Actually, JTR, I’m glad you don’t vote if you don’t care enough to pay attention to state and local issues.
I’m just glad the majority of Americans aren’t as dimwitted as you.
Active.
I know most of my local and some of my State representatives personally. I was invited to the local Republican Headquarters for a “victory” party last night. And a, by special invitation only, Hillary/Lazio debate breakfast. You don’t get invited to those unless they know you.
A few months ago, I had dinner with Dick Armey (The House Majority Leader). Read it again, I was not at a dinner where Dick Armey happened to be, he was at my table. I actually had a conversation with him. He’s a very nice man.
I campaigned for several of my local representatives. I have been known to knock on doors to get people to sign petitions - but, I choose those “fights” very carefully.
As far as the President - I voted - I have EARNED the right to whine by casting my vote.
Locally, as I’ve said, I’m friendly with them - I’ll whine directly to them. I’m not afraid of them. I have no trouble saying, “Nancy, you promised you’d take care of XYZ, think you’re going to get around to it in this decade?”
At least we’re trying to pick someone who we think will help. More than I can say for the apathetic non-voter.
Well, at least I voted.
Uh … because you’re an American, you have the right to whine whether you vote or not. It’s not something you have to earn.
I’m a “his.” And thanks for the support, Democritus. It’s always nice to hear from a like-minded person.
I’ll vote when there are issues of consequence to me. In the meantime, your concerns don’t become my concerns just because you feel strongly about them.
Demonstrate to me that my actions are manifestly illegal or unjust if you really want to change my behavior. If you can’t do that, then fuck off.
Have a good night! 
Eutychus said:
Yes, non-voters have the right to whine. However, their whining is completely unjustified if they don’t even get off their asses to go vote. If you didn’t care enough to help pick the government, why the hell should anyone listen to you bitch about it? It’s like bitching about what’s for dinner when you didn’t help make it. If you don’t contribute, sit down and shut the hell up.
Sniveling about the lack of quality candidates doesn’t cut it either. I didn’t particularly like either Bush or Gore. And I was even more afraid of the wackos posing as third party candidates. However, I voted because it’s important that each of us honestly votes for the candidate we believe should hold the office.
Furthermore, there are a ton of important issues decided at the state and local level. In Washington state alone, school construction, teacher salaries, the transportation budget and tax cuts were all on the ballot. Whether these initiatives passed or not will make a real difference in my community. If you’re too lazy to find out about these issues and vote, then don’t whine when your taxes go up or down. You had a chance to make a difference and you said, ahh, why bother.
Democracy and representative government only works if the electorate becomes informed and takes part. Sitting on the sidelines wrapped up in the glory of your own ignoance simply doesn’t cut it. Lazy ass bastards.
[Wow, my first pit post.]
… ignorance … not “ignoance”
And I previewed the fucking thing. Son of a …
I’m with you, Satan. I think we should put a referendum on the ballot to have everyone who doesn’t vote pay all the taxes. Who’s going to stop us? You with me?
Seriously, I grant that there are a few people who have legitimate excuses for not voting. My own aunt, from Long Island, is visiting us here in Massachusetts because my grandmother came down ill. She left NY too late to get an absentee ballot, so she couldn’t vote. Perhaps Guinastasia’s dad is similarly impacted by his present situation. But being unable to vote for some reason is COMPLETELY different from choosing not to do so out of sloth, apathy, and indifference.
Dismissing the process as unimportant, or claiming that your vote doesn’t make a difference is so thunderingly naive and complacent as to leave me speechless. Well, not really, but I’m trying to control myself.
That’s like people who litter claiming that their little bit of trash won’t make any difference to the huge pollution problem. That’s just foolish, in litter or voting. If you can’t see the flaw in it, and remarkably enough many people can’t, I can only hope that you emigrate.
If you really, honest to god, can’t find even the slightest sliver of difference between Gore and Bush to make a decision on, then vote the ticket. Surely you can find differences between Cheney and Lieberman; it’s not the best way to make the decision, but it’s enough. If you’re from a distant galaxy or something, and don’t see any difference between the VP candidates, either, then at least vote for the party you like best (and I never thought I’d be recommending THAT!). But it shouldn’t ever come to that. Even if both candidates make identical promises, surely you think one or the other would be better at achieving those promises?
If none of that is sufficient for you, then vote for a third party candidate, even if only to chip away at the R/D-parties’ stranglehold on the government. Even if, oh, say, Nader doesn’t get elected, the desire to attract those voters next time will have a moderating influence on the major parties. Eventually, talented people from outside the two big parties may actually have a chance. (I’m still disappointed about John Anderson, can you tell?)
The bottom line is: you are a member of this society and therefore have a responsibility to participate in its civic functions, especially elections. You can abrogate that responsibility - that is indeed your decision, just like deciding not to brush your teeth or shower - but it is your “right” only in the sense that there are no official penalties for doing so. And it is an irresponsibility on your part in despite of which others are NOT required to respect you. So lay off Satan; he has as much right to slam you as you have to stay home with your Doritos watching “Friends” reruns.
I’ve gone through this, 3 or 4 times already. From my very first apearence on the board.
My views are pretty well summed up here.
http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?threadid=22945
I just love people that think that just because they vote, they have more of a right to criticise the system. Know what, your vote made no difference. None, zip, nada. If you hadn’t voted, the election would have turned out the same. So how does that give you a right to criticize people who don’t vote?
Lets make it a new national law. If you don’t vote and get a receipt then you don’t get any federal program money. This would really be a shot.
Oldscratch: There’s an old saying – the game may be crooked, but it’s the only game in town.
JTR: Whether to levy various taxes, the paving of roads, economic development initiatives to lure businesses to counties, education, economic developoment vs. environmental protection, massive construction projects like the building of interstates – you’re right; obviously no intelligent person would waste time learning about these or taking action on such projects.
However, I have changed my mind. I am glad you didn’t vote because you have the civic spirit of a used condom and lack the intelligence to pour piss from a boot.
Drop dead, you goat-felching, coprophagous, lackwitted son of a bitch, and burn in hell.
Oldscratch: There’s an old saying – the game may be crooked, but it’s the only game in town.
JTR: Whether to levy various taxes, the paving of roads, economic development initiatives to lure businesses to counties, education, economic developoment vs. environmental protection, massive construction projects like the building of interstates – you’re right; obviously no intelligent person would waste time learning about these or taking action on such projects.
However, I have changed my mind. I am glad you didn’t vote because you have the civic spirit of a used condom and lack the intelligence to pour piss from a boot.
Drop dead, you goat-felching, coprophagous, lackwitted son of a bitch, and burn in hell.
Minxsmom said
Bask in the memory while you can. Now that Bush will be the new President, he was elected by such a slim majority(and has a split Senate),that he will need to be a centrist to function. IMHO, this means that cretins like Armey, DeLay, etc. will have to go. HE WAS A VERY NICE MAN
How do you know??? You had dinner with him. He may have been nice during dinner, but have you been asleep the last four years? The Republican right, which came in after Clinton, will have to depart so that the business of the US can continue. Count on it.
Just to keep it on thread, I voted. I voted for each and every issue on my ballot. And I did so in an informed manner. I knew what the issues were months ago. And if you don’t know what you’re voting for, stay the Hell outa the booth. Don’t fuck up the election for people who actually care enough to do their homework. Sit at home and wait for events to transport you to your next destination. Just don’t miss your stop.