# This Is Why I Don't Vote **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [September 17, 2004, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766 "2004-09-17T01:10:23Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2004, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766/1 "2004-09-17T01:10:23Z")
So it’s September 11th and I’m doing laundry. I get into a nice conversation with the other person in the laundry room, a woman in her late 20s/early 30s. We talk about the attacks, the upcoming election, etc. She indicates that she “hates that man” (the President) and she’s for Kerry. I just smile and nod, knowing that she probably can’t help it. “This is why I don’t vote,” she declares. “You don’t vote?” “No,” she replies. “But it’s only been in the past 80 or so years that we’ve had the right to vote,” I point out. “If I don’t vote, I can’t be held responsible if we get a bad President,” she reasons. Well thank God you don’t vote, lady. I don’t know if I’m happier that Kerry is losing a vote in our battleground state because you are too damn lazy to get your ass out of bed on November 2nd, or if I’m happier that idiots like you aren’t deciding our nation’s future. Or maybe I’m sad because you’re apparently stupid and aren’t afraid to open your mouth and confirm it. Or because a lot of women worked hard to give us the right to vote, and you can’t be bothered to take advantage of it. Or sad because you don’t realize that, whether you vote or not, who the President is affects you. What’s this “held responsible” garbage? Do you think that people are going to come to your apartment door and put a gun to your head and if you voted for the wrong guy you get shot? Do you really think that if you don’t vote, you aren’t affected at all by how the election turns out? And do you think we are ONLY voting for the President on November 2nd? Don’t you care who our next Governor is, etc? Sure, you have the right not to vote. But I don’t want to hear any bitching for the next 4 years. ---
**Author:** ![Zoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/a4c791/32.png) [@Zoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zoe)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2004, 1:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766/2 "2004-09-17T01:34:47Z")
I was just about to agree with the OP until I read this part of your statement: > [@](#): > > Sure, you have the right not to vote. But I don’t want to hear any bitching for the next 4 years. Is she giving up her right to complain about the government by not voting? I don’t think so. If that were true, then people who vote for the person elected would certainly not have any room to complain. I wish people didn’t take the right to vote for granted either – especially when that right was hard won. But they still have a right (some consider it a duty) to speak up when they think what their elected officials are doing is wrong. I agree that this woman is just reaching for an excuse – _any_ excuse. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 4:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766/3 "2004-09-18T16:13:39Z")
I don’t even understand the logic. If she doesn’t vote and the person she would have voted for loses, and the winner is a bad president, then she certainly bears some responsibility. Is she afraid she will vote for someone who would be a bad President? Does she not even know her own mind? Maybe she shouldn’t vote then. ---
**Author:** ![Mockingbird](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c68b51/32.png) [@Mockingbird](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mockingbird)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 4:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766/4 "2004-09-18T16:24:09Z")
Abbie, both people in the laundromat were dumbasses, not just one. ---
**Author:** ![FriarTed](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/friarted/32/1052_2.png) [@FriarTed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FriarTed)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 5:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766/5 "2004-09-18T17:55:35Z")
My ex-GF (still friends tho) only voted once, for Clinton in his second term. She says now “I voted & look what happened. That’s it!” I don’t try to talk her into voting anymore. Btw, to my credit, I did suggest to my gay gal-pal who is thinking of voting for Nader that she would at least have a chance at defeating Bush by voting for Kerry. Kemp-supporter voting for Bush here (in the 80’s, I was so envisioning a Jack Kemp victory in 2000 _sigh_) ---
**Author:** ![FilmGeek](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/b19c9b/32.png) [@FilmGeek](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FilmGeek)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 5:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766/6 "2004-09-18T17:57:59Z")
Jesus **Mockingbird** , you certainly do have a bug up your ass lately. I have a friend who doesn’t vote, doesn’t discuss politics at all. It certainly is his right NOT to vote, but it’s not because he doesn’t want to “feel responsible” for a bad decision. He also feels he has no right to complain if he doesn’t participate in the process. This state ALWAYS goes Republican, so my vote doesn’t count (stupid electoral college, grumble grumble), but I still cast it. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Largo62](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/45deac/32.png) [@Largo62](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Largo62)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 6:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766/7 "2004-09-18T18:24:15Z")
Uncast ballots have at least as much effect on how things are as cast ones. Unfortunately their effect is all negative. Saying, “I didn’t vote, but at least I didn’t help that jerk get elected” is about like watching a mugging and saying, “I didn’t help the victim, but at least I didn’t hit the poor bastard, too.” ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766/8 "2004-09-18T18:35:53Z")
I fully agree with the philosophy of “If you don’t vote, you automatically vote for the winner.” However, I have found myself wondering lately whether an uninformed voter is more harmful than a non-voter. Jury’s still out on that one. ---
**Author:** ![Weirddave](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/919ad9/32.png) [@Weirddave](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Weirddave)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 6:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766/9 "2004-09-18T18:42:14Z")
> [@Abbie Carmichael](#): > > What’s this “held responsible” garbage? Do you think that people are going to come to your apartment door and put a gun to your head and if you voted for the wrong guy you get shot? Why yes, if you vote for Kerry and Bush wins, that is exactly what will happen. Haven’t you been reading any of the left leaning blogs lately? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Sunspace](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/sunspace/32/1250_2.png) [@Sunspace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sunspace)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766/10 "2004-09-18T18:53:39Z")
“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.” No matter what you define as ‘good’ and ‘evil’. In the last Canadian federal election, I voted for the candidate and party I supported, even though he didn’t have a chance of getting in. Though no candidates from that part were elected, the election results showed support for that party rising dramatically, and it is now being Taken Seriously By The Mainstream Media, and the party is now receiving federal per-vote financing as well. No vote is wasted. ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 6:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766/11 "2004-09-18T18:57:56Z")
All votes allways count. For those of you who don’t vote because your state is solidly the other party, what if a majority of people actually felt like you? The other party would be laughing their heads off. It is certainly (in the U.K. - I won’t presume to state for other countries) a person’s right to not vote, but they bear more responsibility for the outcome than those who do vote, because they didn’t vote. ---
**Author:** ![PussyCow](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/22d042/32.png) [@PussyCow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PussyCow)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 11:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766/12 "2004-09-18T23:02:22Z")
> [@Abbie Carmichael](#): > > We talk about the attacks, the upcoming election, etc. She indicates that she “hates that man” (the President) and she’s for Kerry. **I just smile and nod, knowing that she probably can’t help it.** What the hell does THAT mean? ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 11:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766/13 "2004-09-18T23:25:40Z")
> [@Zoe](#): > > Is she giving up her right to complain about the government by not voting? I don’t think so. See, Zoe…this is why I’m one of your pet Republicans. You and I seem to have much in common in spite of our ideological differences. I’ve felt this way all my life and you’re the only other person I’ve ever heard say it. Cheers. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Starving\_Artist](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/aeb1de/32.png) [@Starving\_Artist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Starving_Artist)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 11:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766/14 "2004-09-18T23:27:42Z")
Oops, sorry. Everyone please embolden ( 😛 ) the word **Zoe** in the post above. ---
**Author:** ![Ephemera](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/8baadc/32.png) [@Ephemera](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ephemera)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2004, 11:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766/15 "2004-09-18T23:29:50Z")
> [@PussyCow](#): > > What the hell does THAT mean? At best, that \*\*Abbie \*\*is only condescending. More truthfully, that she is a partisan hack. Do a search on her user name for further reference. ---
**Author:** ![SolGrundy](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bbce88/32.png) [@SolGrundy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SolGrundy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2004, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766/16 "2004-09-19T02:52:24Z")
> [@FilmGeek](#): > > Jesus **Mockingbird** , you certainly do have a bug up your ass lately. Well, **Mockingbird** can speak for himself, of course. But I suspect that in this case, it’s because **Abbie Carmichael** has been very vocal about an issue that he and I feel very strongly about. I wish **Abbie** had been more vocal with the woman from the OP instead of just waiting to get to the Pit to call her an idiot. I’d like to see more people voting for Kerry to get that homophobic twit Bush out of office. Women have had the right to vote for quite some time, but gays still don’t have the right to marry. End of hijack. ---
**Author:** ![Abbie\_Carmichael](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/49beb7/32.png) [@Abbie\_Carmichael](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Abbie_Carmichael)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2004, 5:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766/17 "2004-09-19T05:21:05Z")
**I wish Abbie had been more vocal with the woman from the OP instead of just waiting to get to the Pit to call her an idiot.** If someone has decided NOT to vote and would otherwise vote for Kerry, I am not going to beg them to get to the polls. If they decide to on their own, great; I’ll even give 'em a ride. Other than that, I’m not breaking a sweat helping someone to cast a ballot for that liar. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2004, 10:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766/18 "2004-09-19T10:21:05Z")
> [@Abbie Carmichael](#): > > \*\*Other than that, I’m not breaking a sweat helping someone to cast a ballot for that liar. Wait. You think she should vote, but you don’t want to help her cast a ballot for a liar. You have non-lying politicians in the US? I’m impressed. ---
**Author:** ![duffer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duffer/32/1026_2.png) [@duffer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duffer)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2004, 11:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766/19 "2004-09-19T11:44:24Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Wait. You think she should vote, but you don’t want to help her cast a ballot for a liar. You have non-lying politicians in the US? > > I’m impressed. Way to miss a point. Index this post. George W Bush will be declared the winner on November 3rd. It’s a lock. [http://electoral-vote.com/](http://electoral-vote.com/) It’s been the same for a while now. 😉 I trust your false hope will make you feel better for a few more weeks. Just don’t melt down on us. ---
**Author:** ![TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tellmei_mnotcrazy/32/3419_2.png) [@TellMeI\_mNotCrazy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TellMeI_mNotCrazy)\ **Post date:** [September 19, 2004, 12:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766/20 "2004-09-19T12:07:09Z")
> [@Abbie Carmichael](#): > > **I wish Abbie had been more vocal with the woman from the OP instead of just waiting to get to the Pit to call her an idiot.** > > If someone has decided NOT to vote and would otherwise vote for Kerry, I am not going to beg them to get to the polls. If they decide to on their own, great; I’ll even give 'em a ride. Other than that, I’m not breaking a sweat helping someone to cast a ballot for that liar. So you’re not upset that she’s not voting; you’re upset that she’s not voting for Kerry? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/this-is-why-i-dont-vote/264766.md?page=2)