DISCLAIMER: If you have any strongly held religious beliefs or political loyalties, don’t read this. I don’t want to invoke anyone’s wrath. This is just venting.
Who can determine the lesser of two evils?
Either way, taxes will still exist. I earned that money! (Yes, the people have the right to protest and petition against them…but for some reason, still haven’t)
The Republicans are close-minded, the Liberals aren’t liberal enough to stamp out the Republicans, and the other parties must be obscure and unpopular for a reason.
If and when the US falls apart in 2022*, will it really matter who’s running it?
It has been noted that Christianity is “falling in popularity among developed countries” including this one. So why do the God-centered Republicans dominate the House/Senate currently?
It costs money to get a copy of one’s birth certificate to get an ID to get a voting license. And if that much is required just to vote, then it’s not worth the three-hour, $4.50 ride on public transportation.
Over the past few years, it has become obvious that the rich will stay rich and the poor get poorer unless something changes. Voting cannot make that change. Voting is a closed-ended question: A or B? If neither A nor B has your best interests in mind, to heck with it.
*Predicted via astrology. Yes, BlindTyger is one of those woo-woos.
Sounds like he’s doing us all a favor by not voting. Now if only he would follow it up by not posting on our discussion board if he doesn’t actually want a discussion.
“Evil” does not exist. If you lack the ability to judge which of two or more candidates favors policies that are in your best interest and/or the interest of the community, then that’s your failing, not the system’s.
And you live in a civilized society, with laws and regulations and systems in place to make sure those laws are enforced, as well as lots of other things that make it possible for you to earn money in the first place - like safe paved roads and civic infrastructure and clean food and reliable access to medical care. You think all that stuff is free?
I’m unaware of the existence of a “Liberal” party.
Not worthy of a response.
Because they get more votes. Gee, I wonder if that has anything to do with stuck-up “both parties are the same” slackers who don’t bother to exercise the franchise?
I still have the birth certificate the hospital issued my parents when I was born and it didn’t cost me a penny. Moreover, if $4.50 (which won’t even buy you a large pizza these days) is too much to ask of you, then you’ve got no place to be pissing and moaning about how “God-centered Republicans” always end up winning.
Well, you could try voting for the party that’s made income inequality a major part of their platform, instead of just sitting on the sidelines and complaining.
You can tell me one vote doesn’t make a difference.
But if everyone who doesn’t vote because one vote doesn’t make a difference were to vote, their votes would make a difference.
1- Only one party is actively evil. Vote for the other one.
2- Taxes are the cover charge for living in civilization. You earned that money because of the social order and infrastructure that made it possible.
3- The liberals are liberal enough, but there are enough people that vote conservative to prevent meaningful progress.
4- Sorry, but the premise is false and astrology is hokum.
5- Sadly, Republicans are more reliable voters in each and every election, plus they turned lies about the ACA into local election victories in 2010, giving them the chance to gerrymander elections for the next decade.
6- Only one party is trying to make you jump through these hoops. If you give up without trying, they win.
7- Voting can make the change, but we have to vote the right way.
As a rule, don’t folks who believe the US will inevitably soon fall apart soon vote early and often to keep their guns? I certainly would, if I believed that.
I was going to reply but then I reread and saw this. I guess you’re welcome to your beliefs but I guess I’m welcome to thank you for not voting based upon them.
Voting is a precious birthright of citizenship and a moral obligation in a democracy IMHO. Although I have never been one to say “If you don’t vote, you can’t complain” - you have that right regardless - I believe that everyone ought to stay informed and to vote. But of course you have the right to be an idiot - from the Greek idiotes, for one who did not participate in the political process - and not vote.
Well, the Greeks did have a different idea of democracy than just showing up to vote every so often.
The rest of your post is spot on: if you like to vote, you do so because it makes you feel tingly. Either because of “doing your duty”, "participating in the political process"or so you can “keep complaining” without getting the voting thing thrown in your face. Hell, I vote because it gives me someone to root for when the results come in; it’s like an extra classic football game!. Just like fantasy football, it’s just more fun if you are somehow invested;).
These are all very valid considerations, but they do hinge on personal preferences and are not automatically more valuable than preferences that don’t value these societal duties as highly. Because there are costs (time, money) to voting. It only makes sense to vote if you get more in return for it (in whatever way that is).
I am sure I don’t have to say too much about your vote not mattering in the slightest when it comes to the actual results of the elections.
