Chewy

Very true... but you still have to remember what issues are at hand and choose carefully.

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Addict

There is something similer here in the US too, though not tied quite so directly to your vote(it makes matching federal funds available during the next election). And the minimum is 5%, so it's a higher hurdle to clear. But I still encourage people to vote for even a 3rd party candidate. I do wish we had a strong enough 3rd party to moderate the wildest tendencies of our current 2 party system.

Chewy

vote perot!

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ScratchMonkey

I've voted in every election since 1980, and where possible, I've voted against both old party candidates, who both favor more and more government interference in private life. (They differ only in what they want to interfere with first.) I also regularly use online contact systems to send opinions to my congresscritters, in spite of their attempts to silence these convenient ways for ordinary citizens to lobby.

Ideally, policing your "representatives" (who've never represented me) shouldn't be a full-time job. I'd much prefer a proxy system where I hire a trusted organization to represent me until I revoke my proxy. Some would want to represent themselves, but I think most people would shop for a proxy that most matches their own views and then go back to a real job and leave the lobbying to their proxy.

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Steeler

Chewy, not to put too fine a point on it, but all the people I know who complain or have a publicly known political opinions are avid voters. I do know a lot of people who throw up their hands and say "I don't know anything" and simply never vote. My response is usually, "well, it's good that you have a few months to learn something, isn't it?"

I don't begrudge anyone their frustration, however. I was pained to learn that my local progressive, pro-union, civil rights friendly, pro-choice Democrat congressman recently voted for the flag-burning amendment authorization. Jeez.

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SmokingTarpan

You couldn't be more wrong, actually.

I've never voted, and chances are that I never will. I highly disagree with the government structure and how things are handled, as well as how we call ourselves a Democracy instead of a Republic. If we ever become a true Democracy, I'd be voting all the time.

When it comes down to it, I'm neither a Democrat or a Republican, despite how liberal I may seem in my views; I just don't speak out loudly on something that I take a conservative view on. Now I know that people say to vote for the "lesser of two evils" if you disagree with both (or all) candidates, but I say that's a load of horsehockey. If I'm going to cast a vote to put someone in power for some period of time, I'm sure not going to abandon my ideas and help elect someone with many views contrary to mine simply because the other guy is even more contrary.

I'm glad I live here, and can't think of any other country (except for perhaps Spain) that I would like to spend any large amount of time in. I'll support the government by paying my taxes and obeying the rules, but that's as much effort I'm willing to put into a system that I lack substantial faith in.

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[squadl]
"I am the prettiest african-american, vietnamese..cong..person." -SugarNCamo

TychoCelchuuu

They're called lobbyists! If you think they're doing a bad job, stop buying the products of the companies they represent

I'm serious. Your elected representative is going to listen to a lobbyist over whatever crap you care about.

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|TG-Irr|TychoCelchuuu

Chewy

This is the attitude that contributes to our country not being a true Democracy.

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El_Gringo_Grande

Voting or not voting has no affect on the right of the indivduals right to complain or speak out.

If it did our country would be in an even worse state.

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I’m not racists, I have republican friends. Radio show host.
- "The essence of tyranny is the denial of complexity". -Jacob Burkhardt
- "A foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds" - Emerson
- "People should not be afraid of it's government, government should be afraid of it's People." - Line from V for Vendetta
- If software were as unreliable as economic theory, there wouldn't be a plane made of anything other than paper that could get off the ground. Jim Fawcette

TychoCelchuuu

So you're saying that you should vote for a candidate you disagree with, in an election whose outcome you have no effect upon? Why?! Forcing people to vote for the lesser of two evils isn't democratic.

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|TG-Irr|TychoCelchuuu

SmokingTarpan

Do explain.

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[squadl]
"I am the prettiest african-american, vietnamese..cong..person." -SugarNCamo

ScratchMonkey

Except that we could get rid of the congresscritters and get representatives who stay bought!

Right now lobbying is based on centralized wealth with an incentive to get more handouts and perks. Those of us who want the opposite, who want to be left alone, who do we hire to lobby for us? Since we're not trying to extract more pork from the government, where do we get the funds to pay the lobbyists? The system is skewed towards escalating the amount of income transfer.

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ScratchMonkey

Congress disapproves of ordinary citizens using lobbying organizations:

http://action.downsizedc.org/wyc.php?cid=40

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P8riot

Well, I wasn't going to post anything on this topic but the scope of the statements are so broad and vague - perhaps narrowing things a bit?

Like.. are we talking about the outright boycott of election day? Do you vote in your local elections and help decide local issues? Do you skip the polls when it is time to vote for a .5 mil tax for school development? Or do you just skip the polls when it is national election time.

The most important elections are the ones that are closest to you.. physically. This is because they effect your day to day life in the community in which you live and maybe even love. Recently, I went to the polls to vote on a single issue.. that’s it - there was only one question on the ballot. BUT how that vote turned out would affect my business.. and in the end, near term - my own pocket!

On polling days for national elections there are often a lot of state and local issues addressed on the ballot - you miss those if you 'just don't go'.

Did you know you could go to the polls and NOT VOTE? It has been brought to my attention that many people don't know that.. you can go to the polls, and not vote either way on issues you don't understand or care either way with.. leave the vote blank. If you really want to protest the elections.. and still paint yourself as the patriotic American that votes.. you can go to the polls, get in the little boothy thing.. and pass all the questions up.. register your 'vote' and leave. I call it voting 'no vote' - IMHO, it isn't a waste of time.

I am with Chewy and some of the other shere.. Get out and VOTE.. even if it means 'No Vote'.

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Age of Conan: Tharashk (Taxiarchos), Thaumiel (alt), guild Ars Tactika - Cimmeria
XBox360 GamerTag: P8riotOne (but it might also be my son playing - he can game with TG tho!)

leejo

I can't imagine why any sane politician would give a rat's ass what a non-voting constituent thought. Politicians are hired and fired by people who vote. The rest of their constituents may skew some polls one way or the other, but they're mostly just buzz.

This isn't to say I mind. By all means stay home on election day if your best judgment tells you that's the best long-term play. Please!