Don't forget to vote

[Quasar]

If you're an American and are over 18, you should vote today. It's not too late to go out and make a difference by helping to bust up the criminal syndicate running this country. Without control of both houses of Congress, they'll have a slightly harder time screwing up everybody's lives.

[Bucket]

I'm writing in Steve Colbert. He's a shoe-in.

[Captain Red]

What kind of election are you guys having anyway? Federal? State?

[AndrewB]

A crappy one apparently.

http://news.google.ca/news/url?sa=t&ct=ca/5-0&fp=4550f85637f728e8&ei=PcFQRf3IE4jMpwL416GyBg&url=http%3A//www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2006-11-07-election-main_x.htm&cid=0

[Goat]

oops forgot

[AirRaid]

Bloody hell, can't the americans ever get voting systems right? :P

[exp(x)]

I'm not registered. I'm an awesome American.

[Lüt]

Right.

That would explain all the political spam I've been getting over the phone the last month or two.

If these people think that illegally calling all day and evening from masked, anonymous and even fake phone numbers, using fake ID names, and flooding my voicemail with pre-recorded messages, so that I can't tell them off even if I do pick up, and bragging about themselves and insulting the other candidates, despite having registered on the national do not call list months prior (it worked for the non-political spam), is the way to get a vote in their favor, they'll probably be surprised to find the only thing they got from me is a large box of "not anthrax" in the mail.

I highly suggest everybody DOESN'T vote (or at least vote for Steve Colbert), lest they get the idea this kind of spamming was somewhat effective and decide to reinstate it next election. There should also be a way to sue or collect from them for ignoring the do not call registry, but I'm too busy with other stuff to find out. Though, it wouldn't surprise me if government-related things were exempt since it's a government-run index.

[Quasar]

Not voting doesn't solve anything. Do you really want a Republican majority in both houses? My apologies if you do, I just can't imagine why any sane person would at this point.

Also, the DNC Registry has never applied to political campaign calls. This would be considered an obstruction of free speech and would be anti-democratic. Although many of the phone calls going around this time are themselves anti-democratic. Republicans in Virginia are threatening people with jail time for voting.

[Quast]

I just got back from city hall. I had to re-register again for the 4th goddamn time in as many elections. I unknowingly voted at the wrong place in 2004. Some jackass told me the polls were at the school when I was supposed to go to city hall. oops

edit:

Quasar said:

My apologies if you do, I just can't imagine why any sane person would at this point.

Because they won't be able to bitch and complain in 2008 that they didn't have enough time to do what they want and this and that. Let them wallow in the mess they have created and then they have no one to blame but themselves when they really get the boot in 2008.

Also, we still have paper ballots here.

[myk]

Lüt said:
I highly suggest everybody DOESN'T vote (or at least vote for Steve Colbert), lest they get the idea this kind of spamming was somewhat effective and decide to reinstate it next election.

The vice president will love you for that; he's said they'll continue doing whatever they had planned already (particularly in regard to the war; but naturally any war comes with a bunch of internal policies tied to it) no matter how the elections turn out.

Or maybe the idea is to precisely annoy voters to the point that they either don't know what they are doing, or else grow unwilling to even vote.

That should make things simpler, with all the recent political controversy.

Quast said:
Because they won't be able to bitch and complain in 2008 that they didn't have enough time to do what they want and this and that. Let them wallow in the mess they have created and then they have no one to blame but themselves when they really get the boot in 2008.

But they've been doing that for quite a while now; at least since the last presidential elections. Would it really get them booted or will they find a way to persist anyhow? In any case, without some sort of reaction, not much can happen. It doesn't have to be elections (sometimes these become way too jaded and ridiculous), but there has to be something, at least spontaneous or alternative actions that clearly point to wide disapproval, aside from actual govermment blunders.

Also, we still have paper ballots here.

That should be the case everywhere.

[CODOR]

Here's an email I received the other day:

Please vote on Tuesday.

Your opinion matters, your vote counts, your voice is important.

Get to the polls early.
It's okay to take time off work to vote.
Take your time in the voting booth and vote carefully.

1) Don't let anyone tell you that you cannot vote. Go to your polling place, talk to the pollworkers, call your government, demand your right to vote.

2) Don't believe for one second that your one vote can't make a difference. Obviously, every single vote counts.

3) Don't blow off this opportunity to participate in the Democratic process. Elections work when people vote.

Note that nowhere does it mention the nature of the election (what country/region it's in, the position(s) being elected, etc.). Now, as a Canadian citizen, should I ask where I'm able to cast my vote? After all, it does say "don't let anyone tell you that you cannot vote"...

[caco_killer]

I'm old enough to vote, but I don't want to. I don't like politicians, they're all dishonest and corrupt.

[Quasar]

So just let idiots pick which corrupt and dishonest people run the country, rather than choosing the lesser of two evils yourself. Right?

[Belial]

You're my hero Quas. No sarcasm.

Local elections here this Sunday, been telling everyone the same things you are.

[Manc]

AirRaid said:

Bloody hell, can't the americans ever get voting systems right? :P

Yeah because lord knows no other countries have issues with elections!

caco_killer said:

I'm old enough to vote, but I don't want to. I don't like politicians, they're all dishonest and corrupt.

This is a terrible attitude to have. Not voting is as bad as voting for "the wrong person".

[exp(x)]

The reason I'm not registered is because I forgot to re-register when I moved last year. I also do not know enough about local politics and politicians to vote. To me, uneducated voting is worse than not voting at all. I plan to register again when I move to Oregon in January and start paying attention to the issues.

[myk]

Seems like the Republicans even lost in Nicaragua.

[AndrewB]

Mancubus II said:

Yeah because lord knows no other countries have issues with elections!

This is a terrible attitude to have. Not voting is as bad as voting for "the wrong person".

It's a WORSE attitude to have. Too many people take democracy for granted, thinking that if they don't use it they won't lose it.

[Technician]

It’s either a Douche or a Shitsandwich in anycase.

[Bucket]

Democrats win, freedom reigns, gg.

[harbringer]

I don't care, I live in Canada anyways :D

[Johnatone]

Well, fuck, the liberals won, it's going to be a dark two years. I was content with a do nothing congress, now the U.S. is going to go to hell a lot fucking quicker. Christ.

I can't say I did any voting though. Fucking felony.

[GGG]

You know my motto:

Let somebody else do it.

[Naked Snake]

I voted for a Socialist for State Comptroller. Just for fun. Willie Cotton for Socialist State Comptroller! :-D

[Captain Red]

On behalf of Australia I'd like to say:
Kodus to teh USA!

[TheDarkArchon]

Johnatone said:

Well, fuck, the liberals won, it's going to be a dark two years. I was content with a do nothing congress, now the U.S. is going to go to hell a lot fucking quicker. Christ.

...what? Having Bush significantly opposed in the Senate is a bad thing?

[Csonicgo]

The GOP deserved this. They're gonna have to work hard to convince voters that they're worth a damn if they want those seats back.

And the state-specific results of amendment proposals were awesome. The people finally spoke up. I was somewhat disappointed at Missouri, though.

[Quasar]

Csonicgo said:

The GOP deserved this. They're gonna have to work hard to convince voters that they're worth a damn if they want those seats back.

And the state-specific results of amendment proposals were awesome. The people finally spoke up. I was somewhat disappointed at Missouri, though.

No they don't. The Democrats just have to screw up, and everybody will be switching back to Republican. That's the way it works in this country. Politics are a pendulum between two "extremes" (with the extremes, in relative political spectrum terms, being a few nanometers separated). When the Republicans make fools of us, we make fools of ourselves by expecting the Democrats to do any better. The only reason I was pro-Democrat for this election was to bust up the Republican majority. I voted independent on several positions and even Republican on a few state positions. Until we get some real parties in this country, instead of two separate groups of special interest puppets, I'll be splitting my vote.

[Bucket]

In response, Rumsfeld resigns. I declare today to be Smug Liberal Day!