(no subject)

[terrorlynn]

Alright, kids, two things.

1: farawaypoints rocks my socks. Thanks for the balloons, hotness! They're the first v-gifts i've ever gotten :)

2: Through a lot of ridiculous little glitches, like being in the middle of changing my name, my address, and all that shit, I cant vote today. I expected to feel bad about this, but I dont. Thats right, I dont feel bad for not voting. I do hope that my husband will write more about why he and I think that not everyone SHOULD vote, but to sum it up, here we go: I have not had the ability to educate myself properly on the candidates in my voting district. All I've heard is smear campaigns and bullshit radio advertisements. Yes, I should have made time. Yes, voting is a right. Today, it is a right I choose not to exercise. If I could go to the ballot boxes today, all my little sheet of paper would have on it is third party candidates. Before anyone accuses me of blindly voting along party lines, Im not blind. I just think its bullshit that third party candidates have to sue to get back on the ballot next time if they dont get enough votes this time. Absolute bullshit. I dont share the value set of the republicans, or the democrats, or really any other party. The libertarians are the closest match I can get, so I tend to vote for them if I dont care for any of the other candidates campaign platforms. But, again, I havent had the chance to educate myself on their platforms, so no voting for me. Im 22. I know I "should" vote. I know its the hot thing to be politically active/conscious. But I believe that I am doing the best thing I can for my area by not voting for some schmuck because his radio ads were better than another guys.

Oh, and by the way, Im sick of all the people telling me to vote. It just smacks of "Vote or Die" which just pisses me off on a lot of levels. Again, maybe my husband will explain more. At the moment, I have a lunch date to keep!

Comments

[farawaypoints.livejournal.com]

Glad you like them! Have a nice birthday :)

blatant pimping

[farawaypoints.livejournal.com]

oh, and please come join geekcooks...I would love to have your input on there :)

[sonanova.livejournal.com]

Actually, your reason for not voting is similar to mine. I did not educate myself about my options because I live in one state but pay taxes and claim residency in another and I only know local issues here. I guess I could have registered here, but I did not want to cause a snafu when it comes to paying taxes, residency issues, etc.

[thatgaychick.livejournal.com]

we're lucky we live in a democratic republic and not just a democratic gov't or you WOULD be dead.

That was meant to be funny, btw.

I too am sick of the ads. Even voting 3rd party is still exercising your basic freedom (even if I may personally disagree with it on some level, heh). Is not voting helping anyone?

not causing trouble, just want to cause thought. and since I do this for a living, it's engrained in me!

[pikersean.livejournal.com]

Quick questions:

1.) Why do you personally disagree with voting for a third party, on some level?
2.) Why isn't not voting still exercising your basic freedom? Doesn't the right to vote include the freedom not to vote as well?
3.) Isn't not voting when you don't know the candidate and the issues helping everyone?
4.) Isn't voting when you don't know the candidate and the issues hurting everyone?

[thatgaychick.livejournal.com]

In response:
1.) Because 3rd parties are almost always a cross-hair of the Dems and thereby, take away votes from them so I am bitter

2.) I just don't believe it does. But based upon the fact that a true democracy is what our system (fucked up though it is) of goverment is based upon and frankly, I agree with the Greeks.

3.) That is why the Republican, Democrats and even Indies stand outside of the voting booth with sample ballots. Choose a party or mix them up based upon what the samples say. Sit outside for 5 minutes and talk to the campaign workers to figure out what the candidates stand for....

4.) Again, see above. Also, isn't the issue here the fact that "you" (being general there though) don't know the issues? We cruise Livejournal all day long. We have time for video games and movies. But when it comes down to something as important as voting, all of a sudden people run out of time.

[pikersean.livejournal.com]

1.) While I can see the Greens taking away from the Dems, the largest third party in America is the libertarians. While the libertarians may have some previous dems, it is primarily made up of ex-republicans and take away the votes of republicans. Additionally, the Reform party takes a good many votes from the republicans as well. While I guess it's convenient to blame the Greens for the poor showing of the Dems in the last two elections, I would have to say it is the Dems own internal problems that are really to blame for their losses. But I do understand the fun of having a scape-goat.

2.) I can't really comment on "I just don't believe it does." Since it's more of an opinion as opposed to a position, it falls out of that range of being debatable.

3.) I don't believe sample ballots, or propaganda pamphlets are really what I would consider educating myself on the candidates and issues. Politics tends to more complex than what you can find in a stump speech, but that is all we have been feed by the two leading parties. I guess I just don't consider that being well informed.

4.)Well, to be honest I don't think it is just a matter of time. Politics tends to cover a very large range of issues and can require expertise in many fields. Let's be honest, most of us are ill equiped to understand the economic impact of 5% tax increase in retail sales taxes. To completely understand the issue would take quite a bit of time and research, and the individual aptitude for understanding macro-economics. That's just one small example of an issue that is being put to an ignorant, as in lacking the information, public. That is why most people tend to be one issue voters. They find one issue that is important to them, make sure to keep current on it, and then they are able to vote for the people who share their views on that one issue. However, for those of us who aren't one issue voters, it is hard to make sure we really have a good breath of knowledge on which to determine our opinion. Yes, I could stay up to date on all of the issues that are important to me, but I don't prioritize politics that high in my things to do before I die list. I don't think I'm going to be on my death bed regretting not understanding campaign finance laws. As I can not judge someone for living their life the way they wish and prioritizing things in their life the way they so choose, I don't feel others have the right to tell me how I should priortize things in my life. I guess it comes back to my overriding opinion of the current state of politics: Everyone is trying to tell you how best to live your life, what should be important to you, and how you should feel about what they say is important.

So, I have a very serious question, and it is not meant in anyway to be negative or disrespectful or anything like that. Why do you feel that I should consider voting important? Why should I consider voting more important than say relaxing after work, or spending time with my family? Do you feel that it should be important to everyone?

[pikersean.livejournal.com]

Here is your rant baby luv:
http://pikersean.livejournal.com/54985.html

It's really more like "Vote or you might as well be dead"

[helpful-ninja.livejournal.com]

I'm sorry that snafus kept you off the rolls this time around. But I sincerely hope that next time around, provided you are properly registered to vote, you show up and get a sticker even if you don't know a damn thing about who or what is going on.

Lets just hope there wasn't a referendum on there to raise your property taxes. You didn't go, you didn't see the ballot. Are you certain the candidates are the only thing you didn't express an opinion on?

See my rant on Pikersean.