Believe it or not, your vote DOES make a difference. The 2000 Bush/Gore election should have proven that point if nothing else.

Pre 9/11 Afghanistan-No chance in hell to vote out the brutal regime.

Iraq-No other option than to vote in favor of a brutal regime.

Kashmir-Damned if you do & damned if you don't. Kashmiri residents were on one hand being forced to the polls by the Indian military and on the other facing death threats by Muslim seperatists if they did show up to the polls.

Sure our system has it's flaws, the Florida debacle proved that. However, if enough people get out and vote the chances for extemely close margins are less.

Do your duty to your country, your fellow citizens and most of all to yourself. VOTE!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

co-sign

Today hold a special place in my heart. I will exercise my right to vote, and I encourage EVERYONE to get out there and make a difference, especially women and minorities. My older family members were denied the right to vote at one time, so I will definitely remember them when i'm exercising this powerful right to vote.

Supernova said:

Voting straight-ticket is up there with apathy... it is basically the same thing.

IceNine said:

Ice, I hear ya but it's not the same thing as sitting doing nothing. You might not be getting the desired results but at least you are involved.

More and more I'm leaning towards independent but until I'm sure there is a movement afoot in which voting independent WILL make a difference, I will do everything in my power to keep the Republicans out of office. That party is too tied into catering to the religious right and that shit has got to go.
[This message was edited Tue Nov 5 10:28:47 PST 2002 by SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy]

IceNine said:

I can't consider it the same thing, even if I do disagree with their selections. They're still voting, and may have a legitimate reason for the way they're voting, it's not necessarily equated to apathy. They have a right to do it. And although their POV might be different from mine, I can accept that. It's preferential to have that right, as opposed to autocracy.

Supernova said:

I consider it apathy because you should KNOW about the people you are voting for... in my opinion.

I just consider it irresponsible, but that is my opinion only.

IceNine said:

Aren't you assuming that just because someone is voting "straight" party, they aren't knowledgeable about the issues/people that they are voting for?

IceNine said:

Maybe they do know about who they're voting for, which is why I said: "They're still voting, and may have a legitimate reason for the way they're voting..."

Since I've never asked people who do it why they do it, I don't know. Not that I'm saying EVERYONE who votes that way does it for the same reasons.

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I am certainly assuming that, but do you always think that the Democrat is the best candidate? There are many cases when I don't vote Libertarian because I think that someone else has a better plan...

IceNine said:

No I don't. Case in point Gray Fucking Davis. What a horrid choice we californians have. I'll never vote Republican until they stop catering to the religious right.

Let's flip this another way. The reason I'm not voting Libertarian or "other" is because not enough people are doing it to make a difference and to me that is tantamount to voting Republican as the Democrats losing my vote gives the Republicans the extra advantage if an indenpendent doesn't win. This is what hurt Gore in the 2000 elections. Until such time as I can feel comfortable that my vote for an independent REALLY will make the difference I have to vote Democrat.
[This message was edited Tue Nov 5 11:03:03 PST 2002 by SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy]

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Bill Simon.


And speaking of the 2000 election, most people are saying a lot of these races are "too close to call"...and we all know what happened the last time they said an election was "too close to call"...don't we? A lot of effing up.

I hate politics, but I gotta do what I gotta do.

I was having a discussion yesterday with a co-worker of mine, while we were watching the debate between Mondale and Coleman(for us senate)... and my co-worker made a comment that stuck in my head:

"If all the people that Mondale represented - and Democrats like him-- if they all voted, they would win by a landslide." Even though i disagreed with the gentleman on many issues, i thought this one was both correct and very telling.

Unfortunately, people don't vote enough, even moreso when it's not during a presidential election. And with all the bitching i hear from people of all social strati and backgrounds and then see less than 40% of people voting is just pathetic. It's very simple. Politicians, more than not, want to get re-elected. If you vote, they have to at least try to get your attention. Whether by legislation or rhetoric, they will attempt to address your needs. We get to decide if they're full of shit, or if they'll do what they say.

Shit, i live in the coldest state in the country(it snowed this morning and it's a windy 32 degrees) and Minnesotans are historically among the highest turnout states...??? So no excuses, turn off your porno, your cartoons, your Oprah, your Jerry Springer and get your fat ass to the polls!
[This message was edited Tue Nov 5 12:02:38 PST 2002 by mrchristian]

mrchristian said:

Thanks for covering all bases!!

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

I figured that's what i watch, the rest of the org must be hooked on it too.

I've never voted. Don't you have to register far in advance? or can it be done shortly before the voting booths open?

Tom said:

I'm not sure if they modified the system so that you could register so close to the election. Usually you have already been registered for some time.

I felt guilty after I read this thread this morning...So I went out to vote during lunch hour!

sag10 said:

YAY!!! You did your part and it's all because of me!

Here in Kentucky, we believe in the old saying, "Vote early and vote often."

BattierBeMyDaddy said:

Wasn't that the age-old Democratic mantra?

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

Good for you Sag!! I personally think it feels good to vote. Gives me a right to bitch about my elected officials.

I actually voted last week by using an absentee ballot.It's really convenient.You can vote weeks before an election so you don't have to go to the busy,crowded polls on Election Day.When Election Day rolls around,you can just sit back and watch the results unfold on the news,knowing that you've already done your civic duty.

And by the way...people who don't vote have NO RIGHT to complain!! If you don't like our laws,or the way our government works,then you need to get out there and elect the right people.You need to VOTE!!

Another thing...there was some discussion on this thread about voting straight-ticket.In my view,I think it's important to realize that you are really voting for a "PARTY",and elections are about more than just the people you elect.I'm not that crazy about Governor Gray Davis,but he is a Democrat and I know that he will uphold Democratic values in our state of California.The last thing Californians need is some conservative,right-wing,Pete Wilson clone for our Governor!! For the time being,I will always vote Democratic in every race.

I just got back, thankfully it wasn't busy at all. In fact, there was only one other person besides me there... lol.

If it's not a vote by an informed and determined mind I don't see it as a good thing. This doesn't apply when a mass tactical vote is required to keep a nazi party out for instance...

DavidEye said:

Which is exaclty why I will never consider voting for a Republican candidate. Their religious convictions, or their desire to satisfy the christian right, often cause them to enact laws or govern in ways that are not in accordance with what many Californians want for their lives.

Did I ever mention how much I hate the Republican party??
[This message was edited Tue Nov 5 14:57:31 PST 2002 by SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy]

AzureStar said:

Yeah,they say the turnout is gonna be REALLY low and that's a shame.When our economy gets worse next year,you can blame it on the lazy folks who didn't bother to vote!

DavidEye said:

I thought it would be busy because I waited to go until this late...

SupaFunkyOrgangrinderSexy said:

So true about the Republican Party.Luckily,we live in California which is largely a Democratic state