Flutterby™! : Vote, damn it! 2000-11-07 19:35:08+00

Vote, damn it!

2000-11-07 19:35:08+00 by Dan Lyke 6 comments

Yeah, I know, it sounds very establishment of me, but even if you aren't voting for anyone, go select a couple of candidates you know have no chance of winning and drop a ballot in, just to show the mass media that you do give a damn. And if you live in a borderline state Gore probably sucks a little bit less than Bush. But only a little.

I think they are both equal opportunity suckers, but that's just me. ;-) I do take exception to people attempting to get people to just vote. I really would rather that people that have done no more research than read bumperstickers and listen to paid political ads just stay home. Still, if someone has done any research at all they should vote, even if they are like me and have decided that there is no discernable difference between any of the candidates. Oh, one more thing. Lie to a pollster.

Well, yeah, for the most part I think people shouldn't vote, but we're talking about readers of Flutterby here. I mean, these are all intelligent people who've thought through the issues and know which candidates they'd be voting for even without the little party affiliation labels beside the names. (Up with the Electoral College! Remove the presidential candidate's names from the ballots and replace them with the electoral college candidate's name!) And yeah, lie to a pollster. Although it pisses me off that they're hiding exit polling information this year 'cause I had to vote my conscience rather than pragmatically... But I guess that only makes a difference for us Californicators.

Hmmm well I agree Gore sucks less than Bush but the media seems to think California is pretty solid for Gore so I was happy to cast my lot with Harry Browne. I totally agree with Larry (can you believe it?). I discourage people to vote. Passionate people will not be thwarted(funny word) away from the polls. I know I'm going to be frustrated with the election results but it does feel good to vote.

People should definitely vote because even if you don't have a strong opinion about the race at the top of the ballot, there are many other local/regional candidates and issues on the same ballot that do deserve your voice. Maybe you live in a state that can't decide the Presidential contest one way or the other, but you have a Congressman and two Senators and they probably matter more in your lives than the White House anyway. There are also initiatives on everything from school funding to civil rights. So my advice is to save the jaded 'tude for BBS threads and get out and do your civic thing.

Well, the best possible scenario, from my perspective, has happened. Both sides have to be agonizing over those voters that slipped away to a third party and are going to have to confront what to do to establish themselves with these voters without losing what they've got. No votes cast were wasted yesterday. Todd, you and I probably agree on much, much more than you would ever imagine, we just come at it from a different angle. Anser, I did vote. My rant was pointed at those people that never bother to do any more than read bumperstickers and listen to political ads to prepare to vote. I would rather people informed themselves and voted but if they aren't going to bother to cast an informed vote I rather they didn't vote at all. I don't have a problem with people flipping a coin in the voting booth, my problem is with those that flip the coin without knowing why they are doing so. Watching all the different news coverages last night was hilarious.