“I don’t buy the argument that you can’t legitimately criticize the political process if you don’t vote. I didn’t vote for the pastor of my local church (Since I don’t belong to his church) but can’t I still call him a hateful white supremacist?”

Of course you can call your fascist pastor whatever you wish. You are American (I’m assuming) and have the right of free speech as guaranteed by our Constitution.
However, you wasted your most powerful chance of changing things by not voting.

Your voice is just as strong as ever. Keep resisting the fascists. And, next time, vote.

“I’m kind of sick of the get out the vote promotions, because voting is really a two part process
1) become informed
2) go vote
But you never hear anyone say “get informed and vote” or “vote intelligently”. Instead it seems as if sheer numbers mater. Far as I’m concerned, if you can’t be informed, please DON’T VOTE.

I guess I have the same problem with Kids Voting. If you can’t teach them the issues side of things, then the concept should be bagged. Voting is not like a beauty contest or something…”

WROOOONNNNGGG!!!!
Voting is the only power we who do not have popular blogs or reality shows have to influence the direction of this, our nation.
Refusing to vote as if that refusal is itself some kind of vote is folly.
If you throw away the last, little bit of power you have, The State will decide for you.

Doubleplus good news, citizens! The daily chocolate ration has been increased from thirty grammes to twenty!

It’s the best of all worlds when turnout is low. High turnout means a lot of people are pissed off and things suck. When life is good and both candidates seem okay, voting is less important. I would love to see a world in which almost no one voted.

I think if you operate under the assumption that none of the candidates are acceptable, you have a responsibility to find someone to represent your views, and failing that, run yourself.

I’m not saying any system is perfect and there may be plenty of reasons to be dissatisfied with the process or the outcome – but unless you have taken the opportunities given to you to have your voice heard in a meaningful way then don’t complain… though I understand that you be given the freedom to do so – just as I have the freedom to ignore said arguments.

With that said, I vote in every election. But I think the people who don’t vote have good reason to be bitter, apathetic, and uncaring–and even to complain publicly about the process!

2007: Anaheim Ducks (sigh, at least they’re not “Mighty” any more) over Ottawa Senators
2006: Carolina Hurricanes over Edmonton Oilers
2004: Tampa Bay Lightning over Calgary Flames

I think you’re already there!

This isn’t about me. It’s about all of us. The very freedom we have in the US for me to take shots at the politicians’ stances is because we have the right to choose those politicians, and even run ourselves if we want. That’s why I want people to get informed and to get moving.

Although I notice that I didn’t get invited to the department’s election party tonight… now that IS a downer…

(did I mention I love this blog?)

vote — The best way you have of voicing your opinion in a way that can matter. Nothing is perfect, and there’s always going to be mistakes, but there is simply no excuse for not casting a ballot for what you believe in. Take the time to understand the issues and then take the time to vote. Don’t let people who aren’t going to be around four years from now decide your future. Complaining without voting is worse than any hanging chad.

Disclaimer: I voted.

Since being “informed” means wading through a morass of mud slung by all candidates, I think most are going for the “Ask the Audience” effect (a large group of people will tend to be correct, even though the individuals are not).

I guess I have the same problem with Kids Voting. If you can’t teach them the issues side of things, then the concept should be bagged. Voting is not like a beauty contest or something…

President Joe once had a dream
The world held his hand, gave their pledge
So he told them his scheme for a Saviour Machine

They called it the Prayer, its answer was law
Its logic stopped war, gave them food
How they adored till it cried in its boredom

‘Please don’t believe in me, please disagree with me
Life is too easy, a plague seems quite feasible now
or maybe a war, or I may kill you all

Don’t let me stay, don’t let me stay
My logic says burn so send me away
Your minds are too green, I despise all I’ve seen
You can’t stake your lives on a Saviour Machine

I need you flying, and I’ll show that dying
Is living beyond reason, sacred dimension of time
I perceive every sign, I can steal every mind

Don’t let me stay, don’t let me stay
My logic says burn so send me away
Your minds are too green, I despise all I’ve seen
You can’t stake your lives on a Saviour Machine

We’re beating Canadians at something?

Finally!
W00T!

Hockey’s next! (Right after we naturalize all those Swedish guys)

So I wonder, what does that tell me? That we were electing a government from a group of disappointing second-rate parties and we should therefore look to impose radical change on our electoral system because the people have clearly spoken? Or that 41% of the people just didn’t give a damn?

Not voting is not a statement. You are welcome to continue to delude yourselves that it is, but the fact is no change is ever going to come from inaction (or I should say no change you want).