Ok. What would that accomplish? What "message" would that send, who would receive it, and what action would they take?
You don't think political committees look at "total ballots cast" numbers and the number of total votes for each candidate? They look at those very closely. If enough people skip a portion of the ballot they will catch on and see that the people aren't happy with that type of candidate. Send the message that you don't like either. Refusing to vote because your unhappy would just give the parties a "fuck them" attitude. Why would they change if you're not even going to turn out to vote to tell them you are unhappy.
You don't think political committees look at "total ballots cast" numbers and the number of total votes for each candidate? They look at those very closely. If enough people skip a portion of the ballot they will catch on and see that the people aren't happy with that type of candidate. Send the message that you don't like either. Refusing to vote because your unhappy would just give the parties a "fuck them" attitude. Why would they change if you're not even going to turn out to vote to tell them you are unhappy.
That's the point.
Do you have any evidence that this is the case? Millions of people have done this and absolutely nothing seems to have changed. Less than 25% of this country elected our current president.
That said, I think your post above is theoretically correct. It would send a "fuck you" message. However, your logical extension, that anyone would care or notice, is way off.
Do you have any evidence that this is the case? Millions of people have done this and absolutely nothing seems to have changed. Less than 25% of this country elected our current president.
That said, I think your post above is theoretically correct. It would send a "fuck you" message. However, your logical extension, that anyone would care or notice, is way off.
Yes. I have first hand evidence. First hand experience. My county chairman had me go through precint results in 2004 to look for trends just like this. It gives him an idea where certain candidates fly in areas and where they don't. He keeps stuff like this in mind for the next election cycle.
Less than 25% of this country elected our current president.
That said, I think your post above is theoretically correct. It would send a "fuck you" message. However, your logical extension, that anyone would care or notice, is way off.
because the rest (that didnt vote against him) stayed home! those millions of people weren't voicing their opinion, they just stayed home. thats not the same thing.
you can't find any 3rd party candidate to vote for that wouldnt compromise your principles? what the hell are your principles? does a candidate have to match your principles 100% to get your vote? jesus, and you wonder why you cant change things. extremism is easy.
Yes. I have first hand evidence. First hand experience. My county chairman had me go through precint results in 2004 to look for trends just like this. It gives him an idea where certain candidates fly in areas and where they don't. He keeps stuff like this in mind for the next election cycle.
That's great. However, there's a fundamental flaw. You have no idea why those people handed in a blank ballot. So beyond "keeing stuff like this in mind", what on earth could it accomplish?
All is seems to do is make the candidates fight harder to bamboozle the remaining few who do, for whatever reason, keep electing them.
That's great. However, there's a fundamental flaw. You have no idea why those people handed in a blank ballot. So beyond "keeing stuff like this in mind", what on earth could it accomplish?
All is seems to do is make the candidates fight harder to bamboozle the remaining few who do, for whatever reason, keep electing them.
I guess we always took it as the vast majority of people who skip voting on a certain part of the ballot are not pleased with either candidate. I'm sure there are times when people just forget, but the vast majority are people who do not like the candidates.
because the rest (that didnt vote against him) stayed home! those millions of people weren't voicing their opinion, they just stayed home. thats not the same thing.
Some stayed home. Some cast blank ballots. Some voted for third parties. Nothing changed.
you can't find any 3rd party candidate to vote for that wouldnt compromise your principles?
No.
what the hell are your principles?
Primarily, I don't believe I have the right to tell you what to do, just because it would make my life easier. I don't believe I have the right to drop a bomb on your house, just because your ideas scare me. I don't believe I have a right to steal your property, just because I don't take care of my own.
does a candidate have to match your principles 100% to get your vote?
No. 50% would be nice.
jesus, and you wonder why you cant change things.
Funny you mention that. I often wonder the same thing about those who go out and vote for dominant candidates.
extremism is easy.
Not really. Shameless compromise is easy. Political cheerleading is easy. Finding principles and sticking to them is hard work. It doesn't make you correct, necessarily, but it isn't easy.
I guess we always took it as the vast majority of people who skip voting on a certain part of the ballot are not pleased with either candidate. I'm sure there are times when people just forget, but the vast majority are people who do not like the candidates.
Yet the candidates do not change, so this "knowledge" doesn't seem to accomplish much.
Democrat:
Barack Obama (President)
Senator Jim Webb (Vice President)
Yessss!
Biden needs to stay in the Senate, we need his leadership there. And Edwards seriously needs to get over himself and offer himself up to the Obama campaign... well know what he's going to do soon I would think.
Biden needs to stay in the Senate, we need his leadership there. And Edwards seriously needs to get over himself and offer himself up to the Obama campaign... well know what he's going to do soon I would think.
Comments
You don't think political committees look at "total ballots cast" numbers and the number of total votes for each candidate? They look at those very closely. If enough people skip a portion of the ballot they will catch on and see that the people aren't happy with that type of candidate. Send the message that you don't like either. Refusing to vote because your unhappy would just give the parties a "fuck them" attitude. Why would they change if you're not even going to turn out to vote to tell them you are unhappy.
That's the point.
http://www.reverbnation.com/brianzilm
Do you have any evidence that this is the case? Millions of people have done this and absolutely nothing seems to have changed. Less than 25% of this country elected our current president.
That said, I think your post above is theoretically correct. It would send a "fuck you" message. However, your logical extension, that anyone would care or notice, is way off.
Yes. I have first hand evidence. First hand experience. My county chairman had me go through precint results in 2004 to look for trends just like this. It gives him an idea where certain candidates fly in areas and where they don't. He keeps stuff like this in mind for the next election cycle.
http://www.reverbnation.com/brianzilm
because the rest (that didnt vote against him) stayed home! those millions of people weren't voicing their opinion, they just stayed home. thats not the same thing.
you can't find any 3rd party candidate to vote for that wouldnt compromise your principles? what the hell are your principles? does a candidate have to match your principles 100% to get your vote? jesus, and you wonder why you cant change things. extremism is easy.
That's great. However, there's a fundamental flaw. You have no idea why those people handed in a blank ballot. So beyond "keeing stuff like this in mind", what on earth could it accomplish?
All is seems to do is make the candidates fight harder to bamboozle the remaining few who do, for whatever reason, keep electing them.
I guess we always took it as the vast majority of people who skip voting on a certain part of the ballot are not pleased with either candidate. I'm sure there are times when people just forget, but the vast majority are people who do not like the candidates.
http://www.reverbnation.com/brianzilm
Some stayed home. Some cast blank ballots. Some voted for third parties. Nothing changed.
No.
Primarily, I don't believe I have the right to tell you what to do, just because it would make my life easier. I don't believe I have the right to drop a bomb on your house, just because your ideas scare me. I don't believe I have a right to steal your property, just because I don't take care of my own.
No. 50% would be nice.
Funny you mention that. I often wonder the same thing about those who go out and vote for dominant candidates.
Not really. Shameless compromise is easy. Political cheerleading is easy. Finding principles and sticking to them is hard work. It doesn't make you correct, necessarily, but it isn't easy.
Yet the candidates do not change, so this "knowledge" doesn't seem to accomplish much.
man, i really liked Joe Biden, and Edwards. im not digging the choices now.
"To question your government is not unpatriotic --
to not question your government is unpatriotic."
-- Sen. Chuck Hagel
Yessss!
Biden needs to stay in the Senate, we need his leadership there. And Edwards seriously needs to get over himself and offer himself up to the Obama campaign... well know what he's going to do soon I would think.
laughable.