Is it OK to note vote at all?

[msc545]

I think it is OK as not voting is the same as voting for "noneof the above" if none of the listed choices appeal to you.

NOT VOTING IS ACTUALLY A VOTE.

Updates

1 y

I actually did vote in this presidential election and of course I voted for Harris. That is not the reason I asked this question. re-state//background_color_rgba (0, 0, 0, 0), font_color_rgb (0, 0, 0), justifyLeft

[Anonymous]

I understand why you wouldn't want to, but that's apart of the right wing propaganda and misinformation is doing to you it is there to make you feel apathetic and hopeless, so you give up on voting and just let a dictator like Trump come into power.

You feel like voting is pointless because rich people don't want you to vote. It's the same thing with voter ID laws. Poor neighborhoods have a harder time getting IDs because it cost money and it takes an insane amount of time to get it. Rich people don't want it to be free, because they don't want poor people voting.

And that misinformation and right-wing propaganda is there to make you feel shitty about everything so you give up on voting. Palestinians are not voting for Kamala because of Biden, but what they don't realize this whole Israel Palestine happened because of Trump and if he gets in he's already talking about starting war with the Middle-East and Iran. Any hope of a two state-solution will be lost and he let Israel bomb up Gaza till there is nothing left. So you can choose not to vote because you don't like any of them and then let Trump win, but it's going to make the problems even worst.

George Bush fucked up the economy and got us into a recession, Obama got us out of a recession and gave the economy to Trump. All Trump had to do is keep the deficit down, but he made a bunch of tax cuts that were unsustainable which helped the rich make more money. The tax cuts were like taking out $100,000 bank loan and bragging about how much money you have. Things are really bad right now, but the USA is doing better than most countries because of Biden and if Trump wins again will be living in a 3rd world country.

[Opinion Owner]

We keep getting morons like Trump and Bush that keep screwing everything up because crazy people vote for him.

[msc545]

yes...

[Syntosi]

I dont think so. In a democracy you have a duty to vote as a form of protecting democracy against anyone who would subvert it.

But even if you want to vote "none of the above" or abstain entirely that just means you give up your power and no one cares about you. People like you probably think that politicians will take note of your absence and see you as a possible new vote to gain by appealing to you with new policy and such. That is not what actually happens. Politicians do not go out of their way to court voters who does not make up their mind, they focus on the voters that either support them or oppose them..

Either way you slice it you are only working against own interests by not voting.

[msc545]

Voting does not give you power and not voting does not take it away.

[Syntosi]

Yes it does. Voting is an exercise of your will. Not voting is you neglecting your duty.

[msc545]

It is not neglecting anything. It is voting for none. That is a vote in and of itself. I am not duty-bound to make one of a group of bad choices if I don't want to.

[Syntosi]

Yes you are. In a democracy you have the responsibility to vote responsibly. Even if you do not vote they are your elected representative. They represent your interests and act in your name. Every crime they commit, every drop of blood they spill is on your hands and in your name as a citizen of that democracy.

That is what a democracy actually means.

[msc545]

Everything you named is not going to be my responsibility if I don't agree with it and don't vote

[Syntosi]

Yepp, sorry, you can't escape it that easily. The power that politicians wield is your power. They are representing you and using your authority to do stuff. They dont just represent those who voted for them, or against them, but EVERYONE under their jurisdiction. They are called "Your representative" for a reason.

[msc545]

More often than not. They represent themselves and their own interests. Not mine.

[Syntosi]

Literally their entire power and authority as a politician comes from the people and not themselves. They are simply the ones who directs the will and effort of the nation. They are representing you, which makes you ultimately responsible for what they do with it.

[msc545]

Yes, I can see that you took a political science class and you think that's the way things work now. It isn't.

[Syntosi]

This is not about political science, its literally how nations work.

Lets try make this simple for you. When you make a country it is important to define from where the authority to rule comes from. In a monarchy for example the authority comes from the monarchy. Things like having ID cards in the UK assigned from the king who in turn needs no ID. Democracies on the other hand is the other way around, where the power originates from the people and are bestowed unto representatives such as politicians.

[msc545]

So you think. At least for the US, you are very wrong.

[Syntosi]

How so? The preamble of the constitution is literally "We the people.."

[msc545]

Hollow words meaning nothing.

[Syntosi]

Now you are just being cynical

[Justneedtokno]

It’s your choice whether you want to vote or not all of the counts also and you’re OK with whatever goes on and it all depends on whether you want something to be easier or better for others around you or even for yourself you’re the person that has to work and do things but it’s really up to you

[purplepoppy]

If you live in an area where party A always wins by a landslide what is the point in voting? It seems unless you live in a swing area your vote doesn't carry a huge amount of weight.

[GoodGuyBreakingBad]

Yes, it's ok

[Anonymous]

Acting like voting makes a difference when the biggest societal issues will not get solved by either candidate anyway... they don't care if I live or die, or whether I'll ever own a home or quit worrying about bills despite working a full time job. The corrupt will always rise to power regardless of whether you like red or blue and the 99.9% will remain miserable in some way or another. Call it apathy or whatever you want, but this country as a whole has already had a stranglehold on my soul to the point I pretty much anticipate oblivion as a solution for my issues.

[Caroline91]

I agree. But, it can be a vote of choice or a vote of apathy.

[msc545]

Apathy is ok too - some things and people are not worth voting for.

[Apple1996]

Yeah I don't vote. It's just not something I'm gonna stress over

[llorando]

Of course it's OK, I myself will not be voting this year, well I'll be leaving the presidential portion of my ballot blank while I vote down ballot.

[llorando]

Good luck to fellow users who get blocked for not voting.

[NathanDavis]

roughly...

around 80 million people vote Republican

around 80 million people vote Democrat

and, around 80 million other people do not bother with voting, at all...

[Slingblade1126]

It's perfectly acceptable but to say "not voting is actually a vote", has been proven to be a fallacy. Go back to the 2000 presidential election. That was actually when the democrats denied the results and some still deny them. Hanging chads, dimpled chads...

[msc545]

No, it has not been proven to be a fallacy. If you think it has offer some proof.

[RageBabe]

It's your choice, but if someone gets in who you didn't want to, don't complain because you didn't vote; remember, every vote counts.

[msc545]

not voting is actually a vote.

[RageBabe]

Interesting. 🤔

[Sevenpointfive]

if you're not going to vote, then demonstrate your choice in some other way. you have a voice even if you think there is no option.

[msc545]

Not voting is a demonstration of choice.

[Sevenpointfive]

don't worry. i voted for you by mail-in ballot ;D

[msc545]

Do what you want. I don't care.

[CaptainSmartass]

Yeah. In fact, if more people didn't vote it would send a message that people won't tolerate politics any more.

Simples...

[MemeSupreme]

yeah you just can't complain as much

im not voting for anyone bc i don't like them both and I JUST WANT A NORMAL FUCKING PRESIDENT

[GOLDFISH_smile]

I think it's pointless, and it's what the GOP wants (based on their recent actions), but I can't force you to vote. 🤷‍♀️

[ProbablyClueless]

It's perfectly fine, I just think you lose the right to complain about the political situation if you choose to abstain.

[msc545]

We don't have to make a choice and we still retain the right to complain whether you think so or not.

[ProbablyClueless]

That's absolutely right. The beauty of our country is that we have freedom of expression 🤷‍♂️

[Anonymous]

No it isn't. There's zero possibility than no candidate wins. Your lack of vote, gets your lesser choice closer to the win. Vote often, vote early. Do your part.

[msc545]

Not voting is a vote for "none of the above" whether or not that happens. Nobody is forced to vote for the "lesser of two evils" because you think so.

[Opinion Owner]

My point is, whether you admit it or not, everyone has an opinion on something. There's no way that the options are completely equal, in anyone's view. Because they're not the same, they are actually quite opposing. So not voting is dereliction of your duty to try and contribute to the development of your country in the way you think is most beneficial, even if by a tiny margin.

[msc545]

Bullshit. That is a very defective analysis.

[Dargil]

Only that you give your vote to someone else who may support policies you do not.

[msc545]

No, you do not give your vote to someone else. It's not like somebody else gets to vote twice if you don't vote the first time.

[Dargil]

What if one wins by a single vote and you didn't prefer the winner?

[msc545]

Then that happens. So what?

[Reijen]

Yeah, if no one appeals to you, no one appeals to you. I once spoiled my ballot.

[Staximus]

It's okay to do whatever the fuck you want, as long as you're not stepping on somebody else's dick

[OddBeMe]

I mean its a right. If you waive it... you have no right to bitch

[msc545]

There is ALWAYS a right to bitch regardless of whether or not one votes!

[OddBeMe]

Sure but its less embarassing for you

[noohair]

If you don't vote for the lesser of two evils, ok, just don't come here and complain for a year.

[msc545]

I am entitled to complain all I want, vote or no vote.

[noohair]

Just don't complain about anything political. If you do, you are just a whining bitch.

[msc545]

I plan to complain about political stuff daily.

[exitseven]

Its a free country. However if you want it to stay that way everyone needs to vote.

[msc545]

Bullshit.

[jazzy34]

Not voting = “I don’t care.”

[msc545]

Or - "none of it"

[jamesgoldman]

No, you can't complain about it if you don't vote

[msc545]

Of course you can complain about it. Whether you vote or you don't.

[saraupstairs]

They hope you won't.

[Anonymous]

Yes can't vote for trump or kamala.

[beefcakebradybatson]

It's your choice as an American citizen.

[Anonymous]

Of course it's ok.

[Ladsin2]

Nope.

[Ladsin2]

Unless you're voting for Kamala, in which case yes. Not voting is acceptable.