Do you vote?

[Marcus Kehoe]

I really just don't care too much about politics, I don't believe that many of them have our best interest at hearts and the ones that do eventually falter. SO I don't care about politicians, because I know no matter who I vote for if the government whants something it will happen.

 

[Macgyvercas]

As a good friend of mine once said, "Voting gives you bitching rights. If you don't vote, don't complain."

Hence, I do vote.

 

[Monkeyman O'Brien]

Nope. Because all my options are complete and utter cunts. If I vote for one of them then I am giving them my support. I would rather they all just die in a gigantic fire.

 

[jdun]

I grew up watching the shit storm that Florida made during the Bush/Gore election. I argued with my parents that Bush should be elected because he didn't win the popular vote. As in more people voted for Gore, but because Bush won the electoral vote he got into office.

I still vote, because while I find many aspects of this country disgusting I am still one of its citizens and should do my duty as an American.

Besides I have no right to ***** about a president, when I never voted in their election.

You should be proud. Not much people understand the electoral process, the constitution, and the founding fathers intent.

 

[jdun]

If you don't vote, YOU are the problem. Not the politicians, not the special interest groups and not the lobbyists, YOU. You're the reason my generation constantly gets crapped on by policy makers. You're the reason OWS is laughed at by congressmen. You're the reason why I have to pay for tax breaks for hedge fund managers. It's your fault my country is fubar, no one else's.

Stop whining, stop playing the victim, stop being a narcissistic prick, and just go vote. Get your whiny narcissistic friends to vote too.

Do you know why government works for old people and not young people? They vote.

We could be a powerful voting block. We could get our voices heard. Want a more equitable distribution of funds for primary education? Vote. Want more government assistance for higher ed programs? Vote. Complaining gets you nothing.

Obama is pro college. McCain less so. Would things be better for college kids under McCain? Sometimes it's not the voting it's the candidates that represent your values. Besides, I foresee a lot of spending cuts in the future assuming Obama isn't elected again. The next few years won't be the greatest for college students. Besides there are bigger problems. Trillions in debt and people want more spending while reducing the deficit?

You do know that going to college make you a government slave forever. Not only that college degree worth less and less in the real world.

What is the cost of getting a four years degree? 200k? You'll be in debt for the rest of your life to the government. There are only two things that you can't default/bankrupt on in the USA. Student loans and taxes. Both paid to the government.

Today college isn't about learning or getting a good education. It's about convincing young stupid kids into spending money that they don't have. Getting them in debt for the rest of their live with useless degrees.

Check netflix, there are documentaries about today college.

 

[jdun]

Let's see; 3 parties, one of whom is never capable of winning and has now denigrated themselves as the nation's Judas, so that leaves me with the Conservatives and Labour. I'm sure to be rewarded with incompetence abound with either choice, but at least given my general centre left leanings, I'll find the latter a hell of a lot more palatable.

What's keeping you from voting Lib Dem? We've already covered earlier in the thread how you don't vote for a party in the UK, you vote for your MP, so it depends where you live for the Lib Dems to have a chance of 'winning'. If everyone who could elect a Lib Dem MP did so there'd probably be over 100 of them.

I saw Obama's socialism immediately and my parents didn't listen to me.

I don't know if you're just trolling mate, but Obama socialist? Please.

Not everyone understood what his spending plans were when he was campaigning.

High spending does not a socialist make. GW Bush was one of the highest spending presidents of the modern era.

Compare to GW, Obama make him look like a child with pennies. Obama spend the most money of any Presidents.

 

[jdun]

Sir, you are so ill informed about the nature of the welfare state, the problems of lopsided economies and their social effects, what socialism is, and the problems affecting Greece (I mean more than just reading a newspaper once in a while), that it is difficult to know where to begin correcting the flaws in your knowledge and logic.

Typical Americans eh? Now I will prepare for a deluge of abuse.

Deluge of abuse? Nope, I'm a very nice person if your were to ever meet me. I'm talking about how Obama wants to increase spending when it can't be sustained. I'm not privy to British politics. My problem is just with Obama's increased spending during a recession while America is in deep debt. A country can keep on affording to spend on welfare but that doesn't fix the problem. Welfare is a short term solution for someone without the means to care for themselves. Long term solutions should be a nations goal rather than paying for everything.

The Europeans are broke. So broke that they will probably go 3rd world. That's what happen when no one produce wealth and everybody spending money like drunken sailors.

 

[jdun]

Well there's no concrete evidence of [Obama] being socialist but many of his spending policies are just so...welfare state-y.

Redistribution of wealth is especially moronic. He doesn't understand business very well which is what made America so rich in the first place. Socialist may not have been the word but if anything Obama is suitable as a "good times" president. Perfect for if much of America's problems were solved. He's not a problem solving president. My point is welfare state=bad. Just look at Greece.

Welfare state = bad? The UK, France, and Germany all have a form of welfare state that far outdoes anything the US has ever instituted. I can also point out that the UK has never had a truly socialist government. Labour may call itself socialist, but it has always been much closer to merely the far left of social democracy.

Greece is not a good example of anything, except skapegoats.

You will see how bad welfare states are soon enough when the Europeans goes 3rd world.

 

[jdun]

Yes, because in Australia it's required by law. During the last election, over-18 year olds risked a $200+ fine for not enrolling. I didn't enrol and didn't get any fine, but I then enrolled a few weeks later. Still have yet to wait for another election for my first voting experience.

That's pretty bad. Voting in Australia isn't a right it's mandatory slavery to the state.

 

[LadyDeadly]

Every time theres an election, i really really dont want to vote.I hate all the candidates usually so i end up voting for either
A.] who my mom votes for because arguing politics with her gets me grounded
B.] The green party , because they sometimes make sense.

 

[isometry]

Democracy is a bad form of government, because it always degenerates into plutocracy (rule by the rich). This was clear to Plato and Aristotle even though they lived before the invention of mass media, which has massively amplified the political influence of the rich.

The reason most people, even partially educated liberals like George Carlin and his audience, get it wrong is because they've been brainwashed by the idea that democracy is a good form of government. They think the problem is just with bad candidates that can be voted away, they don't realize that the problem is the voting itself and the fact that we let so many dumb people do it, and that those dumb people are too easily manipulated by the rich, so bad candidates are baked into democracy by design. You'll never have a chance to vote for a good candidate in a democracy.

 

[Greni]

You will see how bad welfare states are soon enough when the Europeans goes 3rd world.

The Europeans are broke. So broke that they will probably go 3rd world. That's what happen when no one produce wealth and everybody spending money like drunken sailors.

I'm afraid that you have a wild misconception about what a 3rd world country actually is.

Also talking about "Europeans" as an indistinct whole makes me giggle.

 

[Agayek]

I'm afraid that you have a wild misconception about what a 3rd world country actually is.

Also talking about "Europeans" as an indistinct whole makes me giggle.

While you are 100% correct in that that guy has absolutely no idea what actually being a 3rd world country actually entails, from everything I've heard he does seem to have some kind of point, insofar as most of Europe is broke. As is most of the rest of the world, for that matter. There are interesting times ahead, which will hopefully end for the better.

 

[triggrhappy94]

I'm Australian, I vote because I have too.

I think I hear a statistic somewhere that said that like 10% of you guys were showing up to vote drunk.

I was in a conversation with a classmate the other day who proudly proclaimed that they don't vote and have no intention of ever voting. I was kinda baffled by this so I asked why. Their response was something along the lines of "all my choices are shit, I'll vote when someone good comes along".

I sounds like he's saying "I'm stupid. I know I'm stupid. I don't trust my own ideas or my ability to follow news. If that ever chances, then I'll vote, but until then I will not."
It's very honest, and kind of the reason why the American framers established the electoral college (bigger-nerd mass correction sheild activate).

OT:
I'm turning 18 in september and our presidential election is in November. I'm kind of excited.

 

[Agayek]

I sounds like he's saying "I'm stupid. I know I'm stupid. I don't trust my own ideas or my ability to follow news. If that ever chances, then I'll vote, but until then I will not."
It's very honest, and kind of the reason why the American framers established the electoral college (bigger-nerd mass correction sheild activate).

Honestly, it's less an admission of stupidity and more "I don't agree with any of the candidates, so I'm not going to vote for them".

Also, the electoral college needlessly overcomplicates the election. All it does is give someone the opportunity to buy a win when they're losing the popular vote. We already have the popular vote anyway, there's no reason to add an electoral college on top of that.

 

[jdun]

You will see how bad welfare states are soon enough when the Europeans goes 3rd world.

The Europeans are broke. So broke that they will probably go 3rd world. That's what happen when no one produce wealth and everybody spending money like drunken sailors.

I'm afraid that you have a wild misconception about what a 3rd world country actually is.

Also talking about "Europeans" as an indistinct whole makes me giggle.

It funny to see Europeans on Escapist that think they are so smart yet they don't know a damn thing.

When Europeans BEGS DEVELOPING and POOR countries for MONEY, what that tell us? When all the major European corporation deals in US dollars and only used Euro when they have to, what that tell us all? When smart Europeans decided to exchange Euro for dollars and get their money out of Europe what that tell us all?

The Europeans are broke because of their welfare state. They now have to beg for money to paid for their debts. The problem is no one is lending them any more money. Without money no welfare. Without money there is no service. Without money Europeans will enter 3rd world status.

Don't pretend you know more then I do.

 

[jdun]

I'm afraid that you have a wild misconception about what a 3rd world country actually is.

Also talking about "Europeans" as an indistinct whole makes me giggle.

While you are 100% correct in that that guy has absolutely no idea what actually being a 3rd world country actually entails, from everything I've heard he does seem to have some kind of point, insofar as most of Europe is broke. As is most of the rest of the world, for that matter. There are interesting times ahead, which will hopefully end for the better.

hhaahah. The market told us that there is 100% that European countries will go bankrupted. The math don't lie. They can't paid of their debts because European countries do not produce or create wealth, just like third world countries.

Without money their will be no service. Without money their will be no welfare. Without money you have nothing. If you're European I recommend you to stack up on food, water, and ammo because when it happen it will be worst than the Zombie Apocalypse.

 

[jdun]

I don't particularly understand American politics.
Why have motivation to vote when the popular vote doesn't get the president elected?

I can answer this question, as I have started taking Government in my High-school schedule!
Okay, so here's how it goes down! The People of America vote for the people who vote for the President, so they vote to put people in whom they feel have their shared interests. These people are called "The electoral college" and they want to get re-elected, but these guys also want to have their opinion out there. So when election comes up, and everyone votes except for the Electoral guys, they see who has the most popular vote. If their views clash with the popular vote, they risk not being re-elected buy voting for someone else.

In the end, it's all very dramatic, and a lot of harsh words are probably said. I think it sounds like a good system.

In order to understand the electoral college you need to understand the USA and how it was created. You have to understand that the USA is a Republic.

The USA is made up of 50 countries and a handful of colonies. Each states has it own laws and constitution. The Federal government was created to ensure fairness and the protection of the states that is in the UNION.

It is correct that the popular vote don't count. There is no single elected person that represent the entire US people. That's included the President of the USA.

Congressman represent their district in the federal government. They do not represent other districts in the USA.

Before the 17th amendment Senators are picked by State governments to represent their state in the Federal government. The 17th amendment made it by popular vote which I think was a big mistake. However it still doesn't change the fact that Senators only represent their state and not other states in the UNION.

The President is not elected by popular vote. The President is ELECTED BY THE STATES THAT IS IN THE UNION. The real vote comes after the popular vote. The STATES VOTES FOR THE NEXT PRESIDENT AND NOT THE PEOPLE.

Why? Because the USA IS MADE UP OF 50 NATIONS and the FEDERAL GOVERNMENT REPRESENT THOSE 50 STATES AND NOT THE PEOPLE IN THOSE STATES. That's why the electoral college was formed. The USA isn't one nation it is made up of 50 nations and a handful of colonies.