Is it stupid to automaticly vote a straight ticket?

[AFB]

Without knowing the people runnning?

 

[3chordcharlie]

Depends if you care what you're voting for... I would say 'yes' - I normally care about the outcome of an election, so it would be stupid for me to vote a single party without knowing about individual candidates.

 

[judasmachine]

it's always dumb to vote blind. (imho)

 

[FelixDeCat]

Unless you vote Republican, no.

We have not seen you do ANYTHING here but nef. Please make your next three posts here substantive, reasoned, non-nefs. Thereafter, we suggest you strive for a 3 to 1 ratio. Otherwise, please remain in OT, where your "insights" more closely fit the attention span.

AnandTech Moderator

 

[Rainsford]

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Unless you vote Republican, no.

Did you intend to say that it's only stupid to vote straight ticket if you're voting Republican? Because that's what you said

In any case, voting straight ticket implies that you believe the best choice is ALWAYS in one party or the other. I believe this shows a disturbing lack of knowledge of history and current events, and I always try and stay as far away from that as possible.

 

[nageov3t]

depends on the election.

I never do it for national elections or important local elections, but for stupid local elections where the offices aren't important enough for even local papers to cover, I usually vote straight down the Republican ticket.

 

[Pliablemoose]

Originally posted by: amdfanboy
Without knowing the people runnning?

Don't worry, Felix & I are coming over to make sure you vote correctly

 

[PrinceofWands]

My opinion, yes.

 

[AFB]

Originally posted by: Rainsford

Originally posted by: FelixDeKat
Unless you vote Republican, no.

Did you intend to say that it's only stupid to vote straight ticket if you're voting Republican? Because that's what you said

No

 

[feralkid]

Without knowing them? Tough call. Personally, I've been splitting my vote in nearly every election, and probably every national one.
But I have always had a fair knowledge of who they are.
For example: McCain for senate, even though I don't agree with him on everything, He better represents AZ than any recent challengers could IMO.

Gubernatorial races are the same way...I've voted both major parties and Independents / third parties.


I think it's tricky if you don't know at least a little about them...for example, have you heard the term RINO?

It stands for Republican in name only. Sometimes, when there is no challenger in a race, someone will jump in, call themselves whatever just to take a shot at it.
Therefore, by voting straight party, you're not actually getting someone from the party you've chosen.




I really get a charge out of it when I can support someone based on qualifications, and ignore party affiliation.

Democracy at its finest.



:gift:

 

[Luck JF]

There is one Republican congressman in my State who voted against the FMA who will not get a vote from me. I won't vote for the Democratic opponent either but if anyone else at all is there I will vote for them or abstain.

 

[MidasKnight]

Yes.

 

[InfectedMushroom]

Yes, it is.
It shows you are a dumb sheep that will just follow without asking questions.

 

[Budarow]

Voting straight ticket in national elections indicates you know your party's platform and understand in ernest what your party is trying to accomplish. Why do you think politicians "belong" to a party? Ticket spliters do so for the following main reasons:

1. They do not have a thorough understanding of the demo/repub platforms
2. They actually believe political ads speak the truth.
3. They are confussed by the platforms (i.e., a party's platform seems to make sense to them but the party does things which conflicts with their platform) and/or political ads (i.e., the ads somewhat make sense but are contrary to knowledge the voter has) so they split their ticket thinking they are "balancing" the power between the political partys as is suggested by the U.S.'s three branches of government.

I suggest all you ticket spliters look deeper into U.S. politics so you feel comfortable in voting a straight ticket. The days of "voting for the man (or woman)" have been largely over for numerous decades becuase both major partys are extremely polorized.

 

[AFB]

Originally posted by: Budarow
Voting straight ticket in national elections indicates you know your party's platform and understand in ernest what your party is trying to accomplish. Why do you think politicians "belong" to a party? Ticket spliters do so for the following main reasons:

1. They do not have a thorough understanding of the demo/repub platforms
2. They actually believe political ads speak the truth.
3. They are confussed by the platforms (i.e., a party's platform seems to make sense to them but the party does things which conflicts with their platform) and/or political ads (i.e., the ads somewhat make sense but are contrary to knowledge the voter has) so they split their ticket thinking they are "balancing" the power between the political partys as is suggested by the U.S.'s three branches of government.

I suggest all you ticket spliters look deeper into U.S. politics so you feel comfortable in voting a straight ticket. The days of "voting for the man (or woman)" have been largely over for numerous decades becuase both major partys are extremely polorized.

LOL, I wish I could put that in my sig.

 

[LtPage1]

yes, thats retarded.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: Budarow
Voting straight ticket in national elections indicates you know your party's platform and understand in ernest what your party is trying to accomplish. Why do you think politicians "belong" to a party? Ticket spliters do so for the following main reasons:

1. They do not have a thorough understanding of the demo/repub platforms
2. They actually believe political ads speak the truth.
3. They are confussed by the platforms (i.e., a party's platform seems to make sense to them but the party does things which conflicts with their platform) and/or political ads (i.e., the ads somewhat make sense but are contrary to knowledge the voter has) so they split their ticket thinking they are "balancing" the power between the political partys as is suggested by the U.S.'s three branches of government.

I suggest all you ticket spliters look deeper into U.S. politics so you feel comfortable in voting a straight ticket. The days of "voting for the man (or woman)" have been largely over for numerous decades becuase both major partys are extremely polorized.

Did you read the part in my post about RINOs?

Are you aware of some of the individual state's parties? E.G in MN it is the "Independent Republican Party" and the "Democratic Farmer Labor" (DFL) party?

It is not as cut and dried as you seem to be implying.

We are after all The United STATES of America, and sometimes a particular candidate can do more good for one's State than the other on a national level regardless of party affiliation.

 

[kylebisme]

Originally posted by: Budarow
Voting straight ticket in national elections indicates you know your party's platform and understand in ernest what your party is trying to accomplish. Why do you think politicians "belong" to a party? Ticket spliters do so for the following main reasons:

1. They do not have a thorough understanding of the demo/repub platforms
2. They actually believe political ads speak the truth.
3. They are confussed by the platforms (i.e., a party's platform seems to make sense to them but the party does things which conflicts with their platform) and/or political ads (i.e., the ads somewhat make sense but are contrary to knowledge the voter has) so they split their ticket thinking they are "balancing" the power between the political partys as is suggested by the U.S.'s three branches of government.

I suggest all you ticket spliters look deeper into U.S. politics so you feel comfortable in voting a straight ticket. The days of "voting for the man (or woman)" have been largely over for numerous decades becuase both major partys are extremely polorized.

you left out:

4. They are not partisan hacks.

 

[Budarow]

In today's national political climate...if you vote for an "independent" party you're just throwing your vote away. Maybe in 20 more years enough voters will be educated enough about the "inside workings" of politics to make a 3rd party viable, but for today...there is only 2 parties on the national scene. Period.

I will say this...the internet as an information tool is quickly changing politics. Information spreads (and yes some misinformation) so rapidly and reaches so many that the "truth" will eventually be more "widespread" than the misinformation.

Like with so many other "processes", the internet is a great thing, but it will take time to do a job on politics.

 

[raildogg]

most people just vote on party basis. sad but true