For so long, I was proud of the fact that I couldn't imagine Nick Clegg's face... kept defaulting to George Osborne (and the sudden desire to punch something...)Dandark said:
Do you vote?
- Thread starter KeyMaster45
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I vote, although I understand the apathy towards it. I've only voted once and to work out who to vote for I went to the BBC's overview of the main partys policies and did a tally of those I liked and a tally of those I disliked, ignoring those I was indifferent to. I ended up liking roughly an equal number of Lib Dem and Labour policies, but I disliked more of the Lib Dem policies.
None of the parties were perfect so I just chose the best of what was on offer. A lot of people seem to judge a party on its leader rather than their policies, which is a little worrying.
None of the parties were perfect so I just chose the best of what was on offer. A lot of people seem to judge a party on its leader rather than their policies, which is a little worrying.
I don't know if there is an abstain option, where I live we don't use the electronic machines, but you can always write in whatever candidate you want. You can write in anyone, as I said it's very common to protest the candidates by voting for Mickey Mouse. With that option available there isn't really any reason to "abstain." If you're fed up with the system you can vote for someone who doesn't exist, if you just don't like the candidates you can vote for whoever you would like to.Kaytastrophe said:
In the UK, the political candidates all look at the blank or spoilt papers, to confirm that they are actually non-votes.
So, if you want to get a message to all your local candidates, write it on the ballot paper. They'll read it.
This may also apply in other countries, too.
So, if you want to get a message to all your local candidates, write it on the ballot paper. They'll read it.
This may also apply in other countries, too.
The US, our presidential elections aren't until November but the circus that is the primaries is currently in full swing.Guffe said:
Touché mate!!thespyisdead said:how much power does a Finnish president have? jackshit!!! what does she do? smile, wave and handle PRGuffe said:What's up with everyone only talking about him being homosexual? he is a decent politician...
I don't think it'll play a big difference which one becomes president, they're both good politicians and will take care of their job.
Would be niec to put Finland on the map with the first openly homsexual president thou
like the finns stereotype the Swedish)
You got me there
I agree on both of those, that's exactly why I don't really mind and I don't think we'll be all labeld gay just because our president is (if he gets elected, I don't know which one has the upper hand anymore, a few weeks ago I could've swore Niinistö will take it but I don't know anymore).
And it's true that the Finnish president doesn't have much other power than discuss stuff with other important people, as you said, smile and wave boys, smile and wave...
But I guess we'll see in a few weeks.
Gah, thank you for reminding me that I still need to register to vote.
[small]I'm only two years late...[/small]
[small]I'm only two years late...[/small]
I live in Canada and I cannot vote yet but I plan to. I think it's somewhat of a responsibility. If you want to live in a democratic society, at least take part in it.
Totally agree. That wasn't a State of the Union Address, it was a list of anything that sounds good. I can't believe anyone voted for him...AngleWyrm said:
I normally do, or try to anyway. I fully recognize that it's a futile gesture, but maybe I'll hit that .00000000001% chance that I'll help avert the greater stupidity from getting into office.
I didn't vote last time, but that was circumstantial: I had registered in the town where I went to school, then my best friend's mom died and I decided going home to check on him was more important.
This time around, I'm trying to leave the country before election day, because this next US election is going to be a shitstorm and I don't want to deal with it. I can't save the country: I need to save myself.
If I do wind up voting... frankly, at this point, I think I'll just write in "Twilight Sparkle" because a cartoon pony is a measurably better option than any of the potential candidates being considered right now.
I didn't vote last time, but that was circumstantial: I had registered in the town where I went to school, then my best friend's mom died and I decided going home to check on him was more important.
This time around, I'm trying to leave the country before election day, because this next US election is going to be a shitstorm and I don't want to deal with it. I can't save the country: I need to save myself.
If I do wind up voting... frankly, at this point, I think I'll just write in "Twilight Sparkle" because a cartoon pony is a measurably better option than any of the potential candidates being considered right now.
I don't vote. Why? Because the current government has kept many citizens as uneducated as possible, allowing them to rest solely on the fact that they "stopped racism and Apartheid". For 18 years!!
[/quote]By not voting they are making a statement that they don't identify with any of the candidates, they don't see themselves being represented. That's a pretty big deal in a "representative democracy" I think they are doing the right thing by not voting.
So I think you're fundamentally wrong to say not voting means you're satisfied with the way things are.[/quote]
Well said good sir
[/quote]By not voting they are making a statement that they don't identify with any of the candidates, they don't see themselves being represented. That's a pretty big deal in a "representative democracy" I think they are doing the right thing by not voting.
So I think you're fundamentally wrong to say not voting means you're satisfied with the way things are.[/quote]
Well said good sir
I don't vote, because I'm an idiot. I have an incredibly vague and inaccurate knowledge of economics, foreign policy, etc., and very little motivation to educate myself, so I choose not to vote. Surely that's a better choice than voting impulsively for the guy you think sounds more impressive, simply because everyone told you that you had to vote.
EDIT: Should also probably point out that I don't vote because I cannot legally do so, not being a citizen of Canada. It's usually a faster and less debatable excuse when people bring up politics.
EDIT: Should also probably point out that I don't vote because I cannot legally do so, not being a citizen of Canada. It's usually a faster and less debatable excuse when people bring up politics.
My father said to me when I was young that you should always go to cast a vote, even if you only write "balls" on the ballot paper. Because (in the UK at least) even a defaced ballot paper gets counted. So defacing a ballot paper is the democratic way of showing that you do care who runs your country, but don't like any of the candidates you're being offered.aPod said:
Not turning up at all does nothing but help the case of politicians who like to argue that there's no point in having referendums, because not enough people turn out to vote.
I don't bother to vote because I've never yet seen a candidate, for anything, that supports, or at least pays lip service, to my political values. It's very much like that South Park episode where one has to choose between a douche and a turd sandwich. Either way, I don't get what I want, so why the fuck bother?
That said, if Ron Paul wins the Republican nomination, I will definitely be voting. He's the closest candidate I'm ever likely to get to my political views.
That said, if Ron Paul wins the Republican nomination, I will definitely be voting. He's the closest candidate I'm ever likely to get to my political views.
Since I don't care much for politics I have made the voting into a game of luck. I take a ballot paper for each party and then turn them over, shuffle, draw one and put it in the envelope without looking which one I picked. I find that much more entertaining than to not vote at all.
