Priorities of too many Americans....

According to the economist who wrote the book "freakonomics" voting doesn't "make sense" (speaking economically, based on incentives) for the individual. The statistical chances of one vote making a difference is practically nil, and there are no penalties (in the U.S.) for not doing it. He is surprised that anyone votes at all. He concludes that the country has been very successful in instilling civic pride, and that people somehow feel obligated to vote as a favor to other citizens/the country. I personally feel that some people have become so cynical, and don't believe anything is ever going to change, that they just don't bother.

Hmmm, yeah probably. What are we discussing again here? JW...

In 2012, it's going to be the most important vote in every American's life. There is a concerted effort to swing things in Obama's favor. The plan is far too coordinated for any one man to have concocted - trying to move the Census from the Dept of Commerce to the White House, ACORN fraudulent voter registration, Obama getting access to text your cell phone whenever he wants, the vow of silence the media takes towards any criticism of Obama - well, it's just a huge and many-faceted plan. If people don't avail themselves of the right to vote in 2012, every single American who is disgusted with the way things have gone for the past two years, then Obama will easily walk away with a victory. We have to stop it.

I have voted in every election since the day I turned 18...I even voted absentee, when I was stationed overseas. I always research the candidates and do the best I can to vote for someone who I hope will do a decent job...I usually vote for the loser. It is disgusting. I have volunteered for voter registration and on voting day. I have given talks to kids in high schools on the importance of learning about how to vote...not just about voting, but on how to research the candidates. It is the effort you put in before you vote that is the most important. If more people taught their children the importance of voting, then each generation things might improve.

Money can buy a person's soul. When someone need the money, they will never look at their future, the only they can see is what are in front of them. So, politician always taking advantage on this loophole to win the election.

So true. Everyone has their priorities backwards now. All they care about is here and now, never the long-run