To the undecided voters

[Cain]

Oh fuck both of you.  I'm off.

[LMNO]

Sheesh Cain, Didn't you see me vociferously agreeing with you not a dozen posts previous?

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Also, theoretically if Approval Voting could get amended in without undue pork, it'd fix a lot of problems. 

The bolded part is where you lost me.

Only it wouldn't be pork that would creep in.  It would be other little "improvements" to the constitution, most of which have a startling resemblance to the beliefs and mores of the most rabid fundamentalist Baptists, etc, in America.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I'll be the first to admit that the real reason I'm not voting is because I was just to lazy to register.

I just don't buy that that means that I'm a bad citizen somehow, or that my non-voting is somehow damaging to society.  The country got along just fine (or terribly, depending on your point of view) before I was born; why does it suddenly require me to fill out a multiple-choice questionaire about the politicians chosen by political parties?

Nobody thinks they're a bad citizen.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

Not to mob against him?  People with that attitude are the real mob here.

Okay, well, fuck it.  Felix, tell us:  How many people are allowed to disagree with someone?  I mean, everyone after the last permissible person will just have to shut the fuck up and keep their opinion to themselves, right?  Right right right?

Because that's what "the free exchange of ideas" means, right?  Being all careful of people's little feelings, and wrapping them in bubble wrap so nothing bad ever happens.

Oh, Goddammit. 

[Jasper]

Not to mob against him?  People with that attitude are the real mob here.

Okay, well, fuck it.  Felix, tell us:  How many people are allowed to disagree with someone?  I mean, everyone after the last permissible person will just have to shut the fuck up and keep their opinion to themselves, right?  Right right right?

Because that's what "the free exchange of ideas" means, right?  Being all careful of people's little feelings, and wrapping them in bubble wrap so nothing bad ever happens.

Oh, Goddammit. 

I have to explain that post twice in the same thread?

Not to mob against him?  People with that attitude are the real mob here.

Um... wha?

Half of America feels the same way as GA about voting.  I am likening them to a mob.

[Jasper]

Also, theoretically if Approval Voting could get amended in without undue pork, it'd fix a lot of problems. 

The bolded part is where you lost me.

Only it wouldn't be pork that would creep in.  It would be other little "improvements" to the constitution, most of which have a startling resemblance to the beliefs and mores of the most rabid fundamentalist Baptists, etc, in America.

Also, it's worth mentioning that individual states are allowed to decide what voting system to use.  I believe California has a movement to change the election process to Instant Runoff voting.

[Eater of Clowns]

Just a quick anecdote to give you an idea as to how well informed some voters are.

Several weeks ago I brought the topic of the candidates up with my mother.  She said "I'm not voting for Obama."  I said "Why not?"  She replied "Because he's a Muslim."  So, as calmly as I could, I explained to her that Barack Obama is not a Muslim.  I have been too terrified to inquire further as to her opinion on the candidates.

Earlier this evening we started talking about the questions on the ballot.  She knew what these were, at the very least, but we spent particular time on Question 2.  Question 2 in *REDACTED* is to decriminalize marijuana, making possession of up to an ounce a civil offense punishable by a fine.  First I had to explain that decriminalization is NOT the same thing as legalization - which is a distinction of which I'm pretty sure a fair amount of voters are unaware.  Next I had to argue the pointlessness of marijuana possession being a criminal offense, etc.  We went back and forth about its addictive properties, and having no available resources to cite we had to let that one go.  So I asked her, after stepping down from my little podium if I'd convinced her.  She said "Probably not.  If it weren't wrong, why would the DA be campaigning against it?"  Rant about blind faith in officials aside, here's what she's talking about.

While working at the *REDACTED* office, she witnessed a press conference where they had a prisoner give a statement about how marijuana was the cause of the cycle which degenerated him to the position he's in today.  Now I'm pretty sure that under the *REDACTED* [STATE] constitution prisoners are not allowed to vote.  Yet it's a-okay if they influence other people's votes on behalf of the District Attorney apparently.  Well I'm sure such a benevolent act to protect the youth under constant attack from cannabis is considered good behavior, so essentially this guy is saying "I want to get out of prison."

So, while my belief that everyone should vote is a little shaken it does reaffirm that neglecting to vote out of apathy just isn't a good enough reason.  And even voting ill-informed or under-informed is still better than voting completely uninformed.  Because those people are voting.

Please, this election day vote against my mother.*


*Note:  I still love my mother, she's a very nice woman.  I just wish she'd think about this stuff.

[The Good Reverend Roger]

I have to explain that post twice in the same thread?

My bad. 

[Jenne]

You vote because an unused right is one that is likely to be taken away.  Just because people are stupid, ignorant fucks doesn't mean you don't vote.  It means you vote more, vote often, and use that fucking voice for more than just whining about how shitty things are, so you're gonna sit by and let it all fail all the more.  That doesn't make you fucking informed, it makes you lazy and stupid to boot.  Rights that go without practice become dormant and subject to pillage and eventual obliteration.  Rights that are exercised and used at will become worked for and therefore useful and powerful.

Sure, it's better to educate yourself beforehand.  Sure, it's better to have a voice in all legislation that gets written, or at least have information on where that leg came from.  Sure, it's better to know who holds the purse strings to what legislator who writes said legislation.

But, come on, it's also better to always floss your teeth, kiss your mother and not kick the dog.  But we all cheat somewhere, and something that has such a huge apathetic following is NOT going to win out on this "what you SHOULD do" battle, now, is it?

So let's all put our high-minded ideals aside for a moment and just say:

VOTE MOTHERFUCKER, BEFORE YOU CAN'T ANY LONGER.

[Cainad (dec.)]

You vote because an unused right is one that is likely to be taken away.  Just because people are stupid, ignorant fucks doesn't mean you don't vote.  It means you vote more, vote often, and use that fucking voice for more than just whining about how shitty things are, so you're gonna sit by and let it all fail all the more.  That doesn't make you fucking informed, it makes you lazy and stupid to boot.  Rights that go without practice become dormant and subject to pillage and eventual obliteration.  Rights that are exercised and used at will become worked for and therefore useful and powerful.

Sure, it's better to educate yourself beforehand.  Sure, it's better to have a voice in all legislation that gets written, or at least have information on where that leg came from.  Sure, it's better to know who holds the purse strings to what legislator who writes said legislation.

But, come on, it's also better to always floss your teeth, kiss your mother and not kick the dog.  But we all cheat somewhere, and something that has such a huge apathetic following is NOT going to win out on this "what you SHOULD do" battle, now, is it?

So let's all put our high-minded ideals aside for a moment and just say:

VOTE MOTHERFUCKER, BEFORE YOU CAN'T ANY LONGER.

JENNE STOP OUT-RANTING ME IN MY OWN THREAD IT'S EMBARASSING

Er, I mean,

[Jenne]

Aw thanks.  Well, sorry.  I'm an advocate, after all.  You touched on something a bit, well, touchy for me.

[navkat]

I voted for L. Ron Hubbard.
And btw, if you want an equal America democrats, TAX RICH PEOPLE AND POOR PEOPLE THE SAME % RATE.
And Republicans, not everyone is a christian. I AM AN IMMORAL ASSHOLE BECAUSE I DONT BELIEVE JESUS IS SPECIAL IN ANY WAY. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE DIED WORSE DEATHS. GET A JOB.

And as far as I know; Jesus didn't vote either so...no one should really listen to him anyway.

[navkat]

Aw thanks.  Well, sorry.  I'm an advocate, after all.  You touched on something a bit, well, touchy for me.

Oooh! I like touching. Can I come over and touch your touchy parts too?

[Jenne]

Aw thanks.  Well, sorry.  I'm an advocate, after all.  You touched on something a bit, well, touchy for me.

Oooh! I like touching. Can I come over and touch your touchy parts too?

Depends on how you take it when I do so.