Should We Really Encourage Everyone To Vote?

[Suicune]

Yes. Encourage them with a fine.

Especially if they put smilies on the damn ballot.

Nah that's some to cheer up the people counting the damn things.

[United Marxist Nations]

Before we begin, I need to make one thing absolutely clear: I am not in favor of setting up any obstacles between the people and the voting booth. I believe in early voting and absentee voting, and am firmly against the recent spate of closures of voting locations in manys states.

Having said that, I'm skeptical of most get out the vote efforts. Every election, we're hit with public service ads on television and online encouraging all of us to do our civic duty and vote. I personally don't see the point. Yes, in America and elsewhere, it's a constitutional right. Yes, people fought, bled, and died for that right. However--and this is a big however--I really don't think that those who are politically apathetic should vote. If someone can't be bothered to keep up with world events, or thinks that all politicians are the same, or has no understanding of economics whatsoever, then I don't want that person within a mile of a voting booth. We have enough of an issue with the uninformed, the simplistic, the narrow-minded, and the outright bigoted swaying votes in the United States. Why would we add to that by encouraging a bunch of people who don't actually believe in the process to take part in it? To put it crudely, why would we encourage these dipshits to vote?

Another disclaimer: I am not saying that everybody who thinks that the parties have much in common is a dipshit. However, I've known plenty of dipshits who think this for the most superficial and shallow of reasons.

Thoughts?

There's a difference between political apathy and not believing in the process. Many of us don't believe in the process because we think the process is shit.,

[Pandeeria]

In th US I don't see the point in voting. All it is is two shitty, lying, corporate representatives. One is from the Republican Party and the other is from the Democraic Party.

I only get two choices, my vote is statistically insignificant, and nothing will change. I do not see the point of voting.

Umm president is not the only office on the ballot... Your vote definitely matters at the local level, which is more important to your daily life anyways.

I'm rather apathetic as to if my city introduces a new fine for not picking up my dogs poop at the park or for getting rid of paid parking. It's nice, but it's not quite th issues I really care about, and am definitely not passionate about.

[Kanaria]

In th US I don't see the point in voting. All it is is two shitty, lying, corporate representatives. One is from the Republican Party and the other is from the Democraic Party.

I only get two choices, my vote is statistically insignificant, and nothing will change. I do not see the point of voting.

You see the point in killing the enemy during the battle for the Iron Throne, don't you?

[Pandeeria]

In th US I don't see the point in voting. All it is is two shitty, lying, corporate representatives. One is from the Republican Party and the other is from the Democraic Party.

I only get two choices, my vote is statistically insignificant, and nothing will change. I do not see the point of voting.

You see the point in killing the enemy during the battle for the Iron Throne, don't you?

What if they're both the enemy?

[Novus America]

Umm president is not the only office on the ballot... Your vote definitely matters at the local level, which is more important to your daily life anyways.

I'm rather apathetic as to if my city introduces a new fine for not picking up my dogs poop at the park or for getting rid of paid parking. It's nice, but it's not quite th issues I really care about, and am definitely not passionate about.

So what issues do you care about? The way the city maintains roads and schools? Your municipal water supply? Your city minimum wage? Your city taxes? Your city's police?

Local issues matter much more to your daily than many national issues. And at the national level it is just dog whistle identity politics and social issue the federal government should not be dealing with.

Oh and what about your state government? Your state legislature? Who have massive powers and make big decsions again on your roads, schools, utilities, taxes and police, wages, etc. Or make the laws on murder? The death penalty? Oh and now drugs is a defacto state thing too.

You clearly need to read up more on how law in the US works. You cleary do not understand the powers state and local governments have.

[Novus America]

You see the point in killing the enemy during the battle for the Iron Throne, don't you?

What if they're both the enemy?

Then vote Gary Johnson or Jill Stein. And read up about the down ballot to make informed decisions were it most matters and you have the most impact.

[Pandeeria]

I'm rather apathetic as to if my city introduces a new fine for not picking up my dogs poop at the park or for getting rid of paid parking. It's nice, but it's not quite th issues I really care about, and am definitely not passionate about.

So what issues do you care about? The way the city maintains roads and schools? Your municipal water supply? Your city minimum wage? Your city taxes? Your city's police?

Local issues matter much more to your daily than many national issues. And at the national level it is just dog whistle identity politics and social issue the federal government should not be dealing with.

Oh and what about your state government? Your state legislature? Who have massive powers and make big decsions again on your roads, schools, utilities, taxes and police, wages, etc. Or make the laws on murder? The death penalty? Oh and now drugs is a defacto state thing too.

You clearly need to read up more on how law in the US works. You cleary do not understand the powers state and local governments have.

Did I ever say I don't care about my state's issues?

[Kxcd]

You see the point in killing the enemy during the battle for the Iron Throne, don't you?

What if they're both the enemy?

Then kill 'em obviously.

I'm rather apathetic as to if my city introduces a new fine for not picking up my dogs poop at the park or for getting rid of paid parking. It's nice, but it's not quite th issues I really care about, and am definitely not passionate about.

So what issues do you care about? The way the city maintains roads and schools? Your municipal water supply? Your city minimum wage? Your city taxes? Your city's police?

Local issues matter much more to your daily than many national issues. And at the national level it is just dog whistle identity politics and social issue the federal government should not be dealing with.

Oh and what about your state government? Your state legislature? Who have massive powers and make big decsions again on your roads, schools, utilities, taxes and police, wages, etc. Or make the laws on murder? The death penalty? Oh and now drugs is a defacto state thing too.

You clearly need to read up more on how law in the US works. You cleary do not understand the powers state and local governments have.

Also, REDLIGHT CAMERAS!

[Novus America]

So what issues do you care about? The way the city maintains roads and schools? Your municipal water supply? Your city minimum wage? Your city taxes? Your city's police?

Local issues matter much more to your daily than many national issues. And at the national level it is just dog whistle identity politics and social issue the federal government should not be dealing with.

Oh and what about your state government? Your state legislature? Who have massive powers and make big decsions again on your roads, schools, utilities, taxes and police, wages, etc. Or make the laws on murder? The death penalty? Oh and now drugs is a defacto state thing too.

You clearly need to read up more on how law in the US works. You cleary do not understand the powers state and local governments have.

Did I ever say I don't care about my state's issues?

So why would you not vote then? For your state governor and legislature? You vote is much more siginifigant in your state legislature. Besides your city issues also matter. Many state powers are related to cities. Police issues matter. The police who police your neighborhoods are city. City Water and city roads matter. The city minimum wage matters. City laws matter.

With the federal government largely paralyzed by its incompetence and unwieldy bureaucratic mess, state and local issues matter more than ever.

You have no excuse to not vote. None at all. I hate both lame corrupt incompetent wretched excuses for presidential candidates the two big parties produce. I am still voting. Because I care about the things that matter most.

I almost never see federal police. I rarely see state police. So I really care about my county police. Because they are the one who will answer if I call 9-11. Oh and firefighters are local too.

[Novus America]

What if they're both the enemy?

Then kill 'em obviously.

So what issues do you care about? The way the city maintains roads and schools? Your municipal water supply? Your city minimum wage? Your city taxes? Your city's police?

Local issues matter much more to your daily than many national issues. And at the national level it is just dog whistle identity politics and social issue the federal government should not be dealing with.

Oh and what about your state government? Your state legislature? Who have massive powers and make big decsions again on your roads, schools, utilities, taxes and police, wages, etc. Or make the laws on murder? The death penalty? Oh and now drugs is a defacto state thing too.

You clearly need to read up more on how law in the US works. You cleary do not understand the powers state and local governments have.

Also, REDLIGHT CAMERAS!

Well I would not put red light cameras at the top of my list, vote for what is important to you.

[San Lumen]

Did I ever say I don't care about my state's issues?

So why would you not vote then? For your state governor and legislature? You vote is much more siginifigant in your state legislature. Besides your city issues also matter. Many state powers are related to cities. Police issues matter. The police who police your neighborhoods are city. City Water and city roads matter. The city minimum wage matters. City laws matter.

With the federal government largely paralyzed by its incompetence and unwieldy bureaucratic mess, state and local issues matter not than ever.

Exactly correct. It always saddens me when i see turnout drop to low numbers in the US for midterms and even lower for local elections. There ought to be a minimum turnout law. If a certain percentage don't show up to vote the election is invalid.

[Pandeeria]

Did I ever say I don't care about my state's issues?

So why would you not vote then? For your state governor and legislature? You vote is much more siginifigant in your state legislature. Besides your city issues also matter. Many state powers are related to cities. Police issues matter. The police who police your neighborhoods are city. City Water and city roads matter. The city minimum wage matters. City laws matter.

With the federal government largely paralyzed by its incompetence and unwieldy bureaucratic mess, state and local issues matter more than ever.

What if I want the abolition of the state itself? Then who do I vote for?

[San Lumen]

So why would you not vote then? For your state governor and legislature? You vote is much more siginifigant in your state legislature. Besides your city issues also matter. Many state powers are related to cities. Police issues matter. The police who police your neighborhoods are city. City Water and city roads matter. The city minimum wage matters. City laws matter.

With the federal government largely paralyzed by its incompetence and unwieldy bureaucratic mess, state and local issues matter more than ever.

What if I want the abolition of the state itself? Then who do I vote for?

So anarchy is what you want? Vote for a communist party

[Pandeeria]

What if I want the abolition of the state itself? Then who do I vote for?

So anarchy is what you want? Vote for a communist party

What if I believe the aims of a proper Communist party (the CPUSA is total shit, and at this point is pretty much just Democrats dressed up in red) cannot be achieved through a system which is dominated by the wealthy ruling class?

[San Lumen]

So anarchy is what you want? Vote for a communist party

What if I believe the aims of a proper Communist party (the CPUSA is total shit, and at this point is pretty much just Democrats dressed up in red) cannot be achieved through a system which is dominated by the wealthy ruling class?

So what is it you want then? Anarchy?

[Pandeeria]

What if I believe the aims of a proper Communist party (the CPUSA is total shit, and at this point is pretty much just Democrats dressed up in red) cannot be achieved through a system which is dominated by the wealthy ruling class?

So what is it you want then? Anarchy?

I wouldn't consider myself an Anarchist, no. I suppose I am a Communist then.

[Novus America]

So why would you not vote then? For your state governor and legislature? You vote is much more siginifigant in your state legislature. Besides your city issues also matter. Many state powers are related to cities. Police issues matter. The police who police your neighborhoods are city. City Water and city roads matter. The city minimum wage matters. City laws matter.

With the federal government largely paralyzed by its incompetence and unwieldy bureaucratic mess, state and local issues matter more than ever.

What if I want the abolition of the state itself? Then who do I vote for?

Well fine, if you do not care about having police or fire fighters than I guess you can stay out of the process. If you are not going to vote in a constructive manner sure, do whatever you want. Most of us care about our schools, police, fire fighters, roads, wages, taxes and all.

[Pandeeria]

What if I want the abolition of the state itself? Then who do I vote for?

Well fine, if you do not care about having police or fire fighters than I guess you can stay out of the process. If you are not going to vote in a constructive manner sure, do whatever you want. Most of us care about our schools, police, fire fighters, roads, wages, taxes and all.

But I do care about social services and infrastructure. I never said anything to the contrary. Unless you interpret "abolition of the state" as that and totally fail to realize said services can be owned and operated by something else then the state.

[Novus America]

So why would you not vote then? For your state governor and legislature? You vote is much more siginifigant in your state legislature. Besides your city issues also matter. Many state powers are related to cities. Police issues matter. The police who police your neighborhoods are city. City Water and city roads matter. The city minimum wage matters. City laws matter.

With the federal government largely paralyzed by its incompetence and unwieldy bureaucratic mess, state and local issues matter not than ever.

Exactly correct. It always saddens me when i see turnout drop to low numbers in the US for midterms and even lower for local elections. There ought to be a minimum turnout law. If a certain percentage don't show up to vote the election is invalid.

Well if the election is invalid then what? And honestly I do not think it is neccesary at all. My local government does a good job for the most part. So I vote. If people do not want to vote that is their problem. Not mine. We will get along fine without them. I will tell people why they should vote. But if they still chose not to my county government still needs to keep operating. Heck the fewer who vote the more my vote counts. But what really matters is the police and fire fighters and schools are there. The lights, water and gas stay on. The roads get fixed. Health inspectors do their job properly. Et al. None of that can stop just because people refuse to vote.

People who do not understand the importance of the down ballot are not going to make informed decisions anyways.

[Novus America]

Well fine, if you do not care about having police or fire fighters than I guess you can stay out of the process. If you are not going to vote in a constructive manner sure, do whatever you want. Most of us care about our schools, police, fire fighters, roads, wages, taxes and all.

But I do care about social services and infrastructure. I never said anything to the contrary. Unless you interpret "abolition of the state" as that and totally fail to realize said services can be owned and operated by something else then the state.

You said you do not care about city issues. Social services and infrastructure are very much city issues.
Well if you care about social services and infrastructure, why would you not vote in local elections?

[USS Monitor]

Two shits candidates one an insider threat and the other an idiot. Not gonna waste my day off on this shit.

There are more than two candidates.

[Novus America]

Two shits candidates one an insider threat and the other an idiot. Not gonna waste my day off on this shit.

There are more than two candidates.

And more than one election on the ballot.

[USS Monitor]

There are more than two candidates.

And more than one election on the ballot.

And ballot questions. I like ballot questions.

[Novus America]

And more than one election on the ballot.

And ballot questions. I like ballot questions.

True, those too. Lots of county ballot questions will be on my ballot. Plus many states and localities will have interesting questions. It is nice to pick my own options rather than some party hack I disagree with half of the time. I disagree with all parties on certain things. I like to make my own decisions.