How do you choose whom to vote for?

[Rolamec]

I'm a little distressed by how comfortable so many people seem to feel with enforcing their ideologies on others.

That's what democracy is.

I wouldn't say enforcing is what democracy is. Its more like useing the most persuasive argument your morals will allow (for people who get elected, these arguments are usualy full of lies and half-truths) to convince everyone else your right and either truely hearing out other argument or at least pretending to (back to most of our elected officials for that last one).

Point made. Which is also why our founding fathers (if your American) intended our country to be a republic, not a democracy. There is a reason why thinkers such as Plato to Churchill considered democracies one of the worst form of governments. They are great for the majority, and terrible for the minority (African-Americans in slavery and segregation, as well as Asians, many immigrations Irish, Italians, Germans, Eastern Europeans, Hispanics; women; gays; etc.).

Democracy is great until an emergency occurs, and a scapegoat is found. Than it quickly transforms into a mob-ocracy. Athens being a great and unfortunate example.

I think my previouse post still aplies to a republican system. I am American, yes. While most of what you say is accurate, you have errored on Churchill. The quote goes something like "Democracy is the worst form of government, eccept for all the others." He ment republican democracy, not true democracy. And befor we get into a semantical argument in this thread about democracy, republic, and a slew of other words, let me say that we are all intelegent people. We know the true meanings but use the words in the common format for simplicities sake.

LOL. Of course, when I refer to a democracy, I refer to what it literally means "ruled by the people." Which is why I mentioned Plato, who lived in a time of Atheninan democracy and saw its abuses (Socrates trial, election of one leader one day, and an execution of the same leader the next, etc.). I got what your saying, and I agree. But also a republic is ruled by elected representatives, which means its an indirect democracy, that was a given. Anywho, yeah I know what your talking about and I agree.

[Halluci Bunny]

When politics is just a competition of who sucks less, i choose the simplest option available to me live in walkover district.

[Dark Side Messiahs]

While ideally all the options in the poll are sound and something I think everyone hopes for in a candidate, finding someone like that to run things is going to be a long shot. I believe that most politicians do it for power, the feeling that they hold sway over the people because they're a trusted face. I know not all politicians are that way but logic teaches us that there are those types in the world so it is safe to say that there are possibly those types in seats of power.

That said, I vote for people that I believe will make a difference for us all. People that will pass legislation that will help heal the many problems facing people today. Living in America, everyone in some form or another want to see change. Change was the rally cry for Barack Obama to come into office and yet little has changed in the year since he was elected.

Now this is where I'm sure I'm going to hear something from someone... I do not vote for President.

To answer why, I go back to a time when I was in high school and speaking at the Washington State Student Forum. In the auditorium of a local high school there gathered a number of various elected officials, everything from Sheriffs to Senators to representatives for the Bush and Gore campaign parties. I got up and spoke on how America still uses an outdated and unfair electoral college to elect the President. Did you know that through the electoral college its possible to elect a President that has lost the popular vote? I learned about this from my high school Government teacher.

Because of my speech, I was able to meet Sen. Val Stevens who commended me for my presentation. That wasn't the kicker however. The real kicker came during the 2000 Election when George H.W. Bush lost the popular vote but was still declared winner and President of the United States. What can I say, I found my words a bit prophetic that day.

Watching the 2008 Election, I was astonished when ABC, NBC, and CBS were running there counts for the 'Race to 270'. 270 is the number of electoral votes needed by a candidate to become President. In a nation where the people vote for the President, why do we have an electoral college?

http://www.uselectionatlas.org/INFORMATION/INFORMATION/electcollege_history.php

It was put in place because at the time of inception there were no cell phones, internet, not even an electronic telegraph. The states were largely unconnected and lacked communication between states, something needed when it came to the matter. It was impossible for all citizens of the states to know much about the candidates running for office. Post riders could only reach so far and at the time there was no such thing as a campaign trail. With a population of 4,000,000 that lived in the equivalence of rural communities, the founding fathers had to think of a way to level the playing field. Thus the electoral college was born.

It is because of this arcane practice that I do not vote for President. Today information travels as fast as your high speed internet can take it and people are no longer hindered by lack of communication. In my opinion i is time for a real change. The electoral college is obsolete and America should now go to a true vote by the people. The only question is will the Government make this change? I seriously doubt it. Until they do, no President will get my vote.

[Allbeama]

I think I will start writing myself in on the ballots from now on.

You do know that, even if you won, you couldn't actually "win" because you write-in qualified registered write-in candidates, right? (Write-in is for people who don't have enough money to get their name on the ballot -- you can't just write anyone's name in and have it count.)

Damn it! another plan ruined by the facts!

[Risottia]

Did you know that through the electoral college its possible to elect a President that has lost the popular vote? I learned about this from my high school Government teacher.

You need a teacher to learn that? I merely got it from the newspapers, when I was 10, or so.

Anyway, the most ridiculous thing about the US is not that he who loses the popular vote can be elected president. I think that the most ludicrous part of that weird political system is the problem with the three candidates.
Let's say that three candidates manage to get electors (last time it happened, 1968, Humphrey/Nixon/Wallace).
Let's say that none of these three candidates achieve the absolute majority of the electoral votes. Candidate A 48% of electoral votes, candidate B 47% of electoral votes, candidate C 5% of electoral votes.
Basically, if the electors for candidates A and B keep to their word... it's the electors for candidate C that get to decide everything. They'll vote for the candidate that offers their party more. Eventually, even the Vice-Presidency, or the Presidency itself; who knows? After all, electors can vote for whomever they want as PotUS.

I think that the French two-rounds system is better when you have to select a single person for a single office.

[Grave_n_idle]

I'm a little distressed by how comfortable so many people seem to feel with enforcing their ideologies on others.

That's what democracy is.

No - democracy is having a voice. It's disturbing that so many people admit to the use of that voice, to make their beliefs into policy.

[Doitzel]

I'm a little distressed by how comfortable so many people seem to feel with enforcing their ideologies on others.

That's what democracy is.

No - democracy is having a voice. It's disturbing that so many people admit to the use of that voice, to make their beliefs into policy.

What? We shouldn't vote for people on the basis of policy positions? That's asinine.

I think my ideology / policy beliefs are better for the country so I vote in the hopes that they get carried out. Yeah, it pushes my beliefs on others (well it would, except the people I vote for don't get elected). So what? That's what everyone does. That's how [our system of government, since I can't call it "democracy" without someone yelling FOUNDING FATHERS REPUBLIC GUN CONTROL YAAAAH] works.

[Dark Side Messiahs]

[You need a teacher to learn that? I merely got it from the newspapers, when I was 10, or so.

Yeah, I didn't get that memo until I reached high school unfortunately.

[Linker Niederrhein]

[Brutland and Norden]

This topic is slightly appropriate as I am thinking of who I'd be voting for in next year's presidential elections. Most probably I'd be weighing my decision on who will enact policies that will be good for the whole country/community. Sharing my political/moral beliefs comes to a lesser extent.

But despite the plethora of candidates for many positions, for most of the offices, I'd be forced to choose the candidate who would do the least damage to the country/community. Or I'll just leave my ballot blank.

[Kantria]

So you voted for Huckabee?

[The Movie of the Book]

That's how you roll.

YEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

[Anarchic-Marxist]

Whoever's wife looks less creepy, hence my 2008 vote.

McCain
Obama

The choice was either Skullzor or Michelle. What choice would you make?

Dennis Kucinich.

Thats who I wan't for president.>.<

[Jordaxia]

I vote for the person whose views most closely align with my own, since that seems the eminently sensible thing to do.

[Omnicracy]

I'm a little distressed by how comfortable so many people seem to feel with enforcing their ideologies on others.

That's what democracy is.

I wouldn't say enforcing is what democracy is. Its more like useing the most persuasive argument your morals will allow (for people who get elected, these arguments are usualy full of lies and half-truths) to convince everyone else your right and either truely hearing out other argument or at least pretending to (back to most of our elected officials for that last one).

Point made. Which is also why our founding fathers (if your American) intended our country to be a republic, not a democracy. There is a reason why thinkers such as Plato to Churchill considered democracies one of the worst form of governments. They are great for the majority, and terrible for the minority (African-Americans in slavery and segregation, as well as Asians, many immigrations Irish, Italians, Germans, Eastern Europeans, Hispanics; women; gays; etc.).

Democracy is great until an emergency occurs, and a scapegoat is found. Than it quickly transforms into a mob-ocracy. Athens being a great and unfortunate example.

I think my previouse post still aplies to a republican system. I am American, yes. While most of what you say is accurate, you have errored on Churchill. The quote goes something like "Democracy is the worst form of government, eccept for all the others." He ment republican democracy, not true democracy. And befor we get into a semantical argument in this thread about democracy, republic, and a slew of other words, let me say that we are all intelegent people. We know the true meanings but use the words in the common format for simplicities sake.

LOL. Of course, when I refer to a democracy, I refer to what it literally means "ruled by the people." Which is why I mentioned Plato, who lived in a time of Atheninan democracy and saw its abuses (Socrates trial, election of one leader one day, and an execution of the same leader the next, etc.). I got what your saying, and I agree. But also a republic is ruled by elected representatives, which means its an indirect democracy, that was a given. Anywho, yeah I know what your talking about and I agree.

Common misconception. Republic is actualy simply rule by law. Technicaly, it has nothing representitive democracy, that is just how it has come to be used. DAM! This is EXACTLY what I wanted to avoid!

[Omnicracy]

I think I will start writing myself in on the ballots from now on.

You do know that, even if you won, you couldn't actually "win" because you write-in qualified registered write-in candidates, right? (Write-in is for people who don't have enough money to get their name on the ballot -- you can't just write anyone's name in and have it count.)

Damn it! another plan ruined by the facts!

You could still get the thousands of signatures requred to be written in.

[Omnicracy]

Did you know that through the electoral college its possible to elect a President that has lost the popular vote? I learned about this from my high school Government teacher.

You need a teacher to learn that? I merely got it from the newspapers, when I was 10, or so.

Anyway, the most ridiculous thing about the US is not that he who loses the popular vote can be elected president. I think that the most ludicrous part of that weird political system is the problem with the three candidates.
Let's say that three candidates manage to get electors (last time it happened, 1968, Humphrey/Nixon/Wallace).
Let's say that none of these three candidates achieve the absolute majority of the electoral votes. Candidate A 48% of electoral votes, candidate B 47% of electoral votes, candidate C 5% of electoral votes.
Basically, if the electors for candidates A and B keep to their word... it's the electors for candidate C that get to decide everything. They'll vote for the candidate that offers their party more. Eventually, even the Vice-Presidency, or the Presidency itself; who knows? After all, electors can vote for whomever they want as PotUS.

I think that the French two-rounds system is better when you have to select a single person for a single office.

To be fair, I think he ment the technicality that a member of the electoral colledge can vote for who they think is best regardless of who won inside there state. I dont think its ever been used that way, or at least not for about a century.

[Redslavia]

The lesser of the two evils, as our politicians don't have any good in them.

[Rhodmhire]

If you're going to do it, at least make it fun.

[Omnicracy]

I'm a little distressed by how comfortable so many people seem to feel with enforcing their ideologies on others.

That's what democracy is.

No - democracy is having a voice. It's disturbing that so many people admit to the use of that voice, to make their beliefs into policy.

What? We shouldn't vote for people on the basis of policy positions? That's asinine.

I think my ideology / policy beliefs are better for the country so I vote in the hopes that they get carried out. Yeah, it pushes my beliefs on others (well it would, except the people I vote for don't get elected). So what? That's what everyone does. That's how [our system of government, since I can't call it "democracy" without someone yelling FOUNDING FATHERS REPUBLIC GUN CONTROL YAAAAH] works.

I think they ment personal or religiouse belifes that have no place in government.

[Kantria]

Whoever's wife looks less creepy, hence my 2008 vote.

McCain
Obama

The choice was either Skullzor or Michelle. What choice would you make?

Dennis Kucinich.

Thats who I wan't for president.>.<

Me too. Seriously.

[Tunizcha]

Dennis, Dennis, Dennis. . .

[Superb knights]

Whoever's wife looks less creepy, hence my 2008 vote.

McCain
Obama

The choice was either Skullzor or Michelle. What choice would you make?

The unmarried candidate?

I would choose Sarah Palin...ahahahaha...just kidding!

[Grave_n_idle]

What? We shouldn't vote for people on the basis of policy positions? That's asinine.

Why?

If the better candidate actually has different ideological aspirations to yours, shouldn't you vote for them, because they are better?

Why would you vote for a poorer candidate that just agreed with you?

I think my ideology / policy beliefs are better for the country so I vote in the hopes that they get carried out.

And, if you're wrong?

Yeah, it pushes my beliefs on others

You admit it, then - I guess it wasn't that asinine after all.

[Vault 10]

So, what about you? How do you choose?

I buy a bottle of whiskey and a bottle of black rum. Then I take shots alternating between them. Whichever color is the last shot, I vote for.