So...Come Tuesday, How many of you Americans are going to vote?

[Ajax Knucklebones]

I will. I live in a part of Florida where actually Republicans outweigh the Democrats and if I see another "McCain/Palin" sign on somebody's lawn, I'm gonna go postal. I'm voting just to prove that not everybody in this town is Republican. And of course, because I don't McCain to be elected.

[jonny.illuminati]

voting

[ForrestBlack]

I always vote

[inox]

I always vote as well.

[Pull~My~Hair]

i already voted, oregon has mail in ballots..done and done

[Lady Alias]

I voted early.

[batzilla]

How could you not? Especially now, with such stark choices?

Do any of you know any eligible Americans who AREN'T going to vote? I know one person who doesn't plan to vote for either McCain or Obama, which kinda blows my mind, but he's still going to at least vote on the local ballot issues.

[Bikerpunk]

I'm not voting.

[Velvet-Tongue]

Voted early. Go Obama

[Head Wreck]

wish i had a vote as US policy effects the UK since were teetering on the verge of being completely americanised

[Mr Karl]

yep, it'll be interesting to see what you US guys decide

[Ajax Knucklebones]

wish i had a vote as US policy effects the UK since were teetering on the verge of being completely americanised

Maybe you should have a revolution to stop that from happening. We had one TO become Americanized.

[Theda]

I voted early. Woot.

[athenahollow]

How could you not? Especially now, with such stark choices?

Do any of you know any eligible Americans who AREN'T going to vote? I know one person who doesn't plan to vote for either McCain or Obama, which kinda blows my mind, but he's still going to at least vote on the local ballot issues.

I'm not voting for either obama nor mccain. I'm writing in Lewis Black.

And besides, it's a popular vote. Unless it majorly outweighs your APPOINTED electoral college votes, it really means dick in the presidential election.
So, why not toss it up a bit? I've been campaigning for "Write in Lewis Black" for months now lol

[Ubiquitress]

voting

[Amelia G]

How could you not? Especially now, with such stark choices?

Do any of you know any eligible Americans who AREN'T going to vote? I know one person who doesn't plan to vote for either McCain or Obama, which kinda blows my mind, but he's still going to at least vote on the local ballot issues.

I always vote in presidential elections and important referendums, both of which are on the California ballots this week.

I know tons of people, however, who will not vote.

I actually had someone working for me who asked one day a few months back what the whole thing was with political parties and Democrats and Republicans. This was someone who is nearly 30 and has never voted but noticed that one of her friends could really piss off some of her other friends by saying he was Republican.

Did I mention that I live in Hollywood and I never heard anyone over 18 ask that question when I lived in your part of the world?

[Morning Glory]

I have more important things to do with my time. As far as I'm concerned I don't need another asshole telling me what to do. I already have enough of those. If you want to go ahead and suck up to some suit in Washington, then that's on you. I vote for me to make the decisions in my life, and I win. woo hoo.

[DoctorZ]

Well, if you don't vote, and the wrong guy gets into office, he might try, and possibly succeed (it's possible! >_>), to take away your right to make decisions in yer life.

I'd vote, just to make sure.

But I'm a Canadian, so I canna vote.

[Buster Friendly]

I always vote.

Out of spite.

There are folks who don't want people to vote, lower voter turnout benefits the status quo... so I figure voting is a "Fuck You!" to those assholes.

Plus all the people who fought, died, killed, etc. to win me that right since the Magna Carta.

I am unusually patriotic for a socialist troll.

[Bikerpunk]

If voting ever changed anything, they'd make it illegal.

[Buster Friendly]

If voting ever changed anything, they'd make it illegal.

See?

Fuck You!

[Bikerpunk]

you said:

There are folks who don't want people to vote, lower voter turnout benefits the status quo... so I figure voting is a "Fuck You!" to those assholes.

When did I tell you not to vote?

I'm sorry?

READING COMPREHENSION FAIL.

[Buster Friendly]

you said:


ah-blah blah blah.

Sarcasm Fail much?

[Bikerpunk]

My last communication to you until you grow up.
Do something useful and open your mind.

[Buster Friendly]

Promises, promises.

[DoctorZ]

Wait, what just happened?

[Amelia G]

I'm not voting.

On purpose or because you moved cross-country and you are not registered in New York yet?

[Bikerpunk]

On purpose or because you moved cross-country and you are not registered in New York yet?

There are multiple reasons, but "on purpose" fits. The clip from Bill Hicks above explains.

[Bikerpunk]

I'm tired of the pettiness. I really am. In every aspect.

Stuff like this



and suchlike, I mean the pettiness and ugliness. The name calling, trash talking and evil around this whole process.

If I believed in democracy any more, and I say that because democracy requires an intelligent population that's informed and taking the process seriously (or else it becomes mob rule), I'd give it some thought, I really would.

But I am but one man and the universe will carry on just fine without me. I don't need to worry about whether Sarah Palin is the anti-christ or if she's hot and fuckable. I don't need to worry about whether Obama is The Anointed One or just another tool of the powers that be that voted in lockstep to bail out the banks.

I don't need to worry about being a "liberal faggot" or a "redneck cocksucker" or "well your guy this" and "well your guy that". Obama will do what he's told if he's elected, and if McSame is voted in it'll be business as usual. The rich will get richer, the poor will get poorer, our rights will be eroded, and the hundred or so people who run everything will just loot the place as the air runs out and the food's unfit to eat.

The 2nd Bill Hicks video says it all. All this is an illusion, and I'm finding it increasingly difficult to find places to be and people to talk to who aren't nasty, backbiting and petty.

[batzilla]

Our democracy has a lot of problems... the electoral college, a stupid populace, misinformation as a campaign strategy... but voting still matters. The fewer people vote, the less reason the people in charge have to pay any attention to our needs whatsoever. It's true that the candidates may not be ideal, but I don't buy into the argument that they're the same. It's the same line that was used in 2000.

Does anyone think our country and the world would be in the same state they're in now if Gore had been president instead of Bush? Would we have gone to war with Iraq? Would we have failed to invest seriously in alternative energy sources? Even if one candidate only does a few things different from another, it can make a HUGE difference in a country with as much influence as America.

[batzilla]

I always vote in presidential elections and important referendums, both of which are on the California ballots this week.

I know tons of people, however, who will not vote.

I actually had someone working for me who asked one day a few months back what the whole thing was with political parties and Democrats and Republicans. This was someone who is nearly 30 and has never voted but noticed that one of her friends could really piss off some of her other friends by saying he was Republican.

Did I mention that I live in Hollywood and I never heard anyone over 18 ask that question when I lived in your part of the world?

Fucking goddamn.

[jonny.illuminati]

Does anyone think our country and the world would be in the same state they're in now if Gore had been president instead of Bush? Would we have gone to war with Iraq? Would we have failed to invest seriously in alternative energy sources? Even if one candidate only does a few things different from another, it can make a HUGE difference in a country with as much influence as America.

to answer that question yes. the President is a figurehead and scapegoat for a group of people really running the country... special interest groups and lobbyists help shape our countries future... we would have gone to iraq either way... saudi arabia has been in bed with US politicians for years and years (both Republican and Democrat)... alt energy is hindered by them and other oil producing countries for many reasons....

candidates only make as much of a difference as they are ALOOWED to once elected... congress is too busy trying to take care of themselves and their pet projects to make much of a difference... does anyone here remember jimmy carter as president? he was supposed to make HUGE changes... worst inflation we have had in a long time and gas rationing... it's going to happen again...

[a_small_death]

Already voted. Gonna sleep in tomorrow.

[Buster Friendly]

to answer that question yes. the President is a figurehead and scapegoat for a group of people really running the country... special interest groups and lobbyists help shape our countries future... we would have gone to iraq either way... saudi arabia has been in bed with US politicians for years and years (both Republican and Democrat)... alt energy is hindered by them and other oil producing countries for many reasons....

candidates only make as much of a difference as they are ALOOWED to once elected... congress is too busy trying to take care of themselves and their pet projects to make much of a difference... does anyone here remember jimmy carter as president? he was supposed to make HUGE changes... worst inflation we have had in a long time and gas rationing... it's going to happen again...

Even so, you can't deny that there would have been major signifigant differences between a Gore administration, and the Bush one.

Most likely we would have still gone to Iraq under one pretense or another, I am fairly sure that 9/11 would have slipped by them as well, and the current financial situation would have developed much the same as well I am sure.

But how each of these situations were handled would have been VASTLY different. For one thing I don't think that Gore would have just handed over the GDP to Haliburton no questions asked the way the Bush admin. has. Maybe some other company, but I don't thing it would have been the egregious wholesale looting that has taken place.

Katrina, and Gitmo are too other situations that I think would have been handled quite differently. As well as a whole host of other issues. I am sure that somehow Gore would have managed to not piss off every single friend and ally we used to have in this world. In fact I'd say that that would be the one MAJOR defining difference, Gore wouldn't have said "9/11! UP YOURS WORLD!!"

It's not so much that there's NO difference, or even minimal difference between the gangs, and wolf packs that back various presidents, it's that their governing styles are either more or less exploitive, and antithetical to our own personal interests.

[Amelia G]

The fewer people vote, the less reason the people in charge have to pay any attention to our needs whatsoever.

[Ubiquitress]

you cant bitch if you dont try to change it

[OliX]

Exactly!

BUT!?

What change are you choosing actually?

More tobacco and drugs or more oil?

[Ubiquitress]

ah my dear that is why voting booths are private...and why I often dont chew politics,there are flaws with all candidates but someone has to be appointed to do the job therefore the only way to have a say in that is to vote,right? otherwise I am a strong believer in changing ones own course as one sees fit outside of government. do what you gotta do to do what you gotta do,you know?

[Mr Karl]

oh well...........buyer beware

[Ajax Knucklebones]

Bill Hicks was a great comedian. He was. Funny as shit, but I'm not gonna base my belief system on a what a comedian thinks about the world. To me that's just as bad as being a right-wing radical or left wing-liberal where you just blindly believe in everything your party stands for without ever asking questions.

Me, personally, from what I've read and know about, I'm not so sure we would have gone into Iraq again in full fight mode. Would we have lobbed off some bombs at them. Yeah, probably, but taken over the whole regime? Even Bush Sr. was smart enough not to do that because he and his party knew that exactly what is happening now, with Iraq, would have happened during the first war if they went in there and took over the regime. A total clusterfuck with 3 main sects of Muslims who will never ever see eye to eye. Hawks wanted in there to take over the regime. They wanted in there in the first war, but Bush's cabinet shut them down. When Bush Jr. was elected and then 9/11 happened, the Hawks came back and this time got their wish all under the guise of "fighting terrorists".

To believe that a president is only a figure head is not true. Is he a dictator? God no...Thank God, but he does have rights such as vetos? Yes. Does he have Executive order privileges? Yes. Does he have certain war powers that does not need to be approved by congress? Yes, As well as alot of other "powers".

But, no, he is not a dictator or a king ruled by divine right, but he also is not just a figure head. He does not have absolute power, but that does not mean he has to back down everytime congress wants something and he doesn't. Back in 2003, Republicans ruled congress. Gore being a Democrat would have meant that the "Hawks" would not be in power over the presidency so their priorities probably would not be the same as Gore's. From what I heard, it was the Hawks, right after 9/11, who pushed to get right back into Iraq. They were the ones who constantly were whispering in Bush's ear. Making accusations about Iraq and such because they had wanted to take over that regime all the way back in the first Iraq war. If they had whispered to Gore instead....I just don't see him being so gun ho as Bush was.

Vote or don't vote. It's your right, but for those who don't vote...I bet you a million bucks you'd be pissed as shit if they took that right totally away from you.