A place where we practice random acts of insight and humor.
Oh come on....
Published on August 31, 2007 By OckhamsRazor In Politics
Don't take my tone here as ascerbic as it reads. I don't intend it that way. To quote George Carlin, "I just get pissed, goddammit!"

I see it every election year. Somebody suggests that if you don't vote, you have no right to complain about what happens next. And quite frankly, I'm about sick of it.

Listen, folks - picking hemlock over curare doesn't improve your chances any. I do NOT vote. I don't vote because I think we've outgrown our current system and that politicans are absolutely corrupt. Everyone wants to believe that the Messiah of politicians is coming, but I'm sorry. I just don't see it.

In the older days where this system was conceptualized, the presidential candidates would have to go reach all the people. They did this in numerous ways - none of which was so expedient as photo opportunites, interviews with sympathetic press members, and a whole truckload of supporting pundits on the internet. These days, Presidential candidacy is all about spin, and while I LOVE the band "The Spin Doctors," their namesake is absolutely abominable to me - as I'm sure it was to them. To me, they represent the temple that Jesus supposedly broke up when he saw it had been filled with money grubbers.

Don't ask me to pick between meat Puppet A and meat Puppet B and then tell me if I don't pick, I have no right to complain. I have a very good right to. I think they both do whatever they have to do to get them what they want. Power, mainly. I haven't seen a genuine interest in actually solving any problems in years - if ever - and I'm tired of the self-righteous hypoAmericans claiming some sort of intellectual authority over my decision simply because I didn't choose death by strangulation over death by drowning. I'm looking at you desselpastrami. Or whatever your name is.

Some of you folks need to take a squeegee from your nearest gas station, and clear, completely, the crust off of your third eye. (That would be the one that sees from within the brain) If you think for a skinny second that any one of these candidates is going to actually do anything except what their campaign donators want them to, you're living in a naive dream. The decisions that will come from the next president of the United States are already being determined beneath tables and behind closed doors. God, am I a conspiracy theorist now? Really? Read your history and look at what you have to choose from.

The question is, American citizen. When will you finally get tired and fed up with it? Well, that's actually a silly question. You already ARE tired and fed up with it. But what choice do you have? Meatpuppet A and Meatpuppet B. And that's about it. When will you notice that yet another 4 years have gone by, and none of the promises by either side - in Congress, or in the Oval office, or by your local state senates and governors, are coming to fruition? When will you garner the courage to turn those tables over?

Sadly...very sadly...the only thing that disappoints me more than politicians are the people they dupe. What would happen if we all refused to vote? It'll never happen, but man, I can dream.

Comments (Page 1)
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on Aug 31, 2007
I don't vote. (Mainly because I'm a resident alien, and not a citizen of the US.) But I see what you say. I hate that people say that I don't have any say because their government won't let me vote.

It annoys me, but what can I say?
on Aug 31, 2007
I tried to enbed this but it didn't work. Here is a link to South Park's Vote or Die. Funny stuff. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aXc7_7DAoIk
on Aug 31, 2007
Tough position to take but I fully respect it
on Aug 31, 2007
I tried to enbed this but it didn't work.


I watched. I'm still wiping away the laughter tears. God, I love South Park.

Thanks, LM
on Aug 31, 2007
I agree with the voting sentiments, I also have not voted in the last two Genral Elections. I will vote if I think the candidate will do a good job representing me. I will not vote for a power crazed idiot, thats a waste, and promotes apauling Political candidates.

The main Parties do this because they know the majority will vote by Party allegence, not candidate credibility. That makes controlling the internal party "canon-fodder" much easier. Until we send a message thats unacceptable, it will continue. The only way to be rid of self interest, is to hit them where it hurts and not vote for clowns who only have their career as a priority.
on Aug 31, 2007
for clowns who only have their career as a priority.


Is that not ALL of them? Seems to me, it is.
on Aug 31, 2007
I have never voted in my life. First because I just didn't care for politics before. I had no interest in it. Last elections was because I didn't register ontime and was unaware I could have voted anyways. But I kinda feel the same way, I feel that voting for these current candidates (Republican or Democrat) is like picking the lesser of the bad guys. They all suck, they are all only interested in getting elected. I can not agree on voting for a candidate who spends more time pointing out the cons of their competition and hardly any time on what they will really do once elected.

Will I vote come 2008? I guess it all depends. I may vote just to spite the opposing party. But I still question that decision because I will feel like I will be responsible for any stupidity done by the next President.
on Aug 31, 2007
Instead of not voting, throw your vote away on an Independent. If they get enough votes, maybe they'll start taking themselves seriously enough to win someday. Of course, if they did that, they'd start selling out to corporate America... I think we need to suprise one of them into office so they don't have time to sell out.
on Aug 31, 2007
I disagree about not voting. As much as I understand the sentiment, that does nothing to change things.

Ever thought about turning in a blank ballot? Write ins? Running for office yourself? There are a lot of valid ways to make your dissatisfaction known without voting for a scumbag.
on Sep 01, 2007
I disagree about not voting. As much as I understand the sentiment, that does nothing to change things.


Voting doesn't seem to get changes either Gid. I always vote. I'm really disillusion as I'm sure are a lot of other citizens. I can't blame Ockham for what he says, heck, I hear it a lot these days!
on Sep 01, 2007
Ever thought about turning in a blank ballot? Write ins? Running for office yourself? There are a lot of valid ways to make your dissatisfaction known without voting for a scumbag.


Blank ballot is effectively the same thing as not voting, although I acknowledge the formal nature of the count of blank ballots. Write ins would be effective if they believed we would do something to change them if they didnt change, they dont believe that, so they wont.

As for being one, frankly I doubt I would have the patience and accumin to be one. For all our mumblings about them, you have to be a particular type of individual to put up with all the garbage that flys around, and still take the party whip on central issues with a straight face   
on Sep 01, 2007
Blank ballot is effectively the same thing as not voting, although I acknowledge the formal nature of the count of blank ballots.


Not true, zydor. If you don't vote, nobody cares. You cannot possibly hurt a politician by not voting. However, if you turn in a blank ballot (not my favorite option, but an option), and it is done in large enough numbers, you've at least shown that you care about the direction of your (city, state, country). And a write in IS effective, at least to show that you're fed up with the way things are. If an election had 70% voter turnout, and 30% write in votes, I GUARANTEE the media would take notice.

Even in my own race, with the 15% I received, I've seen a change in my opponent. Before 2006, he had had 18 years of total security. Nobody had dared challenge him. After my quixotic run (which yielded historic numbers for a third party candidate, btw), he has modified his voting record substantially. I can't help but feel I mayhave influenced that somewhat.
on Sep 01, 2007
Being an out-of-state military dependent I have found it next to impossible to even REGISTER to vote.

That is frustrating.
on Sep 01, 2007
i hope to hell this one loses traction before it's discovered by all those brave iraqis who literally risked their very lives, the lives of their families, extended families, tribal kin, friends, casual acquaintances, etc. to participate in the electoral process.

how are they gonna get their fabric-wrapped-and-draped heads around an article in which americans proudly & publicly proselytize dat ol sunni show-em-by-snubbin-em strategy dey knows so well?

can't hardly blame em should they mutter vile presumptions about your forebears or rudely tug their beards as it suddenly becomes clear such cavalier disdain can only mean one thing: we hate them for their freedom.--the freedom to go into a polling place, dip their digit into indelible purple ink and select candidates deemed uniquely worthy to hold office by none other than allah the most merciful who hips em to the chosen slate with a lil help from his imams.
on Sep 01, 2007
I have never voted in my life


whatta shock!

was because I didn't register ontime and was unaware I could have voted anyways


someone please call 911. i gotta be defibrillated immediately.
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