NationStates Jolt Archive

Americans often speaks proudly about their freedom and democracy. USA do not hesitate to export their ideals to other countries even if these wants it or not. But how come so few people in the states don’t vote then ? You even have to register before you can vote.

If you Americans love democracy so much as you sound then the first you should do is to get the lazy bottom out of the chair and vote.

Please explain why you Americans do not use your hard won better than this. I really would like to know. And do not try to use the bad explanation that politicians are corrupt or stupid.

I am an American, and I do not understand it either. I am a politically active 18 year old, and I can say that most of the people who vote are, let us say, in the advanced classes. They have been brought up to care by civic-minded people. On the other hand, the ones who do not vote are raised to think that voting will not improve their lot in life, much less the political situation.

Oh yeah....many hate the electoral college system and feel marginalized because in a state like Texas, if a majority of a party wins there, all of Texas' electoral votes go to the majority party. It hurts Democrats in Texas, Republicans in California, and so on...

Because of apathy....the two parties are so similar....it has become boring, although this election promises to be anything but.

Americans often speaks proudly about their freedom and democracy. USA do not hesitate to export their ideals to other countries even if these wants it or not. But how come so few people in the states don’t vote then ? You even have to register before you can vote.

If you Americans love democracy so much as you sound then the first you should do is to get the lazy bottom out of the chair and vote.

Please explain why you Americans do not use your hard won better than this. I really would like to know. And do not try to use the bad explanation that politicians are corrupt or stupid.


Yep, I have always found that intersting. Take for example, the man that the Republicans hate more than anyone - Bill Clinton.

They hated him SO much.... and yet the simplest way of getting rid of him in '96 was aparently beyond them. Getting off their duffs and going to the polls was all it needed. And it is entirely possible that the Democrats will suffer from the same apathy this time around.

In '96 - out 0f 195M of voting age 146M registered, but only 96M bothered to vote. a 49% turnout.


My only conclusion is that for all their talk, most people really don't care about how their country is being led. Well, that and there are a lot who are tired of "lesser of two evil" options when it comes to the parties available.

The same sort of thing has been happening in Canada too. It is apalling to me, but it certainly does remind me of the old line that people get the sort of government they deserve. If they don't care enough, you can sure as hell bet that the politicians won't either.

Because of apathy....the two parties are so similar....it has become boring, although this election promises to be anything but.


You want exciting, try a football game -- or haven't the past four years been exciting enough?

I've been voting since I was 18 (a LONG TIME AGO). I've always said, and will always say: if you can't be bothered to vote, you have no right to complain about the government.

You want exciting, try a football game -- or haven't the past four years been exciting enough?

I've been voting since I was 18 (a LONG TIME AGO). I've always said, and will always say: if you can't be bothered to vote, you have no right to complain about the government.
What if you disagree with all the candidates available for you to vote for?

Do you still have no right, because even though you are politically minded you feel no ones views come near to representing your's?

I find your electoral college system very undemocratic and do not like it at all. But it that everything ?? And why dont you change it so it becomes the man or woman with most votes who becomes president ?

Politic can be boring, but so what ?? It is not an entertainment industri. It is about your life and more important than a good movie.

My point is. If you do not even vote, then you can shut up and take your crapping unsatisfying critic at home in front of the tv. I have no respect at all for people who dont even vote but still raise their critic.

What if you disagree with all the candidates available for you to vote for?

Do you still have no right, because even though you are politically minded you feel no ones views come near to representing your's?

Then what about creating more political parties ?? Why only 2-3 big parties ??

What if you disagree with all the candidates available for you to vote for?

Do you still have no right, because even though you are politically minded you feel no ones views come near to representing your's?

Honestly, yes. You should be able to find SOMEONE you agree with, or even WRITE IN a vote for someone you believe in.

Notice I did not say "those who lose have no right to speak", simply "those who choose not to participate."

You really have to be pretty lazy not to find or propose a candidate that you can agree with on SOME terms.

I agree with most of the sentiment in the board … that some people just don’t feel it is worth while (I have a feeling like was stated that some states always seem to go one way … and ALL the votes go that way then) I mean in a state like Minnesota we are traditionally liberal (democrat whatever) regardless of my beliefs if I do go vote lets say republican (I don’t do that either but for the sake of argument I do) My vote would almost surly not count for anything really cause the colleges vote will go the other way

In that way a lot of votes really do NOT count

Kind of depressing
But I keep going back :) not only for presidential elections but also the smaller ones ;)

[Edit]

And as for the you even have to register to vote comment

Simple reason ... so only us citizens vote ... and so you only vote once and in the correct place

Then what about creating more political parties ?? Why only 2-3 big parties ??

There are a number of parties -- however, it seems that no one outside of the Republican or Democratic parties ever has enough votes to even make a decent showing.

This is probably because when one registers, one must register as a member of a particular party -- and the choices given tend to be Democrat or Republican -- at least they were waaaay back when Dinosaurs roamed the Earth and I first exercised my right to vote.

But then it will always stay that way UpwardThrust !! See ?? The republicans will never change it if they do not show up !!

Say what you want, but the electoral college system is not democratic.

There are a number of parties -- however, it seems that no one outside of the Republican or Democratic parties ever has enough votes to even make a decent showing.

This is probably because when one registers, one must register as a member of a particular party -- and the choices given tend to be Democrat or Republican -- at least they were waaaay back when Dinosaurs roamed the Earth and I first exercised my right to vote.

Why is there a need to register in the first place ??? Why not vote alone ???

Then what about creating more political parties ?? Why only 2-3 big parties ??
It isn't just that, in current politics most parties search out the middle ground (or thereabouts), leaving very few differences in the parties running. You occasionally get 'radicals' running, but most of the time they don't represent my views. For example, in the recent local and EU elections in my ward (in the UK), I could choose :

Labour:- 'nuff said.
Conservatives:- Don't trust them.
Lib Dems:- too, liberal (in a British sense).
BNP:- Uh, no. Never.
English Democrats:- I would rather no associate myself with those little Englanders
UKIP:- Rather not associate myself with a load of Euro-phobes being 'led' by a shrivelled leather wallet.
Liberals:- Despite their whinnings to the contrary, they are too a like to the Lib Dems.
Green:- Outdated Marxist Bullshit
Various independents:- Do-gooding no-gooders.

Not one of them can even come closing to representing my opinion.

Should I not vote, or vote? Even if my right to dissent is linked to the action of voting.

Another thing.

If there a many parties and candidates then I see no excuses at all. It got to be possible to find somebody to support. I you value your freedom and democracy and find it important that is.

Honestly, yes. You should be able to find SOMEONE you agree with, or even WRITE IN a vote for someone you believe in.

There isn't. See above, statist arseholes the lot of them.

Notice I did not say "those who lose have no right to speak", simply "those who choose not to participate."

I know, but if I intentionally abstain due to political beliefs, rather then through laziness, should I still be allowed to complain?

You really have to be pretty lazy not to find or propose a candidate that you can agree with on SOME terms.
I only have finite hours in the day, at the time of elections I was busy, I researched most of the parties to look for ideological differences, but I simply didn't have time to look and propose a candidate for election.

But then it will always stay that way UpwardThrust !! See ?? The republicans will never change it if they do not show up !!

Say what you want, but the electoral college system is not democratic.
I do ... every election ... so does my family (problem is I was too young at the time)

There just aren’t ENOUGH of us right now


(my family is republican I am independent so … I vote for who I want … if it happens to be a republican though … unless you are in the right area of Minnesota … not a chance)

Just … the collage don’t seem too fair anymore when we have the technology to get an accurate count of EVERYONE

Another thing.

If there a many parties and candidates then I see no excuses at all. It got to be possible to find somebody to support. I you value your freedom and democracy and find it important that is.
Trust me, it isn't.

I think it is a cop out to say that the low turn outs are completely caused by laziness, we (the electorate) are hardly given a wide range of choices. Many feel that all the parties are the same (and too a certain degree they are), and that their vote will will count for nothing. So where is the point

Americans often speaks proudly about their freedom and democracy. USA do not hesitate to export their ideals to other countries even if these wants it or not. But how come so few people in the states don’t vote then ? You even have to register before you can vote.

If you Americans love democracy so much as you sound then the first you should do is to get the lazy bottom out of the chair and vote.

Please explain why you Americans do not use your hard won better than this. I really would like to know. And do not try to use the bad explanation that politicians are corrupt or stupid.

The answer to everything you said EXCEPT THE NOT VOTING ISSUE is that politicians ARE infact corrupt. And whoever has the right and ability to vote, but chooses not to, and then complains about the gov't, is very ignorant.

In our society, where most people are schooled (if not educated), we have experienced a subliminal training to trust authority. Every morning school children recite the pledge of alligence. We sing the national anthem before sporting events, and we watch television. By adulthood most Americans are working to secure the finer things in life that media have convinced us we need.

Political issues that strike close to home (i.e. bond issues raising taxes to increase police pay) do attract a broader voter turnout than do national elections. I suspect that if local issues were put on ballots Tuesday, and national party elections on Wednesday, voter turnout would be higher on Tuesday.

As I get older, I get more frustrated with my fellow citizens apathy, but, at the same time, I do understand the coincidental feeling that we are not getting enough choices, or that, no matter who you vote for-you're being suckered. One thing I am sure of is that if anybody F's with an American's perceived "rights", you'll have a fight on your hands. We do tend to be madly independent sometimes, which, for supposed sheep, is very upsetting to the shepherds.

Underneath you might see that all people everywhere are basically the same. We'd just like to get along with our lives in peace, be treated fairly, work, and raise our families to trust the neighbors. It's the blokes who are power-tripping that seem to mess this up.

I just want to know why the American President is an idiot

I only have finite hours in the day, at the time of elections I was busy, I researched most of the parties to look for ideological differences, but I simply didn't have time to look and propose a candidate for election.

And this refutes what I posted how?

Your act of dissent, basically, is to be silent. When one is silent, one is assumed by all to be in agreement with what is going on. This perpetuates the problems that you then criticize.

About the 2 party system: Most voters feels that to vote for something other than democrats or republicans is wasting your vote as you have no chance to get your candidate elected. Not to mention that most 'other' candidates don't have the ressources to compete with the big electorate machine of the democrats or republicans. And, let's face it, a politician with no visibility won't get far.

About the electorate college: It was put in place when the majority of the population wasn't litterate and couldn't be trusted to vote with a clear understanding of the issues. That's why the electorate college was put in place: so that educated people could decide what is good for the people. It is an old process that was necessary back in the days that remains in place. I don't think the system is better or worse than any other system.

About the not bothering to vote: I think it is better to get out and void your vote than not go out at all. In the end, it results in the same thing: you didn't vote for anyone, but you at least made your feelings known that you disagree with the choices. Also, it stops fraud like someone voting with your name.

I just want to know why the American President is an idiot

Is it because he hasn't yet sent a CIA assassin to eliminate you?

About the not bothering to vote: I think it is better to get out and void your vote than not go out at all. In the end, it results in the same thing: you didn't vote for anyone, but you at least made your feelings known that you disagree with the choices. Also, it stops fraud like someone voting with your name.

Well said. You've no idea how many dead people vote (check out former NYC Mayor David Dinkins and the scandal connected with that.)