Why do you vote?

[humbleServant77]

1) It makes me feel good to do my duty as a citizen. It's more fun than paying taxes, and it gets me out of work a little early.

2) I'm an optimist by nature. I rationalize my one vote with the same thought process by which I might buy a single lottery ticket. Though the chance of hitting the jackpot may be small, one can always hope. But if you never participate, you have no chance at all.

My logic exactly. (I don't buy lottery tickets either)

I don't vote. Neither party represents my views, and both hold positions I'm adamantly opposed to.

I favor social democracy over unrestrained capitalism
I oppose gun control and favor legalizing marijuana
I favor a strong national defense but oppose aggressive unilateral action
I oppose any and all cuts to social welfare
I completely oppose corporate welfare
I favor a strict separation of church and state
I oppose getting entangled in the affairs of other nations
I oppose abortion

As you see, I can't really vote Republican or Democrat. I agree with and disagree with both. I can't vote Republican because I can't in good conscience support a party that will deprive the poor and get us into blood middle east wars. I can't vote Democrat because I can't support a party that seeks to restrict a fundamental right (2nd amendment) and supports legal abortions.

Until we change the electoral system and allow for a real diversity of political parties, I will have to continue to stay home on election day.

I'm with ya on all points, except I can't make the unqualified statement that I oppose any and all cuts to social welfare. There are probably excesses and abuses that could be trimmed back, and folks should be motivated to work.
So let's start a party!

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

Ask Al Gore about single votes counting.

 

[Edial]

By voting we are supporting this process we call democratic elections that spend 1 billion dollars to make sure we do not understand what is going on.

If people DID NOT vote, the current voting system would change.

By voting we support 1 billion dollar elections.

 

[SuperCloud]

2) How do you get behind the rationale that a single vote doesn't matter?

Because that's what I was taught in college that political scientists of the United States say.

Personally, I'd rather own banks and major media companies. Let's take Mexico or Canada. What difference does it make if people can vote and do vote if I'm one of the people that teaches them what to think and how to vote?

I've been interested in power and systems of power for a short time now. That is to say... understanding of individuals and groups or countries disproportionately obtain power.

One of the things that first got me interest in this was when a liberal lawyer here in the USA said something along the lines that the reason the USA created a two-party system was so that no real revolution ever occurs and the basic status quo remains in power.

I've never seen a Democrat get elected and the ghettos turn into a blossoming wealthy area. Except through gentrification. So, I don't believe in the revolutions Democrats or Republicans preach every time a new election for a President comes up. But I think the Dem's are better for the poor and the "different" in many respects than the conservatives. But I'm convinced you could put a 4 year-old child in the White House as President and the country would run perfectly fine. Because the real powers are the one's driving things.

Basically, voters make their votes count by voting in packs via interest groups and political parties. And they have to be told which way to vote and what's right and what's wrong.

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

By voting we are supporting this process we call democratic elections that spend 1 billion dollars to make sure we do not understand what is going on.

If people DID NOT vote, the current voting system would change.

By voting we support 1 billion dollar elections.

If voters would take more responsibility to learn the candidates and the issues, results would improve. 1 billion is a drop in the bucket given the national stage, but campaign finance reform is certainly a viable topic. I'd like to see funding distributed to more third party candidates, ideally equally to all, but that is probably impractical at this time.

 

[Inkfingers]

Voting for an ungodly man (or woman, but its usually a man) only encourages their behaviour because it at least carries the appearance of sanctioning it.

We are not called upon to vote in a lesser evil.

We are called on to do the right thing regardless of the utility of such.

When we put utility before right we make an idol of mankind.

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

Who you think is Godly / Ungodly? Obama? Hillary? Romney?

 

[Inkfingers]

Who you think is Godly / Ungodly? Obama? Hillary? Romney?

From what I can see...none of them are Godly, although I may be misaken about Romney (as I don't know enough about him).

 

[Jeffwhosoever]

Do you mean by "Godly" how the make decisions and take actions in their political roles, or are you talking about being "Godly" in their private, personal lives? Which is more important?

 

[Inkfingers]

Do you mean by "Godly" how the make decisions and take actions in their political roles, or are you talking about being "Godly" in their private, personal lives? Which is more important?

I mean both.

Generally, the best way to know the character of someone is how they behave in their "private" life. However, how they behave and what they promote in their political roles matter as well (although these are more often subject to spin and role-play - because it is easy to fake a sound-bite than it is to fake a healthy family life).

 

[stamperben]

Because that's what I was taught in college that political scientists of the United States say.

Personally, I'd rather own banks and major media companies. Let's take Mexico or Canada. What difference does it make if people can vote and do vote if I'm one of the people that teaches them what to think and how to vote?

I've been interested in power and systems of power for a short time now. That is to say... understanding of individuals and groups or countries disproportionately obtain power.

One of the things that first got me interest in this was when a liberal lawyer here in the USA said something along the lines that the reason the USA created a two-party system was so that no real revolution ever occurs and the basic status quo remains in power.

I've never seen a Democrat get elected and the ghettos turn into a blossoming wealthy area. Except through gentrification. So, I don't believe in the revolutions Democrats or Republicans preach every time a new election for a President comes up. But I think the Dem's are better for the poor and the "different" in many respects than the conservatives. But I'm convinced you could put a 4 year-old child in the White House as President and the country would run perfectly fine. Because the real powers are the one's driving things.

Basically, voters make their votes count by voting in packs via interest groups and political parties. And they have to be told which way to vote and what's right and what's wrong.

On the national level - THIS!

However I'm somewhat astounded that no one seems to be addressing voting on the local level, that place where your vote DOES make a real difference and will impact what goes on around you every day.

Like I said earlier, I vote to make a statement. I've "thrown my vote away" more times than not voting for the communist, socialist, peace and freedom, green or even libertarian candidate on the presidential level. But look at the numbers. Sure, one vote out of 300 million is trifling, one vote out of 3,000 or even 30,000 has MUCH more weight. The saying "Think globally - Act locally" didn't come out of thin air after all.

 

[Edial]

If voters would take more responsibility to learn the candidates and the issues, results would improve. 1 billion is a drop in the bucket given the national stage, but campaign finance reform is certainly a viable topic. I'd like to see funding distributed to more third party candidates, ideally equally to all, but that is probably impractical at this time.

But there is nothing really to learn. We know the people very well.
Same people.
We have the Bush family, Clinton family.
Obama does the same thing Bush was doing and visa verse.

If they spend 1 billion dollars, and if you are saying it is a drop in a bucket, then I give up.

They spend the money to promote an image, a lie, public relation, impression - words like "hope, change, axis of evil, WMD, Obamacare".

If they spend even more money it would be even more deception.

If people stop voting THAT is when changes happen.
If we vote we support what we have.

 

[Edial]

On the national level - THIS!

However I'm somewhat astounded that no one seems to be addressing voting on the local level, that place where your vote DOES make a real difference and will impact what goes on around you every day.

Like I said earlier, I vote to make a statement. I've "thrown my vote away" more times than not voting for the communist, socialist, peace and freedom, green or even libertarian candidate on the presidential level. But look at the numbers. Sure, one vote out of 300 million is trifling, one vote out of 3,000 or even 30,000 has MUCH more weight. The saying "Think globally - Act locally" didn't come out of thin air after all.

Very good point.
I had a discussion with someone and we kind of agreed that votes do count up to the City Council level.
I remember I had to learn what city council people do to come to that conclusion.