Why do you vote?

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Comments

  • kenny olavkenny olav Posts: 3,319
    At the Federal level, democratic-republicanism is nothing but a veil for the oligarchy, so I really don't know if I will ever vote for a viable candidate at the Federal level again. I would rather have a benevolent dictatorship, if we could trust it. But you can't trust any government that has the cash flow that D.C. has. So you have to either get rid of it, or keep living with the corruption. This country is too big for one government.
  • tinkerbelltinkerbell New Zealand Posts: 2,161
    I vote because I believe in our system. I vote left and sometimes even Green. The difference is that here there are two major parties but also 4 minor parties and the minor parties can sometimes hold the power balance - they are like a conscience for the majors, and they can make a difference.

    Watching the 2008 campaign and election in the USA was like watching a high school popularity race - "Who will be the home coming King? The nerdy white guy or the cool black dude." The way that corporate America has a hand in the pockets of all candidates is mind bogglying.
    all you need is love, love is all you need
  • I vote because it's an easy way to feel like I'm doing something right. A vote is a vote is a vote. One vote obviously doesn't matter. But we can't let people realize that or we'll be even more fucked than we are now.
  • i_lov_iti_lov_it Perth, Western Australia Posts: 4,007
    I'm in Australia and we get " " F~O~R~C~E~D " " to vote!
  • catefrancescatefrances Posts: 29,003
    i_lov_it wrote:
    I'm in Australia and we get " " F~O~R~C~E~D " " to vote!

    no. you are forced to get your name ticked off. what you do after that is up to you. 8-)
    hear my name
    take a good look
    this could be the day
    hold my hand
    lie beside me
    i just need to say
  • i_lov_iti_lov_it Perth, Western Australia Posts: 4,007
    i_lov_it wrote:
    I'm in Australia and we get " " F~O~R~C~E~D " " to vote!

    no. you are forced to get your name ticked off. what you do after that is up to you. 8-)

    Ok " "F~O~R~C~E~D" " to get your Name "Ticked" off then!... :P
  • pjhawkspjhawks Posts: 12,604
    pjhawks wrote:
    I vote because to not to is to disrespect those who fought and died to give us that right. Also women and blacks who don't vote disrespect those who fought and went through real oppression to get you that right. Might sound like over-dramatizing it but it is true and it is real. Maybe my vote makes very little difference, but taking 10 to 20 minutes 2 times a year to honor those who REALLY (as opposed to the so-called fighting for our freedom today) fought for our freedom is not too much to ask for.


    aah the guilt trip approach.

    guilt works - would you be willing to tell your ancestors in heaven who died for your rights that they died for no reason? by your name i can only assume you are a woman, would you be willing to tell your mother/grandmother that fighting for women's rights back in the day wasn't worth it? it might sound trivial and a cliche to say that someone died for you to have those rights, but just because it''s trivial and a cliche doesn't mean it isn't correct.
  • FiveB247xFiveB247x Posts: 2,330
    Everyone is so gung-ho and hell bent on saying and making meaning from the things people did in the past but completely ignore the present. Everyone wants to pat our fore-fathers who built the nation on such great moral, high hopes, but no one votes or participates in the government. Everyone wants to pat dead soldiers and activists for protecting our freedoms, yet we give them away with our malcontent and act in inhumane ways to our fellow citizens through discrimination, racism and economic inequality. And let's not forget our outward action in world affairs to others through the war machine which is always rolling. You say tell your ancestors things? - how about we stop talking and start using what they did as more of a basis of what we can accomplish and be rather than some owed debt to society when we in fact piss all over their accomplishments with our terrible habits and ways?
    pjhawks wrote:
    guilt works - would you be willing to tell your ancestors in heaven who died for your rights that they died for no reason? by your name i can only assume you are a woman, would you be willing to tell your mother/grandmother that fighting for women's rights back in the day wasn't worth it? it might sound trivial and a cliche to say that someone died for you to have those rights, but just because it''s trivial and a cliche doesn't mean it isn't correct.
    CONservative governMENt

    Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
  • pjhawkspjhawks Posts: 12,604
    FiveB247x wrote:
    Everyone is so gung-ho and hell bent on saying and making meaning from the things people did in the past but completely ignore the present. Everyone wants to pat our fore-fathers who built the nation on such great moral, high hopes, but no one votes or participates in the government. Everyone wants to pat dead soldiers and activists for protecting our freedoms, yet we give them away with our malcontent and act in inhumane ways to our fellow citizens through discrimination, racism and economic inequality. And let's not forget our outward action in world affairs to others through the war machine which is always rolling. You say tell your ancestors things? - how about we stop talking and start using what they did as more of a basis of what we can accomplish and be rather than some owed debt to society when we in fact piss all over their accomplishments with our terrible habits and ways?

    well the most obviou sway to stop our terrible habits and ways is to VOTE out the people who make those policies - duh
  • FiveB247xFiveB247x Posts: 2,330
    Glad we got that cleared up... look forward to next election when our nations wakes up from it's coma and votes and changes everything.... :roll:
    pjhawks wrote:
    well the most obviou sway to stop our terrible habits and ways is to VOTE out the people who make those policies - duh
    CONservative governMENt

    Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
  • BlockheadBlockhead Posts: 1,538
    FiveB247x wrote:
    Glad we got that cleared up... look forward to next election when our nations wakes up from it's coma and votes and changes everything.... :roll:
    pjhawks wrote:
    well the most obviou sway to stop our terrible habits and ways is to VOTE out the people who make those policies - duh
    Its not the people... Its the SYSTEM.
  • FiveB247xFiveB247x Posts: 2,330
    This is a circular argument and discussion. The system is working, enabled and a result of the people. Without people being involved and participating, the system doesn't change. If people did get involved and participate, the system would/could change because of the people.
    HeidiJam wrote:
    Its not the people... Its the SYSTEM.
    CONservative governMENt

    Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
  • pjhawks wrote:
    I vote because to not to is to disrespect those who fought and died to give us that right. Also women and blacks who don't vote disrespect those who fought and went through real oppression to get you that right. Might sound like over-dramatizing it but it is true and it is real. Maybe my vote makes very little difference, but taking 10 to 20 minutes 2 times a year to honor those who REALLY (as opposed to the so-called fighting for our freedom today) fought for our freedom is not too much to ask for.

    taking 10 or 20 minutes 2 times a year to do anything, is just the start.

    when people start holding their elected members responsible and accountable for their actions, that's when it makes a difference.
  • ed243421ed243421 Posts: 7,672
    FiveB247x wrote:
    This is a circular argument and discussion. The system is working, enabled and a result of the people. Without people being involved and participating, the system doesn't change. If people did get involved and participate, the system would/could change because of the people.
    HeidiJam wrote:
    Its not the people... Its the SYSTEM.

    on the same page with you, five

    like i said earlier

    i vote by not voting
    i believe half of this nation does this
    why do you think we don't vote?
    it's meaningless
    it's a bone they threw us
    that has no meat
    and maybe someday when the number of non-voters,
    sickened by this political system reaches 70%, 80%, 90%
    our right-to-not-vote will change this pathetic game
    The whole world will be different soon... - EV
    RED ROCKS 6-19-95
    AUGUSTA 9-26-96
    MANSFIELD 9-15-98
    BOSTON 9-29-04
    BOSTON 5-25-06
    MANSFIELD 6-30-08
    EV SOLO BOSTON 8-01-08
    BOSTON 5-17-10
    EV SOLO BOSTON 6-16-11
    PJ20 9-3-11
    PJ20 9-4-11
    WRIGLEY 7-19-13
    WORCESTER 10-15-13
    WORCESTER 10-16-13
    HARTFORD 10-25-13









  • CosmoCosmo Posts: 12,225
    I have voted in every Presidential Election I have been eligible for.
    I vote in every Primary and in **almost** every mid-term. I only vote in local elections if I feel there is a change required in local government or community issues.
    Why do I vote?
    Because it is the only voice I have that counts. I can say all I want out here or in letters to my local, state and federal representatives and leaders... but, the only one that counts is the one from the ballot booth.
    I'm not pushing an agenda or carrying a party line. I vote for what I feel is best for my country, as a whole. Granted, I admit that the choices I have are shit or crap... but, that's partly my fault... as part of the electorate... of whom only about 20% speak up. I am left with the option of who will do the least amount of harm to my country.
    If you don't vote... that's your freedom. Apathy is also a choice.
    Allen Fieldhouse, home of the 2008 NCAA men's Basketball Champions! Go Jayhawks!
    Hail, Hail!!!
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