Do you think voting is important?

I have an internet blog now and a topic I plan on writing/ranting about soon is voting in the American society, and whether you think voting is important or not.

Why I picked this topic? Because I was sitting in the hospital earlier this week when my sister shared with the family that there were some feminist-type girls in one of her classes who choose not to vote in elections. Then she said, "how can you sit there and call yourself black, and not vote?" My response was that "maybe they have no faith in the ballot choices and elected officials, like lots of people do," and I said this before watching a George Carlin clip. We (unfortunately) didn't get the chance to argue about this in conversation, but I wanted to ask other people to see what everyone says and what their rationale is.

 

There are two separate questions. The first is whether voting achieves anything, and since the business is so set up that you vote between two parties with no serious differences (that's why all the codswallop about cultural disagreements), no it doesn't. The second is whether you are worse off by not voting, and the answer is a huge YES. If you vote, the villains take notice of you and treat you reasonably.

 

I voted thats its irrelevent because we dont elect these people and put them in office,they are SELECTED for us by the establishment.Elections are rigged all the time so that they make sure their man gets put in.there is this book out that everybody here should read that explains all that called VOTESCAM.

 

sure area lot of idiot blind sheeps in america who bought into this fraad thinking he was going to change things instead we get George W Obama in office continuing Bushs policys and the continual assault on the constituion.

 

Voting is a responsibility each of us has to the next generation. If we ignore it, or vote wrongly, they will suffer and our nation will crumble as did The Roman Empire..

 

Not really, no. But my grandfather said it was a responsbility so I have voted in every national election. Local elections for ciritical issues like banning bird feeders can do without me. Wait a minute. I know liberals understand that I have an obligation to work and support them but do you think they understand the concept of obligation applying to them? I've never seen any evidence they do.

 

I find voting very important, although I can't vote myself.

 

If I may interject in my thread, I myself do find voting to be important as American citizens. However, the idea of voting is not all that exciting when you take into consideration that many, if not all of the options on the ballots are not people you want to see hold any political power, whatsoever. Add in the fact that you usually only get 2 options for President (Dem or Repub, occasionally 3rd party) and the fact that not a lot of people fully research any candidate in any type of election and I can sympathize with indifferent reactions from people.

Sure, I like to background check the people you vote for, but just about everyone else just presses buttons and leaves. That's pretty off-puting to me.

 

It is important to vote on matters you are knowledgeable about. It is important to vote randomly on matters you know nothing about.

 

Quite honestly i see no reason to vote in national elections realistically I get three or two choices neo-conservative or neo liberal, neo liberal and any choice i make will have very little sway even if they are elected as they will be subjected to the will of the party before they consider my community. I only plan to vote in the local elections but even then my impact is minimal through voting. I also do not campaign nor will i ever as i don't believe in friendly fascists who know best. I try to organize in my city and province with anarchist and other reformist groups as even shedding a bit of light on something worth the peoples interest is much more effective than one vote. Personally though i would prefer a system which is even more local or direct democracy on a small scale. I don't think voting should ever be considered a responsibility but people should always have the ability to make decisions. Representative democracy at least on a national level doesn't effectively allow this.