper

honestly dude i hardly even know who is running for town/county/state, actually this year i might not know anyone to be honest

normally i just vote for the person who does not call me and leave stupid politicial messages on my phone

 

[meltdown75]

i will not be voting in the US presidential elections.

 

[Aikouka]

Originally posted by: NFS4
See, I just don't get this. How can you live in a America -- live in a city/town -- and NOT know something about local politics or the people that are involved in what affects you on a day to day basis? Politicians (I'm talking both local/state and national here) that affect how much you pay in taxes, how much funding your local public school may be getting, how benefits may be affected for our troops, or how your healthcare may be affected... the list goes on and on.

I think that living in a bubble when it comes to these kinds of things is what's wrong with America.

It's really not that hard. I live in an apartment... therefore I only pay state and federal taxes (no property taxes). State tax has never been a big deal for me... I always complain the most about federal taxes and how people that make nothing out of their lives get my money. It can pretty much be summed up with... their decisions honestly don't affect me much and therefore I have little reason to pay attention throughout the course of the year. I live on the outskirts of a city as well, which means the inner city crap doesn't really affect me at all.

So with my uninformed self, I can't really make a local decision either.

 

[Uppsala9496]

Originally posted by: CptObvious
I tried to vote but they won't let me. Stupid Florida ID requirements.

My wife had to use her maiden name to vote since Cook County (IL) screwed up processing her registration to vote (3.5 years ago).
When she updated her name and got a new drivers license, she had the option to register to vote. She did. This was 3.5 years ago.
Well, she sent in for an absentee ballot and got a call saying she isn't registered. She was however still registered under her maiden name and was told she could use that.

Wonder how many people just say "fuck it"?

 

[sactoking]

Originally posted by: NFS4

Originally posted by: sactoking

Originally posted by: NFS4
If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about or praise the direction of the country. If you don't vote, STFU, sit back, and enjoy the ride.

If someone is THAT far removed from reality that they don't even have the guts to go into the booth and pick a candidate -- hell, write in a candidate, or just vote for local offices -- then I think that person is pretty pathetic..

I've never understood this mentality. Why is participation in the process the gateway to discussion of the process or its results? If Obama is elected and turns America socialist, why should only the McCain voters have the 'right' to complain? If McCain is elected and starts 100 wars, why should only the Obama voters have the 'right' to complain?

If I, as an informed voter, look at the two major-party candidates and cannot in good conscience cast a vote for either, should I be forced to go to the polls and vote for "the lesser of two evils"? Or, possibly worse yet, vote for a third-party candidate that I have no allegiance to or knowledge of, just to 'send a message'? Let me tell you, voting third-party just to vote accomplishes no more than staying home does.

If anything, those who decide not to vote because there are no acceptable candidates may have MORE of a right to complain than the voters. If you voted, then presumably you liked the candidate you voted for. If that candidate lost, well then you're SOL. If you don't vote, you don't even have a candidate that's a POSSIBILITY of being acceptable. Not only can you complain about the choices the victor makes, but you can also complain about the lack of representation in the election.

If you don't care about the top party tickets, what about the local races? Those are VERY important in the day to day lives of citizens.

Agreed. I will be voting in the locals for those races that I was able to research and have a preference. My problem is that local elections around here don't have a whole lot of candidate info available. It's mainly just some names and smear commercials.

 

[darkxshade]

The thing about voting is that it depends on the reason why someone is not voting rather than the decision not to vote. You can't bash me for not voting if I genuinely feel I do not have all the info or details that would enable me to make an informed decision or if based on the info that I do have, I feel I cannot make a choice because the candidates are not desirable.

edit: And I should have the right depending on my reason to complain if the president elect fails and the country suffers. Especially if I expected the results of either candidates to lead to the same disasterous outcome.

You could however bash me if I chose not to vote because it's simply an inconvenience or something similarly stupid.

 

[SearchMaster]

I voted last week.

There were probably a couple dozen local seats up for grabs, but every single one of them was unopposed. I never vote in unopposed elections so I think I actually voted in 8 items, most of them constitutional amendments.. I also (almost) always vote "No" on constitutional amendments.

 

[skace]

I never vote. It's simply an inconvenience or something similarly stupid.