I'm Not Voting Tomorrow, And Here's Why

Howie Felterbush said:
There was a difference between Stalin and Hitler, too. I think one of them really hated Jews and the other one had a hat...I forget which was which.

What they profess to believe in and what they do are two entirely different things. What happened to Obama's promise to allow the importing of prescription drugs to keep medical costs down? Or his idea to televise the debates about health care? His comprehensive immigration policy? These are all good ideas that helped him get elected, but they got scrapped. They weren't held up by partisan politics, they were just abandoned or politicized into non-existence.

Politicians from both sides of the aisle have too long a track record of doing things like this for me to trust them anymore.

Sorry. You'll just have to pretend to be a Democracy without me. :p
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None of these were scrapped. You just aren't paying close attention, apparently, because in the area of health care, the environment, and even immigration, stuff has happened. On immigration, Obama is suing Arizona over SB1070. Would McCain be suing Arizona? So on your own example, there's an easily discernible difference.

On health care, do you need to be reminded that a big bill passed, pretty recently? Are you of the opinion that it had no text in it? Just blank pages?

And of course, Obama did televise lots of debates on health care. Is he empowered to force congress to open all deliberations?
 
I don't care for either party. And I won't vote.

You may not think I can whine, but I'll tell you what I will do and frequently.

Laugh my ass off.

This country deserves everyone they vote for. Especially if they vote for teabaggers.
 
None of the examples I gave came to be.

Can you buy less expensive imported drugs? No. Politicized out of the picture for future "cost savings". Kind of like trading a draft pick for "future considerations". Sure, there was a "big bill" passed recently, but it was pretty lame, especially when compared to the original idea.

"But what we will do is, we'll have the negotiations televised on C-SPAN, so that people can see who is making arguments on behalf of their constituents, and who are making arguments on behalf of the drug companies or the insurance companies."-President Obama

Did this happen? Did I forget to set my DVR? A few Town Hall type meetings aside, the big stuff was settled without being televised, including the imported drug deal.

Comprehensive immigration policy? In the first year of his presidency? Did this happen, too? Suing Arizona is not a "comprehensive immigration policy". A year in and all we had was some groundwork but no actual bill put forth. Now we're a couple of years in and he's finally off the pot and ready to ****. Eventually this, too will be compromised into meaninglessness by partisan nonsense.


Look, I'm not down on Obama any more than any other politician, he's just the one with the most current string of BS promises that never happened. Just because you believe in him doesn't mean I'm wrong for not buying in. I have lots of great ideas, too. Vote for me and I promise I'll think about actually doing some of them if it's not too difficult. :) See how easy that is?

They all suck. Skeeve is right.
 
If you don't exercise your rights, you will care less about them, and eventually lose them.
 
Your problem, Howie, is that you believe the details of what is said on the campaign trail. If you'd be more realistic, then all the other cynicism would not be necessary.
 
Howie Felterbush said:
Teach me.

Is it like "suspension of disbelief"? :D
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No, it's more like acting like a thinking, rational adult and making a decision on which direction you want the country to move. Being upset that some portion of what you wanted didn't get enacted is looking at politics the way children look at the world. Either/or, all/nothing, black/white.

I mean, do what you want, but no one has to respect it. I have more respect for Republicans who vote than liberals who don't.
 
Howie Felterbush said:
Thunder said:
Folks who live in Representative Democracies and do NOT vote, have no right to complain.That said, I congratulate you all in putting cynicism aside for a day, and doing your civic duty.
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What if there is no one you feel comfortable voting for? Should you vote for someone you don't agree with just so you can complain?
"If you don't vote you can't complain" is one of the stupidest things you hear this time of year. It's right up there with anything you hear after the words, "If I am elected, I promise to..."
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You shouldn't vote just so you can complain; but complaining isn't justified if you haven't voted. You should vote because it's your responsibility as a member of this society. You get the perks, you do the work.

Write in someone if there are no candidates for whom you "feel comfortable" voting. Hell, write in your own name if you have to.
Skeeve said:
I don't care for either party. And I won't vote.

You may not think I can whine, but I'll tell you what I will do and frequently.

Laugh my ass off.

This country deserves everyone they vote for. Especially if they vote for teabaggers.
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My dad always said that people got the government they deserve.

My problem with what you and he said is that I don't feel I deserve those idiots I vote against. But sometimes I still get them. And I complain (which I have a right to do because I voted). Voting is one of your responsibilities under the social contract. I'm sure you could figure out a way to do it if you tried.

Not voting and then laughing doesn't accomplish anything. It smacks of a little kid pointing and going nyah nyah nyah nayah. Can't you pick a lesser of two (or however many) evils to vote for? Or do an anti-vote. You indicate you don't like the tea party; so vote against them, even if you also don't like their opponents. Another possibility is to write in a choice who is not in either of the two parties you dislike.


P.S. I'm holding you both personally responsible for any teabaggers who are elected (because I don't know where you vote, I'll attribute everywhere to you).
 
Unabogie said:
No, it's more like acting like a thinking, rational adult and making a decision on which direction you want the country to move. Being upset that some portion of what you wanted didn't get enacted is looking at politics the way children look at the world. Either/or, all/nothing, black/white.

I mean, do what you want, but no one has to respect it. I have more respect for Republicans who vote than liberals who don't.
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I'll get by somehow without your respect. It'll be tough, but I'll manage.

No one ever broke a campaign promise to me; no one I ever voted for got elected. :)
 
Howie Felterbush said:
Don't worry, as soon as someone comes along that I feel deserves my vote I will give it to them. Do I not have the right to withhold my vote if I don't see anyone worth voting for?
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Of course you do. But it's important to separate apathy from such a choice. I have a hard time believing there's no one you find worth voting for.

I vote third party with some frequency...

Also, you should consider writing to, talking to, otherwise engaging your elected representatives, whether you voted for them or not. Our responsibility does not end at the ballot box. You might learn something interesting about them, maybe even find one or more is worth your vote after all. (Or maybe the opposite, but you never know unless you try.)
 
Howie Felterbush said:
I'll get by somehow without your respect. It'll be tough, but I'll manage.

No one ever broke a campaign promise to me; no one I ever voted for got elected. :)
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Meh. It's a free country, but allowing other people to pick who gets to boss you around isn't my idea of exercising the "franchise". Oh, well. I've called 25 people tonight and found 3 voters who are going to vote instead of you. I hope they don't elect someone you hate.
 
FattyCatty said:
You shouldn't vote just so you can complain; but complaining isn't justified if you haven't voted. You should vote because it's your responsibility as a member of this society. You get the perks, you do the work.

Write in someone if there are no candidates for whom you "feel comfortable" voting. Hell, write in your own name if you have to.
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I have done this. I have also voted for the third party candidate with the most humorous name.


P.S. I'm holding you both personally responsible for any teabaggers who are elected (because I don't know where you vote, I'll attribute everywhere to you)
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Horicon, WI.

Feel free to hold me responsible for whatever you like. I hold you responsible for the Titanic sinking.
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Unabogie said:
Meh. It's a free country, but allowing other people to pick who gets to boss you around isn't my idea of exercising the "franchise". Oh, well. I've called 25 people tonight and found 3 voters who are going to vote instead of you. I hope they don't elect someone you hate.
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Oh, they will. I hate 'em all. But my life will go on just as it did before the election. It has for every other election in my lifetime, why should this one be any different?
 
Howie Felterbush said:
Feel free to hold me responsible for whatever you like.
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Anyone who didn't vote for someone other then the winning candidate is partially responsible for who won, simple math :)

But I sympathize with your plight. Sometimes every candidate on the ballot seems to be a bad choice. Looking at the them objectively, openly, honestly though, there usually is one who is the lessor, even if slightly, of all evils. Sure it's like choosing between getting in the head with a hammer 5 times or 4. But the fact is, you will be getting hit in the head anyway, why not shoot for 4. Worst case is you can, while holding your bleeding head, feel at least you did as much as you could.

You can still bitch if you don't vote, but it rings hollow and it seems to be the cowardly way out.
 
DavidJames said:
Anyone who didn't vote for someone other then the winning candidate is partially responsible for who won, simple math :)

But I sympathize with your plight. Sometimes every candidate on the ballot seems to be a bad choice. Looking at the them objectively, openly, honestly though, there usually is one who is the lessor, even if slightly, of all evils. Sure it's like choosing between getting in the head with a hammer 5 times or 4. But the fact is, you will be getting hit in the head anyway, why not shoot for 4. Worst case is you can, while holding your bleeding head, feel at least you did as much as you could.

You can still bitch if you don't vote, but it rings hollow and it seems to be the cowardly way out.
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I hear you.

But what if I don't feel right voting for the lesser of two evils? You all carry on about the right to vote and civic duty and all that, but what about my obligation to myself?

The cowardly way out, in my opinion, is to do something you don't feel right about just because someone seems to think you're obliged to.

If I think neither candidate is fit for office, then I will not vote.

Period.
 
Howie Felterbush said:
I hear you.

But what if I don't feel right voting for the lesser of two evils? You all carry on about the right to vote and civic duty and all that, but what about my obligation to myself?

The cowardly way out, in my opinion, is to do something you don't feel right about just because someone seems to think you're obliged to.

If I think neither candidate is fit for office, then I will not vote.

Period.
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I don't know what to tell you, it's an imperfect system. Sometimes it takes a lot of work to find out which turd is best. Do what you want.

I'll just say in many years talking and reading about people who don't vote, on the surface the explanation is like yours. Dig deeper and I find that people are just to damn lazy to figure it out or cowards who don't want to commit to something so they can preach from atop their tower about how nothing is their fault cause they refused to take a stand.

Edit - last resort, write someone in, or just cross out both or whatever, but whatever you do, keep the damn goats away from the ballot.
 
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Thunder said:
Folks who live in Representative Democracies and do NOT vote, have no right to complain.
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I disagree.

The right to complain is fundamental and shouldn't be restricted by whether or not you voted.

The privilege of having your complaints taken seriously on the other hand ought to be revoked upon your refusal to participate in the process. (NB: I favor having a "No Confidence" option for the Howie Felterbushes out there)
 
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DavidJames said:
I don't know what to tell you, it's an imperfect system. Sometimes it takes a lot of work to find out which turd is best. Do what you want.

I'll just say in many years talking and reading about people who don't vote, on the surface the explanation is like yours. Dig deeper and I find that people are just to damn lazy to figure it out or cowards who don't want to commit to something so they can preach from atop their tower about how nothing is their fault cause they refused to take a stand.
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Well, it's not laziness, because the polling place is about three blocks from my house. I'll walk farther than that for a haircut. And I hate getting my hair cut.

And I really hope you're not calling me a coward...what you don't know about me I could just about squeeze into the Grand Canyon. You'd be better off taking what I say about myself and my reasons for voting or not as the truth and dropping it. I don't fear reprisals for the choices I make, but you can bet your last dollar when I make a choice, it's one I can live with.


To Mr D.: No Confidence I could live with. That was my vote for Chancellor Valorum. :)
 
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