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I voted (and will continue to vote) in every election since I was old enough - didn't matter how big or small. I always look at it as you don't vote you don't h

I voted (and will continue to vote) in every election since I was old enough - didn't matter how big or small. I always look at it as you don't vote you don't have the right to bitch about things :).

pzxc 12y ago
That's a common aphorism, but it's not logical. Declining to vote doesn't negate your right to bitch about the political system or even individual politicians, any more than voting and your guy winning negates your right to bitch about that individual (which is slightly more logical, but still doesn't pass muster)
- forgotpasswd3x 12y ago
  By not voting your showing that you won't even make the slightest effort to get the government you want. I mean, voting isn't hard. It takes maybe 20 minutes. If all the people that don't vote because they don't think it would matter, actually fucking voted, we'd have a significantly different government.
  - crazypyro 12y ago
    Do you honestly think that we just need more people voting to change the system? The average voter isn't going to understand the underlying failures of a 2 party democracy in which no third party has a chance at significantly upsetting the status quo. Are you going to vote to continue the foreign wars or vote to continue the foreign wars while saying you won't? That's your choice. Also people aren't going to become informed to vote. More people voting would probably just mean a similar split to the current one.
    - forgotpasswd3x 12y ago
      Yes, I honestly think that the system would be more representative of the country if more of the country voted. Young people's views, and those of boomers and the elderly differ greatly on many issues, but they don't vote. I'm not saying it would magically fix everything but it's certainly a start. But by all means, continue to not vote, and complain about the system, because that's sure to help.
jeremysmyth 12y ago
I agree completely. How do you vote when there is no candidate you can honestly support?
john_b 12y ago
This same logic has been used throughout history by tyrants of all stripes, often when the election results were decided in advance. You DO have the right to bitch about things, whether you vote or not. You have a constitutionally protected freedom of speech and not voting does not expunge that right. You are presuming, quite arrogantly as I see it, that someone who doesn't vote has found or can find a candidate they are willing to support. Many people who don't vote find themselves unwilling to support either of the two talking parrots they are given to choose between and conclude the whole exercise if fruitless. If you live in a state with very close elections it might be worth your time to select the lesser of two evils, or even a good and honest candidate should you have one available somehow. But we have a winner take all system and there are many people in this country who are effectively disenfranchised because they live in gerrymandered districts or districts with a large bias toward one party. Telling those people that they have no right to voice their discontent about the state of their government precisely because they recognize their own powerlessness to change it is extremely disrespectful and ignorant.
- quaffapint 12y ago
  It sounds like one of those negative political ads, I've been called arrogant, ignorant, and disrespectful. Of course disenfranchised has to be thrown in there too. You're taking my statement way too seriously. Of course people will bitch whether they voted or not. Believe me - Even with my party's candidate having almost no chance of winning, I still go vote. I'm voicing my opinion. I feel lucky to be able to do so. I know going in it won't swing the vote, doesn't mean I should just stay home then.

I voted (and will continue to vote) in every election since I was old enough - didn't matter how big or small. I always look at it as you don't vote you don't have the right to bitch about things :).

pzxc 12y ago

That's a common aphorism, but it's not logical. Declining to vote doesn't negate your right to bitch about the political system or even individual politicians, any more than voting and your guy winning negates your right to bitch about that individual (which is slightly more logical, but still doesn't pass muster)

forgotpasswd3x 12y ago
By not voting your showing that you won't even make the slightest effort to get the government you want. I mean, voting isn't hard. It takes maybe 20 minutes. If all the people that don't vote because they don't think it would matter, actually fucking voted, we'd have a significantly different government.
- crazypyro 12y ago
  Do you honestly think that we just need more people voting to change the system? The average voter isn't going to understand the underlying failures of a 2 party democracy in which no third party has a chance at significantly upsetting the status quo. Are you going to vote to continue the foreign wars or vote to continue the foreign wars while saying you won't? That's your choice. Also people aren't going to become informed to vote. More people voting would probably just mean a similar split to the current one.
  - forgotpasswd3x 12y ago
    Yes, I honestly think that the system would be more representative of the country if more of the country voted. Young people's views, and those of boomers and the elderly differ greatly on many issues, but they don't vote. I'm not saying it would magically fix everything but it's certainly a start. But by all means, continue to not vote, and complain about the system, because that's sure to help.

jeremysmyth 12y ago

I agree completely. How do you vote when there is no candidate you can honestly support?

john_b 12y ago

This same logic has been used throughout history by tyrants of all stripes, often when the election results were decided in advance. You DO have the right to bitch about things, whether you vote or not. You have a constitutionally protected freedom of speech and not voting does not expunge that right. You are presuming, quite arrogantly as I see it, that someone who doesn't vote has found or can find a candidate they are willing to support. Many people who don't vote find themselves unwilling to support either of the two talking parrots they are given to choose between and conclude the whole exercise if fruitless. If you live in a state with very close elections it might be worth your time to select the lesser of two evils, or even a good and honest candidate should you have one available somehow. But we have a winner take all system and there are many people in this country who are effectively disenfranchised because they live in gerrymandered districts or districts with a large bias toward one party. Telling those people that they have no right to voice their discontent about the state of their government precisely because they recognize their own powerlessness to change it is extremely disrespectful and ignorant.

quaffapint 12y ago
It sounds like one of those negative political ads, I've been called arrogant, ignorant, and disrespectful. Of course disenfranchised has to be thrown in there too. You're taking my statement way too seriously. Of course people will bitch whether they voted or not. Believe me - Even with my party's candidate having almost no chance of winning, I still go vote. I'm voicing my opinion. I feel lucky to be able to do so. I know going in it won't swing the vote, doesn't mean I should just stay home then.