Voting - American Buniai

[Victor]

Assuming you're one of the minority who have registered to vote,
tomorrow you have the chance to exercise your franchise.

Regardless of who you like or don't like it offers a very unique
opportunity this election.

Apparently 50% of the registered voters dislike the other 50% of the
registered voters, potentially as close or closer than last national
election.

If you don't vote, you're going to make 50% of them very happy because
they don't want you to vote (and it doesn't matter which side you may
vote for). Regardless of the rhetoric, everyone just wants those who
will vote for their candidate to actually do so, and let the rest stay
home.

So if you want to take on 1/2 of the registered voters in the USA,
just take the few moments involved and actually vote.

That's showing them how powerful you really are. You're not one vote,
you're voting is standing up to 1/2 of the registered voters on your own.

That's true power, your American heritage,

Pleasantly,

[Bill Glasheen]

Good to see you back, Victor. Give my best to the Isshin Ryu crowd.

Well spoken. Thank you very much. I am out of state this week, but still managed electronically to cast my vote last week. I wouldn't miss it for anything.

- Bill

[Valkenar]

I'm gonig to vote because I basically agree with you, but I think that people who don't vote because there's no point are not far off in their analysis.

I'm actually kind of torn as to how to vote. Given that it doesn't make any actual difference who I vote for because the way the system is set up, I have two options.

Vote for the major party guy I prefer in the hope that if he loses he'll win the popular majority and my vote will go towards making the winner look less viable, possibly encouraging electoral reform (haha). Alternatively I can throw my vote into the black hole that is any independant or minor party, but at least give them that extra statistical point to yell about when they're excluded from the debates in four years (assuming we make it that far). Neither is very useful, but it's at least marginally better than doing nothing.

[Bill Glasheen]

Justin

Vote! It DOES matter, no matter whom you vote for.

- Bill

[RACastanet]

Justin said: "but at least give them that extra statistical point to yell about when they're excluded from the debates in four years (assuming we make it that far)."

Justin: You are one very gloomy person. What in your life has made you so pessimistic and negative?


I am glad that I do not live in whatever world it is that you live in.

Rich

[Valkenar]

Justin said: "but at least give them that extra statistical point to yell about when they're excluded from the debates in four years (assuming we make it that far)."

Justin: You are one very gloomy person. What in your life has made you so pessimistic and negative?


I am glad that I do not live in whatever world it is that you live in.

Heh, sorry to seem so negative. That sentence (especially the bit about "if we make it that far") was supposed to be a joke (though making a serious point), but it didn't really come across right. I should probably stick to stilted language and dry debate in the future.

Seriously though, how much international agression do we have to initiate before the fan is hit by that which shall not be named? Our international support and respect has taken a dive, and I think that's a serious problem when we're threatening to keep invading countries. If we keep this up we're eventually going to fight a country that does have nuclear capability we didn't know about, or simply a coalition of countries that are afraid us. If we alienate our allies who are we going to turn to support? We're tremendously strong, but there are still limits to what we can do.

As for voting, how else would you characterize the nature of voting in a state that will break decidedly in favor of one candidate? You can make your voice heard, but just barely. That's what I was referring to.

[Bill Glasheen]

[Victor]

The necessity of voting hinges on a fact that I've come to see more clearly.

The American People always get what they deserve from every election. If you don't vote then you guarantee everyone who does the right to pick your government, and it is your government, you pay for it.

Our leaders are rarely better or worse than we are collectively.

There are elections that have hinged on one vote, and just because the past was always one way doesn't mean the present vote will follow the past.

If it did the Red Sox would have given up after 3 losses to the Yankees. History really does not predict what will happen next, unless you let it dictate to you.

The necessity of voting is you never know if your vote might have been that tie-breaker, whether it happens or not.