The Real Problem
The real problem with the presidential elections is the electoral college. We can all bitch about how bad republicans are but it really doesn't matter that much in New York State where the democrat will most likely win. You want to see change in this country, get rid of the electoral college and let a person's vote be counted instead of compromised! Get rid of the electoral collegand more people will vote! And that's the thing, they don't want more people to vote.
Comments
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I agree. The electoral college is a f*cking joke.
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Honestly, how many people don't vote in presidential elections because of the electoral college?
I think the reasons for individuals not voting is far more complicated than that. That is not to say that the process doesn't need to be reformed, but I think that an emphasis on civics in schools to discuss voting and more efforts to reform the laws for felons and voting would be far more productive and would result in more people going to the polls than changing the electoral college process. -
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Ezn wrote: I am not voting this year because NY is going Democratic and it's my little protest against the electoral college. If it mattered, I would go, but it doesn't so I will not.
Not voting = I dont give a hoot.
People have given their lives for the right.
Excersize it or go sit down in a corner and stop complaining. -
i agree that the electoral college stinks, but the notion that not voting is a rational protest is absurd, not least because president isn't the only office on the ballot.
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"Mommy and Daddy? Who did you vote for in the historic election of 2008?"
"Well, Timmy, as you know, we live in a state that tends to vote Democratic, so we didn't vote in order to protest the electoral college." -
I have not voted as a protest but I have not voted when I got to the voting place and saw the lines, realized it was like a suana in there and that I had better things to be doing with my time that day. Sure, there were other races going on that I could have voted for, but in the end none of them were decided by one vote so I didn't feel that bad and the democrat won New York state anyway.
And there were no binding referendums on the ballot because New York State doesn't have binding referendums which is another problem in itself and we will not be having any real change in New York State until the people can vote for the laws they want instead of having it go through the legislature because, as we all know, the legislature is just a bunch of politicians which are more worried about being re-elected than actually doing something progressive which brings about the point of why isn't there term limits? We have it for Mayor of NYC and some other city offices but not for most.
So there you have it:
1. get rid of the electoral college
2. get binding referendums
3. get term limits
As for how many people do not vote because of the electoral college? Well who knows? I do believe that more people would vote without the electoral college. -
Quite frankly the elections seem to be more of an award show like the Miss America contest or the Academy rather than an excercise in democracy. What's really scary is the winner holds the most powerful seat in the world. I can understand a person's not wanting to vote because he/or she thinks it doesn't matter. Especially after these past two elections.
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Idlewild wrote: Quite frankly the elections seem to be more of an award show like the Miss America contest or the Academy rather than an excercise in democracy. What's really scary is the winner holds the most powerful seat in the world. I can understand a person's not wanting to vote because he/or she thinks it doesn't matter. Especially after these past two elections.
Unfortunately, I fear that you are correct in that elections may be an excersize in futility. However, if we just lay down and so not particpate, we send the message that we are a flock of sheeple.
There may be no viable candidates etc etc but not participating is as bad if not worse than voting for whom you despise.
For those who take the attitude that your one vote will not change the out come of an election, imagine if the millions of others that felt that way did indeed vote. It starts with each of us doing our part, one vote at a time.
That is of course if we do indeed have an election this year. -
George Carlin never stopped voting after McGovern. He was considered a rebel. Anyone who else decides the same thing is called lazy and un-patriotic. Even worse when anyone voted for Nader they were accused of wasting their vote and fucking Gore over. Anyone for a Holiday in Cambodia?
PS I agree with you on a chance of Bush/Cheney seizing power before Januarary. We still have Al-Queada and Iran as great excuses. -
MeredithB wrote: I have not voted as a protest but I have not voted when I got to the voting place and saw the lines, realized it was like a suana in there and that I had better things to be doing with my time that day.
People die for the right to vote, people live all their lives under oppression for the right to vote - your reasons for not voting are pathetic
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mantic wrote: However, if we just lay down and so not particpate, we send the message that we are a flock of sheeple.
No, I'll bet anyone Obama wins NY State. Sure, if a million people thought this way it may means something, but they don't and it won't.Livetotravel wrote: People die for the right to vote, people live all their lives under oppression for the right to vote - your reasons for not voting are pathetic
In your opinion. I can live with it. And can give a rat's ass what you think.
Oh and those poor suckers in those photos may someday realize that voting is just a shame and that the form of democracy we have in the US is, as stated above by others, nothing more than a popularity contest and the majority of the time, you only get to vote for the people with the most money, not the best ideals. -
MeredithB wrote: In your opinion. I can live with it. And can give a rat's ass what you think.
If you don't give a rat's ass what other people think, why did you start a discussion about it on a message board? :roll: -
Subject: Re: The Real Problem
MeredithB wrote: The real problem with the presidential elections is the electoral college.
The electoral college vs. some other first-past-the-post system is actually only a minor problem, even though it certainly is a silly system. The real problem is an entrenched duopoly as a result of a complete lack of proportional representation at any level of government. -
Much of the 'genius' of the 'founding fathers' is over-rated, as the electoral college and 2nd amendment demonstrate. However, to not vote because of the electoral college is a symbolic yet empty, pseudo-political gesture.
Why doesn't anyone ever not give a rat's face?
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that's a cute rat.
i know many new yorkers who prefer obama, but believe they don't have to vote this year because they feel confident that no matter what new york always comes out democrat. given that a biracial dude has never run before and a large population of racists live in new york state, i believe that democrats living in new york should not count on history repeating itself and actually get out and vote. -
Carnivore wrote: [quote=MeredithB]In your opinion. I can live with it. And can give a rat's ass what you think.
If you don't give a rat's ass what other people think, why did you start a discussion about it on a message board? :roll:
It's one thing to give an opinion about something, it's another to give an opinion about someone else's opinion. :roll: -
MeredithB wrote: It's one thing to give an opinion about something, it's another to give an opinion about someone else's opinion. :roll:
One could argue that it was in fact an opinion about your actions. -
Carnivore wrote: [quote=MeredithB]It's one thing to give an opinion about something, it's another to give an opinion about someone else's opinion. :roll:
One could argue that it was in fact an opinion about your actions.
What carni said :roll: -
Whatever. It's freakin' hot outside. :roll:
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