Reason(s) "I" don't or won't vote:

[tld221]

Originally Posted by Senusret I

This is a true story which I probably shouldn't be telling, but I think someone can learn from it.

My friend pursued membership in my APhiA chapter. One of the requirements of membership is proof of voter registration. Among many other concerns, I found out all of two weeks before the application deadline that not only did he not have a voter registration card, but he hadn't voted in over five years.

I laid him out something awful and ultimately decided he wasn't ready for me to sponsor him. He is not an Alpha to this day.

I mean..... how are you going to be voteless, hopeless, and trying to pledge MY frat?

that is interesting, having to be a registered voter and all.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by tld221

that is interesting, having to be a registered voter and all.

It's a brilliant idea.

Originally Posted by Kapital Phinust

This one came from my former roommate when I was in college:

"Voting is just picking the lesser of two evils"

I tell him: You don't like a particular candidate, write somebody in that you find to be the most qualified. While they may not count the vote in the tally, you get to exercise your civil duty and (possibly) make a statement regarding your selection.

I generally feel like all politicans are full of guamguam but I still vote for "the lesser of the evils" instead of writing in Donald Duck or Ralph Nader. I'd rather "give" my vote to the lesser evil than "take" my vote away by voting for someone who has no chance in hell of coming close to winning.

I'm slightly more optimistic with this election but I still don't believe in putting faith in candidates.

[KAPital PHINUst]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

I generally feel like all politicans are full of guamguam but I still vote for "the lesser of the evils" instead of writing in Donald Duck or Ralph Nader. I'd rather "give" my vote to the lesser evil than "take" my vote away by voting for someone who has no chance in hell of coming close to winning.

Voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil. I will not and will never again vote for evil.

As far as whether or not they have a chance at winning, well contrary to popular belief, I would rather treat my ballot as a ballot than as a lottery ticket or racing form, chances of winning be darned.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by KAPital PHINUst

Voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil. I will not and will never again vote for evil.

As far as whether or not they have a chance at winning, well contrary to popular belief, I would rather treat my ballot as a ballot than as a lottery ticket or racing form, chances of winning be darned.

Your candidate is still an evil. He is just the least influential of the evils. You don't know what this candidate is really doing and will do if in office. I'm an Independent because I believe all of these categories are pointless and none of these candidates should be trusted, regardless of party affiliation. That means that even third party candidates can send this country to hell.

Voting involves a number of bases for rational decisions, including the impact that your vote will have on the election. That doesn't transform it from a ballot to a lottery ticket or racing form.

[KAPital PHINUst]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

Your candidate is still an evil. He is just the least influential of the evils.

Trust and believe, there is NOTHING evil at all about Ron Paul. If he was so evil, why did the corrupt GOP spare no expense at shutting him out during the primaries, even by breaking their own rules along the way, and the MSM shutting him out of valuable news coverage? That alone should make you wonder who is the true evil is.

You don't know what this candidate is really doing and will do if in office.

I know exactly what he is doing and will do if in office: He'll give the federal government, the neocons, and the status quo a major shake up and shake down.

Voting involves a number of bases for rational decisions, including the impact that your vote will have on the election. That doesn't transform it from a ballot to a lottery ticket or racing form.

When you compromise your beliefs and principles for who you feel would make a great leader and settle for someone you find less desireable based on whether or not you think they'll succeed, you have indeed turned your ballot into a lottery ticket. And that to me is a "sheeple" mentality that I cannot accept.

[DSTCHAOS]

Originally Posted by KAPital PHINUst

Trust and believe, there is NOTHING evil at all about Ron Paul.

I'm not buying it, especially from someone who is in love with Ron Paul and wouldn't be able to criticize him even if he was voting to reinstate slavery.

Originally Posted by KAPital PHINUst

When you compromise your beliefs and principles for who you feel would make a great leader and settle for someone you find less desireable....

Don't leap too much. I think we're talking about two different things.

If I believe that no candidate can be trusted and they are all evil, and have the potential to send the country to hell, merely voting means that I am voting for the lesser of the evils. DUH. The point is to not vote based on party lines or because you are a FAN of a candidate.

The other point is to not vote for third parties simply because I'm an Independent and I think that that the two-party system is sucky. There are no party or candidate allegiances and that includes third parties.

ETA: My biggest thing about your continued "support" for Ron Paul is that you need to also consider what your vote will mean in the grander scheme of things. People have different reasons for supporting third party candidates. Yours is yours.

[KAPital PHINUst]

Originally Posted by DSTCHAOS

I'm not buying it, especially from someone who is in love with Ron Paul and wouldn't be able to criticize him even if he was voting to reinstate slavery.

Obama/McCain will most likely do just that, but I don't hear you giving those supporters flak for being "in love" with them.

Don't leap too much. I think we're talking about two different things.

If I believe that no candidate can be trusted and they are all evil, and have the potential to send the country to hell, merely voting means that I am voting for the lesser of the evils. DUH. The point is to not vote based on party lines or because you are a FAN of a candidate.

For the record, I have never voted based on party lines, and considering that over the 20th century, our country has received a string of substandard presidents who didn't give a dang about our country, our citizens, or anyone or anything that didn't directly benefit themselves and their selfish interests, it's pretty dang good to find a candidate to be even worthy enough to hold one of the most powerful offices in the world to even consider being a fan of.

ETA: My biggest thing about your continued "support" for Ron Paul is that you need to also consider what your vote will mean in the grander scheme of things. People have different reasons for supporting third party candidates. Yours is yours.

To say the least, I have a sickening feeling that should martial law ever be declared, I'm gonna wind up spending my next Christmas holiday in a hoosegow.

[nittanyalum]

Originally Posted by KAPital PHINUst

Trust and believe, there is NOTHING evil at all about Ron Paul.

I think that depends on your POV and how much you let the guy disavow his past:

http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.ht...5-4532a7da84ca

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/...ers/index.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/...n3721817.shtml

[KAPital PHINUst]

Originally Posted by nittanyalum

I think that depends on your POV and how much you let the guy disavow his past:

http://www.tnr.com/politics/story.ht...5-4532a7da84ca

http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/01/...ers/index.html

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/...n3721817.shtml

If you're trying to allude that Ron Paul is in some way a racist, these articles really don't do a good job of making that point.

[jon1856]

The other day I was having a general chat with the lady next door.
Turned to politics.
Long story short, she just can not vote for one of the candidates at all.
However she does not feel as if she knows the other very well.
After talking to her for over 20 minutes on how to find out more about both candidates and pointing out to her now that is is finally down to two, it is a sure thing that they will now be able to shine more; I walked away knowing that the only way she will "learn more" is if the candidates stopped by her living room in person!