Forum Post: Why do millions of people not vote?
Posted 12 years ago on Aug. 9, 2012, 2:03 p.m. EST by alterorabolish1
(569)
This content is user submitted and not an official statement
To me, it seems absurd! This nation was an example of improved civilisation when it was formed to allow We the People to govern ourselves instead of the previous forms of government that permeate history. The people, through voting, elected representatives to carry out the will of the people. This was expected to overcome selfish interests and prevent tranny of the majority.
There are practical reasons people don't vote. Health problems, working too much, etc, but many do not believe it's worth spending any time to put effort into voting. Why I feel it's absurd to not vote, millions feel their vote doesn't mean anything, and to them it's absurd to use the effort to vote.
They were right and I was wrong. Our vote doesn't mean anything because we don't have the right things to vote for. People on this forum can rattle off many important issues that make it critical that we do our duty and vote for the right thing. Many others know very little about the issues and don't care to. The capture of our political/economic process makes traditional voting almost meaningless.
What if there was something to vote for that motivated people to actually vote? Record turnouts to vote because it would mean something.
The word...LOVE... could inspire millions to come out to vote. They wouldn't have to learn anything, just write in LOVE.
I think any way we can change our society to be love-based instead of fear-based is a good idea.
Also, I think many people don't vote because of the Electoral College. If you know your state is going to lean one way or the other no matter how you vote, people feel like it's not worth the effort.
I've never seen any society as being much more then "self" based. That may manifest itself in a variety of emotions, including hate, fear, and love. I'm not commenting on the morality or desirability of it at all. It's just an observation of a natural tendency I see in human beings.
Love to see the electoral college done away with, but that idea only seems to get dragged out once in four years.
Another natural tendency we see in human beings is solidarity when we know we are in the right. People that latch on to a good cause can get excited about it. That's what we need right now. Something different that unites and excites the people politically.
Good point about people not bothering to vote because they know their state will definitely go one way or the other. Maybe they could become motivated to help send a huge message.
I think people could be proud they voted for LOVE in 2012
Wow if they only felt the need instead of feeling futile - how many elections would have been different in the history of these United States?
Yes please go and support the Goldman Saks candidate of your choice.
People confuse voting with winning, their egos becomes bruised and they stop voting. The ego is the enemy.
Wouldn't you rather see more opportunities for voters than the few options we have? More referendums, more transparency and MSM on issues?
The Establishment has consolidated these areas making our egos bruised. People do like to win though, and that's a factor.
I live in AZ we have a number of Props on the ballot each time, the people here vote for more schools and health care, but then they also elect Republicans and everything they try to do with direct democracy the GOP fights against, like our public funding for elections, the GOP gutted that finally. If we can trim back on the number of GOP in office I think we can make headway.
Good luck on the headway!
[Removed]
it is absurd. Everyone should vote.
And if you don't want to vote because you hate the 2 party system... instead of not voting... vote for third party or fourth party or indy
I know several people that don't vote and they always quote that episode of south park about choosing between a turd sandwich or a giant douche. While it's funny.... they fail to realize that if all the people who don't vote decided to vote for alternate options... there's the potential to avoid the giant douche and the turd sandwich.
What can we do to get the millions that don't vote energized to actually vote? How can we convince them there really is potential to avoid the giant douche or the turd sandwich?
Our perspective is very different from theirs because we believe it's absurd to not vote, for the reasons you mentioned and others. Many people quit voting after Watergate, why should they expend the effort to vote for a turd sandwich or a giant douche?
Nonsence,you have no choice.To think that you have a represenative is follish.If you do find one that is true to the people he/she will be rendered inefective by a system corrupted by the few$.
I agree with your post but I don't know why you posted nonsense to mine.
Families taking charge is a good example. I'm making my brother vote. He told me he wasn't planning on it and I told him to at least cast his vote for who I'm voting for so I can have 2 votes. He said he'd do it as a favor for me.
So that's one way. lol
I'm not sure my sister votes so I'll talk to her and try the same thing.
This is a good idea but not what I had in mind. I would like to see millions of voters enthused about the election, and make a mockery of the system we have now. We would still have one of the corporate candidates as the winner, but we could send a powerful message.
Hey, that's cheating!
write in NO WAR
this is clear agenda
NO WAR is a fantastic agenda. What I want is a message.
There should a holiday, for voting, so we celebrate our right to vote while having plenty of time to do it. We need to encourage voting as much as possible. Of course this scares the Repugs and they want just the opposite. In fact, they are on a tear to discourage voting by making it cumbersome.
The apathy some display towards voting is exactly what's wrong with our government. The apathy causes these folks to complain but do nothing constructive to end it. As Jefferson noted all those years ago, ignorance is not bliss, it can destroy our very democracy if it goes much further. He feared this could happen. You can give people the tools to make it happen but if they aren't motivated to use any of the tools, it's a waste. Voting is our best and strongest tool for change. I guess some have not gotten this memo while others are so deluded that they wouldn't recognize these basic truths. Never mind the truths that ONLY come through careful and exhaustive study.
Come Together NOW
I'm all for voting for a person again in the future, but this is a revolution. You point out that if people aren't motivated to use their tools, it's a waste. That is exactly what we have now.
Let's motivate people to vote! LOVE on the ballot in November!
Our country can be taken back by the people any time. It has always been true since it's inception but it has never happened. We have yet to be educated enough to thoroughly understand the real issues. It just hasn't happened so in these generals people's opinions are easily swayed by propaganda and lies. Negative Ads are run because they work. They are smarter than us and therefore we are manipulated. We are the manipulated. Some day we can turn this table around, and we the people can manipulate our elected politicians and demand accountability, but don't hold your breath.
Meanwhile, since I know how this works, I can only watch in horror as our ignorance trumps all reason.
Come Together NOW
888
Taking the country back is still possible but effort is being expended to prevent taking back the country in the future. We need to act now.
None are more helplessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free.
http://occupywallst.org/forum/none-are-more-hopelessly-enslaved-than-those-who-f/
FreeDA
http://occupywallst.org/forum/its-a-pyramid-damnit/
Provide all who don't vote with an option that fits their perspective. With FreeDA, one is encouraged to only vote for candidates who will not be bought by the corptocracy and commit to the needs of the People. The non-voters then have a choice between continuing to not vote when there's no one worth voting for or voting for the candidate who committed to FreeDA.
I'm ready to get past the regrets of Sam Brown. I voted against every R & D on the ballot in 2010 because of my disappointment in my vote for Obama in 2008, but it left me feeling helpless. Ross Perot was able to get more votes than any of the choices we will have in November other than the corporate candidates, but I don't want to just not vote.
Our elections are a mockery of our real desires, therefore let's make a mockery of the election.
Write in LOVE on the ballot in November!
It's the people that are a mockery. They have the collective power to take a stand by refusing to vote for corporate candidates but vote for them anyway. At least with FreeDA, a choice is created that can grow stronger over time, establishing political accountability with it. In fact, instead of simply not voting when no candidates sign FreeDA, a variation of your idea should be utilized by having people encouraged to write in FreeDA when no candidate is acceptable. That way, the message is consistently sent, with or without a viable candidate.
The people are a mockery and the elections are a mockery. I want to do something that motivates people to vote this time! Start now for the future.
No that would allow the possibility of Mittens winning.
There's already the possibility of Mittens winning! Why do you believe things would be different if he did? Things won't be any worse! Would you feel comforted that even tho the dems aren't getting it done, at least Mittens isn't in there? That show has been playing a long time and you need to help us stop it.
It's an illusion, a show, so that things can be handled just as they are now.
You won't stop anything by throwing away your vote. And yes mittens would be catastrophic in the office of President.
I've wasted my vote before and I'm certainly not going to vote for a R or D.
Millions of people sending a huge message is my hope.
"THAT" message would be best sent in the streets. Opting out in an election is just throwing away your vote - Hell write in someone you like and promote that person as a viable alternative - but don't waste your time or your vote with NON-SENSE.
I've already tried that. Now my hope is for millions to join me in making a mockery of our elections with the word...LOVE.
Well for the sake of the world I hope you are very lonely in your wasted vote.
No problem. I was last time. My vote for Obama in 2008 feels like a waste also.
In some ways low voter turn out is a good sign. It means that for many Gov has little effect on their lives. The US Gov is still small enough and a relatively powerless influence on nearly half the people.
All many people need to be successful is a little luck and a little Gov.
Thinking about not voting because Gov has little effect on their lives is bliss, but we must protect the blissful and the weak.
The future doesn't look good because of the negative spiral economically, our Gov needs to adapt and be more involved in helping the needy instead of the gangsters.
By most measures relative to human health, peace, safety, and living standards the future looks pretty darn good. The only time better than right now to be alive is probably in the future.
Most measures, (and I'm an optimist), appear opposite of what you post. Austerity?
Well a little austerity in a consumption-addicted society may not be a bad thing. That said, compare human health, life span, peace, safety, democracy, human rights, equal rights, and living standards to say 50 or 100 years ago. It is certainly much better today and there is no reason to expect that things will not improve as time goes on.
You are correct comparing living standards to 50 or 100 years ago, they are better. However, the trend beginning 20 or 30 years ago is different. The trend since the 2008 financial crimes is much worse.
Study the last 4 years.
Pick 20 things that you purchase each year and measure whether the cost, quality, and value of each has gone down or up? Has the reliability improved?
Is your food better, or worse? More or less healthy?
Are there more treatments for disease and injury, or fewer?
Are appliances more or less efficient?
Do you have more or fewer energy choices?
Are cars more or less fuel efficient?
All of these things are improving. Why?
Alternatively why are things like health care, education, and public transportation getting more expensive and degrading in quality?
I can relate to your points about specific improvements. However, I've been a small businessman for 30 years and will not be able to hold on much longer. Large corporations are allowed to squeeze my margins and I can see how this is affecting millions of people. The improvements you mention are trivial to me and my employees that barely have enough to eat.
Health care, education, and public transportation funds are being plundered by these same large corporations that have no mercy. Open your eyes, get up and go see for yourself how more and more Americans are becoming stressed by declining living conditions.
BTW, the cost and quality of health care, education, and public transportation are not affected negatively because corps plunder the funds. There is another more fundamental reason.
What is different about these services and the products and services that have gone down in price and up in quality like planes, cars, food, and electronics?
The corps plundering the funds is the most fundamental reason even though it's done indirectly.
I think you're trying to lead me to the incentive route by asking what is different about better quality and lower prices. As a formerly successful businessman with a seven store chain I benefitted from a passion to work because it paid well. Here we delve into Capitalism and my views have changed because I now see that the evolution of Capitalism is an inevitable, non-sustainable horror for humanity.
What alternative is better than the freedom of capitalism? Any other economic model requires the control of many by the few in power (or the minority by the majority). I understand the benefits of a benevolent dictator but they are hard to come by and frequently succumb to the temptations of absolute power.
The free market is the optimal system to benefit the consumer. The problem is that the Gov can't help but meddle with nearly consistent deleterious consequences.
The good news is that the Gov is simply out of their depth. How can 200 people in Washington possibly compete with 300 million people all pursuing self interest? No contest.
As you know the Gov meddling stems from the need to prevent rampant cheating, now the biggest and best just make the rules so that they aren't cheating anymore.
Free markets only exist on the lower end of the economy, Capitalism has no real evolution path but organized crime. The benefits of incentive need to be met in a different way.
I agree with you. Some corps use corrupt Gov to give them an unfair advatage in the market. That is why Gov should stay out of business and business should stay out of Gov. Let the free market work. Let Gov punish the corps that break laws. But don't let the Gov pick the winners and losers. They stink at it anyway.
I no longer have faith the Gov will punish the corps that break laws. Everything happens at warp speed now, by the time the law is written the crimes are over.
The Gov picking winners and losers would work better if we the people were actually the government.
I agree. That is why the Gov should stop meddling in business. The Gov is either corrupt or inept. They punish innocent and reward the guilty.
The free market eventually squeezes all margins. That is good for the consumer. It also drives innovation, quality improvement, reliability, and efficiency; all of which, again, are good for the consumer.
I knew a woman once that worked for a company for 34 years. She loved the work and said that the company treated her very well. Her closest friends were her co-workers. Then one day she was laid off. Instead of complaining that she was let go after 34 years of service she spoke of her gratitude to the company for being the vehicle that allowed her to live in the town where she grew up, raise 3 children, and enjoy steady employment without the stress of numerous job changes.
Talk about having an optimistic, half-full attitude!
There is no free market even though I understand the efficiencies you describe. In 30 years, I have seen large corporations gain what formerly were considered unfair advantages. Small stores and businesses could adapt, find a niche, or give better service but no more. Even the low level employees of the large corporations are feeling the pinches of what should be called plunder. The economy will not improve by catering to the large corps as is hapening now.
As you show with this example, free market capitalism, through ever increasing efficiencies, it will eventually replace the worker, outsource or technology takes your job.
Then you can push burgers and fries.
Great life plan.
No one will be able to afford the goodies, unless they run up credit and become indentured servants
If your job riviting a jet air frame togther gets replaced by a robot you could push burgers, or you could go into business designing the hardware and writing software for next gen automation. Your choice.
Because they are morons like you.
Another great contribution....
[Removed]
Great retort.
Most people only care about food, getting high, and sex.
[Removed]
[Removed]
"Sex" might inspire more, just saying.
I think its because they have more pressing and immediate issues. And they're right - no one should allow these polemics to become all consuming. Government and politics should never be allowed to so intrude. Because life is short; we are still free to be what we want to be, and we ourselves should occupy center stage, pursue all interests, etc. FTW!