To vote or not to vote??? - TranceAddict Forums

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-- To vote or not to vote???

Posted by Techno_Twins on Oct-09-2008 01:06:

To vote or not to vote???

Just curious if you all vote and if so what are your reasons for voting? And if you don't vote, why not?

Posted by pkcRAISTLIN on Oct-09-2008 01:10:

Compulsory voting is a cornerstone of a strong democracy, which is why australia is the shit.

How can anyone NOT want to vote against the republican party given the last 8 years of dishonest incompetence?

Posted by Techno_Twins on Oct-09-2008 01:19:

quote:
Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
Compulsory voting is a cornerstone of a strong democracy, which is why australia is the shit.

How can anyone NOT want to vote against the republican party given the last 8 years of dishonest incompetence?

I couldn't agree more!

Posted by Alex on Oct-09-2008 01:24:

I don't think forced voting is all that spectacular of an idea.

Not that bad of an idea either I guess but sort of useless since I'm sure there must be an option on the ballots to the effect of "fuck off, I don't want to vote for these dicks" or the ballot will have useless parties on it where people who don't want to get fined dump their votes instead of voting for the major parties.

Posted by Lebezniatnikov on Oct-09-2008 01:28:

I believe in Australia going to the polls is compulsory... voting is not.

Pkc should be able to confirm or correct.

Posted by pkcRAISTLIN on Oct-09-2008 01:30:

quote:
Originally posted by Alex
I don't think forced voting is all that spectacular of an idea.

1. it helps create a sense of civic duty
2. it means that money and time isnt spent on "voting drives"
3. it means that politicians have to consider ALL the people that vote, not just those that are traditional supporters when formulating policy
4. despite claims to the contrary, statistical analysis tells us the increase in donkey votes due to compulsory voting is negligble

quote:
Originally posted by Alex
Not that bad of an idea either I guess but sort of useless since I'm sure there must be an option on the ballots to the effect of "fuck off, I don't want to vote for these dicks" or the ballot will have useless parties on it where people who don't want to get fined dump their votes instead of voting for the major parties.

there is no requirement to "vote" at all. there is merely a requirement to appear at a polling booth and have your name ticked off the electoral roll. what you do with your piece of paper is up to you.

Posted by Krypton on Oct-09-2008 01:44:

I vote because otherwise, I'de have no excuse to complain about the leadership...

Posted by Zild on Oct-09-2008 02:53:

quote:
Originally posted by Krypton
I vote because otherwise, I'de have no excuse to complain about the leadership...

I've heard that lame excuse before. However all the electoral votes from Texas are going to Senator McCain, so it doesn't matter much either way.

Posted by Krypton on Oct-09-2008 03:02:

quote:
Originally posted by Zild
I've heard that lame excuse before. However all the electoral votes from Texas are going to Senator McCain, so it doesn't matter much either way.

True...I'll still have the satisfaction of taking several votes away from McCain. I've got my mom, dad, and a couple friends convinced McCain is an old angry fart who shouldn't be anywhere near the Oval Office.

Posted by pkcRAISTLIN on Oct-09-2008 03:03:

to me, its the principle. im not a texan but if i could vote against mccain id fucking do it anyway.

Posted by Zild on Oct-09-2008 03:05:

quote:
Originally posted by Krypton
True...I'll still have the satisfaction of taking several votes away from McCain. I've got my mom, dad, and a couple friends convinced McCain is an old angry fart who shouldn't be anywhere near the Oval Office.

I guess you get to complain then. Should sound like "I voted Obama, but it didn't count for shit."

Posted by Zild on Oct-09-2008 03:05:

quote:
Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
to me, its the principle. im not a texan but if i could vote against mccain id fucking do it anyway.

too bad that 'principle' doesn't do anything to help your vote count

Posted by pkcRAISTLIN on Oct-09-2008 03:07:

quote:
Originally posted by Zild
too bad that 'principle' doesn't do anything to help your vote count

yeah, but that's why its called "principle" and not "practice"

Posted by verndogs on Oct-09-2008 03:15:

quote:
Originally posted by Zild
too bad that 'principle' doesn't do anything to help your vote count

+1

I still vote even though my vote is completely useless in NY state

Posted by Zild on Oct-09-2008 03:20:

I still have voted every time even though my votes don't go towards the candidate I choose, but I don't agree with the you can't complain about anything if you don't vote. I think as long as you are a citizen and you pay taxes you can voice any opinion you want regardless of our voter status. Even the opinion of non citizens and those of other countries is valid since what we do matters not only to us but to the entire global community.

Posted by DJ Shibby on Oct-09-2008 04:02:

quote:
Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
1. it helps create a sense of civic duty
2. it means that money and time isnt spent on "voting drives"
3. it means that politicians have to consider ALL the people that vote, not just those that are traditional supporters when formulating policy
4. despite claims to the contrary, statistical analysis tells us the increase in donkey votes due to compulsory voting is negligble

there is no requirement to "vote" at all. there is merely a requirement to appear at a polling booth and have your name ticked off the electoral roll. what you do with your piece of paper is up to you.

Awesome, great information.

In America every state has different dates and guidelines for voting.

You used to not be able to vote if you were black or female; nowadays they keep the blacks from voting in most midwestern/southern states by disallowing anyone charged with a crime from voting.

In some "progressive" states, any resident who isn't currently jailed can vote.

Really shines some light on the "need" for drug war policy, and mass incarceration in this country, with a large percentage of our entire population in jail for nonviolent crimes.

Posted by Zild on Oct-09-2008 04:10:

quote:
Originally posted by DJ Shibby
Awesome, great information.

In America every state has different dates and guidelines for voting.

You used to not be able to vote if you were black or female; nowadays they keep the blacks from voting in most midwestern/southern states by disallowing anyone charged with a crime from voting.

In some "progressive" states, any resident who isn't currently jailed can vote.

Really shines some light on the "need" for drug war policy, and mass incarceration in this country, with a large percentage of our entire population in jail for nonviolent crimes.

Thank you. Anyone who thinks that institutional racism isn't alive and well is very naive.

Posted by pkcRAISTLIN on Oct-09-2008 04:17:

im pretty sure you can vote here as long as youre 18 and not currently in prison. ^^ that's pretty fvcked.

Posted by Sunsnail on Oct-09-2008 04:22:

Yeah, felons can't vote.

Posted by Zild on Oct-09-2008 04:24:

quote:
Originally posted by pkcRAISTLIN
im pretty sure you can vote here as long as youre 18 and not currently in prison. ^^ that's pretty fvcked.

http://usgovinfo.about.com/blvrbystate.htm

Check out the southern state requirements in comparison with say New York or Vermont.

Posted by Techno_Twins on Oct-09-2008 23:05:

quote:
Originally posted by Krypton
I vote because otherwise, I'de have no excuse to complain about the leadership...

So true.
I ask because I have to write a paper for one of my classes and even though I believe we all should vote I'm having a hard time explaining why.