Poll: Do you vote?

Bakari · Post by **Bakari** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 6:23 pm

Actually, there are significant measurable differences in the policies of democrats and republicans. For evidence, see the charts here: http://www.myspace.com/pyrococcus_furio ... /151368966 (complete with references). Or consider the policies put in place by Franklin Roosevelt vs Ronald Regan.
However, even if the policy differences really were negligible, we don't just vote for presidents. There is an independent governor, 2 members of congress who are neither R nor D, as well as 66 members of state legislators. The more local the race, the more chance a 3rd party has a shot. There are green mayors and libertarian county council members throughout the country.

Given that nearly a quarter of voters are independent or 3rd party, those numbers could clearly be a lot higher if those voters would actually vote!
And aside from all that, voting isn't just about electing people either. All states have some degree of direct democracy, and half of them have citizen initiated votes on proposed laws. Even if you are in a state that doesn't, most localities (city or county) have initiative, referendum and/or recall power in the direct hands of the voters. Elected officials do not always get their way on issues that go up for popular vote. By not voting, you are choosing to give even more power to the very officials you distrust.

photoguy · Post by **photoguy** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 7:09 pm

"All states have some degree of direct democracy, and half of them have citizen initiated votes on proposed laws. "
When I first came to the US/California I thought this was a great idea. However, now I'm not so sure seeing how much it is abused.

KevinW · Post by **KevinW** » Thu Nov 25, 2010 8:08 pm

"When I first came to the US/California I thought this was a great idea. However, now I'm not so sure seeing how much it is abused."
Yeah.

Bakari · Post by **Bakari** » Fri Nov 26, 2010 8:58 pm

Granted, democracy is only as good as the people who vote, and sometimes people are downright stupid.
unfortunately, the only alternatives are anarchy and dictatorship, or some combination of the 3. They all have their pluses and minuses.

Radamisto · Post by **Radamisto** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 8:32 pm

I'm anarcho-capitalist of the Rothbardian variety, and I'm hiding in a tax heaven abroad. As a result, both for ideological and practical reasons, I haven't voted for many years and intend to keep it that way.

JohnnyH · Post by **JohnnyH** » Tue Mar 13, 2012 9:08 pm

I vote on local things... Every time I vote in a federal election I feel ashamed for having participated in what is a charade.
I also feel D and R have lost virtually all meaning and behave like each other once in office... Just look at the last two presidents. R triples size of F. govt, spends many multiples of D predecessor, begs to sign gun control in lame duck. D starts several new wars, adds troops to war promised to end, insane assault on civil liberties.
It's a joke... Guess I'll "throw my vote away" by not participating in a lie and writing in the only logical candidate.

riparian · Post by **riparian** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 12:58 am

Voting is like when you were a kid and you wanted to wear the pink ballerina costume to school but your mom made you pick between the overalls and the paisley dress and called it empowering you by giving you choices.
I don't want any of these idiots to govern me. I wouldn't even want smart people who I agreed with to govern me. I want to govern myself.
I do vote on local issues that I have knowledge of - like when I worked with kids who were involved in the court system I voted in judge elections and I was pretty pissed at all the people voting who had never even been to family court and voted in the wrong guy.

HeOfTheMountains · Post by **HeOfTheMountains** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 2:18 am

Yes, I do.
But I never vote for the "lessor of two evils."
I vote my conscience and I do not compromise. That means that most years, I'm voting for the Libertarian Party candidate, but this year, I'm voting for Ron Paul.
I never have, and never will, vote for someone who does not represent me.

rcamp · Post by **rcamp** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 2:34 am

Yes.

Dragline · Post by **Dragline** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 3:23 am

Yes, because I enjoy it. And my polling place is only a block from my house and the lines usually are not very long.

George the original one · Wed Mar 14, 2012 3:53 am

Silence is compliance. The alternatives to voting are accepting the decisions chosen by others or revolution... neither of those options are satisfactory, so voting is the correct answer.

HeOfTheMountains · Post by **HeOfTheMountains** » Wed Mar 14, 2012 4:14 am

@ George, Exactly my thought on it. I don't care what politics you have (ok, I do care) but please vote and vote your conscience. Otherwise we get more of the same each election cycle...