Question:
What's the single most important thing members of a democracy can do? No, it's not protesting, though that's somewhere in the top ten. It's voting. But an insane amount of people don't do it.

Why the hell not?

Do people not realize that they actually have a say in government? Do people not see that the only people that vote in large quantities are white, Protestant Republicans from the South? (This, incidentally, explains why Bush was ever voted into office.) I mean, come on. If you hate the way the country is going (as does anyone with a brain), why don't you do something about it? If you're an anarchist, I can understand your decision. But if you aren't, what's the deal?

Now, the poll question is this: do you vote? If you do, great. If you don't, why not? Do you not want jury duty (weak excuse)? Do you think no one is worth voting for (seriously weak excuse...there's always Ralph Nader or the Communist--ah, Socialist Worker's Party)? What's the deal?

You can probably tell my opinion about the issue. And if you can't, let me just say that I blame non-voters for NCLB, the Patriot Act, and anything Bush ever did. It's all your fault. I hate you all.

Choices:
I'm registered and I vote.
I'm registered but I don't vote.
I'm not registered at all.

 

The "State Primary" is August 8 (my sister's bday!)...I don't really know what is going to be on the ballot aside from voting on whether or not to recall 5 of the 7 city school board members...We have a gubanatorial (sp) election in November, but I thought the candidates were already selected for it...

quote:

Furthermore, I WANT jury duty. I think it would be SO cool. It is sad though, because if I don't get it within the next few years, i won't be able to serve on a jury at all. (I am planning to go into law, conflict of interest, that sort of thing.) Also, if I don't get called in during the summer, I still wouldn't get the opportunity. Most every judge would let me go because I am a college student and I can't be missing that many classes.

Yeah, I randomly got called for jury duty this year and it was supposed to be for the first 4 weeks of my second semester! So, I couldn't do it. But seriously, what 19 yr old gets called for jury duty? I figured I would get it at least when I'm 22 or 23 or something.

And about voting. If you have the chance and ability, then there is NO reason not to do it. It is really not that difficult to go to a booth or punch in your votes and mail it in. If you don't know much about who or what you are voting about, then I suggest thats a good sign that you need to start educating yourself. These people make the rules. If you don't like them, you need to do something about it, and voting is the first step.

quote:

Originally posted by Sphinx:
I would totally like to vote, except I live in a kingdom. I got my American citizenship though so the moment I turn 18, I'll register for the absentee voting thing. Mwahaha, watch me interfere with your politics!

Thats even better now that I know you are getting American citizenship I wont mind forwarding your assassination threat onto proper authorities... How many 17 year old girls in Amman that are applying for US citizenship can there be... heheh... dont screw with the USA. Not that you actually have the means to attack the president either.

My mom refuses to vote. I drives me crazy. I always ask her to send in for an absentee ballott and let me vote. It never works though.

I would totally like to vote, except I live in a kingdom. I got my American citizenship though so the moment I turn 18, I'll register for the absentee voting thing. Mwahaha, watch me interfere with your politics!

I want to vote but I'm only 16

I see all the people who don't vote and then whine about goverment and I feel like taking a baseball bat to them. I mean dammit all if you don't like something about goverment get refferendum or the like going and get people to vote for it or if some else is doing it already vote for that! Voting is how we the citizens change goverment to our liking and no one does it!

I registered to vote three days before my 18th birthday (while I was at SoS getting my driver's license). Let me tell you, I was more psyched about my voter's registration than I was about my license...

Furthermore, I WANT jury duty. I think it would be SO cool. It is sad though, because if I don't get it within the next few years, i won't be able to serve on a jury at all. (I am planning to go into law, conflict of interest, that sort of thing.) Also, if I don't get called in during the summer, I still wouldn't get the opportunity. Most every judge would let me go because I am a college student and I can't be missing that many classes.


Frankly, if people don't want to vote, that is more their problem than mine. I actually don't mind it at all that people don't vote, it just makes my vote count for more. It seems to me that people who are actually educated about politics are the ones who go out and vote. I don't see why we would want to encourage people who will just pick who their parents like, or who go through and pick the funniest name, helping to choose our representatives.

My city is having a crisis of leadership with our school board and the citizens got a petition signed to recall those members. A lot of people think it is really silly, but I wholeheartedly support their actions. If this is what it takes to get people knowledgable about what is going on in the city, and if it provides the driving force for people to enjoy the privileges of democracy, how can it be silly?

Duh, that would have been smart. Too bad I can't edit my post, though. You've got a point.

I totally agree with you that if you choose not to vote you have no right to complain about the people in office. but i think you should add another selection to your poll choices such as "I'm not old enough to register to vote but as soon as i turn 18 that will be the first thing i do"