Should everyone vote?
By KLVentures
@KLVentures (119)
United States
October 30, 2008 1:45pm CST
As we move closer to election day, I am hearing all of the usual get out the vote, everyone should vote and mobilize the public talk. It seems to be generally accepted that everyone should vote. Well, I have to disagree with this. I think that most people should not vote. Now before I get attacked on this, I think everyone has the right to vote and that no one should impede a U.S. citizen from voting but I do believe that some people should excuse themselves from the voting booth.
If you are a person that does not follow the news at all during the course of the year, then I think that you should not vote. If your major source of news info is the weekend update on Saturday Night Live, then you should not vote. If you vote for the members of one political party because that is what your family has always done, then you should not vote.
In this age of presidential candidates with professional ad agencies managing their every move, it is to easy to get caught up in the image of a candidate and not the facts of the candidate. McCain is a true war hero and we owe him thanks for his service but does that mean he would make a great president. Obama is youthful, energetic and full of the promise of change but is all change good and does enthusiasm always equal success.
So I believe that the voters that do not know the candidates beyond the sound cuts and photo ops should stay at home and not cast a vote. If you are one of these people and this sounds unfair, I offer an easy solution. Pick up the newspaper, watch the news, read the press releases, and learn the issues. These are important times and the only thing worse than not voting is casting an uninformed vote.
What do you think?
4 people like this
13 responses
@twoey68 (13627)
• United States
30 Oct 08
I couldn't agree with you more. I think before anyone votes for anything including President, they should be aware of all the issues that are on the line. Voting for someone b/c your friends or family are isn't a good reason. Wasting a vote on Mickey Mouse or Bart Simpson is a waste of both a vote and voting ppl's time. If your not really serious about voting then just leave it to those that are.
[b]~~IN SEARCH OF PEACE WITHIN~~
**AGAINST THE STORMS, I WILL STAND STRONG** [/b]
1 person likes this
@Carpathian (582)
• United States
30 Oct 08
I think you are very right!!!! I watch my sister and her husband as they talk about voting with my husband. And, they all have different ideas. But, not one of them has really sat down and watched all of the things being said on tv. I tell them I do not want to vote because I can find true happiness with either man. So, I want to miss voting this year. My sister acts like I am not a true american if I don't vote. My brother-in-law just acts like I am to much a woman because women don't really understand politics. RIGHT! And, my husband just don't care he says if that is what you want then fine by me, honey. Hey, can I help it if I can't find the good in two people when the whole world can't decide either? They have to many things that are wrong. No birth cretificate. Racial issues. New money. Change flag. New nation. I hear so much and no one knows what is true and what is gossip. Why bother? I think it really does not matter the world is going to the crapper no matter who is at the wheel! See you in later I will be with the tiddy bowl man!
1 person likes this
@eaforeman6 (8979)
• United States
30 Oct 08
I would rather see people not vote if they are not educated voters who ask questions and seek out all the information on the canidates. You hate to see people complain after they vote someone in when maybe if they had researched they would already have known what to expect. To just go down and Push a ballot without educating yourself is an abuse of the privelge to vote. Voting is very serious and should not be treated casualy, because your not picking out a movie from block buster, your picking out the Commander in Chief.Great post and food for thought, be responsible voters!
@sirnose (2436)
• United States
30 Oct 08
I think that everyone should vote if they wish to rather they're informed or not is no reason why one shouldn't vote...if they don't like the candidates now thats another thing.I was raised to vote one party democrat for president and i just finish voting for Sen.Obama for president and i was not going to vote until i put the question to the mylot community and thats what swayed me to vote ...so to answer your question should everyone vote? I think so other than that they're doing themselves and their country a disserve...
1 person likes this
@mikeysmom (2088)
• United States
31 Oct 08
if you are registered then i think you should vote and if you do not vote you are wasting a priviledge and your right to say anything positive or negative about either candidate. if you do not vote i do not want to hear your complaints, plain and simple. i know some people who are not voting because they do not like either candidate. i do not like either one myself but i dislike one much more than the other so i will use my vote to vote against the greater of the two evils so to speak.
@sitharama111 (50)
• United States
31 Oct 08
Yes, i believe that everyone should vote in the upcoming election. But those who don't know anything about the candidates should not vote randomly. Those who jump on the bandwagon ruin the election results for the rest of us who actually care. This election is very important for the united states of America. There is economic criss going on that needs to be taken care of. And the people who are aware of both candidates and their ideas, should be the ones voting. Those bandwagon voters please stay way from the polls please. For the rest of you, logical voters, good luck and may the best man win. And don't forget to Vote.
@CherylsPearls (1269)
• United States
31 Oct 08
Then you would agree with Gore Vidal: "Half of the American people never read a newspaper. Half never voted for President. One hopes it is the same half."
I think a lot of people have been reading, but reading things so one-sided they think it's true. I agree that everyone should keep up with the news, both at home and in the world, that politics should not only peak our interests at election time...
Casting an uninformed vote is what most people do. I don't think it will ever change.
@eric_v_b (261)
• Canada
31 Oct 08
You make a good point, even though it is a little harsh. And from your few words, I think that you are a Republican? Am I right?! Because I find that in the past couple of weeks, McCain and his party have been "bashed" by comics, artists, and many others. And you think that most "uneducated" voters will voted Democrat because of that.
Personnaly, I am not an American citizen, but I am sure hoping for some change in the USA. Nonetheless, how dare you say that enthusiasm does not equal success. "The American Dream" all started with a little enthusiasm.
"A person who never made a mistake, never tried anything new." by Albert Einstein.
The USA should wake up a little. Energy and youthfulness is exactly what you guys need. Especially in these hard times.
What do you think?
@sharra1 (6340)
• Australia
31 Oct 08
Well I like the Australian system, voting is compulsory. We have to study the election and work out who to vote for from the start as we get fined if we do not vote. Or should I say if we get caught not voting. I know some people who choose not to vote and never get caught because the electoral commission has lost track of them.
As to people casting an uniformed vote they do that anyway. Anyone who votes for a party because their family have always voted that way is an uninformed voter. They are not voting for issues but for a party. That happens in every country in the world.
In some countries people put their lives at risk for voting the way they wish to rather than the way they have been told to vote. There is all sorts of voting types in this world.
@kenzie45230 (3560)
• United States
31 Oct 08
You make some great points here. And, frankly, I think that when one is reading or watching the news, one should choose conservative, moderate and liberal sources to read and view. Not everything from every news source is 100% correct. And there is probably not one news source that is entirely unbiased.
My son and I spoke about this the other day. My mother, for instance, has not known what day it is for the past 3 years. But she's still registered to vote. I'm not sure what they do at her assisted living center, but it was quite a contraversy when I lived in Florida and the old folks were bussed to the polls to vote. Some were like my mom. They didn't know what day it was. And yet they voted.
@chameleonsdream (1230)
• United States
30 Oct 08
I believe that every right comes with a corresponding responsibility. If you have the right to vote, you also have a responsibility to inform yourself about the candidates and the issues. The internet has made it so easy to be both well-informed and misinformed, but how do you determine whether someone else is well-informed? I think that deciding who has a right to vote becomes the proverbial slippery slope - so I guess I have to say that while I agree that people should inform themselves, I'm not sure I'd support any effort to keep people from voting based on how 'informed' they are.
@wsfdwkx (56)
• China
31 Oct 08
I'm in a socialism country,people in my country have no chance and no rights to vote for their president.we donnot know how to vote or even donnot know what is vote.I'm very eargerly want to vote for my president for my mayor,but it is only a dream for ever :(
@deathsycth (25)
• United States
31 Oct 08
i agree it would better for uneducated people not to vote then to vote. i believe the 1st responder said it very well
