[Cracked Sidewalks] Get out and Vote

[reinko]

I have the right to vote or not to vote.  I also have the right to speak or not to speak.  I should also be able to complain about whoever wins even if I don't vote.  I'd complain about a guy I voted for if he wasn't doing a good job. 

Yes. Yes. Yes.  That's what this country was founded upon Muffs, freedom of speech and freedom of expression.  Of course you have the right to vote or not, and of course you will not be persecuted if you choose not to vote then complain about the state of your city, school board, federal government or whatever. 

So that begs the question, if you choose not to vote, do you civically participate in other ways?

[esotericmindguy]

The "Need" to vote is BS.  People try to guilt others into voting, but I don't see a rational reason.

In Wisconsin, there is between a 1:28,000,000 and 1:85,000,000 chance that a single vote will determine the election.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081102/ap_on_el_ge/vote_matters

Costs:

Time it takes to vote
Cost of getting to voting location

Benefit:

1:85,000,000 chance of getting the guy you want in office.

Personally, I would be happy with either candidate.  So why should I vote?

You better say something concrete, not "it's your patriotic duty."  In the representative democracy, I have the choice to vote and I could choose not voting instead of McCain or Obama.

Those numbers only make sense only if everyone thought differently then the short sighted, closed minded person you are.  Its the same pathetic argument made for people who overconsume or pollute.  If everyone thought that their vote didn't count than each individual vote would become more powerful correct?  Thus making your theory completely absurd.

But its your choice, I don't care if you vote or not but your reasoning is ridiculous.

[muhoosier260]

do the 15th, 19th and 26th amendments ring a bell?

[SaintPaulWarrior]

Those numbers only make sense only if everyone thought differently then the short sighted, closed minded person you are.  Its the same pathetic argument made for people who overconsume or pollute.  If everyone thought that their vote didn't count than each individual vote would become more powerful correct?  Thus making your theory completely absurd.

But its your choice, I don't care if you vote or not but your reasoning is ridiculous.

Overconsume?  Are you talking about the Chinese buffet or a casino buffet?

[Mufflers]

Those numbers only make sense only if everyone thought differently then the short sighted, closed minded person you are.  Its the same pathetic argument made for people who overconsume or pollute.  If everyone thought that their vote didn't count than each individual vote would become more powerful correct?  Thus making your theory completely absurd.

But its your choice, I don't care if you vote or not but your reasoning is ridiculous.

That would only resonate if not voting resulted in an outcome that is not representative of the population.  If everybody in Wisconsin voted, Obama would win.  As it is, 50% of eligible voters will vote and Obama will win.  Therefore, it isn't a matter of extrapolation.

RIP China Garden

[rocky_warrior]

That would only resonate if not voting resulted in an outcome that is not representative of the population.  If everybody in Wisconsin voted, Obama would win. 

You seem to be assuming this is only a presidential election.

On my ballot the presidential election was one question - there were 4 more pages of options....US senate representation, US house representation, State Senate representation, state and regional judges, state constitution amendments, county tax mil levies, and local tax mil levies.

Voting is always a choice, but there were several reasons that make it important for me to vote other than for a president.  In fact, I considered leaving box for president blank, but decided otherwise last night.

[TallTitan34]

FUNNY STORY... I was at MU during the Bush Gore election and my floormate was the one that got kicked out of MU because he went on a news show and told them that he voted like 10 times.  News show said his identity would be concealed but I guess not.  Oddly enough, he was the same character that supplied me with a fake ID.  AHHH, the good ol' days.

I wasn't fully paying attention to the TV but I thought I heard on FOX News Channel today that in 2004 a few districts in Milwaukee actually had more registered voters than adults in the districts.