# I live in the US, but I don't vote. Never have, never will. Ask Me Anything if you want. **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [November 8, 2016, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059 "2016-11-08T13:49:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 7:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/141 "2016-11-08T19:35:35Z")
> [@GrandWino](#): > > Dude… I like you. Always have. But how the hell can you continue being a moderator of a message board that strives to “fight ignorance” when you say things like this? My job as mod here doesn’t require me knowing that stuff. I don’t mod forums where politics are heavily discussed. ---
**Author:** ![amarinth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3be4f8/32.png) [@amarinth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/amarinth)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 7:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/142 "2016-11-08T19:44:54Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > Look, even if I did vote, I have NO IDEA or caring about issues or what anyone stands for. I couldn’t tell you what a conservative or democrat is…or a liberal or republican. Who stands for what? Who believes in what? Which parties take a stand on what things? Is that all that “politics” means to you? I can understand not thinking that your vote matters and that voting is just a waste of time. I can also understand someone thinking that the issues are just too complicated and that they don’t have information or knowledge enough to make an informed decision. But, today, in Arizona (the state listed in your location), they’re voting on whether or not your friends & neighbors get sick leave. I don’t understand not caring about that (either “wow, that’s going to be really expensive for \_\_\_ who might need to go out of business because they can’t afford it” or “that’s going to be great for \_\_\_\_\_ who won’t have to stumble to work when they’ve got the flu or risk losing pay.”). At least some of the people you know are going to be personally affected by that vote…I don’t understand how you can care about those people and not care about the stuff that’s going to happen to them. (Now whether or not it makes it worth your time to vote is a different question) ---
**Author:** ![Larry\_Borgia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/larry_borgia/32/156_2.png) [@Larry\_Borgia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Larry_Borgia)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/143 "2016-11-08T19:45:58Z")
If someone is so tuned out that they don’t know the difference between a conservative and a liberal, or a Republican and a Democrat, or even, apparently, what those words mean, it’s probably for the best that they don’t vote. I vote in DC, which is absolutely useless. Stein and Johnson will probably beat Trump here. There is possibly a housecat who will get more votes than Trump. We have no Congressional representation other than Eleanor Holmes Norton, who I like but is essentially running unopposed. But I did it anyway, mainly because i like to feel like I’m part of the process, along the lines of what **Octopus** posted above. But ignorance is a compelling reason not to vote. If you somehow have no idea who Trump or Clinton are or what they believe, if you would just be picking a name at random, then please stay home. There was some school board selection I skipped because I knew nothing about the candidates. I’d hate to find out I’d voted for a lunatic over a qualified candidate. ---
**Author:** ![Ravenman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ravenman/32/2929_2.png) [@Ravenman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ravenman)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/144 "2016-11-08T19:57:15Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > 1. I think it was great that they did that and that it’s a big part of how we came to be as a society today. I consider them heroes myself. Regarding people who protested for civil rights in the 1960s: I’m curious if you ever think to yourself whether you could/ought to display the same selfless devotion to any cause that these people did, though the cause may be different today; or if you have any regret if the answer is, “No, I could not see myself trying to change things the way that they did.” Do you think the people who marched for civil rights are born different than you? Not in terms of race or whatever, but in terms of conviction, morals, ethics, or other matters of character? How so? Last question, and I’ll take a pause to let others continue beating up on you. Is it difficult for you to judge other peoples’ words and actions in terms what you believe is right or wrong? Like, maybe you rarely think about such questions, or you feel like it is too subjective an issue for you to reach conclusions, or it isn’t appropriate for you to do so? ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 7:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/145 "2016-11-08T19:58:44Z")
Well, like I posted in the election “Who Voted?” thread, I feel I wasted a half hour standing in line to cast a vote that was **absolutely meaningless** (for Prez). Really only went for local Question One and Two. ---
**Author:** ![Damuri\_Ajashi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/898d66/32.png) [@Damuri\_Ajashi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Damuri_Ajashi)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 7:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/146 "2016-11-08T19:59:02Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > I was going to make this in Elections, but then I thought “Yeah, but there will be a majority who will probably not like this (my viewpoint and the fact that I think and feel this way), so I figure I’ll let everyone have the chance to speak freely, even if it’s just to bash me.” > > Anyway, my sole reason is, I simply don’t care who is president. > Voting is a right. That’ why it’s called the “Right to vote”. So, by that same token, I have the right not to vote as well. The way I see it, I am free and allowed to give up my right to vote if I so choose. > > I have never voted before. I’m not even registered. I can’t foresee a time when I will vote. I just have a huge indifference when it comes to all things and every thing political. I have no caring in any of it whatsoever. > > If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask. The point of this is to let people ask questions and explore the mind/opinion/viewpoints of someone who is so indifferent to politics that they don’t bother having their say and to try to understand my reasoning… > …However, if you just want to insult me or pile on due to thinking I’m one of the most evil people that exists due to the fact that I don’t care to vote, well…that’s fine too, but it probably won’t receive a reply. You know that legalizing marijuana and raising the minimum wage are both on the ballot this year, right? ---
**Author:** ![Penfeather](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penfeather/32/384_2.png) [@Penfeather](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Penfeather)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/147 "2016-11-08T20:01:26Z")
> [@Snowboarder\_Bo](#): > > You don’t care enough about your money to vote? > > You don’t care enough about what you can and cannot do to vote? > > You don’t care enough about other people to vote? > > What do you care about? His Mom throwing out his Jackie Collins books, and after he’d underlined the dirty bits in orange crayon too. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/148 "2016-11-08T20:04:21Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > No, I’m not okay with it. You and a few others in here are still equating voting with caring for others. > “Do you want your friends to die in wars?” Of course not. > “Do you think people should be sent out of this country if they are US citizens?” No. > > Is any of that a compelling enough case to make me start voting? No. Wow. That’s amazingly contemptible. ---
**Author:** ![Askthepizzaguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/askthepizzaguy/32/9405_2.png) [@Askthepizzaguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Askthepizzaguy)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/149 "2016-11-08T20:07:22Z")
I appreciate the fact that you choose not to vote, if you are not interested in the subject matter enough to read up about it and get informed. There are enough uninformed voters out there as it is. Democracy’s flaw is the uninformed electorate. If there’s no way to get your attention long enough to inform you how to play football, for example, then you definitely shouldn’t be on the field. That just leads to fumbles. This ranks right up there with choosing not to donate to a charity. It is your money. It’s not a crime to not donate, and it’s not a crime to not vote. It may not be the best outcome, but it is better than you donating to like a hate group that wants to change the laws and jail all the gay people or something. I understand the arguments that say it is not. Being unaligned and not involved is a freedom that I respect. Just like being a conscientious objector in warfare. Just like choosing not to subscribe to a newspaper, or choosing not to have access to the internet. Choosing not to join a political party. Choosing not to join a church. I don’t really care what the underlying reason is. Neutral is also fine. Agnostic is fine. Not a soldier is fine. Not a subscriber is fine. The moment it becomes not fine, a loner like me is going to start getting pretty pissed off. I want the right to be left alone. In fact, that’s the entire reason I’m involved politically. I want busybody religious conservatives to keep their beliefs away from my rights. Believe what you want, do what you want, leave me the hell alone. Bottom line. So, TLDR, my position: Neutral is also fine. Switzerland didn’t stand up to the nazis. Doesn’t make them evil. Gandhi wouldn’t have either, and I consider him quite moral. ---
**Author:** ![Knowed\_Out](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/knowed_out/32/7380_2.png) [@Knowed\_Out](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Knowed_Out)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/150 "2016-11-08T20:16:55Z")
> [@Bridget\_Burke](#): > > I just think he’s feeling neglected today, when so many of us have voted or will vote. And are _very_ interested in the outcome. Even some who cannot vote here have expressed their concern. > > Why not just ignore him? He’s boring & incurious. That’s certainly his right, but it doesn’t make him interesting. > > This is my second post in this thread. Two posts too many! > > There’s actually stuff going on today. Even if you don’t care about the election, why not post about something you _do_ find worthwhile? Instead of poor, poor, pitiful me. Please pay attention to me! Actually, I think the OP speaks for a lot of people who aren’t voting today. Even those with no voice have a voice. They’re indifferent because they’re too exhausted to see their efforts go to waste, and lack of voter turnout can mainly be attributed to unappealing candidates and labyrinthine issues. Idle’s thoughts have certainly generated a lot of interest. I’m lucky to get more than a couple of responses to any of my OPs. Speaking for myself, I don’t want to see Trump elected, but I’m not sure Hilary is a better choice. She’s going to be continually butting heads with Repub congressmen who still bear a grudge for Bill, and they’ll probably derail all her efforts sheerly out of spite. All we’ll see for the next four years will be more pissing and spitting in DC, and nothing will get done. The reason why all these contemptible maggots are in Washington is because we VOTED for them. See how not voting can be preferable? ---
**Author:** ![VinylTurnip](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b2d939/32.png) [@VinylTurnip](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/VinylTurnip)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/151 "2016-11-08T20:19:10Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > But I don’t think anyone has said that you shouldn’t have the right to not vote. And the vast majority of the criticism, I believe, has been pretty mild – very, very little “frothing at the mouth, deep anger…”, if any. From what I can tell most of it has been “hey, you should vote” or “it’s very slightly wrong to not vote”. I don’t even care whether he votes. A lot of people don’t. But why is it threadworthy? Why do posters create threads to announce that they’re ignorant and like it that way? Or to boast about some asshole thing they did, like stiffing a delivery driver for some petty non-reason? Not everything needs to be shared; in fact, quite the opposite. For example: the other day I was pissing at a urinal and the end of my belt slipped down and got splashed with urine. I had to rinse it off in the sink, hoping nobody would walk in and see me. Did I come here to tell everyone about it? NO! I mean, not until now… ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/152 "2016-11-08T20:19:56Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > So…if I don’t vote, those things (internet, FB, Youtube) will cease to exist? And I won’t be allowed to read any more because the government will ban it? > > Consider me dubious. No, those things could happen, but you obviously don’t care, or you would ensure that your rights aren’t taken away. > [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > The stuff I already listed, which I seriously doubt the world will lose or be in danger of not having any more just because I didn’t cast my single vote. Those are things you say you care about, but what I said was that your definition of “caring” may be different than mine. You haven’t explained what you mean when you say you “care about” something. When I care about something, I want to ensure that it has a place in the world; that is not going to be removed or destroyed or killed or injured. Things that I care about are things that I seek to improve the stature of in the world, to resist their erosion. People that I care about I seek to keep on the planet, to keep in my life. Things that I care about are not just things that I spent time doting on, they are things that I spend time making sure that I will have time to dote on them. Could you elaborate on what you mean when you say you “care about” something? ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/153 "2016-11-08T20:28:16Z")
> [@Ravenman](#): > > Regarding people who protested for civil rights in the 1960s: I’m curious if you ever think to yourself whether you could/ought to display the same selfless devotion to any cause that these people did, though the cause may be different today; or if you have any regret if the answer is, “No, I could not see myself trying to change things the way that they did.” I wish I had the motivation and level of enthusiasm to, but honestly, I don’t. I’m a supporter in things like that, but I have to admit I’m a bare minimum supporter. I’m the “I say I support it and do my best to stand up for it and fight against it if I see it happening online or in real life” type, but not the “actually go out and march or do anything that would probably make a huge difference” type. My level of laziness is just too high. > [@Ravenman](#): > > Do you think the people who marched for civil rights are born different than you? Not in terms of race or whatever, but in terms of conviction, morals, ethics, or other matters of character? How so? They had more drive than I. More get up and go and pep. I get tired just thinking about getting up to go check the mail. > [@Ravenman](#): > > Is it difficult for you to judge other peoples’ words and actions in terms what you believe is right or wrong? Like, maybe you rarely think about such questions, or you feel like it is too subjective an issue for you to reach conclusions, or it isn’t appropriate for you to do so? Far be it for me to judge anyone about anything unless it’s very clearly morally or illegally wrong. > [@Damuri\_Ajashi](#): > > You know that legalizing marijuana and raising the minimum wage are both on the ballot this year, right? I didn’t. It doesn’t really change my opinion of if I should vote or not, though. I hope they win. I have faith and trust that they will even without my one vote. > [@amarinth](#): > > Is that all that “politics” means to you? Pretty much. It’s a large part of it. To me, politics is like an interest or subject in school. I’m not good at it, I don’t find it interesting or intriguing, I fall asleep or get easily distracted when talking about it or when it comes up. I just haven’t really had anything about it keep my attention or invoke a compelling or strong enough reason in me to ever care more so about them. [QUOTE=Snowboarder Bo] Could you elaborate on what you mean when you say you “care about” something? [/QUOTE] If I care about something, then I actually want to learn about it and find out all I can about it. It deserves my attention. ETA: I’m sorry, I falsely attributed a quote made by Bo to Ravenman, accidentally. I’ve tried to fix it. ---
**Author:** ![Telemark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/telemark/32/372_2.png) [@Telemark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Telemark)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/154 "2016-11-08T20:28:32Z")
> [@iiandyiiii](#): > > But I don’t think anyone has said that you shouldn’t have the right to not vote. And the vast majority of the criticism, I believe, has been pretty mild – very, very little “frothing at the mouth, deep anger…”, if any. From what I can tell most of it has been “hey, you should vote” or “it’s very slightly wrong to not vote”. My response is more of “That’s incredibly lazy and ignorant of you, and I think less of you as a result.” It’s certainly his right to do so, but it’s not a good look. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 8:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/155 "2016-11-08T20:28:42Z")
I have a feeling I’ll miss the edit window with this, so: **Idle Thoughts** , do you have pets? I do. I care for my pets. I love them, I love having them around. I love to pet them and play with them. They are a source of great joy. So I care for them that way. I also care for them by feeding them, by cleaning their letterbox, by making sure they have fresh water. I take them to the vet when they are sick. I’ve paid large sums of money for their healthcare because I don’t want them to die or be sick. My cats deserve to be maintained and looked after, IMO, if only for the selfish reason that I want them to stay in my life and be the healthiest, happiest cats they can be. Even if it gets reduced down to “I care about them because I care about me”, the result is the same: my cats are well-fed, healthy and comfortable, with as little as possible actively threatening their lives. I work hard to keep things that way, because I care about them. So what do you mean when you say you “care about” something? ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/156 "2016-11-08T20:36:59Z")
It’s probably a good thing that people like you, with shitty attitudes towards civic responsibility, don’t vote. You’d vote for assholes like Trump, Not voting still sucks. ---
**Author:** ![Idle\_Thoughts](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/838e76/32.png) [@Idle\_Thoughts](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Idle_Thoughts)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/157 "2016-11-08T20:38:55Z")
Nah, I wouldn’t vote for Trump. If I did vote, I’d be voting for Hillary, although my first choice for voting was Bernie Sanders, to be honest. **Snowboarder Bo** , I don’t know how to better answer your question than I already have. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 8:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/158 "2016-11-08T20:39:30Z")
Not voting is basically saying "I want everyone else to do the work of a civil society - I can’t be bothered to understand the issues or get my ass off the couch. But sure as hell I will bitch and complain about “the government”. ---
**Author:** ![Buck\_Godot](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/buck_godot/32/6573_2.png) [@Buck\_Godot](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Buck_Godot)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/159 "2016-11-08T20:40:10Z")
To the OP: I am curious as to what your view is on other elements of collective responsibility, Examples: Littering: you throwing your individual burger wrapper out the window won’t ruin the view, but if everyone did it it would be bad. Conservation/recycling: One person won’t have any affect on the environment but everyone reducing energy use could make a big difference. Along similar lines I would be interested in your response to this post > [@Crybaby\_Boobie](#): > > So basically you are practicing the “herd immunity” method of voting, and just hope that enough people around you got vaccinated against horrible ideas. Since this seems to be an accurate description of your view. Other people vote, so you don’t have to. ---
**Author:** ![Euphonious\_Polemic](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/euphonious_polemic/32/3002_2.png) [@Euphonious\_Polemic](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Euphonious_Polemic)\ **Post date:** [November 8, 2016, 8:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059/160 "2016-11-08T20:41:09Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > My job as mod here doesn’t require me knowing that stuff. I don’t mod forums where politics are heavily discussed. AKA: “I’m ignorant, and sort of proud of it. I don’t plan on learning anything new in my life, even if it’s important.” Keep on waving your proud ignorance flag. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059.md?page=7) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-live-in-the-us-but-i-dont-vote-never-have-never-will-ask-me-anything-if-you-want/771059.md?page=9)