Not voting?

I'm considering not voting. Other than making the statement, there is not a point--I live in Illinois. The state has gone Democrat since 1988, and with it being Obama's home state, my McCain vote has no chance. Besides that, I think that we get to choose from Idiot 1 and Idiot 2. I don't like either, I just dislike Obama more.

The only reason I can really see is that I should vote for my state representatives, but I really have no knowledge about any of them. I would probably vote Republican just because I typically lean to the right, but other than that--nothing. That, and people say that you can't complain if you don't vote.

I'll end up going to get my absentee ballot tomorrow or the day after, but I'm just looking for peoples opinions here.

If half of the people that hated both John Jackson and Jack Johnson voted for Richard Nixon's Head instead, we'd have a new President of Earth instead some clone with a 3 cent Titanium tax...

I never voted until the recent primaries...finally registered to vote for Ron Paul. I never had anybody decent to vote for, looks like I'm back in the same spot. I refuse to vote for the lesser of two politicians...er....evils.

Bryce

If you vote for garbage, the best you can get is garbage. It took me a while to figure out that I don't have to vote for garbage.

You're not limited to candidate 1 or 2. No matter how much the parties would like you believe you are. You can vote for quality instead. Most people won't, so we will still end up with garbage. But you can at least hold your head high, and say with pride that you did not vote for garbage.

Can you imagine a country where people voted for quality? It won't happen, because most people would rather "back a winner". But it's fun to imagine what it would be like if people voted for quality instead.

If you don't vote, you can't bitch about the outcome, either verbally or here.

Do the homework, then do your civic duty.

I think I'll vote for Bob Barr. The ability to shrug and say "I told you so" to just about everyone else during the next 4 years could be worth it.

He said "duty"

there is a diehard democrat on my wife's side that refuses to vote this time. something about his race.........

What should he do? I say he needs to vote for the best person. he will only vote for a democrat; except for this time........

people are strange...............

Is it true that Mickey Mouse has captured more votes over the years than any other write-in?

I am voting my heart. If everyone who wanted to vote third party decided not to vote because they would never win, then it is self fulfilling prophecy.

it may not happen this year, but if a third party could get even 10%, then people might take notice, and the next election they could get 15% or 20% and the next election they could get 35% and so on and so on.

and also, it must be said, if you don't vote, DON'T BITCH!

Not voting for one is the same as giving a vote to the other.

pete240z wrote: there is a diehard democrat on my wife's side that refuses to vote this time. something about his race......... What should he do? I say he needs to vote for the best person. he will only vote for a democrat; except for this time........ people are strange...............

Hehehe a racist Democrat...he must be more fun than a barrel of monkeys...

914Driver wrote: If you don't vote, you can't bitch about the outcome, either verbally or here. Do the homework, then do your civic duty.

Uh, last time I checked it's a free country that gives me the right to bitch and complain regardless of what I do.

Maybe my right to vote can include my right to NOT vote. I have the right to own a gun, but I don't have to exercise it. I still have the right to complain if somebody shoots met, though! (it's an easy example, I don't want this to go into a right to bear arms discussion)

Plus, is it really that easy to write in a vote anymore with punch cards and electronic voting machines? I actually haven't tried, but IIRC, there was no easy way to write in your vote.

-Rob

People are still talking about Ron Paul. But has anyone looked at Bob Barr, simply from a "hes backed by a party" stance?

Im curious about that.

You have the right to complain alright, but you waive it when you don't vote. If you wanna have political opinions, you had better back them up with actions.

iceracer wrote: Not voting for one is the same as giving a vote to the other.

+1

Vote or shut up!

confuZion3 wrote: Is it true that Mickey Mouse has captured more votes over the years than any other write-in?

I'm not sure about that, but I've heard that Minnie Mouse gets more fan mail than the Pope.

I've voted regularly for about 35 years now, and I generally just vote against whoever is incumbent; not perfect, but it's my system.

mtn wrote: The only reason I can really see is that I should vote for my state representatives, but I really have no knowledge about any of them. I would probably vote Republican just because I typically lean to the right, but other than that--nothing. That, and people say that you can't complain if you don't vote. I'll end up going to get my absentee ballot tomorrow or the day after, but I'm just looking for peoples opinions here.

If you don't like either Presidential candidate and you want make a statement by choosing none of the above, you are free to do that on your ballot. I am going to suggest you vote anyway. The parts of government that most directly touch you and control your life are the city and/or county where you live. The next most direct influence on your life comes from the state government. It's sort of ironic that this is the part of the ballot that people spend the least amout of time thinking about and researching. There are some absolutely great people and some real doushebags at the state and local level. They are deciding what roads get fixed, when sewers get upgraded, where new houses get built, how much to pay fire fighters and how many to hire. There are also things like proprety tax changes, bond issues, zoning changes, and voter initatives that directly impact you everyday or even several times per day.

You will have a much bigger impact on the outcome of the elections and the quality of your own life by getting educated an voting your beliefs and desires at the state and local level.

I had heard rumors of Bob Barr attempting to get Ron Paul as his running mate.

Barr/Paul '08

NYG95GA wrote: I've voted regularly for about 35 years now, and I generally just vote against whoever is incumbent; not perfect, but it's my system.

thats kind of a cool rule of thumb.. as stagnation will kill innovation.

NYG95GA wrote: I've voted regularly for about 35 years now, and I generally just vote against whoever is incumbent; not perfect, but it's my system.

My father had a similar system. Whatever party held the presidency, he would vote opposite. His view was, the less these guys get put into law, the better.

If you don't vote, you can't bitch? That's like saying if you don't buy a new car, you can't bitch about new cars....and we know that is far from reality here on the GRM forum. Look how many people gripe about X auto manufacturer and their products that haven't even bought a new car before.

If you vote for idiots, you can't bitch about having idiot politicians. How about we add "I vote for none of the above" to the ballot?

Bryce

maroon92 wrote: I am voting my heart. If everyone who wanted to vote third party decided not to vote because they would never win, then it is self fulfilling prophecy.

Precisely why I have voted third party in every election since 1984.

iceracer wrote: Not voting for one is the same as giving a vote to the other.

Not even close to right. How are Republicrats and Democricans ever going to get the message that they both suck, if people will only ever vote one of the two?

What crappy GMs and Fords would we be driving today if people had never started buying Hondas and Toyotas?

I'd love to vote for none of the above.

If you want to make a statement that you're angry, don't make one that could be mistaken for apathy. I don't like the idea of not voting in an effort to send a message because it sends the wrong message.

I hereby nominate Mike Guido as our official protest candidate, for all the voters who feel like we're stuck with a bunch of clowns anyway!