Racketboy Forums Presidential Election

[dsheinem]

Thank you, i always get into this stupid "lesser of two evils" argument everytime i tell somone i am voting third party. they say "well your just wasting your vote" fxck you! I am not wasting my vote.

Voting third party is a good thing - it DOES register your position and political views. I'm sorry, but not voting DOES NOT do this. It sends a message that you are apathetic or disgusted with politics, but very little if anything about what you would rather see, what kind of candidate you'd rather support, etc.

[AwesomeMonstar]

Thank you, i always get into this stupid "lesser of two evils" argument everytime i tell somone i am voting third party. they say "well your just wasting your vote" fxck you! I am not wasting my vote.

Voting third party is a good thing - it DOES register your position and political views. I'm sorry, but not voting DOES NOT do this. It sends a message that you are apathetic or disgusted with politics, but very little if anything about what you would rather see, what kind of candidate you'd rather support, etc.

"We are launching a 5 percent campaign, because if the Green Party is able to cross the 5 percent threshold it gets the legal characterization of a national major party, and gets subsidized by the government in the same way as the Democratic and Republican parties are." From cynthia Mckinney's website. Even though she is a an awful representative of her party, she has a point, if she gets or any other 3rd party gets a 5% vote we get closer and closer to getting rid of the terrible bi-partisan system.

That said I'm voting obama, not that it'll do any good in Louisiana. The electoral college system is crap.

[Gamerforlife]

Obama got my vote

I don't see a problem with people not voting. If they don't like the candidates why should they? I saw someone get verbally attacked where I work for admitting that he had never voted before and it really irritated me. There are too many judgmental people in this country, always trying to force their way of thinking on others.

Voting is a choice, like anything else in life. Nobody should be harassed simply because they choose not to vote. I just can't stand people going around saying you have to vote because it's your duty. I hate when people pull that it's your duty crap. No one HAS to vote. It's a choice and a lot of people just don't have faith in any of the candidates. Why should they vote for someone they don't believe in?

[lordofduct]

only if this poll effected that decission.

3rd party has 14% yo!!!

[RadarScope1]

Voting third party is not wasting your vote. The only wasted vote is one not cast. It's true you don't have to vote, but I can't imagine myself ever feeling that way, personally. I always feel about three inches taller when I walk out of the polling place, no matter what happens.

[MrPopo]

Obama got my vote

I don't see a problem with people not voting. If they don't like the candidates why should they? I saw someone get verbally attacked where I work for admitting that he had never voted before and it really irritated me. There are too many judgmental people in this country, always trying to force their way of thinking on others.

Voting is a choice, like anything else in life. Nobody should be harassed simply because they choose not to vote. I just can't stand people going around saying you have to vote because it's your duty. I hate when people pull that it's your duty crap. No one HAS to vote. It's a choice and a lot of people just don't have faith in any of the candidates. Why should they vote for someone they don't believe in?

My point exactly. I have the right to vote. I also have the right to NOT vote. Just like I have the right to NOT bear arms, and the right to incriminate myself if I so choose. And that's the beauty of this country. Freedom of choice.

[dsheinem]

I don't see a problem with people not voting. If they don't like the candidates why should they...I just can't stand people going around saying you have to vote because it's your duty...It's a choice and a lot of people just don't have faith in any of the candidates. Why should they vote for someone they don't believe in?

Let me be clear - I am not arguing that voting is some kind of duty or that choosing not to vote is wrong. It's not. I respect people's decision to not vote - I don't vote in every election, either.

What I AM disagreeing with are those who claim that not voting is itself some kind of a powerful political statement. It might be a personal statement, but most Dem/Rep candidates probably don't really care that you aren't voting - better to not vote than to vote third party! I get all when people argue that their lack of participation sends some kind of message.

I also agree that all ballots should have a "none of the above" option.

[lordofduct]

Technically ballots do have a "none of the above" choice.

You don't have to vote in every section on the ballot when you go and vote. By not marking a section you essentially are saying "none of the above". And by passing in your ballot your votes are registered and tallied in. I was just discussing this with my brother a minute actually. In all consideration you could go into you local polling station, take your ballot, go stand in your booth for a minute and twiddle your thumbs and not even read your ballot and then pass it into the machine (or what not) registering that you have voted. In doing so you've basically stated you don't like any of these choices.

This actually slightly effects the voting pool because your vote is registered, and because a candidate is measured percentage wise, you've effected the mean by altering the median. Hence why in the end you will notice if you add up all the percentages of every candidate after closing it never actually adds up to 100%, one reason for this is that people chose not to vote in that section but still turned in a ballot.



...

Just returned from voting as well. Voted the ol' dog I always have voted and always will as long as he is alive.

[Gamerforlife]

I don't see a problem with people not voting. If they don't like the candidates why should they...I just can't stand people going around saying you have to vote because it's your duty...It's a choice and a lot of people just don't have faith in any of the candidates. Why should they vote for someone they don't believe in?

Let me be clear - I am not arguing that voting is some kind of duty or that choosing not to vote is wrong. It's not. I respect people's decision to not vote - I don't vote in every election, either.

What I AM disagreeing with are those who claim that not voting is itself some kind of a powerful political statement. It might be a personal statement, but most Dem/Rep candidates probably don't really care that you aren't voting - better to not vote than to vote third party! I get all when people argue that their lack of participation sends some kind of message.

I also agree that all ballots should have a "none of the above" option.

Good points, though lordofduct's last post above this one is interesting. You actually can vote without voting. Interesting

[Haoie]

Congrats America, you voted in the right choice.

How about a cookie for your troubles?