Political affiliation Democrat/Republican/Independent

[CubmanPi]

That's a bit harsh. Abstaining from the vote is a perfectly acceptable and understandable form of protest.

 

I don't get the bitchiness at people who don't vote. At the very least, by not voting they make your vote more valuable and important. You should be thanking those people, not deriding them.

No, it is pretty much a BS cop out. I love South Park as much as the next cynical slacker, but that reference is apropos of nothing. It is well within someone's right not to vote but reducing the contest to a douche vs. crap makes the decision not to vote one of self-induced ignorance. I find it almost impossible to believe that someone who made him or her self aware of the political stance of the candidates running for any office would reduce a choice for that office to such terrible and disgusting metaphor. It's just an excuse to be willfully uninformed. Even Dave Chappelle was at the debate in SC, and I can't think of a better example of a cynical slacker.

 

Instead of reading it as reducing the contest to douche vs crap, read it as the metaphor it was originally written to be.

 

If the starving population of flies was the single biggest issue facing our nation right now, the turd sandwich would be a no-brainer. If hygiene and cleanliness were the supreme issue, then likewise for the other. This all, of course, is assuming that the candidates fulfill their promises of actually serving in the presidency with the full turdiness/douchiness on which they campaigned.

 

The fact is, if you have more than about one or two issues which are important to you, and those issues are traditionally represented by opposite sides (ie, being strongly opposed to or in favor of both abortion and death penalty), and each side comes with a ball of wax you largely can't stomach, and you can't even trust them to do anything about the issue that's important to you in the first place, then "I don't know" is a perfectly legitimate answer. One can also argue that being this brand of bs'ing, copping out cynical slacker is a step up from being a naive idealist who thought they were voting for personal values and small government and instead got the last 7 years.

[ConstableRabbit]

Just to comment, an interesting alternative is the Australian system, where individuals are taxed for not voting. I find that a bit strange -- as much as I personally disagree with the practice, not voting is well within one's rights.

 

Now I'm not advocating this, but I wonder how much voter turnout would increase if citizens were given a tax deduction for voting, or if at the end of an election a lottery amount was given out to an individual who voted.

 

There was even an article that came out at the end of last year that discussed the value NYU students put on their individual vote. Most agreed that they would forfeit their vote for an iPhone. I'd rather not get into an argument debating the merits of the electoral college, but I wonder if that statistic change for young adults in a more "battleground" state such as Ohio or Florida.

[Banedon]

Just to comment, an interesting alternative is the Australian system, where individuals are taxed for not voting. I find that a bit strange -- as much as I personally disagree with the practice, not voting is well within one's rights.

 

Now I'm not advocating this, but I wonder how much voter turnout would increase if citizens were given a tax deduction for voting, or if at the end of an election a lottery amount was given out to an individual who voted.

 

There was even an article that came out at the end of last year that discussed the value NYU students put on their individual vote. Most agreed that they would forfeit their vote for an iPhone. I'd rather not get into an argument debating the merits of the electoral college, but I wonder if that statistic change for young adults in a more "battleground" state such as Ohio or Florida.

 

How many people would go in and just check random boxes based on no information whatsoever just to get their tax rebate?

 

I admit, I'd love to see more people take advantage of their right to vote, but I want to have my cake and eat it too...I want them to be informed votes.

[SouthSideRyan]

If I recall the article correctly, some of the students mentioned that because they were in New York their vote didn't make much of a difference. I may be rememberring wrongly though.

[cubweiser03]

Libertarian needs its own option.

Austrian Economics in the house. The most enjoyable economics classes of my college experience.

Ludwig von Mises is the man-Liberalism is a great read.

[TruffleShuffle]

There was even an article that came out at the end of last year that discussed the value NYU students put on their individual vote. Most agreed that they would forfeit their vote for an iPhone. I'd rather not get into an argument debating the merits of the electoral college, but I wonder if that statistic change for young adults in a more "battleground" state such as Ohio or Florida.

 

oh hell yeah, i'd forfeit my right to vote for the rest of my life if i could have an iPhone for it. not because i don't like voting or because i really really covet an iPhone, but my vote never matters, so i wouldn't really miss it too much.

[moochpuppy]

Democrat, Republican, Moderate, Independant......it's all bullpucky. I'm for whoever will get this country back on it's feet!!! After all, don't we all live here? Edited February 1, 2008 by moochpuppy

[wvcbxl]

After all, don't we all live here?

 

Not all, but don't let that bother or influence you. 8-)

[TruffleShuffle]

Democrat, Republican, Moderate, Independant......it's all hogwash. I'm for whoever will get this country back on it's feet!!! After all, don't we all live here?

 

earmuffs

[moochpuppy]

After all, don't we all live here?

 

Not all, but don't let that bother or influence you. 8-)

 

Minus our international friends, of course. :)

[moochpuppy]

Democrat, Republican, Moderate, Independant......it's all hogwash. I'm for whoever will get this country back on it's feet!!! After all, don't we all live here?

 

earmuffs

 

What is so difficult to hear? The reason this country is in so much trouble is because the polititans are listening to their special interest groups who fund their campaigns and not to the American people for whom they serve. This goes for all parties.

[Banedon]

Democrat, Republican, Moderate, Independant......it's all hogwash. I'm for whoever will get this country back on it's feet!!! After all, don't we all live here?

 

earmuffs

 

What is so difficult to hear? The reason this country is in so much trouble is because the polititans are listening to their special interest groups who fund their campaigns and not to the American people for whom they serve. This goes for all parties.

 

I think he was referring to the curse word you let slip out... [-X

[moochpuppy]

Democrat, Republican, Moderate, Independant......it's all hogwash. I'm for whoever will get this country back on it's feet!!! After all, don't we all live here?

 

earmuffs

 

What is so difficult to hear? The reason this country is in so much trouble is because the polititans are listening to their special interest groups who fund their campaigns and not to the American people for whom they serve. This goes for all parties.

 

I think he was referring to the curse word you let slip out... [-X

 

8-[

 

Maybe that's because you haven't checked out my trade offer. :-"

 

BTW...hogwash?!? :-s