| Feb 25 @ 12:26 PM |
to vote...or not to vote.....
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Gallows_Humor
Posts: 8,063
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is that even a question??? 
this was posted in another thread...
but rather than disrupt the harmony of that thread with an off topic discussion..I took the opportunity to start a new thread... 
Silvertongue62
Posts: 6,294 You know! I dont care if you are a republican or a democrat. To manufacture a reason not to vote is only an excuse for your inadequacies. There is no more patriotism than those who call themselves american taking part in america. Voting is the ultimate statement of freedom. I read the many thoguhtless post throughout the forum on patriotism, discrimination, government corruption, and the list goes on only to arrive at a place where people feel a need to be absent. Right this very minute there are people dying so that free election can take place and a citizen can have a right to vote in his/her country. So many americans died in Iraq a country not our own so that other will have the same rights as americans and here I read this. This is a perfect example of those so full of themselves that they cant get a grip of the very fact that people laid their lives down so that they can. Can enjoy and bask in the very freedoms for which this post speaks to ignore.
There is a 20 year old soldier walking the streets of a foreign land as we speaking looking for road side munitions not knowing if he will ever see his wife again. Patroling the streets of bagdad in a hope that he too will be able to enjoy the freedoms again that you take for granted. I sincerly subscribe to the theory that to whom much is given, nuch is expected. We all bask in the freedoms and liberties provided with the blood of others and this is how we thank them.
at the begining of every election..I make a conscious decision to vote..or not..depending on who is running for office on the 2 platforms.. so I find this point to not apply to me...
To manufacture a reason not to vote is only an excuse for your inadequacies.
..am I the only exception to the rule?? or is this comment a short sighted one..and the person making it is just not just understanding the deeper meaning that people who decide to not vote on principle are really stating...
( which is...when the political process actually nominates the best persons for the job.. then I will participate in voting for who I feel is the best person .. but until that happens..I exercise my right to not vote....)
so.. where really do the inadequacies lie?
again... It is my right as an American to vote or not..and I will not ever allow anyone to take that right away from me..nor to say my not voting is
only an excuse for your inadequacies...feel a need to be absent...those so full of themselves...enjoy the freedoms again that you take for granted...and this is how we thank them.
or that I am un-american and un-patriotic to not vote.. If you disagree with me.. that is your right... but in your disagreement..please understand that you are not any more right about it than I am...
so in conclusion.. I take the liberty to change what you copy and pasted and placed in a different (and totally unrelated to the topic) thread.. to this...
Right this very minute there are people dying so that free election can take place and a citizen can have a right to vote, or not vote... in his/her country and for that ..I thank them... 
and further add... that if anyone chooses to vote, ...without really looking into the whole process and understanding, to the best of their ability, all the ramifications of electing just who they are voting for to run our country
..based only on a sound byte like what was posted here..
....I would prefer that you just not vote...
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| Feb 25 @ 1:10 PM |
to vote...or not to vote..... |
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eastham
Posts: 6,341
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at the begining of every election..I make a conscious decision to vote..or not..depending on who is running for office on the 2 platforms.. so I find this point to not apply to me...
While I will never go as far as to argue that not voting is un-American or un-patriotic, I do not think the republic is well served by people who fail to vote in each and every election. Sometimes you need to hold your nose and vote.
By opting out of the process, the nonvoter contributes to the current trend in American politics where political leaders feel the need to address the needs of one or two small groups. While the Democrats paid for this in the past, now its the Republicans turn. They have candidates that must push the right buttons or the various meat-eating constituencies won't turn out to vote.
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| Feb 25 @ 1:11 PM |
to vote...or not to vote.....
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kattsmeow
Posts: 21,272
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This is what I told my sons when they got old enough to vote.
" If you decide not to vote, then I don't want to hear you say anything about how the goverment is run, or who has been voted in to run it."
I too was told this by my parents and my Grandfather.
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| Feb 25 @ 3:35 PM |
to vote...or not to vote..... |
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steveemac
Posts: 2,336
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Here's what I do:
-Register to vote
-Show up and receive my ballot
-Carefully read it
-Cast my vote for those who have earned it
-Turn in my ballot
The "cast my vote" step is the one that got the election workers into a blue-haired tizzy one year, as I turned in a completely blank ballot, which of course, the machine rejected...but think about it: obviously, one guy turning a blank (i.e. voting "none of the above") isn't gonna make any real waves-but what if 100,000 people did it? That might get the attention of the media, and certainly of future candidates. It's a statement, I feel: I will participate in the process, but I am NOT obligated to choose the "least offensive." MY PRECIOUS VOTE WILL BE EARNED!
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| Feb 25 @ 5:27 PM |
to vote...or not to vote.....
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Jankia
Posts: 9,149
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If your an American citizen and of age its your duty to vote.There are obvious excuses like health for example but its part of being free,its your obligation to vote to help maintain that freedom.I havent missed a local or a federal election in 34 years.
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| Feb 25 @ 5:31 PM |
to vote...or not to vote..... |
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Gallows_Humor
Posts: 8,063
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i have thought about turning in a blank ballot..but decided that it was not worth the trouble getting the election workers into a blue-haired tizzy one year, as I turned in a completely blank ballot, which of course, the machine rejected that it would cause these dedicated workers as they tried to help in a situation where none was needed...and it would be counted as a ballot that the person turning it in just did not fill out properly..(which is not a statement that I want to make...)
i.e. voting "none of the above") isn't gonna make any real waves-but what if 100,000 people did it? That might get the attention of the media, and certainly of future candidates. It's a statement, I feel: I will participate in the process, but I am NOT obligated to choose the "least offensive."!
a "none of the above" choice is also a request that seems to fall on deaf ears. but is one that I am in favor of...
. and when turnout is low.. the process tries to say that it is because people don't care enough to vote..
..a statement which I find to not be true as I ask people all the time how they feel about voting..and usually get the same replies "I vote the party line", or.."I vote for the person". or "I don't vote because I don't like the choices".. no one ever says it is because "I don't care enough about it to vote and besides.. it is too much trouble..."
" If you decide not to vote, then I don't want to hear you say anything about how the goverment is run, or who has been voted in to run it."
interesting logic..so if I voted for Gore, Kerry, or Bush.. .I can complain about the shrub..but if I didn't vote at all..I should just not voice my opinion...
it sounds good.. but the reality is that it just does not wash..
If I said that I don't care who is voted in..and feel that it is too much trouble to follow current events to have an opinion on what is what.. I might buy into this logic..
...but this is what I know..
my position is a safe one and is not jeopardizing anything
nor is it contributing to...
the nonvoter contributes to the current trend in American politics where political leaders feel the need to address the needs of one or two small groups
as..
in the past two presidential elections.. imho.. the stinky choice was for me to vote for Gore or Kerry.. and guess what... in California.. all of the electoral college votes went for... yep..Gore and Kerry...
and this year.. the stinky vote would be either Hillary or Obama.. lets see where the electoral college votes end up in November... besides..I just might still vote this year if Obama does not have any skeletons in his closet...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election%2C_2004
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_presidential_election%2C_2000
MY PRECIOUS VOTE WILL BE EARNED .........
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| Feb 25 @ 5:40 PM |
to vote...or not to vote.....
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Loreli
Posts: 20,315
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I am like Katt...
I have voted since the first election I could.
I was told:if you don't vote-don't b**ch.
As big of a push some of these candidates are making...their camps are happy to get you to the voting place, deliver and absentee ballot...even her-they offered to shovel walks to get people to caucus.
Excercise your rights...and take advantage of opportunity...
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| Feb 25 @ 5:47 PM |
to vote...or not to vote..... |
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SyndilLucian
Posts: 1,046
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I know this is a very serious issue, and discussion, but I still lean to a write in ballot of Mickey Mouse and Donald Duck. Personally I don't think they would do a worse job then the current batch of politicians out there today. I also think there should be a choice on the ballot with something along the lines of
I choose not to vote for any of the above candidates because I feel none of them represent my views or would strive to meet my needs.
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| Feb 25 @ 5:56 PM |
to vote...or not to vote.....
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kattsmeow
Posts: 21,272
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I don't vote a party line. One of the reasons I have a problem voting in a State primary where you have to declare which party.
I will say though that it is your right not to vote. I just think that if you don't then how does it make you feel?
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| Feb 25 @ 6:06 PM |
to vote...or not to vote..... |
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Gallows_Humor
Posts: 8,063
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I just think that if you don't then how does it make you feel?
like I am in control of my choices...
how should it make me feel?
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| Feb 25 @ 6:17 PM |
to vote...or not to vote.....
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kattsmeow
Posts: 21,272
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I always feel that what if that one vote would have did it? I also feel like I have let myself down for not doing what people in some country's can't do.
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| Feb 25 @ 6:35 PM |
to vote...or not to vote..... |
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lefthandedluckie
Posts: 5,081
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I will be making the choice of voting or not, as well! One of the candidates running has tried his best to be three people from the 60's at one time....then plagerized his speeches! If this man is nominated I will not vote for him at all!
I just don't give a "hoot in hell" for a damn liar!
And since I personally feel John McCain is a liar also, I will definitely not vote for him either!
That folks is my right and I will exercise that right in November!
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| Feb 25 @ 6:40 PM |
to vote...or not to vote.....
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iam7545
Posts: 4,151
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For those that share the frustration and are "young" enough to remember -
Pat Paulson is running for President AGAIN! I think he is dead but he will not let that get in the way!
>>>>>>>>> PAT PAULSON FOR PRES! <<<<<<<<<<<<<
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| Feb 25 @ 7:27 PM |
to vote...or not to vote..... |
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alivenwell351
Posts: 1,514
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Think of voting as renewing your license to bitch...
Just hold your nose and do it...
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| Feb 25 @ 10:24 PM |
to vote...or not to vote.....
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Silvertongue62
Posts: 6,932
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Lol............
I stand by my statement. I dont care how you vote, just vote.
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| Feb 25 @ 10:39 PM |
to vote...or not to vote..... |
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thegoodideaman
Posts: 1,915
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I vote, and I Bitch... 
if you don't vote, but you still feel the need to bitch,
go right ahead, you live in America...
Bitching is one of them freedoms ya hear so much about...    
[Edited on 2/25/2008 10:50 PM]
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| Feb 25 @ 10:45 PM |
to vote...or not to vote.....
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kattsmeow
Posts: 21,272
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| Feb 25 @ 10:54 PM |
to vote...or not to vote..... |
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1stsignofspring
Posts: 16,194
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From the time I turned 18 and could vote.......I voted. I considered it a priveledge and a freedom not found in other countries. My daughter will be 18 in 2009 and she is so disappointed to not get to vote in this election......She is so excited and can't wait to get to partake of this American freedom. The last election I took her with me and she found the whole process to be very interesting..
I am still learning more about this election's candidates, but I am very proud to live in a country where we STILL have the right TO vote....
I am thankful and appreciative that my work associate's 18 yr old kid will be shipped off to Iraq soon to help keep our freedom's alive and well.....and yes, he is just a kid.......
I will exercise my right to vote and be very proud to do so........ 
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| Feb 25 @ 11:13 PM |
to vote...or not to vote.....
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Nightowl001
Posts: 4,134
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Personally, I feel that I have a moral obligation to try to make the world a little better place. The simplest of the ways in which I can do this is by casting a vote for the leaders I think will make changes that will affect society so it is a better place for all people, even if that is a situation where I am simply attempting to prevent the person I think would work against that end to the greatest extent from attaining office (i.e., voting for the lesser of two evils). I told my children this while I was raising them, and all four of my children vote. Sometimes they don't like any of the candidates, but they get in there and at least try to keep the world from becoming a colder, harsher world when they can.
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| Feb 25 @ 11:53 PM |
to vote...or not to vote..... |
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blueyes101
Posts: 8,307
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I feel none of them represent my views or would strive to meet my needs.
Not one candidate will represent ALL of my views, but there is always someone who represents some of them.
Pick and choose the views you find the most important, and cast your vote for those reasons.
Hell, I've seem women pick a football team to win because one team looked better in their uniform. If your gonna watch the game, why not pick a side to root for.
Regardless of who wins, you still can feel proud you did some research, and ( tried ) to make an intelligent decision.
And feel like a PROUD AMERICAN, that you took the time to participate in the process, the freedom we share should never be taken lightly. Far too many have worked so hard to make it available to us, not mention how many died for us to be free.
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