Why do some people not vote?

[chuckywang]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie

Originally posted by: chuckywang
If you walk into a restaurant and there's nothing good on the menu, you leave.

and starve.

The analogy doesn't go that far. Some people don't like to choose between what they perceive as two evils. Not voting because you don't care is one thing, but not voting when you have done the research on the candidates is another.

 

[cubby1223]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
i think anyone who chooses not to vote has absolutely given up their right to bitch and moan about not liking how things are going.

And I'm sure there are thousands, if not millions, of people who voted for Bush and are complaining about the administration is conducting themselves. Do they have the right to bitch & moan, those who voted the republicans into the whitehouse? Or how about someone who "throws their vote away" by voting Nader? What about those who flip a coin before entering the voting booth? Or those who do a full party vote without knowing any of the candidates or the issues?

I'm just saying I've never liked the arguement that people who don't vote can't complain. In my view, everyone has the right to complain. Not everyone has the time or the capacity to be politically knowledgable - but certainly they do know when their lives are being adversely affected, and they deserve a voice right along side everyone else.

But that's just my opinion.

 

[Saint Nick]

It's their way of... sticking it to the man.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: chuckywang

Originally posted by: KarenMarie

Originally posted by: chuckywang
If you walk into a restaurant and there's nothing good on the menu, you leave.

and starve.

The analogy doesn't go that far. Some people don't like to choose between what they perceive as two evils. Not voting because you don't care is one thing, but not voting when you have done the research on the candidates is another.

if you dont vote, and the worse of two evils is elected, do you complain? i hope not
not voting is showing a sign that you dont care
and frankly, and here's the childish thing to say... move to canada (no offense to canadians, its just a way to rid of people, and its close )
but seriously, like i said before, even if both candidates aren't to your liking, even after research, one of them is bound to get to office. so, why not play your cards and hope the lesser of two evils is elected. may not be a good politician, but at least its that individual instead of the worser individual.
people who dont vote shouldn't get any rights, period. yeah i'll go that far. its called being apart of your country and helping shape it to you see fit. thats what the system was designed for. be happy we get to vote and exercise that right.

 

[KarenMarie]

Originally posted by: cubby1223

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
i think anyone who chooses not to vote has absolutely given up their right to bitch and moan about not liking how things are going.

And I'm sure there are thousands, if not millions, of people who voted for Bush and are complaining about the administration is conducting themselves. Do they have the right to bitch & moan, those who voted the republicans into the whitehouse? Or how about someone who "throws their vote away" by voting Nader? What about those who flip a coin before entering the voting booth? Or those who do a full party vote without knowing any of the candidates or the issues?

I'm just saying I've never liked the arguement that people who don't vote can't complain. In my view, everyone has the right to complain. Not everyone has the time or the capacity to be politically knowledgable - but certainly they do know when their lives are being adversely affected, and they deserve a voice right along side everyone else.

But that's just my opinion.

Everyone who votes... does SOMEthing. For whatever reason... to vote FOR someone or AGAINST someone else. They are taking action.

those that sit on the sidelines and do nothing... they have no credence in any complaint.

 

[destrekor]

Originally posted by: cubby1223

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
i think anyone who chooses not to vote has absolutely given up their right to bitch and moan about not liking how things are going.

And I'm sure there are thousands, if not millions, of people who voted for Bush and are complaining about the administration is conducting themselves. Do they have the right to bitch & moan, those who voted the republicans into the whitehouse? Or how about someone who "throws their vote away" by voting Nader? What about those who flip a coin before entering the voting booth? Or those who do a full party vote without knowing any of the candidates or the issues?

I'm just saying I've never liked the arguement that people who don't vote can't complain. In my view, everyone has the right to complain. Not everyone has the time or the capacity to be politically knowledgable - but certainly they do know when their lives are being adversely affected, and they deserve a voice right along side everyone else.

But that's just my opinion.

to put it in more defined terms, they dont deserve the right to complain if they vote without meaning. throwing away a vote is just as bad as not voting at all.

 

[GeekDrew]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
Everyone who votes... does SOMEthing. For whatever reason... to vote FOR someone or AGAINST someone else. They are taking action.

You don't necessarily have to vote for or against someone... you are able to vote indifferently if you like - just don't select a candidate on the race. You aren't helping or hurting anyone that way, and you are still voting.

 

[Kaervak]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
i think anyone who chooses not to vote has absolutely given up their right to bitch and moan about not liking how things are going.

You lose your right to complain when you stop paying taxes.

 

[chuckywang]

Originally posted by: destrekor
if you dont vote, and the worse of two evils is elected, do you complain?

You complain about what's wrong with that candidate to begin with, and you breath a sigh of relief that the other candidate wasn't elected.

 

[destrekor]

its funny when someone says they are sticking it to the man and still pay taxes
so not voting, yet paying taxes.. kind of playing a two-faced game eh? kinda hypocritical

vote.. its the american right... people flee their countries to be here every day to get that right while native americans throw all their rights away

wouldn't be surprised at how easy it would actually end up being to be voted in and actually turn the system around on us... i mean, with a large enough group of armed-supporters, who'd be stopping that from happening.
a few generals here, a few brainwashed privates there, some coffee-house pushes, and a few convincing words... wow its actually kinda scary and im glad noone has really attempted a large-scale coup with the right cards it would be easy
so what im saying is.. research candidates and vote

 

[Bateluer]

I've voted in every election since I became old enough. I don't live in a swing state. I vote because its the only way to bring about a change, if thats what you want. Yes, there are two dominant parties in the US. But, there are always 3rd party candidates on the ballot, they may not win, but you threw your support behind who you thought was right. Doesn't matter whether or not the win or lose.

To not vote at all is to give up.

Besides, those who abstain from voting, in my opinion, forfeit all rights to complain about how the government is being run.

 

[Agnostos Insania]

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
i think anyone who chooses not to vote has absolutely given up their right to bitch and moan about not liking how things are going.

Originally posted by: Minjin
Why aren't you guys voting in local elections? They may not make the news as much as the national ones but your vote counts more and the results affect you more.

Here are the results of the Oklahoma 2004 Elections:
The first number is Republican, the second is second place.

Bush 959,792 66%
Kerry 503,966 34%

Senate:

Coburn 763,433 53%
Carson 596,750 41%

House:

Sullivan (Incumbent) 187,145 60%
Dodd 116,731 38%

Lucas (Incumbent) 215,510 82%
Wilson 46,621 18%

Cole (Incumbent) 198,985 78%
Bradshaw 56,869 22%

Istook (Incumbent) 180,430 66%
Smith 92,719 34%

Ballet Measures:
Ban Same-Sex Marriage:

Yes 1,075,216 76%
No 347,303 24%

-------------

Add one to the second options and you'll have the results if I bothered to vote.

 

[Bateluer]

Originally posted by: Agnostos Insania

Originally posted by: KarenMarie
i think anyone who chooses not to vote has absolutely given up their right to bitch and moan about not liking how things are going.

Originally posted by: Minjin
Why aren't you guys voting in local elections? They may not make the news as much as the national ones but your vote counts more and the results affect you more.

Here are the results of the Oklahoma 2004 Elections:
The first number is Republican, the second is second place.

Bush 959,792 66%
Kerry 503,966 34%

Senate:

Coburn 763,433 53%
Carson 596,750 41%

House:

Sullivan (Incumbent) 187,145 60%
Dodd 116,731 38%

Lucas (Incumbent) 215,510 82%
Wilson 46,621 18%

Cole (Incumbent) 198,985 78%
Bradshaw 56,869 22%

Istook (Incumbent) 180,430 66%
Smith 92,719 34%

Ballet Measures:
Ban Same-Sex Marriage:

Yes 1,075,216 76%
No 347,303 24%

-------------

Add a 1 to almost all of those lists and you'll have the results if I bothered to vote.

So you choose to lay down your weapons and let them simply take your head?
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I've been watching Highlander . . .

 

[Agnostos Insania]

Originally posted by: Bateluer
So you choose to lay down your weapons and let them simply take your head?

I've been watching Highlander . . .

Their weapon is a Starcruiser with a plasma cannon and my weapon is a lollipop. I'll lick my lollipop and wait for my demise. There can be only one.

 

[Fenixgoon]

some people dont feel like they know enough to vote.. hell, i'm spending the next 7 years in philadelphia, but i count as a maryland citizen. what the hell will i know about local politics next election (next year)?

 

[RU482]

In the last presidential election, my reason for NOT voting was that both major candidates were crooks, and a third party candidate is more of a disruption than good.
In hindsight, I wish I had voted for a thrid party guy, but meh

The people who I have met who were shocked that I did not vote were shocked because THEY HAD AN OBJECTIVE and wish I could have contributed to their objective...not because of my avoidance of "civic duty" (though most would word it the other way around)

 

[habib89]

i was too busy with school and such to keep myself up to date on everything (propositions and such) so i decided not to vote, instead of make an uneducated vote.

 

[sash1]

because I was born 1 month and 1 day after the election last year, so I couldn't vote for NOT bush!

 

[KK]

Originally posted by: Kauru
because I was born 1 month and 1 day after the election last year, so I couldn't vote for NOT bush!

So you are like 1 year old?

 

[sash1]

Originally posted by: KK

Originally posted by: Kauru
because I was born 1 month and 1 day after the election last year, so I couldn't vote for NOT bush!

So you are like 1 year old?

umm, you have to be 18 to vote?

edit: lol, I worded it wrong. I was born 1 month and 1 day too late. I'm 19, now

 

[swimscubasteve]

I think those who don't realize that their vote will most likely NEVER matter are idiots.

And I pay taxes, therefore I have a right to complain.

 

[xSauronx]

these threads always remind me of lizards:


"It comes from a very ancient democracy, you see ..."

"You mean, it comes from a world of lizards?"

"No," said Ford, who by this time was a little more rational and coherent than he had been, having finally had the coffee forced down him, "nothing so simple. Nothing anything like so straightforward. On its world, the people are people. The leaders are lizards. The people hate the lizards and the lizards role the people."

"Odd," said Arthur, "I thought you said it was a democracy."

"I did," said Ford. "It is."

"So," said Arthur, hoping he wasn't sounding ridiculously obtuse, "why don't people get rid of the lizards?"

"It honestly doesn't occur to them," said Ford. "They've all got the vote, so they all pretty much assume that the government they've voted in more or less approximates to the government they want."

"You mean they actually vote for the lizards?"

"Oh yes," said Ford with a shrug, "of course."

"But," said Arthur, going for the big one again, "why?"

"Because if they didn't vote for a lizard," said Ford, "the wrong lizard might get in.


im 22, i didnt vote last year, but i will next year.

 

[Siddhartha]

Originally posted by: Schadenfroh
I feel that it is my duty to vote.

I think US citizens should be required to vote. We need to pass a law and back it with fines for people who break the law.

 

[compuwiz1]

Sometimes NOT voting IS voting. Ponder that.

 

[saahmed]

People, specifically in America, are lazy.