5 ms·

The difference is all the trump voters that said the exact same thing actually went out and voted. Lo and behold, their votes counted.

WalterSear 10y ago
I voted. Even though I knew, going into the booth, that my vote counted for nothing, thanks to the electoral college. Please stop pushing the false narrative that if only everyone voted, the kleptocracy would grind to a halt. It's culturally entrenched at this point.
- coldpie 10y ago
  If maybe 1 or 2% of people in swing states who thought like you decided to vote instead of deciding not to vote, the outcome may have been different. You are one voice in three hundred million. So is everybody else. Please vote.
  - WalterSear 10y ago
    Utterly irrelevant. My vote won't count more either way. I have no control over swing state voters. If maybe there weren't swing states, the outcome would have been different. The system is set up this way for a reason - so that people like you can tell people like me that if they only voted, things would be fixed. Maybe they would, but, like I said, my vote doesn't count, so I can't really vote for it, can I? :)
    - morganvachon 10y ago
      You've said the same thing in three different comments in this thread, and I understand why you feel that way. Let me ask you this: Did you add your name to the petition to end the electoral college and support a more balanced and fair voting system? I did, because even though I feel strongly that every vote counts, it's a reality of the US system that some votes count more than others. There has to be a better way to run this "democracy" we were born into, and that change has to start with us; the entrenched politicians won't dare change it on their own.
      - WalterSear 10y ago
        Which one? There have been a bunch. Sure, I've signed them. I also give money. And I've helped with trying to get campaign finance reform on the state ballot, which was then shut down by legislature. Entrenched politicians aren't going to change things on their own, but it's a false to assume that that means they are going to change things for anyone who can't threaten their hegemony. My state is not a swing state. My representatives are both solidly entrenched and also on the take. In terms of federal issues, my vote will never count here.
        morganvachon 10y ago
        > My representatives are both solidly entrenched and also on the take. So get the word out in your community and change that fact. If you want change, be the spark.
    - alphabettsy 10y ago
      I hear people say this all the time, seemingly forgetting that laws are made by Congress. The person who holds the office of President certainly matters, but the people doing the legislating matter just as much.
      - WalterSear 10y ago
        The legislative representatives I am able to vote for are entrenched and paid off. It is unreasonable that I can only vote and hold influence over a couple of senators and representatives, if they are all supposed to be beholden to all the voters. You can't even call other senators/representatives and expect them to listen to the call. It is beyond me that, given that my vote doesn't count in the presidential election (due to electoral college rules), and my local representatives are entrenched, due to division of the representation, how things will 'sort themselves out' if I just faithfully go to the polls every time.
        alphabettsy 10y ago
        That is certainly your choice, but regardless of whether or not you believe it counts, this kind of thinking is very prevalent and a large reason for resoundingly low voter turnout. In my opinion, the wealthy and powerful would much rather have the common voter feel that they have no voice or choice. Realistically civic engagement is much more than just voting, but deciding not to participate is the surest means to not be included. It took less than 30 mins out of my day to actually vote and I think most people spend more time than that talking about or posting on social media about politics. I apologize if it seems I don't take your frustration and discouragement seriously because I truly do, I feel it too. My point in it all is that going to the polls is the least one can do. Even better is encouraging some friends to engage with you because 10 votes is surely better than one.
  - morganvachon 10y ago
    Thank you, I wish more people would realize this.
    - WalterSear 10y ago
      >If maybe 1 or 2% of people in swing states who thought like you decided to vote instead of deciding not to vote, the outcome may have been different. Could you explain what has that got to do with me, and the fact that my vote doesn't count, for the reasons I've outlined above?

WalterSear 10y ago

I voted. Even though I knew, going into the booth, that my vote counted for nothing, thanks to the electoral college. Please stop pushing the false narrative that if only everyone voted, the kleptocracy would grind to a halt. It's culturally entrenched at this point.

coldpie 10y ago
If maybe 1 or 2% of people in swing states who thought like you decided to vote instead of deciding not to vote, the outcome may have been different. You are one voice in three hundred million. So is everybody else. Please vote.
- WalterSear 10y ago
  Utterly irrelevant. My vote won't count more either way. I have no control over swing state voters. If maybe there weren't swing states, the outcome would have been different. The system is set up this way for a reason - so that people like you can tell people like me that if they only voted, things would be fixed. Maybe they would, but, like I said, my vote doesn't count, so I can't really vote for it, can I? :)
  - morganvachon 10y ago
    You've said the same thing in three different comments in this thread, and I understand why you feel that way. Let me ask you this: Did you add your name to the petition to end the electoral college and support a more balanced and fair voting system? I did, because even though I feel strongly that every vote counts, it's a reality of the US system that some votes count more than others. There has to be a better way to run this "democracy" we were born into, and that change has to start with us; the entrenched politicians won't dare change it on their own.
    - WalterSear 10y ago
      Which one? There have been a bunch. Sure, I've signed them. I also give money. And I've helped with trying to get campaign finance reform on the state ballot, which was then shut down by legislature. Entrenched politicians aren't going to change things on their own, but it's a false to assume that that means they are going to change things for anyone who can't threaten their hegemony. My state is not a swing state. My representatives are both solidly entrenched and also on the take. In terms of federal issues, my vote will never count here.
      - morganvachon 10y ago
        > My representatives are both solidly entrenched and also on the take. So get the word out in your community and change that fact. If you want change, be the spark.
  - alphabettsy 10y ago
    I hear people say this all the time, seemingly forgetting that laws are made by Congress. The person who holds the office of President certainly matters, but the people doing the legislating matter just as much.
    - WalterSear 10y ago
      The legislative representatives I am able to vote for are entrenched and paid off. It is unreasonable that I can only vote and hold influence over a couple of senators and representatives, if they are all supposed to be beholden to all the voters. You can't even call other senators/representatives and expect them to listen to the call. It is beyond me that, given that my vote doesn't count in the presidential election (due to electoral college rules), and my local representatives are entrenched, due to division of the representation, how things will 'sort themselves out' if I just faithfully go to the polls every time.
      - alphabettsy 10y ago
        That is certainly your choice, but regardless of whether or not you believe it counts, this kind of thinking is very prevalent and a large reason for resoundingly low voter turnout. In my opinion, the wealthy and powerful would much rather have the common voter feel that they have no voice or choice. Realistically civic engagement is much more than just voting, but deciding not to participate is the surest means to not be included. It took less than 30 mins out of my day to actually vote and I think most people spend more time than that talking about or posting on social media about politics. I apologize if it seems I don't take your frustration and discouragement seriously because I truly do, I feel it too. My point in it all is that going to the polls is the least one can do. Even better is encouraging some friends to engage with you because 10 votes is surely better than one.
- morganvachon 10y ago
  Thank you, I wish more people would realize this.
  - WalterSear 10y ago
    >If maybe 1 or 2% of people in swing states who thought like you decided to vote instead of deciding not to vote, the outcome may have been different. Could you explain what has that got to do with me, and the fact that my vote doesn't count, for the reasons I've outlined above?