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Why bother voting?Tuesday, October 28, 2008
Last week, during a quick trip to Michigan, I had a chance to spend time with my son. He's 28 and pretty thoughtful. So I asked who he might pick for president on Tuesday. "I'm not voting," he said. After lifting my jaw off the floor and trying really, really hard not to blurt, "Where did I go wrong?!" I asked him to explain why. This is what he said: "Mom, I feel sorry for whoever ends up getting that job, so I"m just going to support him." That's all well and good to support the one with the most votes, but not voting is not acceptable. What would you tell him — or any registered voter — thinking of skipping out on casting a ballot?
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Cape Commission agenda for Monday (January 2, 2009) Happy New Year! (January 1, 2009) Oath of office reminder (December 31, 2008) Weird weather and a warning (December 27, 2008) A Christmas story (December 26, 2008) A Christmas story (December 25, 2008) Dreamy carol (December 25, 2008) A jazzy carol (December 24, 2008) A quirky carol (December 23, 2008) Digital age pushes politicians to think before speaking (December 22, 2008) School choir carol (December 22, 2008) Larry Bock (December 21, 2008) A Claymation Carol (December 21, 2008) Carol of the Bells I (December 20, 2008) Boulevard Historic District (December 19, 2008) Important meetings about your money (December 17, 2008) Down by the old mill (tax) stream: an update (December 8, 2008) $75-an-hour autoworkers (December 1, 2008) South Hanover Street (November 22, 2008) Cape County Commission action (November 20, 2008) Not quite on holiday (November 19, 2008) advertisement
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ithica you have it completely wrong. If the total tally of votes determined the outcome and not just electoral votes, then our esteemed politicos would have to fight for each vote and go places they generally don't.
Second, why do you care if the empty suit "visits" you. So, you don't vote on issues, just the ego stroking?
Eliminate the Electoral College and make it easier for third parties. Democracy - lets try it for awhile and see what happens.
wouldn't a "no vote" actually be a vote ?
No electoral college? Then I suppose you won't have any problem that few candidates will come through our area, or any other rural or and give much of a damn about them? I mean why should they when you need the most votes, so obviously spend more time in the big cities, and the heavily populated areas. Still serves a purpose.
I'm very impressed with these responses and look forward to seeing more comments.
Also, I'm researching the Tower Club, which does indeed exist and has for 40 years. Check back on my blog -- or in the paper -- for a story.
As for the posting issues, our tech staff is working on this but it may be a vendor issue. Thanks for your patience and persistence as it gets fixed :-)
Peg, I tried to post this earlier but it didn't go through. Thanks for the subject and the reply.
Peg, Could you please find out what the Tower club is, who its members are, and what the goals of the organization are? I have read in the blogs that this is the "good ole boys network." I know this group meets on the top floor of the kfvs building and several prominent members of the community are part of this club. Who are these people?
In my ideal world, the vote wouldn't really matter much. No matter who was elected, the government would have its hands tied by an informed, freedom-loving populace with lots of guns and a real appetite for revolution.
I guess the present system is pretty much exactly the opposite. People are terrified of the government and what they're going to do to us next. Most people want to come home from our empire abroad, protect our borders, and live their lives without interference from an ever-growing government problem.
The modern vote is little more than ritual in the secular religion of Democracy. The net result of the governmental intrusions desired by the population is more and more government that is becoming ever more unrestrained with every passing election. People have forgotten how to be independent. I saw a glimmer of hope in the outrage over the bailout, but now we've all but forgotten that with depression looming on the horizon. If you're interested in my stock picks for the next 8 years, I'd be putting my money in bread and circuses.
It wasn't supposed to be this way. The vote was supposed to be a revolution without bloodshed. It was supposed to give the people an instrument with which they could tune their government in they case that they abdicated their duty to protect our liberties and freedoms. Now it has become nothing more than a meal ticket, where people cash their mandate in for a few loaves of bread on the backs of their neighbors.
My advice: Vote. And don't just vote impotently for the lesser of two evils, as if you have no revolutionary power. Don't trade your vote in for more bread and circuses. Vote as if it's your last bullet to take down the scumbags robbing your freedoms, taking your family's livelihood, and ignoring their responsibilities that your forefathers have given them.
Hilleco - I would write in the name of my candidate. The governments of Hitler and Stalin may not have allowed that option, but ours does.
And, SAHD, message received and forwarded on the posting problems. I've had a couple, too.
Peg, if you had the choice of voting for either Hitler or Stalin, which would be your preference?
Peg, if you had the choice of voting for either Hitler or Stalin, which would be your preference?
For President: Until they get rid of the antiquated electoral college and go with the peoples real means of voting then it is a joke. People should cast a vote, they should be counted and then, guess what, the person with the “MOST” votes should win. Go figure. I understand the reason for the college but come on we are in the year 2008. This is similar to many other laws we still live by, old farts still in office think they are still living with June Cleaver.
AND SOMEONE SHOULD REALLY FIX THE ERROR MESSAGE WHILE POSTING HERE.
Not voting for national & state offices is perfectly understandable as our system gives us precisely one more option than the Cubans or Chinese have. I can either vote for a Dem or Rep that I disagree with on 80% of the issues or a third party candidate with utterly no chance because the rules of the game are rigged by the dominant parties.
The only reason I vote is to have a say on local issues & officials and things like school board members where my vote can potentially make a real difference.
Not voting for national & state offices is perfectly understandable as our system gives us precisely one more option than the Cubans or Chinese have. I can either vote for a Dem or Rep that I disagree with on 80% of the issues or a third party candidate with utterly no chance because the rules of the game are rigged by the dominant parties.
The only reason I vote is to have a say on local issues & officials and things like school board members where my vote can potentially make a real difference.
A friend of mine recently told me that if voting actually changed anything, it would be illegal.
I am voting for Bob Barr nonetheless!
Peg, I see no reason to vote. For president the Republicans chose a national socialist and the Democrats chose a socialist. Since I am neither, why vote?
Read Thomas DiLorenzo's "Socialist or National Socialist: Take Your Pick" at http://www.lewrockwell.com/...
I'm going green by not going to vote. I won't put CO2 into the atmosphere with my vehicle exhaust and a socialist into the presidency.