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Promoting this video and sending it back into the queue for one more try; last queued Monday, October 29th, 2012 11:34am PDT - promote requested by Boise_Lib.

You never hear anyone say 'I'm too lazy to vote' which is probably the case more often than not.

I have actually wondered about the whole "how much does voting pay me" aspect. When it gets down to it, saying "it's your duty" to do x or y doesn't get you very far. I mean even here on the sift, there are rewards for participation beyond just duty; like power points to promote videos you think are important and badges, ect. It seems like there could be some very interesting and motivational ways to get people to vote.

There are so many pieces on this theme and yet I never hear anyone give the right answer. "I refuse to opt-in to mob rule. I do not give you permission to run my life."

Voting is apathy. If you want to be politically active get a weapon and use it.

I live in the swingiest area of the most important, swingiest swing state. Your fates are in my hands. This is my opportunity to troll the entire world.

Also, how are you not in jail yet, @gorillaman?

Slice of free bacon after you cast your vote -- problem solved.

I've heard the jury duty excuse before, which is irritating since at least here in Ohio, they don't pull jury duty from voter rolls but from drivers license registrations (not sure if that includes picture ID or just drivers license), so if you drive but don't vote, you can still be called for jury duty. I thought that was the norm in most states now...

Unless you live in ohio or florida, your vote doesn't matter. its called the electoral college. even if the whole state of california decided not to vote, the members of california's electoral college would still vote democrat.

i'll vote when the system isn't rigged and bought,... and our supposed democracy isn't just a dramatic diversion from reality.

>> ^gorillaman:
"I refuse to opt-in to mob rule. I do not give you permission to run my life."
Voting is apathy. If you want to be politically active get a weapon and use it.
Best answer ever.

>> ^criticalthud:

i'll vote when the system isn't rigged and bought,... and our supposed democracy isn't just a dramatic diversion from reality.


If everyone that used this excuse were to go and vote for a 3rd party candidate, so that they got >5% of the popular vote, they would qualify for federal campaign funding.

>> ^direpickle:

>> ^criticalthud:
i'll vote when the system isn't rigged and bought,... and our supposed democracy isn't just a dramatic diversion from reality.

If everyone that used this excuse were to go and vote for a 3rd party candidate, so that they got >5% of the popular vote, they would qualify for federal campaign funding.


it's not an excuse. it is a purposeful action/inaction.
i voted for most adult life. and i've even been an attorney for the federal government, seeing the machine from within. But the futility of changing the system by the rules of the system is a reality. The rules of the system are such that they are intended to preserve the status quo.
...
"Divide and conquer" is a fundamental strategy of the ruling elite to control the masses. Our 2 party system is an extension of this. To make a 3rd party candidate viable requires more than just a vote...it requires an education into how the political system works and an understanding of how it is purposefully polarized. While I am happy to push for a greater understanding of the political system, I am fairly against participating in an ongoing charade.

also, the Electoral College is a power check against the people. The electoral college is not required to vote with the peoples choice. Should the people choose a 3rd party candidate, the electoral college, as part of the establishment, would side with the establishment.

while we enjoy many things here in the states, democracy is not one of them.

>> ^criticalthud:

also, the Electoral College is a power check against the people. The electoral college is not required to vote with the peoples choice. Should the people choose a 3rd party candidate, the electoral college, as part of the establishment, would side with the establishment.
while we enjoy many things here in the states, democracy is not one of them.


You're 100% right. Now what are you doing about it?

>> ^renatojj:

>> ^gorillaman:
"I refuse to opt-in to mob rule. I do not give you permission to run my life."
Voting is apathy. If you want to be politically active get a weapon and use it.
Best answer ever.


No, it's a retarded answer. It's the answer of someone with the mentality of a 13 year old boy. But at least it's got the right motivation, if entirely the wrong methodology.

Personally, I think this is something Australia got right. You want to be a citizen? Fucking vote.

Once again, if you're not voting, what are you doing to fix the issues that cause you to not vote.

Voter apathy makes perfect sense when you look at polls. Polls should that most people believe that government doesn't speak for them, and they're right, and that it's only for the most powerful of people. There was a study done on this that should for the middle 1/3rd of income in the country there was No correlation between how congress votes and their interests. For the lowest 1/3rd there was a negative correlation. When you know the system doesn't work for you you tend not to worry about it, plus you've got shit to do.

In Italy, they stamp "Did Not Vote" on your driver's license if you didn't vote. They also have the highest voter turnout rate.

>> ^ChaosEngine:

>> ^criticalthud:
also, the Electoral College is a power check against the people. The electoral college is not required to vote with the peoples choice. Should the people choose a 3rd party candidate, the electoral college, as part of the establishment, would side with the establishment.
while we enjoy many things here in the states, democracy is not one of them.

You're 100% right. Now what are you doing about it?
>> ^renatojj:
>> ^gorillaman:
"I refuse to opt-in to mob rule. I do not give you permission to run my life."
Voting is apathy. If you want to be politically active get a weapon and use it.
Best answer ever.

No, it's a retarded answer. It's the answer of someone with the mentality of a 13 year old boy. But at least it's got the right motivation, if entirely the wrong methodology.
Personally, I think this is something Australia got right. You want to be a citizen? Fucking vote.
Once again, if you're not voting, what are you doing to fix the issues that cause you to not vote.


i guess that depends on what you call "participation"
i spent 2 yrs as an attorney with the fed gov, afterwhich i worked public interest law with disability, domestic violence victims, and then incarcerated juveniles (prison reform). Then I switched out of law to study the spine and neurology and have spent the last 12 yrs getting better at getting people out of pain, and teaching it.
now the question isn't what am i doing about things, the question is whether punching a button on a ballot machine is actual participation or just a way to make people feel like they are participating, when in fact, they couldn't be more apathetic or out of touch with reality.