Voter participation - what is your stance?

hedonist

Leezestarr313 said:

Hedo, I was not referring to anyone in here I meant people I know from real life. And like I said, I was just interested in general. I did not want to offend anyone.

Leeze, no offense taken from here. I know, with confidence, that you are a good soul

JimmyV

Of course I vote, because...

josevolution said:

Its exactly why i became a citizen to exercise the right to vote !!!

Love reading this, man.

brianroche

Voting isn't a right, it's your duty as an American.

HesCalledDyer

I am undecided, because...

brianroche said:

Voting isn't a right, it's your duty as an American.

There are 4 amendments to the US Constitution that explicitly state "the right to vote" and never are the words obligation or duty mentioned.

PJfanwillneverleave1

Of course I vote, because...

^^^
You know, It is really interesting that people who exercise their right to not vote live in countries where it is even a choice.
It is abhorrent to a country whose people will never even get a chance to vote let alone refuse to.
Not voting gives you no voice on issues.

HesCalledDyer

I am undecided, because...

Again, I will not vote on an issue where I do not agree with any of the choices given. What is so fucking hard to understand about that??

PJfanwillneverleave1

Of course I vote, because...

It is hard to comprehend that out of the thousands of delegates from all parties in the good ole US of A there is not one that campaigns to the liking of a fellow US citizen.
That is fucking hard to understand.

HesCalledDyer

I am undecided, because...

When did I ever say that?

HesCalledDyer

I am undecided, because...

I'll give you an example since your pea-brain can't seem to understand.

Let's say there is an issue on my county's ballot regarding alcohol sales on Sunday. (Our county currently prohibits it.) The choices I'm given are a) continue to prohibit Sunday sales or b) repeal, but raise the alcohol tax from 9% to 40% on Sundays only. I strongly disagree with BOTH of those choices, so I am not going to vote for either one. Got it?

PJfanwillneverleave1

Of course I vote, because...

^^
Move out or represent where you live and make changes.
Not hard.

HesCalledDyer

I am undecided, because...

Like talking to a fucking brick wall.

brianlux

Of course I vote, because...

HesCalledDyer said:

Again, I will not vote on an issue where I do not agree with any of the choices given. What is so fucking hard to understand about that??

In terms of specific issues/propositions, there have been a number of them I have left blank because I simple could not both understand the text of the issue and the arguments for or against. I find that hugely frustrating because I really don't like leaving blank spaces on a ballet but those are usually measures that don't bear much weight. The important issues always get a lot of analysis/explanation if one is willing to seek it out.

JimmyV

Of course I vote, because...

HesCalledDyer said:

Again, I will not vote on an issue where I do not agree with any of the choices given. What is so fucking hard to understand about that??

It's not hard to understand at all. Your choice is your own. You exercise it in your own way.

HesCalledDyer

I am undecided, because...

brianlux said:

HesCalledDyer said:

Again, I will not vote on an issue where I do not agree with any of the choices given. What is so fucking hard to understand about that??

In terms of specific issues/propositions, there have been a number of them I have left blank because I simple could not both understand the text of the issue and the arguments for or against. I find that hugely frustrating because I really don't like leaving blank spaces on a ballet but those are usually measures that don't bear much weight. The important issues always get a lot of analysis/explanation if one is willing to seek it out.

I, too, find that extremely frustrating. We usually get a dummy ballot in the mail but it doesn't really explain anything, it's just screenshots of the upcoming ballot. And it usually doesn't arrive until a week or so before Election Day. I try to do as much research as I can in that short window, but sometimes I can't find any information or the info I do find isn't satisfactory to me. I agree, I don't like leaving blanks. I don't do it often; very rarely, actually. But once in a great while I feel that no choice is the best choice.
I think some other folks here are taking what I'm trying to say as me refusing to vote or encouraging ppl not to vote, and that's not what I meant at all. I haven't missed an election yet.

Free

Of course I vote, because...

HesCalledDyer said:

Like talking to a fucking brick wall.

I know that feeling...

brianlux said:

HesCalledDyer said:

Again, I will not vote on an issue where I do not agree with any of the choices given. What is so fucking hard to understand about that??

In terms of specific issues/propositions, there have been a number of them I have left blank because I simple could not both understand the text of the issue and the arguments for or against. I find that hugely frustrating because I really don't like leaving blank spaces on a ballet but those are usually measures that don't bear much weight. The important issues always get a lot of analysis/explanation if one is willing to seek it out.

I have to do that too.

hedonist

HesCalledDyer said:

But once in a great while I feel that no choice is the best choice.

In a nutshell!

PJ_Soul

Of course I vote, because...

HesCalledDyer said:

I'll give you an example since your pea-brain can't seem to understand.

Let's say there is an issue on my county's ballot regarding alcohol sales on Sunday. (Our county currently prohibits it.) The choices I'm given are a) continue to prohibit Sunday sales or b) repeal, but raise the alcohol tax from 9% to 40% on Sundays only. I strongly disagree with BOTH of those choices, so I am not going to vote for either one. Got it?

I have fortunately never been confronted with such a ridiculous and useless set of options as that in an election or plebiscite (is that a real example btw??), but if I were, I suppose agree that that is a fair reason not to vote, namely because it's relatively inconsequential. Although surely it's possible to choose one choice over the other in that case (and I don't see why anyone who doesn't think alcohol sales on Sunday are evil wouldn't choose the 40% tax, since they still wouldn't be forced to pay it. They would simply be voting for greater freedom of choice).
I don't think such a scenario could realistically apply to an election for leader though. If there is one person that is even marginally better than the other, and that seems like an absolute surety 100% of the time even if you hate them all, I don't see a reason not to vote. I agree that not doing so pretty much means you're dismissing yourself from the political conversation.

hedonist

Are we talking about voting for "leaders" or issues...and is there a difference when making your voice heard - or choosing not to?

Guessing the example offered by Dyer may seem over the top to some but (in my head, anyway) was an attempt to make a point about choosing not to speak on certain ballot options.

Just not getting how this concept is so difficult for some to comprehend. It's not saying fuck it overall and throwing up hands, huffing and puffing away. There is forethought applied. We're not mindless idiots, nor without a voice.

As to dismissing myself by the choices I make, nope. Others want to declare as much, have at it. My ass is in this, however many boxes I choose or not to check.

HesCalledDyer

I am undecided, because...

Nail on the head, hedo! And the example I gave was a hypothetical situation. In both of those choices, I'm sill not going to be able to buy alcohol on Sunday in my county, because I'd refuse to pay a 40% tax. If others vote for it and it passes, and they don't mind, so much the better for them. But I don't see how anyone can think I no longer have a right to discuss Sunday alcohol sales because I didn't pick one of two very poor choices.

brianlux

Of course I vote, because...

We're all voting so we're on the same page that way, right?

Where's that tiny print we used to have so I can make a subliminal suggestion as to who to vote for?