Does anyone else consider not voting a valid political decision?

Question

In my opinion, our 2-party system is broken beyond repair. Campaign finance laws gaurantee that big business not only dictates foreign & domestic policy, they actually write it. The needs of the middle class are completly and utterly ignored.

There haven't been any viable 3rd party candidates in almost a century. Perot and Nader were the closest thing, and they didn't even come close to winning.

Rock-the-Vote and campigns like it are simply a way that the 2-party system indoctrinates young people into believing they are making a choice. That's just not true. There is no real difference between Democrats & Republicans - they're equally inept and corrupt.

By not voting you do 2 things:

1. Send a message that you don't agree with any of the current candidates.

2. Create a fertile ground for a 3rd party candidate to come along and galvanize the non-voters.

The only way to change the system is for a 3rd party candidate to come along who sparks enough non-voters into action.

Answer 1

Go ahead, make your statement. Don't vote. it just gives my vote MORE power. Keep all your friends from the polls as well. Spread the word wide.

Answer 2

I sort of agree with what our saying but you're not showing anyone, they won't know if you didn't vote and it will just be like a vot against whatever you're registered as.

Answer 3

NO NO NO NO NO NO!

If you don't vote, you have no right to complain about the elected government.   If you can't be satisfied voting for the lesser of two evils (ie.  the smarter dummy or the less greedy thief) then you have to get involved in picking the candidates.

Hand out flyers, donate money and/or time to the ones you like, go to some town meetings, etc...).

Know what happens when you don't vote?  The greediest, crookedest candidate wins - 'cause while you were busy not

voting, he/she was busy buying stealing and lying their way through the  election.  Your NOT voting was one less vote they had to buy or steal.

VOTE FOR THE SAKE OF YOUR COUNTRY - IN EVERY

ELECTION, NOT JUST THE BIG ONES.

Answer 4

The two-party system had ruined the political system with the rich benifitting from the set-up while the middle and lower classes are suffering from the machinations of the big businesses.

Answer 5

I can see where you are coming from,...sort of.

I do believe it is more important to vote locally. Thats the best way to effect actual change.

Answer 6

If I vote in a system I know is completely corrupt, then I too am corrupt. In fact, our government is so corrupt, I consider anyone who participates, even by voting, a traitor in my book, for he is just saying: "Yes, give me 2, 4 or 6 more years of it." And don't say I should vote to end the corruption; if that were true, there would be no corruption in the first place.

Answer 7

If every one stopped voting there would be no freedom of choice in our country!!!! Then what? communism? I have visited a communist country and would NOT go there for our future! Please vote, even if you don't feel it makes a difference. IT DOES!

Answer 8

In the past 2 elections I vote with a write in candidate for every slot open. I write in LORD JESUS CHRIST. I loose the power of Jesus name into the political machine. It is sad what the Democrats and Republicans did to Ralph Nader. It is illegal to bar third party candidates from national elections but the Democrats and Republicans did it to Ralphy Boy. There are a lot of Christians that have been turned off by the Republicans and they still refuse to vote for Democrats who are for the murder of millions of babies because Abortions are big business in America. Government is more and more like MAFIA with the laws they pass just to place fines on people to make revenue dollars. So many of the laws passed in America Congress knows we have no way of being able to comply with. That's the way they like it.

Answer 9

It's your right NOT to vote, but you actually accomplish nothing.

Answer 10

Like the saying goes you will always have to decide between either a douchebag and a t**d sandwich. I would just vote independent, thus instead of giving your voting power to people voting for the candidates you don't like, you throw it away at no benefit to them.

Answer 11

I agree with the sentiment behind your frustration, and I felt this myself up until this current election year, which I'll explain why shortly.

If it is a matter of not liking the proposed candidates then don't vote for them, vote for someone else! Many states allow third-party candidates, and as well, your American right to write yourself in the ballot, or anyone else you believe in is doable. I would say all of it is a lessor of two evils but why let the others that you disagree with get their opinion out why you don't? Truth, and a good, pure messege take time to progress in this world of ignorant constituents and manipulative leaders. It may hardly put a dent in the system now, but voting your displeasement will help to slowly build that sentiment further into the consciousness of maintstream America.

Actually, my opinion of course, I stumbled onto Ron Paul due to the Media hype of his fundraising. I thoroughly researched him, which lead me to research the others, and I have found that my previous thought, Democratic notions were wrong; and although he is running on the Republican ticket (due to the 3rd party system getting the shaft [he ran linertarian in 88']), I realixe my more libertarian stance on the issues and government's role as a whole. I truly think he is the real deal. I saw some photos and TV about him and his supporters held signs saying "Ron Paul cured my apathy!" and this totally hit base with me. Although I disagree with some things he says, mainly the 2nd Amendment, on the whole, he seems like he really wants to fix things, and he has actual plans on going about it. If anything makes the world go round, and touches everything, it is economics, and he is very well-versed on economical issues. To just imagine having a President who knows something is such a relief after the past 8 years!

Anyway, maybe my perception is wrong. Maybe we are all tricked in one way or another because perception itself is a tricky thing; and everyone seems to think theirs is right! I'm not saying mine is right, but check him out and see for your self. His soultions take time and a little research - something the America people's ADD does not allow for. It is unfortunate. It's ashame that perception is based off 1 minute answers from scritpted debate questions given by bias news networks. As to how Americans fall for this is beyond me.

Answer 12

By choosing not to vote at all you are voting to keep everything the same, and handing the power to some other interest group instead.    This is your right of course, but ultimately a pretty futile one.    Note that in countries like where I am,  in Australia, not putting a ballot in (even a blank one) the box will get you a nice hefty fine too.

You would be better served by looking at the selection of your local representatives and choosing the one that represents you the most effectively, even if they are  not totally what you want.    20% of someone working on your behalf is better than disenfranchising yourself totally in protest.   You can always vote for the 3rd option on the occasions it becomes available.   Remember too that in the US, while the President has a lot of power,  he can't do much without congressional approval.  So you're vote is still very important.

I personally think voting is more than just a right, it is also a duty to ensure your country has the best government representing you.