I am always feeling a bit conflicted around Election Day. From a partisan point of view, I want people to vote for MY candidates, which means I’d prefer that supporters of opposing candidates would stay home.
On the other hand, I truly believe that the right to vote is far too precious not to exercise. After the Bill of Rights, there are only 17 amendments to the Constitution, and two of them, regarding Prohibition, cancel each other out. This means at least 1/3 of these amendments specifically address voting.
I know a lot of folks who have said to me that they don’t vote because it doesn’t matter, or because it encourages “them”, i.e., the politicians. Or worse, they don’t vote, because “they” will see it as a protest vote. Please allow me to set you straight; “they” don’t care. “They” see your uncast ballot as a sign of laziness or indifference.
If you want to make a statement, vote. Vote for every office, even especially in those races where there is a candidate running unopposed. Ever since we’ve gotten our new ballot machines in this part of upstate New York, I have realized that it is MUCH easier to cast a write-in vote.
Consider if you will, John “Bluto” Blutarsky. He had the lowest grade point average at his Faber College fraternity, Delta House, with a 0.0. Yet he went on to become a U.S. Senator. He is no more lamebrained than that Republican state representative from Arkansas who asserted that slavery was a “blessing in disguise”.
So vote. Vote in all races. Vote for my candidates if you would. Vote for third party candidates, if you must. And if you have some folks running unopposed, write in someone. Even Bluto Blutarsky, who you can see in this classic (NSFW) video.
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OH, the FUN Elections can Occupy in Classrooms: Overview of Awesome Ideas and Websites
Religious Freedom and the Presidential Election
An odd Quora question: 2012 U.S. Presidential Election: Do you think President Obama truly wants a second term, or is he just running because he feels like it’s his duty to keep the presidency in Democratic hands?
Hmmm. Any benefits that may have accrued as a result of slavery were unintended consequences, rather than a blessing in disguise. And hard won too, despite the obstacles placed by the likes of Jon Hubbard.
You do seem to vote on many more issues/posts than we do in the UK and perhaps any apathy is down to democratic overload. This was a tactic used in the Peter Cooke film, The Rise and Rise of Michael Rimmer to gain absolute power as you can see in this clip.
But more likely the answer is the same as it is in the UK – we just don’t trust politicians any more!
Wait, slavery is bad? Man, my world has been turned upside down!
I never understood people who didn’t vote. Even if you hate everyone who is running for president, local politics often have much more effect on your daily lives than federal politics, and there usually are clear differences between candidates on that level (because they don’t have to appeal to so wide a constituency). So that’s important. Here in the AZ, one of the newspaper columnists has been trying to “de-kook” the state legislature, and she’s pointed out some moderate Republicans who would have a better chance to rein in the crazies on the extreme right than Democrats, who either won’t win or won’t have any influence. I appreciated that, and actually voted for one of her choices for senator even though I generally vote Democrat, because I want our legislature, even if it’s conservative, to be far less crazy than it is.
Plus, a lot of states have propositions on the ballot (I don’t know if this trend has made it East yet; it’s very popular in the West), and those don’t have anything to do with voting for people, but if they become law, they’re very influential. So there’s that.
I voted last night and will mail out my ballot today. Vote by mail is AWESOME.
And speaking of slavery- Ohio ad from a Super PAC: Black people should vote GOP because Lincoln freed the slaves http://www.salon.com/2012/11/01/ohio_ad_black_people_should_vote_gop_because_lincoln_freed_the_slaves/
I make it a point to vote because my foremothers fought long and hard to give women that right. Sometimes I don’t believe it makes a difference, but if I don’t vote, I can’t complain about who won later!
Thanks for the link Roger. I also scratched my head to read that 67 percent of Republicans believe in demonic possession. Was this issue covered in any of the presidential debates?
I am hoping to make it to early voting Monday, though we’ve had long lines the first two days voting was available, so maybe it would be better to wait until Tuesday. Either way, I’ll for sure be getting my flag sticker sometime before 7pm Tuesday. Though, at least in presidential elections, my vote in this state really is about useless. Also, we don’t even allow write-in votes here. Hate to say it, but we’re sort of backward around here.