Let's Talk About Voting

[gbck]

I do have to wonder how those 'in the know' would steer us right considering there are vastly differing positions (beyond just 'hawk' and 'dove') held by those who are, allegedly, 'in the know'.
How could 'those in the know' be certain to make right decisions when 40% of them think X, 40% think Y, and the other 20 % think...something else?

As far as what you prioritize, well, that depends.

Are there any positions in politics that my you think "Wow, people who think X are horrible human beings, I can't be friends with them?" Those are probably important to you.

Are there any positions in politics that make you think "wow, even though I understand where people come from, I'm so *insert extreme adjective here* about the issue that I can't fathom voting for 'the opposition'"? Those are probably important to you too.

[housegeek]

Both Johnson and Obama have essentially the same take on war though. Or close enough that I can agree with.

[smock]

Yeah, and if you don't vote, you'll be doing nothing to ensure that people who represent your views are elected.

[housegeek]

Oct 24, 2012 16:33:43 GMT -5 imoan said:

Yes HG... it's all about wanting drama and nothing to do with the stream of sadly ignorant statements coming out of your mouth.

And here I used to think you were so nice. I'm seriously shocked that you aren't more helpful. Ignorance can't be helped by hate :Y:

[gbck]

Johnson and Obama agree--great, so you have a stance on the war.

But please don't pretend that they represent even 50% of those 'in the know', or 50% of those making policies.
Which is why the rest of who people vote for is important.

[fussbucket]

I think in NC a vote for Obama and a vote for Johnson are effectively the same thing in terms of influencing the electoral college outcome, both for NC and perhaps the nation as a whole.

[imoan]

Oct 24, 2012 16:36:54 GMT -5 housegeek said:

Oct 24, 2012 16:33:43 GMT -5 imoan said:

Yes HG... it's all about wanting drama and nothing to do with the stream of sadly ignorant statements coming out of your mouth.

And here I used to think you were so nice. I'm seriously shocked that you aren't more helpful. Ignorance can't be helped by hate

You're being willfully obtuse about this whole thing and you know it. Plenty of people have TRIED to help you and you're still saying dumb shit like "why don't I let the people in the know make the decisions". Obviously you're immune to help.

[Muddled]

It is my civic duty to vote. It is also a privilege that I can be reasonably certain that my vote will be counted and not thrown out because the guy is charge paid the election worker $20.

The way I look at it, if I don't vote, I have absolutely no right to complain about what my leaders are doing or not doing. I like to complain.

[phdprocrastinator]

Total lurker had to come out of hiding for this post...

To HouseGeek and those with the same mentality, I urge you to consider the fact that the Tea Party is not all that large - about 4% of the US population. However, because this group votes en masse and has been so politically active, they have shaped the landscape of politics in this country, shifting the "left" to the middle and the right to the far right.

Even by voting for a third party, you can demonstrate your needs to those in the "big 2." By voting green, you can signal that you want more liberalism; by voting libertarian, you are signalling your desire for smaller government.

www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2010/04/poll-tea-partiers-make-up-4-percent-of-population/38971/

[bowies]

In NC you can register to vote when you show up at your polling place. Early voting is also in effect (you can vote at any precinct in your county that has early voting hours).

As a pp stated, figure out what issues are important to you and vote accordingly. No one person is going to be an 100% match (unless you're on the ballot), so you make the best decision based on what you have to choose from. Just like a lot of other things in life. You have to be active in the process though - pull the information to you instead of expecting others to push it. Have a curious mind. Be engaged in the world.

[housegeek]

Oct 24, 2012 16:47:20 GMT -5 imoan said:

Oct 24, 2012 16:36:54 GMT -5 housegeek said:

And here I used to think you were so nice. I'm seriously shocked that you aren't more helpful. Ignorance can't be helped by hate

You're being willfully obtuse about this whole thing and you know it. Plenty of people have TRIED to help you and you're still saying dumb shit like "why don't I let the people in the know make the decisions". Obviously you're immune to help.

You're willfully being a snob. I am being helped, I've said thank you to the many people here who have been awesome in helping me out here. I said on one single topic, the topic of war, that I let people who are paid to know what is going on make the decisions, I trust my government to make the best decision for us. What the fuck is so dumb about that?

[housegeek]

Oct 24, 2012 16:39:01 GMT -5 gbck said:

Johnson and Obama agree--great, so you have a stance on the war.

But please don't pretend that they represent even 50% of those 'in the know', or 50% of those making policies.
Which is why the rest of who people vote for is important.

:Y: thanks for the food for thought, I really appreciate it gbck.

[malibu]

I like you, HG. But you had to know your original answer to the OP was not going to bode well, yes?

Fun fact: My high school did not have a government OR civics class. We sucked. This is probably part of the reason a former pro wrestler was elected governor of our state the year I turned 18 (and no, I wasn't one of the dumbasses that put him in office)!

[housegeek]

Yes, I did know it would start a little strife, I just also thought some of the regs here would be able to help inform a little it was worth it, I learned a lot and got some good tips/ links.
On your side note, I thought government/civics was the same as history, no?

[imoan]

I think you're also a little misinformed about the definition of the word "snob". This is not being a snob... If you had just come on here saying you we're ill informed, that would've been fine. It's the constant defense of WHY you don't know which is obnoxious. And I'm pretty sure you've been around these parts long enough to take your lumps when you deserve them. I like you as a person... But you KNOW your arguments are ridiculous.

[malibu]

No. We did have basic history classes. I would have enjoyed them much more if the teachers hadn't sucked donkey balls - all they cared to teach were memorizing dates.

Apparently about four years before my class started at the school, they cut the civics and government classes (and many more-my school basically went broke). I would have enjoyed taking civics classes. I felt very late to the party when I did my research later in life.

FWIW, I don't think you will ever find a candidate that you will agree with 100%. Decide on the most important issues and find a candidate whose views align most with your own. If that's D, R, or another party, put your vote in. It does matter.

[housegeek]

Blah I don't want to argue it anymore. I wasn't defending my ignorance, I have no one to blame but myself and my own lack of interest, period. But am I just supposed to ignore it when people are like, oh, don't you remember what you learned in class?? Mind boggling. And yes, snob. Because I ask about cooking vegis( because there are about a dozen different ways to do it, and I wanted to know how some people here did it) and because I'm politically naive, you insulted me several times in this thread. And I just didn't expect it from you. Toledo, yes. You, no. Of course I wouldn't have thought Habs would've been such a snot either, but I guess I'm just not TIP enough for her

[housegeek]

Ugh Malibu, the dates!!! I think that's why I dislike history so much, dates are not my thing and so much was focused on that. And the drunken teacher, of course. I love my instructors in college though, they are so passionate about their subjects and it makes it easier to learn.

[imoan]

Ouch... Toledo! Burn!

I'm not going to bring this up every time you post... But take your flaming like a woman. We've all had to do it.

The end.

[housegeek]

It's not supposed to be a Toledo burn there's this really weird thing where I'm pretty sure she doesn't like me, but I find her smart and amusing the majority of the time. So I like her but she doesn't like me, a la middle school
I thought I've been takin my flaming, I'm not mad or sad or anything. It's all good

[housegeek]

Thanks phd, btw

[bowies]

The people who are paid to decide whether to take us to war or not are elected into office by We the People. The President is the Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces. The Congress authorizes war (well, in a normal world at least). If We the People elect a Congress of nothing but reality show rejects and football players, you would trust them to make those decisions? Some really dumb people run for office and some even get elected because people are so ill informed. That should scare the shit out of you. Don't be complicit in sending dumbshits to Congress so they can be paid to commit your fellow citizens to dumb fucking wars. You should never just assume elected officials are acting in your best interests, but you should demand it. You know how you do that? You vote.

[Deleted]

Oct 24, 2012 16:42:24 GMT -5 fussbucket said:

I think in NC a vote for Obama and a vote for Johnson are effectively the same thing in terms of influencing the electoral college outcome, both for NC and perhaps the nation as a whole.

Yes.

[Muddled]

HG, I'm proud of you for gathering information. I do hope that you will use it. Vote wisely because it does matter.