# I was wrong and you were right. \[Trump-related\] **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [February 2, 2017, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824 "2017-02-02T15:54:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![BigAppleBucky](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigapplebucky/32/178_2.png) [@BigAppleBucky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigAppleBucky)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2017, 6:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824/161 "2017-02-09T18:09:04Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > . . . > I will register to vote and start voting and I will definitely be voting\*\* four years from now\*\*… that is, if we’re still all alive in four years. Or if we still have the right to vote. I wish I had done it before, in this election. I’m sorry I didn’t. > I was definitely in the wrong and wanted you all to know I admit it and feel bad and sorry over it. > > That’s all. Don’t wait four years. There will be important off-year elections in 2017 and then a hugely important mid-term election in 2018. If you have a chance to vote - take it. Voting every four years is like being a 25% citizen. Chances are your local governments are up for election this year. On Long Island where I live, my town and county are run mainly by Democrats, thank God. We have triple AAA bond ratings and relatively honest office holders. The town neighboring mine has been run by Republicans for decades. The town supervisor was recently forced to resign after his arrest for bribery. The town, even though wealthy, has a junk bond rating due to the graft and waste. The other county (heavily Republican) has been under state financial agency control for years now because they simply could not run their own affairs. The GOP county executive is under indictment. The responsible office holders are up for election this year. It is important. Don’t miss an opportunity to have a say. I will be working for good government by supporting the people for town board and county legislature that I believe will do the best job. You should too. ---
**Author:** ![Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/try2b_comprehensive/32/65_2.png) [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Try2B_Comprehensive)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 4:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824/162 "2017-02-10T04:35:35Z")
> [@Telemark](#): > > Which is like saying “You’ve made a mistake and there’s nothing you can do to redeem yourself.” It’s a useless and unproductive sentiment, much like not voting. > [@k9bfriender](#): > > We can either try to convince the non-voters and fence sitters to come out in 2018 and 2020 to fix the problems, (And hopefully encourage them to go and vote in their local elections too) or we can convince them that no matter what they do, they are scum, and will never be forgiven. Is there no penance, no form of self flagellation that will allow you to recognize those who made a mistake as human beings? Even in the pit, putting words in someone’s mouth is a dirty move. I addressed this exact topic upthread, [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19979858&postcount=103) and [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=19982354&postcount=146): > [@](#): > > I think non-voters like Idle Thoughts ought to perform some act of penance beyond simply getting off their duffs and voting next time. Not something humiliating, but more along the lines of counterbalancing the non-weight of their non-votes. Maybe some form of participation in the political process? > [@](#): > > Does he feel as bad as all the people who are going to fucking croak because of his inaction? Is he going to do anything more than “feel bad”? Don’t you think nonvoters owe us all just a little bit more than that? I have returned to this point a few times, that _sorry just isn’t good enough_. More than that? It might be good enough. But maybe not. The OT came up wrt to stonings. I think the [story of Esau](https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis+25%3A29-34&version=ESV) is a better reference. Here in America we are endowed with an historic inheritance in terms of our Constitution, our culture, our wealth and position in the world. The right to vote is _rare_ in history- as powerless as some of us sometimes feel, there is at least that, at a minimum. But no, apparently 49% of the eligible population lacks the sense of appreciation to make use of even this basic power. Does it matter whether or not Esau was sorry to have squandered his inheritance? Or was it gone regardless? Is it significant that in this case it is in exchange for nothing at all, whatsoever? _That_ is useless and unproductive- **Telemark** , retract your false criticism of my argument! :mad: > [@](#): > > Just from a pragmatic point of view, which do you think is more likely to get the dems control within our generation? > > There are still plenty of people out there who are still proud of not having voted for hillary. Direct your ire at them, not those who have recognized the error of their ways. Ha! That’s the million dollar question, no, **k9**? And nice job framing it in terms of pragmatism with me. Is “Dem strategy” the goal I am trying to accomplish with my posting here? Or is it something else? I have already covered this territory as well: constantly translating every utterance into partisan-strategyese makes a person come across as a PC cop, whether or not that is accurate or even fair. I personally abhor nonvoters. It is up to the DNC to find some way to deal with my views, as I am not willing to adapt to them at this point. Capiche? And I will apportion my ire as I see fit, thank you very much. I have far more ire for nonvoters than I do for any Trump or Stein voter. In America, you get to vote for your favorite candidate! We all call each other morons for our choices for what? 18 months now before the event, but once election day comes, you better cast your vote. The system breaks down if you don’t, and then fucked up shit follows, and it is the fault of the nonvoters at that point, who have just begun to receive my ire. In closing, do you _believe_ that I am sincere in my opposition to nonvoters? Or does it seem as if I am posing in such a way that I will curry favor with this or that faction? Which seems more likely _to you_? ---
**Author:** ![madmonk28](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madmonk28/32/20811_2.png) [@madmonk28](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madmonk28)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824/163 "2017-02-10T07:04:11Z")
What seems most likely to me is that you keep missing the point: your position does nothing to change the current situation in which 49% of eligible voters don’t vote. You keep writing these long posts, but can’t seem to get your head around that basic fact. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 11:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824/164 "2017-02-10T11:02:40Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > I have returned to this point a few times, that _sorry just isn’t good enough_. More than that? It might be good enough. But maybe not. And that proves you don’t actually support the cause. You’ve converted someone, yet you still want to attack them. Everyone has pointed out how bad it is to the cause, but you don’t give a shit. Just as long as you get to hurt other people. I put that little story there for a reason. Right now, you are not acting like someone who supports the cause. You’re vindictive, rather than trying to make things better. If you aren’t trying to make things better, then you’re no better than the people who didn’t vote, who also didn’t make things better. ---
**Author:** ![JKellyMap](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jkellymap/32/15880_2.png) [@JKellyMap](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JKellyMap)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 11:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824/165 "2017-02-10T11:48:27Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > Don’t wait four years. There will be important off-year elections in 2017 and then a hugely important mid-term election in 2018. If you have a chance to vote - take it. Voting every four years is like being a 25% citizen. > > Chances are your local governments are up for election this year. > > On Long Island where I live, my town and county are run mainly by Democrats, thank God. We have triple AAA bond ratings and relatively honest office holders. > > The town neighboring mine has been run by Republicans for decades. The town supervisor was recently forced to resign after his arrest for bribery. The town, even though wealthy, has a junk bond rating due to the graft and waste. > > The other county (heavily Republican) has been under state financial agency control for years now because they simply could not run their own affairs. The GOP county executive is under indictment. > > The responsible office holders are up for election this year. It is important. Don’t miss an opportunity to have a say. I will be working for good government by supporting the people for town board and county legislature that I believe will do the best job. You should too. Great post – important general plea, backed up with some interesting local detail. Thanks for the reminder – I consider myself a responsible voting citizen, but even folks like me sometimes neglect to vote in off-years. (We never miss a midterm, though.) ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 12:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824/166 "2017-02-10T12:30:15Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > I don’t object to praising the guy for making a good move. OTOH, dog poop is not a good comparison. One is the non-participation in civic duty, the other is an untrained animal that knows not where to poop. Non-voters really should already have known better. How many valid excuses to the contrary can there really be? > > We all have to live with these election results for years to come. It isn’t as if threads like this one resolve the problems caused by non-voters. I think non-voters like **Idle Thoughts** ought to perform some act of penance beyond simply getting off their duffs and voting next time. Not something humiliating, but more along the lines of counterbalancing the non-weight of their non-votes. Maybe some form of participation in the political process? It was bad enough that he failed to vote. It would be worse if we shamed him to the point of not voting again. I’d rather have him realize that he made a mistake and then try to correct it. Perhaps all it takes is another 100,000 or so ‘Idle Thoughts’ non-voters to make the difference in 2018. The only real emphasis I’d like to add here is for Idle Thoughts to do more than just vote in presidential elections. Even among those who voted in 2016 and 2012, there are far too many who fail to vote for mid-terms elections in between, which are no less important to the future of our country. 2018, not 2020, is critical to the future of the country, as are the many local elections. Donald Trump was made possible – intentionally or not – by decades of local activism, which included a strategy of political obstructionism. If people think voting in 2020 is the answer, they’re seriously deluded. I get why posters like Farnaby are disillusioned with democracy – it doesn’t guarantee a just result. But the fact is that any political system rewards those who are most ambitious and competitive. In an authoritarian regime, the competitors are a handful of strongmen fighting with each other. In a democracy, it’s larger groups of people. The republicans, the conservatives have been motivated to vote while progressives and the politically apathetic have taken their status as a first world nation for granted. Time to get off the bench and into the game. I’m glad the OP is doing just that. ---
**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:** [February 10, 2017, 1:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824/167 "2017-02-10T13:11:30Z")
> [@Try2B\_Comprehensive](#): > > But no, apparently 49% of the eligible population lacks the sense of appreciation to make use of even this basic power. Does it matter whether or not Esau was sorry to have squandered his inheritance? Or was it gone regardless? Is it significant that in this case it is in exchange for nothing at all, whatsoever? _That_ is useless and unproductive- **Telemark** , retract your false criticism of my argument! :mad: I don’t think so. You’re looking for reparations for damages on something you weren’t owed. You’re blaming non-voters for not performing what you consider a mandatory civic duty that doesn’t exist. No one owes you anything. You aren’t owed a bigger check, you aren’t owed someone’s vote, you aren’t owed an apology for being called out on a nonsensical line of argument. ---
**Author:** ![Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/left_hand_of_dorkness/32/7156_2.png) [@Left\_Hand\_of\_Dorkness](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Left_Hand_of_Dorkness)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824/168 "2017-02-10T13:27:08Z")
As I said before: we all oughtta be participating in the political process more than most of us do. **Idle Thoughts** , you have confessed. I don’t give a crap about Hail Maries, but for your penance, I give you 500 phone calls to your representatives per year for each year that you didn’t vote. Make two calls a day Monday-Friday, and you’ll be fine. ---
**Author:** ![madsircool](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/madsircool/32/3432_2.png) [@madsircool](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/madsircool)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2017, 7:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824/169 "2017-02-10T19:32:14Z")
> [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > Don’t wait four years. There will be important off-year elections in 2017 and then a hugely important mid-term election in 2018. If you have a chance to vote - take it. Voting every four years is like being a 25% citizen. > > Chances are your local governments are up for election this year. > > On Long Island where I live, my town and county are run mainly by Democrats, thank God. We have triple AAA bond ratings and relatively honest office holders. > > The town neighboring mine has been run by Republicans for decades. The town supervisor was recently forced to resign after his arrest for bribery. The town, even though wealthy, has a junk bond rating due to the graft and waste. > > The other county (heavily Republican) has been under state financial agency control for years now because they simply could not run their own affairs. The GOP county executive is under indictment. > > The responsible office holders are up for election this year. It is important. Don’t miss an opportunity to have a say. I will be working for good government by supporting the people for town board and county legislature that I believe will do the best job. You should too. One might have amnesia and forget Tammany Hall existed. Read Robert Caros > [@BigAppleBucky](#): > > Don’t wait four years. There will be important off-year elections in 2017 and then a hugely important mid-term election in 2018. If you have a chance to vote - take it. Voting every four years is like being a 25% citizen. > > Chances are your local governments are up for election this year. > > On Long Island where I live, my town and county are run mainly by Democrats, thank God. We have triple AAA bond ratings and relatively honest office holders. > > The town neighboring mine has been run by Republicans for decades. The town supervisor was recently forced to resign after his arrest for bribery. The town, even though wealthy, has a junk bond rating due to the graft and waste. > > The other county (heavily Republican) has been under state financial agency control for years now because they simply could not run their own affairs. The GOP county executive is under indictment. > > The responsible office holders are up for election this year. It is important. Don’t miss an opportunity to have a say. I will be working for good government by supporting the people for town board and county legislature that I believe will do the best job. You should too. One might have amnesia and forget Tammany Hall existed. Read Robert Caros The Power Broker. ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 3:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824/170 "2017-02-11T03:37:11Z")
Just stay watchful. The Repubs and their buddies the Russians have learned that fake news (theirs), whisper campaigns, hacking, and vote splitting all work. Expect it to keep happening. Don’t get fooled. And if the son of a bitch starts spouting about flags and Gawd and keepin’ us safe, be doubly watchful. ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 5:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824/171 "2017-02-11T05:17:07Z")
> [@madsircool](#): > > One might have amnesia and forget Tammany Hall existed. Read Robert Caros > > One might have amnesia and forget Tammany Hall existed. Read Robert Caros The Power Broker. Hey, I thought Groundhog Day was over. ---
**Author:** ![Siam\_Sam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/d78d45/32.png) [@Siam\_Sam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Siam_Sam)\ **Post date:** [February 11, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824/172 "2017-02-11T20:44:23Z")
> [@Idle\_Thoughts](#): > > In the last few days…Trump… > …Did the Muslim Ban thing. > …[Has hung up on the Australian Prime Minister.](http://nypost.com/2017/02/01/trump-blasted-australian-prime-minister-during-worst-call-by-far/) > …[Has gotten the Prime Minister of Canada to accept all refugees.](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/canadian-prime-minister-justin-trudeau-says-canada-welcomes-refugees/) > …[Has threatened Mexico with invasion](http://time.com/4657474/donald-trump-enrique-pena-nieto-mexico-bad-hombres/) > …and I don’t even want to think about what I read happened in Yemen. > [I’m sorry for this topic](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=809946). I was wrong. I was wrong not to vote. I was wrong in thinking it doesn’t matter or that it’s pointless. I very humbly apologize. > I will register to vote and start voting and I will definitely be voting four years from now… that is, if we’re still all alive in four years. Or if we still have the right to vote. I wish I had done it before, in this election. I’m sorry I didn’t. > I was definitely in the wrong and wanted you all to know I admit it and feel bad and sorry over it. > > That’s all. Good man. Don’t forget to vote in the 2018 elections. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 12:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824/173 "2017-02-12T00:09:45Z")
> [@Morgenstern](#): > > My friend, you may be sorry now, but that is going to pale in the wave of rights and freedoms we’re about to lose under Donald John Trump and Field Marshall Jefferson Beauregard Sessions. I don’t see a shooting war, only because I think the Generals are smart enough not to, and hopefully strong enough to resist his temper tantrums. But I see a trade war coming that will leave the US, and the world in a major world wide recession. Trump just isn’t smart enough to win a trade war against Asia and South America. > > Yeah, you and a slew of others who were complacent have more than likely set America back to the political stone ages. And there’s not a fucking thing anyone can do but suffer and pray that age and debility are allies in our battle against this cretin. When a person truly apologizes, take their word for it. What’s done is done, don’t discourage them now. ---
**Author:** ![asahi](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/asahi/32/8693_2.png) [@asahi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/asahi)\ **Post date:** [February 12, 2017, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824/174 "2017-02-12T04:26:19Z")
> [@Siam\_Sam](#): > > Good man. Don’t forget to vote in the 2018 elections. It all starts with local elections. If progressives spend their time focusing solely on Trump, nothing will change. There has to be a progressive movement that’s enlightened and somewhat academic on one hand but doesn’t talk down to working class folk on the other. ---
**Author:** ![Steve\_MB](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/steve_mb/32/5339_2.png) [@Steve\_MB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Steve_MB)\ **Post date:** [February 27, 2017, 11:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824/175 "2017-02-27T23:58:38Z")
[Apparently](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/27/us/trump-rallies.html) quite a few of Trump’s voters are having second thoughts: > [@](#): > > President Trump’s biggest fans would like to say something: They’re still here. > > In the five weeks since his inauguration, many have started to worry that the populist energy that helped vault Mr. Trump to victory is being subsumed by the _millions_ of critics who have rallied at airports, city squares and town hall-style meetings to protest his policies on immigration, health care, reproductive rights and more. > > So on Monday, _hundreds_ rallied across the country at statehouses and on courthouse steps to wave flags, listen to conservative speakers and stick up for a president who they say has been treated unfairly by the news media and his critics… (emphasis added) ---
**Author:** ![SteveG1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bb73d2/32.png) [@SteveG1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SteveG1)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824/176 "2017-02-28T00:37:19Z")
> [@Steve\_MB](#): > > [Apparently](https://www.nytimes.com/2017/02/27/us/trump-rallies.html) quite a few of Trump’s voters are having second thoughts: > (emphasis added) Fake news, so unfair, so sad. Paid demonstrators bussed in from parts unknown to disrupt and terrorize. So unfair. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 6:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824/177 "2017-02-28T06:53:58Z")
Idle, I’m ignoring everything because you are a FOAF and I like our mutual friend. Were I one to have an opinion, though, you are an idiot, but I don’t care enough to tell her. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 6:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824/178 "2017-02-28T06:56:52Z")
Somehow, I suspect I’ve said that before. No bother. You are still an idiot. ---
**Author:** ![septimus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/septimus/32/410_2.png) [@septimus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/septimus)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 8:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824/179 "2017-02-28T08:12:46Z")
I can’t believe all the guff **Idle Thoughts** gets in this thread, especially since he has firmly repented and vowed to become a voter. His Location is Arizona which isn’t really a swing state. Strong congratulations rare in order, not words like “idiot.” Suppose the Tragedy of November 8th wakes up a few million more Americans. Is it possible that **Nancy Pelosi** will become the Speaker of the House in 2018? Wouldn’t that be a spectacular triumph for the Forces of Reason? (Realistic? — Let’s band together, preach at every opportunity, fight for it and find out.) ---
**Author:** ![kambuckta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/53a042/32.png) [@kambuckta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kambuckta)\ **Post date:** [February 28, 2017, 8:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824/180 "2017-02-28T08:33:13Z")
Jaysus, with the responses of many in this thread, you’d think that Idle had single-handedly brought about the end of teh US and democracy in the-world-as-we-know-it! Fnark…Idle, go well and VOTE next time! And enjoy your lunch! 😛 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-was-wrong-and-you-were-right-trump-related/778824.md?page=10)