Get out to vote

John R. Hall

Regardless of your political views (and please don't trash this thread with those) -- get out and vote on Tuesday, Nov. 2nd. It is our right as U.S. citizens and we should all feel obligated to participate.

Block off time, take a long lunch, start your work day a little later or end it a little sooner -- but please vote.

Mitch_4

not my election (Canadian) But

But if you don't vote....don't complain.

My philosophy

George_10

We may have an historic vote count this time

All of these unanswered questions only 6 days away.

S Ebels

I second that

As a humble public servant myself (township clerk) I will add my affirmative nod to John's advice. With the new voting laws regarding absentee ballots there is virtually no excuse save your own death which could prevent you from participating in the elective process.

Just Do It!!!!

Joannie_2

Bump This Up

It's important.

Mike T., Swampeast MO

The Humor is Usually Crude

But the new South Park episode last night contained some good philosophy regarding voting.

P.E.T.A. shamed the school into changing their mascot from a cow. As a joke the kids all wrote in either a giant Massengil feminine hygiene product or a sandwich with a filling of excrement.

No clear winner between the two so there was a run-off election. One boy refused to vote and was banished from town--driven out on a horse...

He finally voted after understanding that elections are quite often a choice between what many consider to be both poor candidates. Yet, it's the very privledge of voting that makes it an obligation.

If you don't mind low brow humor watch it on Comedy Central--they usually repeat a number of times in a given week.

jerry scharf_2

one question won't be answered next Tuesday

How many lawsuits between election day and the final electoral college vote?

As they say in Chicago, vote early, vote often.

jerry

Geo_2

vote

Mary Poppins did.

John R. Hall

Simple logic

After listening to a speech last week I boiled the election down to simplicity (which is what a guy like me can identify with). Pick a current subject(s) that concerns you and your family the most and then decide which candidate does the best job of addrsssing that subject. Forget the negativity and dog-and-pony show stuff.

S Ebels

If it's any indication of actual turnout

Our absentee ballots are running 3 1/2 times the normal rate. All the other jurisdictions around here are reporting the same. Looks like a LATE night on Tuesday.

Both the Demo's and the Rep's requested the names and addresses of absentee voters. I don't feel it's any of their hootin' business. They'll have to guess.

John R. Hall

bump

John Ruhnke

No!!! Too many people vote!!!

What is all of this stuff about voting? Please use your right to NOT VOTE!!! In my opinion, way to many people vote that should not be voting. A bad vote does way more damage than not voting. Politicians spend a fortune on image consultants so that they can look good on TV. People vote based on personality and not substance. They are electing the wrong people into office.

I want people to do one of two things, take the time to read up on the politicians they are voting for or don't vote at all!! No vote is much better then a vote based on someones smile or good looks. Many smart leaders are ugly looking and would never stand a chance of getting voted into office.

Stay home and don't vote!!! The world is much better off!!! If you have researched the polititians and feel strongley about someone, then go and vote!!

John Ruhnke

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John R. Hall

John

The pharmacy called -- your medicine is ready.

lchmb

yea but

I do intend to vote!! BUT I can't wait for all the phone calls to STOP please!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have recieved 11 call's today alone from different groups making sure I go out to vote...WOW I don't dare answer my phone anymore...:(

John Ruhnke

What is best for everyone.................

John,

Sometimes, you have to stop, stand back, and take a look at what is realy going on sometimes. Never believe everything people tell you. Think for yourself. What is best for this country? Any Vote? All votes? Or votes based on a researched decision? Telling people to just get out and vote is going to destroy this country. Voting is very important. IT MUST BE DONE RIGHT OR NOT DONE AT ALL. I believe everyone should have the oportunity to vote. I do not believe everyone should vote.

Could you imagine telling everybody at home depot to go home and install radiant? That is the thing to do. It is your duty. Don't take any seminars. JUST DO IT!! Systems would be installed backwards. They would leak and never run right. Things would be disasterous.

It is the same way with voting. Educate yourself about the canidates and make a good choice or just stay home. How many votes does it take to find a good canidate? 10,000? 100,000? 1,000,000? or maybe just a handfull of educated votes.

John Ruhnke

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Dave_45

i know i am voteing im tired of this guy spending my hard working socical security money on tax cuts for the rich

the way he is going with all his spending we may not have a social secrity system left he has no plan for one that works as good as this one.

he has no plan for a health care for our older loved ones
if my kids had free health care. that would be more money in my poket every month the some tax cut that america can not afford to give with all our spending at this time

lchmb

John

I agree that people need to educate themself's on the decision to vote. But I do not believe telling people to stay home unless they do it a certain way is correct. That to me implies that in the past you did not agree with the vote so you feel they did not have all the facts. Maybe they had the facts they felt important? I believe EVERYONE who is a citizen of this country needs to go out and cast their vote. Whether we agree with the outcome or not this country needs to hear from itself!!...IMHO..:)

Constantin

John, I could not disagree more

Your right to vote is a precious one, so use it whenever you can. Should people educate themselves? Of course. On the other hand, we have plenty of folks on either side that vote simply on the basis of ideology rather than by carefully weighing the issues and making an informed decision.

It's no different in non-political domain. Why do we have so many different kinds of cars, and how many car owners could tell you what the specs are on the brakes they're using. Brakes are important, y'a know? What about house purchases? How much of that is based on emotion rather than cold-hearted economics? Etc.

Furthermore, as we do not have a Crystal Ball telling us what exact challenges our next President will face, it is pretty difficult to put together a comprehensive job description for HR (i.e. the voters) to contrast and compare candidates. What we do have is past performance, either as legislators or as the incumbent president.

Lastly, consider the very real impact that last-minute Republican challenges to voter registrations has had: Summit County in OH alone has thrown out 976 voter registration challenges (!!!) because the challengers had no evidence other than allegedly some data the state GOP sent to them. Considering the timing and the severity of the offense, I hope the challengers and their "feeders" are prosecuted for perjury, libel, etc. and get to enjoy some time next to Martha Stewart at Camp Cupcake.

John Ruhnke

Job interview? Stay home and don't vote!

Picking a Canidate for office should be like a job interview. First you look at the reseme. Then you call a few past employers. You ask the canidate a bunch of questions. You research his background to see if he will fit into your company. You then make a educated decision and pick someone.

Most of the people that vote don't know one thing about the canidates they voted for. Oh sure they have viewed some stuff about the president on TV. What about the other canidates on the ballot? They don't even know one thing about them, yet they pull levers because of a smile or good looking hair style because that is all they remember. They feel pressured to vote. Why? Because they here the message, EVERYONE SHOULD VOTE. That is wrong. Everyone should have the oportunity to vote. The decision is up to you. Do you want to vote or not. You don't have too, and most likely the country would be better off if you didn't vote.

JR

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Big Swifty

I'm voting for anyone whose name I don't recognize! That means whoever sends the least amount of junk mail to my house!
As an aside; I continue to be amazed by how far we can all bend over, and how wide we can spread 'em!

John Ruhnke

Why do polititians tell you to vote?

Think about this.

A politition has a fund raiser. 1000 people show up. His job is to convince them to vote for him. Because they showed up to his fund raiser, 90% were in favor of him ahead of time. Now he needs more of those 90% voting for himself. So he tells everyone to vote. Out of those 1000, he needs a good turn out. It is in his best interest. All the polititians know this. They all say that everyone should vote. It works! It wins elections. But is it the best way to go for this country? NOOOOOOOOO!!!! Stop being brain washed by everyones political agenda's. Think for yourself.

Pick a canidate like you were picking an employee, research them or stay home!! Nothing is wrong with not voting, it doesn't hurt anyone.

Don't Vote!!!!!!!!!

JR

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Jim S

Enough.

Telling people not to vote is irresponsible,thousands of lives have been lost to protect this freedom and it`s an individuals right whether or not to exercise it.

I realize most people vote on personality rather than substance but what are we gonna do?

It`s our system and plenty of people around the world wish they could do the same

If i`m educated and informed and vote the exact opposite of you ,do you consider me unfit to do so?

John Ruhnke

Enough with you!!

It is a right to vote, a privilage. Yes everyone should have the right to vote. Everyone has the right to vote. I agree with that. But does it really matter how many people vote?

Give me one good reason why 10,000,000 people voting haphazardly, will produce a better canidate then 1,000,000 researched votes?

Think for yourself for once. Don't follow the crowd.

JR

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Maine doug_2

Everything you need to know

http://www.jibjab.com/play.asp?contentid=162

Constantin

It is precisely because we think for ourselves...

...that we accept the tyranny of the masses and the leaders they elect. Otherwise, it's a quick slippery-slope to autocratic conditions. For, how is one to determine whether one has or has not studied the issues and the candidates sufficiently?

Think about it: If you were to require in-depth knowledge on every issue related to an election, no voter would ever qualify. As with everything else in life, voters make decisions based on incomplete information.

Furthermore, I propose that, usually, in-depth research is not needed. You may be appalled by the Patriot Act and the administration that rammed it through Congress. Conversely, you may be convinced that only the current administartion is capable of keeping the country safe. If these are the hot-button issues for you, why not vote on what's most important to you rather than going through a long vetting process?

Taken to the logical extreme, your proposition would abolish all popular voting and lead to the creation of an electoral college job position. These qualified and vetted individuals would spend their days researching the issues, understanding the candidates, and making a decision for the rest of us. Some countries already have similar systems, like Kazakhstan, North Korea, etc.

IMHO, even an less-than-stellarly-informed-vote is better than apathy. But YMMV and I respect your position even though I abhor it.

Plumbob

not voting is also democratic expression

Not voting is a legitimate choice, and indeed, the business of "you must vote" has become like religious belief, you are not allowed to ask why. It is not politically correct to say people need not vote.

People who don't like any of the candidates should not vote, and people who don't know the issues shouldn't either. Further, people living in deep red or deep blue states are disenfranchised by the electoral vote system and shouldn't have to vote.

If there were a "none of the above" choice, maybe one could require everyone to vote as the Ozzies do, but until then, not voting is as good a choice as voting. People died so that everyone could vote, not so that everyone would be made to feel guilty if they didn't vote. I mean, apparently I have the right to bear arms, but that doesn't mean I should be forced to pack heat.

The problem is, how do we get the people who don't know the facts to recognize that they don't know the facts and should not vote? That's a problem. Like all those people who think Saddam was involved in 9/11, and are voting on that basis.