U.S. Voting Tuesday, November 7

[GlassOnion]

Ok, point taken. But how do you propose that you change it, then?

The best third party that ever got close to election was only about ten percent of the votes. That's not substantial at all.

And the only way you could 'vote everyone out of office' would be via revolution. Which could be fun, don't get me wrong, but improbable.


Most people vote for the devil they know rather than the one they don't. At least you know how they're gonna screw you over. The other guy may screw you over 10 fold worse.

 

[Renee750il]

A nation of sheep.

 

[GlassOnion]

Eh, pretty much.

But you still haven't proposed how to change the sheep to shepherds.

Educate them more? Ok, fine. But how do you get the bad people off the ballet? You can't coordinate a large write in vote on a national scale, or even state scale unless you're in Rhode Island. It's just not going to happen.

 

[Renee750il]

Nothing will ever happen as long as the attitude is "I'm not going to bother because I'm only one person." One person . . . then another, and two more . . . Rosa Parks. A handful of students at UC-Berkeley . . . Mark Felt . . .

 

[GlassOnion]

Yah except our one vote really does not make any difference under the electoral college system.

If it were based on the popularity, then yes, it would matter.

But a lot of presidents have won the popular vote only to lose the electoral vote.

 

[Saje]

I can't believe the apathy here. Yes, it matters if you vote or not. There is no difference between not voting out of laziness and not voting because you are 'taking a stand' Nobody will know that you have taken a stand except those that see you complaining about it on the internet.

If you vote for one of the minority parties they won't get in but you didn't waste a vote. I don't remember exactly how the system works in the US but here parties get a $1 or so for every vote they received which doesn't give them immediate power but over time it allows them to campaign better. It also encourages the other non-voting public to step forward.

We have only had one of two parties in power in Canada as well but there are two other parties that are pushing their way forward. Will they get in power right away? No. Maybe not in my lifetime but you can't make a change if you don't at least try. It takes time to change a system and standing here complaining about it isn't going to help at all.

Just think what would happen if all the people who don't vote stepped forward. It would be a different world. Even if it was just those who are taking a stand by not voting.

 

[ToscasMom]

I have served as an elected legislator. I recently saw a primary that was won by 30 votes. That's right. 30 votes. This was not a small town, this is an entire state senate district we are talking about. Think about it.

I can tell you this for sure. If you don't vote, the issue that means the most to you and those of you who don't vote along with you will NEVER be given any attention. Elected officials listen to voting blocks. It's a fact that should never be ignored.

Currently, a man I served with is running for Congress. I would crawl thru broken glass to see him elected. If I don't vote and get as many others as I can to do so with me, I have no one to blame but myself if he loses. It's as simple as that.

 

[Melissa_W]

Ok, point taken. But how do you propose that you change it, then?

The best third party that ever got close to election was only about ten percent of the votes. That's not substantial at all.

And the only way you could 'vote everyone out of office' would be via revolution. Which could be fun, don't get me wrong, but improbable.


Most people vote for the devil they know rather than the one they don't. At least you know how they're gonna screw you over. The other guy may screw you over 10 fold worse.

I wish I knew how to combat the apathy. We COULD change things if enough people actually cared. I don't know how to make people care... Personally, I think we need a leader. Someone who could get people riled up and unite them to bring about change. But until then, everyone who does care should show it at the polls. Even if it means voting for the lesser of the two evils.

 

[bubbatd]

Every vote counts !!! If you are torn ... just don't vote in that area . I've never voted a straight ticket . And yes , I've done a negative vote ...Hubby voted for a man I didn't want in .... I voted for the other , not because I wanted him , but I wanted to cancel hubby's vote ! It will never be like the "old days " .....another Truman could never make it today . It's becoming a two family party . We need new blood .!

 

[Saje]

We haven't had a charismatic leader in Canada for a long time. Not in my lifetime. I think trudeau was the last one.

 

[Gempress]

I'm looking forward to this election. Texas has a rather fun governor's race going, and I'm going to vote Kinky!

http://www.kinkyfriedman.com/

Heh. I love how he publically refers to the Democrat-Republican conflict as the "Crips and the Bloods".

I especially love this one interview that I saw. The other candidates are saying that voters for Kinky are wasting their vote, since Kinky isn't a *real* candidate and is unlikely to be elected. Kinky said "Well, consider me the 'middle finger' vote!"

GO KINKY!

[/political plug]

 

[Renee750il]

That's what the Dems and 'Pubs said about Jesse Ventura

GO KINKY!

 

[Gempress]

It's kind of funny, Renee. I really don't think that Kinky will be a particularly great governor or anything. But at least he'd be a thorn in the side of all the "real" policitians out there. And heck, I consider that a vote well-spent.

 

[Renee750il]

That's what I was thinking . . . only more of a burr under the saddle

But he might surprise everyone.

 

[Puckstop31]

But how do you get the bad people off the ballet?

Vote in primary elections. Nobody seems to care much about them anymore.

 

[Puckstop31]

Yah except our one vote really does not make any difference under the electoral college system.

Florida and Ohio beg to differ with you.

 

[ToscasMom]

NO movement in this country that was ever successful began at the top.

 

[Puckstop31]

I wish I knew how to combat the apathy.

Ignore the "Main Stream Media". They never seem to want to report the whole truth and/or the good news. It is all about shock value and ratings. Oh, and the idea that they are trying to "change the world..." I hate that the press tries to tell me what I should think about the news they report. Just tell me the facts and let ME decide. I think that is why Katie Couric is getting hammered in ratings... She said at the begining, "...we want to be a more solution oriented news program". See, those "elitists" think they know better for us than WE do.

/rant

 

[Puckstop31]

NO movement in this country that was ever successful began at the top.

Amen. This is the reason I will defend my 2nd Amendment Rights to the grave.

 

[Zoom]

The current Gov. of Kansas, Kathleen Sebelius, is getting my vote for a couple of reasons. A) She's doing a hell of a job and B) she has not had ONE NEGATIVE AD. Everything she has run has been about the positive she has done and doesn't even mention her opposition. I admire her greatly for that, espeically considering the cat fight going on across the state line with McCaskill/Talent.