Do you vote? :-P

Drachenherz · Post by **Drachenherz** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 12:30 am

Simple question.

Mortificator · Post by **Mortificator** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 1:35 am

I always have in presidential elections, but haven't in a lot of local stuff.

And congratulations to whoever fixed the polls.

KAI · Post by **KAI** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 2:24 am

Nope, never voted, and voting is compulsory where I live.

null1024 · Post by **null1024** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 2:55 am

Yes, but only during Presidential elections.

also, when the hell did polls get fixed here

Mischief Maker · Post by **Mischief Maker** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 3:07 am

Of course!

People get run over by tanks trying to get the right to vote, so how could I in good faith say, "eh, I don't feel like it. Back to masturbating!"

Lord Satori · Post by **Lord Satori** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 3:59 am

No. I'm not well informed enough in politics to make an informed decision.

I may have the right to vote, but I also have the right to choose not to vote.

Mischief Maker · Post by **Mischief Maker** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 4:21 am

Lord Satori wrote:No. I'm not well informed enough in politics to make an informed decision.

You realize you're typing that cop-out on an electronic brain connected to the largest repository of free information ever created in the history of human civilization.

I may have the right to vote, but I also have the right to choose not to vote.

Okeydoke, so long as you understand that if you voluntarily relinquish your right to vote you have also relinquished your right to bitch until the next election.

I couldn't function without the right to bitch, and so I vote.

AntiFritz · Post by **AntiFritz** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 4:27 am

Voting is compulsory in Australia, so yes I did vote two days ago. If it wasn't compulsory I would still vote though.

hermit crab · Post by **hermit crab** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 8:53 am

Yes but I don't believe that it will make any kind of difference. The game is rigged. I just do it to feel part of the community with a shared experience, going to the polling station is kinda like going to the fair.

TransatlanticFoe · Post by **TransatlanticFoe** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 11:38 am

Yes. I vote on pretty much everything I'm allowed to vote on.

Only time I haven't voted was in the police commissioner elections, and that was because all of the candidates were either self-serving, associated with a political party or just downright mental. And spoilt ballots don't get counted in the turnout

mastercello · Post by **mastercello** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 12:38 pm

Yes!!! -> direct democracy for the win (switzerland)

Hagane · Post by **Hagane** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 2:24 pm

Generally yes, voting is compulsory here. I couldn't vote this time since I'm too far from where I vote though.

Obiwanshinobi · Post by **Obiwanshinobi** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 2:25 pm

Yes I do.

antron · Post by **antron** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 3:21 pm

hermit crab wrote:Yes but I don't believe that it will make any kind of difference. The game is rigged.

Not sure where you live but here in the US so many polls are taken before an election that the outcome is essentially known beforehand, except in very tight races. And once in office the two sides pass laws that clearly take the country in unique directions.

Sly Cherry Chunks · Post by **Sly Cherry Chunks** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 3:59 pm

Not a citizen

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 5:01 pm

Mischief Maker wrote:Of course!

People get run over by tanks trying to get the right to vote, so how could I in good faith say, "eh, I don't feel like it. Back to masturbating!"

^this

Necronopticous · Post by **Necronopticous** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 5:17 pm

I used to be really serious about voting when I was young and naive, nowadays I don't waste my time. The voting system in the United States is completely broken and will never change, and nobody in the presidential charade has any real power anyway so fuck it.

Obiwanshinobi · Post by **Obiwanshinobi** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 5:35 pm

Necronopticous wrote:I used to be really serious about voting when I was young and naive, nowadays I don't waste my time. The voting system in the United States is completely broken and will never change, and nobody in the presidential charade has any real power anyway so fuck it.

And what's better now, may I ask?

Mischief Maker · Post by **Mischief Maker** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 5:56 pm

Necronopticous wrote:I used to be really serious about voting when I was young and naive, nowadays I don't waste my time.

Cynicism is a security blanket.

The voting system in the United States is completely broken and will never change, and nobody in the presidential charade has any real power anyway so fuck it.

Then why did Karl Rove shit a brick on national television when Obama was re-elected?

It's so much easier to say the situation is fucked and there is nothing we can possibly do to fix it than to say the situation is fucked and it's gonna take a lot of hard work to fix it.

Necronopticous · Post by **Necronopticous** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 5:59 pm

Obiwanshinobi wrote:And what's better now, may I ask?

What's better than FPTP? Anything? Random Lottery? Straw-drawing? It is seriously hard to do worse.

Eaglet · Post by **Eaglet** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 7:52 pm

CIT wrote:
Mischief Maker wrote:Of course!

People get run over by tanks trying to get the right to vote, so how could I in good faith say, "eh, I don't feel like it. Back to masturbating!"
^this

Randorama · Post by **Randorama** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 8:47 pm

I can vote in two countries, but I actually vote in one, only. I haven't voted for parliamentary elections in my country for a while, because I can't find any party that has programs that make even remotely sense, for someone who is not a functional illiterate. I am Italian, so you can easily imagine that I am not making this one up (functional illiteracy is at 40%).

Outside Europe, I lived in NL, DE and now SVE, so I can vote locally, and usually be sure that I am not wasting time supporting a system which makes no sense whatsoever. Well, in 2006 I got the Pym Fortuyn list members to come at home and ask me if I could vote them in the Utrecht local elections, but anyway it mostly makes sense.

Of course, if somebody in some other country wants to choose between two or more irrational groups of morons (Silvio or David?), and is willing to get run over by tanks, best of luck to them. Let us at least agree that whether this is a worthy fight or not, is by no means a granted result.

CIT · Post by **CIT** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 10:31 pm

Most people actually have a misunderstanding about what the great advantage of free elections is. (Necronopticous, for example)

The advantage is not that you can choose your leader. Usually it comes down to a choice between a nincompoop and a douchebag anyway. And there have been monarchs and dictators that were better leaders than some elected ones.

The advantage is that if the person in charge turns out to be horrible, you can get generally get rid of him again without the need for massive bloodshed.

AeroCityMayor · Post by **AeroCityMayor** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 10:37 pm

I go to the polling station as a mark of respect and grateful thanks to those who fought and died to preserve my right to vote.

I spoil my ballot paper because it isn't their fault there's sweet f**k all to vote FOR!

Cheers,

Ralph.

Necronopticous · Post by **Necronopticous** » Mon Sep 09, 2013 11:58 pm

CIT wrote:Most people actually have a misunderstanding about what the great advantage of free elections is. (Necronopticous, for example)

Actually, you misunderstood me. I did not say anything against free election or the concept of democracy. I said that the United States has a completely broken voting system which will never, ever be fixed. Trying to get what you want out of an American election is like playing your luck on a big dumb UFO catcher machine. You're at the complete mercy of an intentionally shitty mechanism, and you are not even provided a way to properly convey what you want to happen. There is absolutely no reason it has to be like this, and it is an insult to every single person who takes the time out of their life to attempt to give their input.

Moniker · Post by **Moniker** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 1:44 am

Necronopticous wrote:
CIT wrote:Most people actually have a misunderstanding about what the great advantage of free elections is. (Necronopticous, for example)
Actually, you misunderstood me. I did not say anything against free election or the concept of democracy. I said that the United States has a completely broken voting system which will never, ever be fixed. Trying to get what you want out of an American election is like playing your luck on a big dumb UFO catcher machine. You're at the complete mercy of an intentionally shitty mechanism, and you are not even provided a way to properly convey what you want to happen. There is absolutely no reason it has to be like this, and it is an insult to every single person who takes the time out of their life to attempt to give their input.

I dunno. I've lately been of the opinion that the Ron Paul (well-meaning wanker) movement made some headway into making Libertarian politics more acceptable (I'm not a 'full' Libertarian, but feel a shift in that direction must be made). I historically voted Repubican (base before superstructure), but if enough habitual Republican voters switch to Libertarian, Republicans will be forced to shift their positions to win more votes. Similar to how Democrats suddenly needed to be pro-LGBT rights. Possibly that's too optimistic. Better than nothing, though.

evil_ash_xero · Post by **evil_ash_xero** » Tue Sep 10, 2013 3:04 am

I did, but then I realized my vote didn't count. In THIS state, I mean.

I might another time, but there was no way on God's green earth that Obama was going to win in WV. State's too racist. Not like Mississippi Burning racist, but definitely racist enough to not vote for a black president. My puny vote didn't stand a chance.

Ed Oscuro · Post by **Ed Oscuro** » Wed Sep 11, 2013 3:47 am

Potential Democratic voters in 2008: 48% of the electorate (nationally)
Republican: 42%

Turnout of potential Democratic voters: 76%
Republican: 85%

Net result: +1 point Republican.

And that's why vote suppression happens.

That said the Democratic margin appears to be getting bigger again.

shmuppyLove · Post by **shmuppyLove** » Wed Sep 11, 2013 11:49 am

Mero · Post by **Mero** » Wed Sep 11, 2013 12:02 pm

I've only voted once, in '97 when I was 18. I probably would have voted in 2001 as well, but I wasn't living in my home town at the time.

I wouldn't mind going out and doing it again at some point if I felt it was necessary though.

shmups.system11.org

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