A friendly reminder: Please vote.

[Friendly]

Is there a chance Mitt "bullshitter" Romney might try again in 4 years? Seems you usually only get one shot...

[Mortificator]

Romney ran last election too. But a candidate probably does only get one real shot with a Republican or Democratic nomination behind him.

[Ed Oscuro]

Well, I screwed up (only slightly), Michigan Radio is a good choice for viewing your ballot.
The website is publius.org, NOT propublica (although that is a decent place too, with its own resources).

Is there a chance Mitt "bullshitter" Romney might try again in 4 years? Seems you usually only get one shot...

His wife (I typo'd "wive" for some reason, speaking of things that Democrats haven't been trying to turn into political hay...) said that if he doesn't win, he's done.

[gabe]

If you don't follow politics and don't care, then don't vote. It's better for everyone if voters are informed and care, rather than voting for the candidate that looks the cutest because they were forced into a polling booth.

Disagreed. At least in the US.

If you are uneducated, or want to simply protest the system, cast an empty ballot. Your indecision is still a vote.

Michigan's ballot proposals are somewhat complicated this year.

Agreed. I studied beforehand and brought a "cheat sheet" into the ballot box as I'm a simple minded dolt who's easily confused.

[BryanM]

I think he means there have been rigged elections in the US too (Bush jr. comes to mind).

Have to love a result that's within the margin of error. By Florida law, Gore probably won. Maybe. Almost definitely if you didn't have the butterfly ballets.

The electoral votes should seriously be split if the shit's inside the margin of error. A Schrodinger's president is absurd.

[njiska]

If you don't follow politics and don't care, then don't vote. It's better for everyone if voters are informed and care, rather than voting for the candidate that looks the cutest because they were forced into a polling booth.

Disagreed. At least in the US.

If you are uneducated, or want to simply protest the system, cast an empty ballot. Your indecision is still a vote.

So you throw away a scrap of paper and that accomplishes what exactly?

[gabe]

So you throw away a scrap of paper and that accomplishes what exactly?

It exercises the right to vote. Casting a blank ballot is the bare minimum required to exercise that right. An empty ballot gets counted. It's still a "vote."

Folks from outside of the US may not understand how important that is. When this country was formed, only white, land owning, males had the right to vote (about 15% of the population at that time). Over the years, US citizens have fought hard to make their voices heard. Casting a blank ballot doesn't accomplish much, but it does give the voter a voice... Even if that voice is saying "I don't give a shit."

EDIT: See also - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protest_vote

[njiska]

So you throw away a scrap of paper and that accomplishes what exactly?

It exercises the right to vote. Casting a blank ballot is the bare minimum required to exercise that right. An empty ballot gets counted. It's still a "vote."

Folks from outside of the US may not understand how important that is. When this country was formed, only white, land owning, males had the right to vote (about 15% of the population at that time). Over the years, US citizens have fought hard to make their voices heard. Casting a blank ballot doesn't accomplish much, but it does give the voter a voice... Even if that voice is saying "I don't give a shit."

EDIT: See also - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Protest_vote

So it makes you feel good about voting, but does fuck all aside from that. Sounds like an American ideal.

Look, I understand the importance of being able to vote, but casting a blank ballot is still no different then not casting a ballot at all aside from the feeling it gives you. If anything it's paying lip service to an ideal you don't actually want to participate in and in many ways that's actually quite insulting. If you truly care about the rights afforded by voting that have been earned then don't be an idiot and throw your vote away. Find the best of a bad bunch to vote for, or run for office yourself and take part at a deeper level. You only have a voice if you really use it.

[antron]

Both candidates are members of the same club.
The Illusion of Choice.

grow up dude. look around you and see the people who's lives will be affected based on the outcome of this election.

They are gay
They have pre-existing health conditions and cannot buy insurance
They use birth control
They would have an abortion if raped
They don't want their children being taught other people's religion in public school
They want their kids to breath clean air
etc..

and don't forget the people who hate most in the list above, and want to see them oppressed.
+ rich people who don't want to pay taxes.

[opt2not]

Holy shit :
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nY0M7IdNl7U

"He's a Muslim, an Atheist and a communist."

"well which is he, a Muslim or an Atheist?"

"He's all three"

HAHAHAHA

[gabe]

If you truly care about the rights afforded by voting that have been earned then don't be an idiot and throw your vote away. Find the best of a bad bunch to vote for, or run for office yourself and take part at a deeper level.

To be clear, I'm not talking about myself. I fully agree with you here. Which is why I voted.

I'm just saying, I'd rather see people officially NOT vote, than see folks sit on their ass and do nothing on election day.

[njiska]

If you truly care about the rights afforded by voting that have been earned then don't be an idiot and throw your vote away. Find the best of a bad bunch to vote for, or run for office yourself and take part at a deeper level.

To be clear, I'm not talking about myself. I fully agree with you here. Which is why I voted.

I'm just saying, I'd rather see people officially NOT vote, than see folks sit on their ass and do nothing on election day.

That's reasonable enough I suppose.

[Ganelon]

I agree that everyone should exercise his/her privilege to vote. I also agree with compromising if possible, but your vote is ultimately your endorsement. Vote for someone like Donald Duck if you really think all of the candidates, if elected, would result in a worse America than no President at all. I would rather see folks vote for someone they believe in than feel forced into the current 2-party system where any alternative is usually considered "throwing your vote away." I think this "red pill or blue pill" approach, while realistic, is as unhelpful a voting rights mentality as believing your vote doesn't matter in the big picture.

Of course, if you're really busy and couldn't care less about the candidates (or find all the candidates unappealing), then I wouldn't say you're un-American for not voting. The freedom to vote is also the freedom to not vote.

I always bring a list of what I'm going to vote for. Just as I refuse to rubberneck at accidents and cause delays in traffic, I don't want to waste time thinking about referendum questions and cause delays at the voting booth.

Oh, and actually let D.C. residents vote too, while we're at it.

DC residents can vote. They just don't have representation in Congress. I'm fine either as-is or if they get 1 Representative but there are numerous constitutional issues, to speak nothing of current politics, against the latter.

[Moniker]

DC residents can vote. They just don't have representation in Congress. I'm fine either as-is or if they get 1 Representative but there are numerous constitutional issues, to speak nothing of current politics, against the latter.

Just to be totally clear, DC residents do have one non-voting representative in the House.

[Udderdude]

IT'S OVER OBAMA IS FINISHED

[opt2not]

IT'S OVER USA IS FINISHED

Fixed.

[system11]

Can't stand pro-lifers. Luckily he won't be getting in.

[Ganelon]

Just to be totally clear, DC residents do have one non-voting representative in the House.

To further clarify, a Representative is a voting member of the House whereas a Delegate is a non-voting member of the House. DC only has one Delegate. There's a reason DC license plates say "taxation without representation."

[njiska]

So far 61% No on Michigan Prop 6. I am happy and will continue to be if this remains.

[opt2not]

So far 61% No on Michigan Prop 6. I am happy and will continue to be if this remains.

Me too. We don't need more Americans with easier access to comin' up here enjoying our strip-clubs and drinking our fine beers.

[njiska]

So far 61% No on Michigan Prop 6. I am happy and will continue to be if this remains.

Me too. We don't need more Americans with easier access to comin' up here enjoying our strip-clubs and drinking our fine beers.

Heh, true, but no on 6 means they can actually build the new bridge. Which is desperately, desperately needed and we agreed to pay for the whole damn thing anyways. The prop is just about a fat cat wanting to prevent competition with his private bridge.

[Ed Oscuro]

No on six means that YOU (and the Feds) can build the new bridge, really. (Although considering MI is a donor state, it'll just be some much-needed repatriation of funds, arguably, from the Federal guarantees.)

I don't say the Republicans never did anything for me!

IT'S OVER OBAMA IS FINISHED

/!crap/trollPoll.png

ironically they would have the Empire State building in Commie Red if this happened, see here

[Hagane]

Both candidates are members of the same club.
The Illusion of Choice.

grow up dude. look around you and see the people who's lives will be affected based on the outcome of this election.

They are gay
They have pre-existing health conditions and cannot buy insurance
They use birth control
They would have an abortion if raped
They don't want their children being taught other people's religion in public school
They want their kids to breath clean air
etc..

and don't forget the people who hate most in the list above, and want to see them oppressed.
+ rich people who don't want to pay taxes.

While all that is true, it's also true that, on the grand scheme of things, there's not that much difference between Democrats and Republicans. Especially when it comes to economics and foreign policies. But yeah Obama is the lesser evil there, and it makes sense voting him when the alternative is Romney. Kinda similar to what happens here.

[KAI]

Bipartisanship is fucking everything, as usual.

All I hear right now is "time to worry, If Obama doesn't win, the entire world is fucked".

[Domino]

While all that is true, it's also true that, on the grand scheme of things, there's not that much difference between Democrats and Republicans. Especially when it comes to economics and foreign policies. But yeah Obama is the lesser evil there, and it makes sense voting him when the alternative is Romney. Kinda similar to what happens here.

Or vote third party. Because as long as people think the lesser of two evils the US will never get away from the Two party majority BS.

[Hagane]

Bipartisanship is fucking everything, as usual.

All I hear right now is "time to worry, If Obama doesn't win, the entire world is fucked".

Obama will probably keep fucking us, but at least he will be kind enough to use some lube, whereas Romney would use a giant spiky dildo instead.

Domino: that would be ideal, but most people believe that voting for a third party would just help the major party they hate. Happens everywhere.

[Domino]

Obama will probably keep fucking us, but at least he will be kind enough to use some lube, whereas Romney would use a giant spiky dildo instead.

Obama likes it bareback on the double.

Domino: that would be ideal, but most people believe that voting for a third party would just help the major party they hate. Happens everywhere.

With the mindset things never change.

It's going to be some fun times with Obama winning. My employer is planning to hire less people and increase our heath care cost because of an Obama victory.

[antron]

It's going to be some fun times with Obama winning. My employer is planning to hire less people and increase our heath care cost because of an Obama victory.

or maybe he's trying to influence your vote. or maybe he's just a dick. maybe he hopes you don't know that you will be getting more in your insurance policy now.

[Moniker]

Re: Third party candidates -

Hopefully Ron Paul's popularity during the primaries will throw some support libertarian-way. I'm quite tired of having to choose between economic and social liberalism.

[Domino]

or maybe he's trying to influence your vote. or maybe he's just a dick. maybe he hopes you don't know that you will be getting more in your insurance policy now.

Nope. It's not a boss, it's a whole big company doing more with less because of more regulation coming in that will affect them. We just got our insurance info for 2013 and the first thing it said is because of the new healthcare law we have to increase our rates for 2013. The good news is that my job pay for 75% or the heath care cost for us and will continue to do so. The ones that got fucked over the worse with the price hike are the families who are doing the family plan. The job is promoting more of the 70/50 HDHP plan, which is garbage.

Re: Third party candidates -

Hopefully Ron Paul's popularity during the primaries will throw some support libertarian-way. I'm quite tired of having to choose between economic and social liberalism.

I know what you mean, I'm more social liberal than Obama and more conservative when it comes to money than Romney. I can't win!!!