Monday, November 3rd, 2008Why not vote? I know all of you probably vote, but I don't.
(yell, scream throw things at your computer.....I'll wait)
Let me explain WHY I don't. I live in FL. Why is that a good reason? Think back to when Bush was elected into office. Remember the chads? Remember the crazy old retirees that sat there holding ballots up to the lights so they could try to decipher who was being voted for? Remember how close it was? I honestly believe this is a red state, and will ALWAYS be a red state...no matter who the people in it actually vote for. I USED to vote, really I did. Once upon a time.
Tell you what, I'll go do it anyways. I just don't think it'll matter.
Either way, Ben's right. The 2000 election did NOT show us that a Democrat's vote doesn't matter, it showed us that everyone's vote DOES matter.
If you google, "Leo DiCaprio PSA," you'll be able to find the link. Hope that changes your mind.
Australia and Belgium require their citizens to vote.
As far as the whole, "women fought for the right to vote" aspect....so did men. It's in the past, so is slavery. I don't like those kinds of divisions among people, though I can see how they can be emotional points for some.
Great points, Jules.
I have had the pleasure of talking to many of our consumers at work today about getting out their voice... the voice they think nobody hears. It's very empowering...
I am confused by this, why is this a division among people?
"so did men." Which men?
What does slavery have to do with this anyway?
Just because women in the past fought for our right to vote makes it important. Just because something is in the past does not mean we cannot learn from them.
I am confused - about why anyone would NOT exercise their right to vote. As for the whole "it's in the past" thing. It is shown that if we do not learn from our past history - we are doomed to repeat it. I don't know about anyone else - but I don't want to live a whole bunch of out history.
Not only that Crystal - I have to point out one little thing to you - I am a supporter of women's rights - that is the right for a woman (not some fat balding man in Congress) to choose what kind of life she wants for herself, her children, her future children - if you fail to vote - you are giving up that choice - you are giving up your voice.
As for the dictatorship comment, I believe McCain is the one who aspires to be a dictator, not Obama: "If I were dictator, which I always aspire to be..."
Meg, I support equality for everyone. I don't see "women's issues", or "men's issues", "minority issues".....just "people's issues". I can't really think of any issue that affects some, but not all of us.
I'm not dismissing history, not in the least. But I'm not inclined to believe that my right to vote is any more special just because I'm in a group that had that right later, rather than earlier. We all have it now, so (in my mind at least) it isn't an issue.
I also don';t think we vote (as women) b/c our vote is more special. It's more empowering, though, to know that when our voices were once mute, we can now be vocal and heard!
By the way, who is Chad and why are y'all punching him?? ;)
Illinois is typically a blue state as Jules pointed out, but if all the reds just choose not to vote because of that, it'll never change.
I commend all who choose to take on that responsibility of citizenship and vote; I will be doing the same. Not only that, but I will be in charge of the mock election at our school so that my students' voices are heard.
The country looks like a Smurf threw up on it. I love it!!!
Historic time, eh? I am very happy with the outcome this time:-) Not so red! LOL!
Now, don't get me wrong, I'm not against people voting for third party candidates, but all such people need to realize that such a decision could make the election swing in a different way than they want it to. That's one reason why Florida went red in '00 AND '04.
Edit: It should be said that I learned last night that one vote can make a difference. Obama lost by about 500 votes in Omaha, narrowly losing the district. Why does that matter? Nebraska can split its votes, and Omaha would have earned Obama one more electoral vote.