NationStates Jolt Archive

That's right, even though the man I voted for lost, I still feel a sense of victory.

I live in Racine Wisconsin, perhaps the biggest swing county in a big swing state. Kerry won Wisconsin by a mere 11,813 votes, and in the grand scheme of things, it came down to the wire. I'm glad that my vote made a difference and I'm glad that my voice was heard, even though Kerry lost nationally (well actually, we have 10 days left before we know for certain, but it's a fairly safe bet that Bush has won).

I am 20 years old, and most people my age in Wisconsin do not bother to vote because, simply, they don't care one bit. But I stood up and voted for the man I wanted to become President, and my vote along with 11,812 others helped win Kerry the state. The city I live in has 81,000 people, so in persepective that is not a whole hell of alot of votes.

Though Bush (despise him as I do) won the White House again, I feel that I can claim victory on a small level for helping John Kerry win a small battle in a war that he unfortunatly lost. I stood up for what I believed in and I used the most potent weapon I as an American citizen have: my vote.

To those that did not vote, I only wish that you could feel the sense of pride that I feel knowing that I made a difference yesterday. I helped fight a battle to see if the state I live in would turn out Republican or Democrat, and I helped win a narrow battle for the Democrats. Truely in Wisconsin, every vote mattered.

I plan on voting for every single thing I can, be it locally, statewide, or nationally. This is a right that I am proud my forefathers have given me, and I plan on using it until I reach my grave.

That's right, even though the man I voted for lost, I still feel a sense of victory.

I live in Racine Wisconsin, perhaps the biggest swing county in a big swing state. Kerry won Wisconsin by a mere 11,813 votes, and in the grand scheme of things, it came down to the wire. I'm glad that my vote made a difference and I'm glad that my voice was heard, even though Kerry lost nationally (well actually, we have 10 days left before we know for certain, but it's a fairly safe bet that Bush has won).

I am 20 years old, and most people my age in Wisconsin do not bother to vote because, simply, they don't care one bit. But I stood up and voted for the man I wanted to become President, and my vote along with 11,812 others helped win Kerry the state. The city I live in has 81,000 people, so in persepective that is not a whole hell of alot of votes.

Though Bush (despise him as I do) won the White House again, I feel that I can claim victory on a small level for helping John Kerry win a small battle in a war that he unfortunatly lost. I stood up for what I believed in and I used the most potent weapon I as an American citizen have: my vote.

To those that did not vote, I only wish that you could feel the sense of pride that I feel knowing that I made a difference yesterday. I helped fight a battle to see if the state I live in would turn out Republican or Democrat, and I helped win a narrow battle for the Democrats. Truely in Wisconsin, every vote mattered.

I plan on voting for every single thing I can, be it locally, statewide, or nationally. This is a right that I am proud my forefathers have given me, and I plan on using it until I reach my grave.You are the polar opposite of another persion here, who couldn't even be bothered to vote.

That's right, even though the man I voted for lost, I still feel a sense of victory.

I live in Racine Wisconsin, perhaps the biggest swing county in a big swing state. Kerry won Wisconsin by a mere 11,813 votes, and in the grand scheme of things, it came down to the wire. I'm glad that my vote made a difference and I'm glad that my voice was heard, even though Kerry lost nationally (well actually, we have 10 days left before we know for certain, but it's a fairly safe bet that Bush has won).

I am 20 years old, and most people my age in Wisconsin do not bother to vote because, simply, they don't care one bit. But I stood up and voted for the man I wanted to become President, and my vote along with 11,812 others helped win Kerry the state. The city I live in has 81,000 people, so in persepective that is not a whole hell of alot of votes.

Though Bush (despise him as I do) won the White House again, I feel that I can claim victory on a small level for helping John Kerry win a small battle in a war that he unfortunatly lost. I stood up for what I believed in and I used the most potent weapon I as an American citizen have: my vote.

To those that did not vote, I only wish that you could feel the sense of pride that I feel knowing that I made a difference yesterday. I helped fight a battle to see if the state I live in would turn out Republican or Democrat, and I helped win a narrow battle for the Democrats. Truely in Wisconsin, every vote mattered.

I plan on voting for every single thing I can, be it locally, statewide, or nationally. This is a right that I am proud my forefathers have given me, and I plan on using it until I reach my grave.

Good man. :)

I wish I lived in a state where my vote mattered. :(

You are the polar opposite of another persion here, who couldn't even be bothered to vote.


I know exactly whom you speak of.

I have a friend who feels the same. He voted absentee for Iowa. His vote is one of the few thousand that will probably give the state to Bush.

I live in Racine Wisconsin, perhaps the biggest swing county in a big swing state. Kerry won Wisconsin by a mere 11,813 votes, and in the grand scheme of things, it came down to the wire.In New Mexico in '00 the difference was 256 votes. In New Hampshire this year it was even closer I believe. In essence, it wasn't that close.

In New Mexico in '00 the difference was 256 votes. In New Hampshire this year it was even closer I believe. In essence, it wasn't that close.

Anything under 25,000 votes is very close. Over 110 million people voted!

non voting is silly and foolish

non voting is silly and foolish
I actually believe a non-vote is more important than an illinformed-vote. Take my wife and he sister for example. My wife doesn't follow politics at all, she simply votes her registered party-line. She tried to convince her younger sister, who knows less about politics to vote, just to vote.

Kerry conceded. It doesn't matter what the numbers look like when they come in.

Kerry conceded. It doesn't matter what the numbers look like when they come in.


You're missing the entire point of this thread.

You're basically saying 'well, screw voting if your guy doesn't win'.

I wish I lived in a state where my vote mattered. :(
Genuine question here: why do Americans put up with a voting system where there are situations where votes don't matter? Doesn't that kinda spoil the idea of democracy, and each person having a voice in government?

I plan on voting for every single thing I can, be it locally, statewide, or nationally. This is a right that I am proud my forefathers have given me, and I plan on using it until I reach my grave.

I wish there were more people that feel the way you do (especially if they're conservative. :) )

Having the right to vote is something people have died for in the past, and continue to die for in many countries. Good for you that you use that right.

Genuine question here: why do Americans put up with a voting system where there are situations where votes don't matter? Doesn't that kinda spoil the idea of democracy, and each person having a voice in government?


That's why both liberals and conservatives need to come together and abolish the electoral college. Only then will every vote count, because the attitude of 'well, I live in a heavily Democratic/Republican state, and I'm a Republican/Democrat, so why bother voting?' is just not right nor is it fair to every American.

Genuine question here: why do Americans put up with a voting system where there are situations where votes don't matter? Doesn't that kinda spoil the idea of democracy, and each person having a voice in government?

Because the only people with the power to change this are the people my vote doesn't matter to. :(

That's why both liberals and conservatives need to come together and abolish the electoral college. Only then will every vote count, because the attitude of 'well, I live in a heavily Democratic/Republican state, and I'm a Republican/Democrat, so why bother voting?' is just not right nor is it fair to every American.
Also if/when that happens, you might end up with - whisper it - a viable third option. Maybe even more. Real choice in politics? What will they think of next?! ;)

Kerry conceded. It doesn't matter what the numbers look like when they come in.

That shows how uninformed you are. A concession is not legally binding. We looked that up today in history class.

That's right, even though the man I voted for lost, I still feel a sense of victory.

I live in Racine Wisconsin, perhaps the biggest swing county in a big swing state. Kerry won Wisconsin by a mere 11,813 votes, and in the grand scheme of things, it came down to the wire. I'm glad that my vote made a difference and I'm glad that my voice was heard, even though Kerry lost nationally (well actually, we have 10 days left before we know for certain, but it's a fairly safe bet that Bush has won).

I am 20 years old, and most people my age in Wisconsin do not bother to vote because, simply, they don't care one bit. But I stood up and voted for the man I wanted to become President, and my vote along with 11,812 others helped win Kerry the state. The city I live in has 81,000 people, so in persepective that is not a whole hell of alot of votes.

Though Bush (despise him as I do) won the White House again, I feel that I can claim victory on a small level for helping John Kerry win a small battle in a war that he unfortunatly lost. I stood up for what I believed in and I used the most potent weapon I as an American citizen have: my vote.

To those that did not vote, I only wish that you could feel the sense of pride that I feel knowing that I made a difference yesterday. I helped fight a battle to see if the state I live in would turn out Republican or Democrat, and I helped win a narrow battle for the Democrats. Truely in Wisconsin, every vote mattered.

I plan on voting for every single thing I can, be it locally, statewide, or nationally. This is a right that I am proud my forefathers have given me, and I plan on using it until I reach my grave.
Grats! I feel exactly the same .I'm 24 and in Germany, but I also vote for everything, because I'm fed up with our own government. So far, it did not do an aweful lot since our power structure here is also 2-party between the social democrats and the conservatives, but I always vote in protest against the government. It feels good to use this small chance of protest, even if it has no effect in the large scale.

That shows how uninformed you are. A concession is not legally binding. We looked that up today in history class.

Of course it isn't. A concession isn't worth the paper it's printed on. The votes will still be counted. The Electoral COllege will still hold their formal vote. If Kerry gets the most votes, he still wins.

I didn't realize there were people around who thought otherwise.

That's right, even though the man I voted for lost, I still feel a sense of victory.

I live in Racine Wisconsin, perhaps the biggest swing county in a big swing state. Kerry won Wisconsin by a mere 11,813 votes, and in the grand scheme of things, it came down to the wire. I'm glad that my vote made a difference and I'm glad that my voice was heard, even though Kerry lost nationally (well actually, we have 10 days left before we know for certain, but it's a fairly safe bet that Bush has won).

I am 20 years old, and most people my age in Wisconsin do not bother to vote because, simply, they don't care one bit. But I stood up and voted for the man I wanted to become President, and my vote along with 11,812 others helped win Kerry the state. The city I live in has 81,000 people, so in persepective that is not a whole hell of alot of votes.

Though Bush (despise him as I do) won the White House again, I feel that I can claim victory on a small level for helping John Kerry win a small battle in a war that he unfortunatly lost. I stood up for what I believed in and I used the most potent weapon I as an American citizen have: my vote.

To those that did not vote, I only wish that you could feel the sense of pride that I feel knowing that I made a difference yesterday. I helped fight a battle to see if the state I live in would turn out Republican or Democrat, and I helped win a narrow battle for the Democrats. Truely in Wisconsin, every vote mattered.

I plan on voting for every single thing I can, be it locally, statewide, or nationally. This is a right that I am proud my forefathers have given me, and I plan on using it until I reach my grave.

I have voted many times and have never lived in a place where my vote would sway an election (maybe once in 1983?) but it is important to register your voice. Otherwise you have no right to bitch about the outcome imho.

Dyspareunia
*Feel the pleasure, feel the pain*

That's why both liberals and conservatives need to come together and abolish the electoral college. Only then will every vote count, because the attitude of 'well, I live in a heavily Democratic/Republican state, and I'm a Republican/Democrat, so why bother voting?' is just not right nor is it fair to every American.

But the electoral college was started /precisely/ to abolish the "tryanny of the majority". That's why we live in a republic ......

But the electoral college was started /precisely/ to abolish the "tryanny of the majority". That's why we live in a republic ......

But alas we've seen the major flaws of the electoral college, and I think it's time to go back to good 'ole tyranny of the majority'.

I plan on voting for every single thing I can, be it locally, statewide, or nationally. This is a right that I am proud my forefathers have given me, and I plan on using it until I reach my grave.
Why let that stop you? I heard that, back in the 1960s in Chicago, there were a whole bunch of dead people who voted. :D

/me snickers.

--The Jovial States of Cogitation
"Laugh about it for a moment."
NationStates Self-Proclaimed Court Jester

That's right, even though the man I voted for lost, I still feel a sense of victory.


Good! Courage Democrats!

Maybe we'll do some good things with the 2006 mid-term elections. Don't give up the fight.

Thank you, Automagfreek. :)

No guys, thank you.

And thank you to everyone who voted.

One last bump for the night.

That's right, even though the man I voted for lost, I still feel a sense of victory.

I live in Racine Wisconsin, perhaps the biggest swing county in a big swing state. Kerry won Wisconsin by a mere 11,813 votes, and in the grand scheme of things, it came down to the wire. I'm glad that my vote made a difference and I'm glad that my voice was heard, even though Kerry lost nationally (well actually, we have 10 days left before we know for certain, but it's a fairly safe bet that Bush has won).

I am 20 years old, and most people my age in Wisconsin do not bother to vote because, simply, they don't care one bit. But I stood up and voted for the man I wanted to become President, and my vote along with 11,812 others helped win Kerry the state. The city I live in has 81,000 people, so in persepective that is not a whole hell of alot of votes.

Though Bush (despise him as I do) won the White House again, I feel that I can claim victory on a small level for helping John Kerry win a small battle in a war that he unfortunatly lost. I stood up for what I believed in and I used the most potent weapon I as an American citizen have: my vote.

To those that did not vote, I only wish that you could feel the sense of pride that I feel knowing that I made a difference yesterday. I helped fight a battle to see if the state I live in would turn out Republican or Democrat, and I helped win a narrow battle for the Democrats. Truely in Wisconsin, every vote mattered.

I plan on voting for every single thing I can, be it locally, statewide, or nationally. This is a right that I am proud my forefathers have given me, and I plan on using it until I reach my grave.
Although I apparently sit on the opposite side of the aisle from you (Go Bush!), I'm glad the way you feel the way you do. It shows the strength of our system and our nation when someone, even though they may not have gotten what they wanted from one election, still believes in the system and still has hope for the next time. I hope everyone can one day see the logic and goodness in what you say. And I hope these next four years aren't too rough on ya ;)

That's right, even though the man I voted for lost, I still feel a sense of victory.

I live in Racine Wisconsin, perhaps the biggest swing county in a big swing state. Kerry won Wisconsin by a mere 11,813 votes, and in the grand scheme of things, it came down to the wire. I'm glad that my vote made a difference and I'm glad that my voice was heard, even though Kerry lost nationally (well actually, we have 10 days left before we know for certain, but it's a fairly safe bet that Bush has won).

I am 20 years old, and most people my age in Wisconsin do not bother to vote because, simply, they don't care one bit. But I stood up and voted for the man I wanted to become President, and my vote along with 11,812 others helped win Kerry the state. The city I live in has 81,000 people, so in persepective that is not a whole hell of alot of votes.

Though Bush (despise him as I do) won the White House again, I feel that I can claim victory on a small level for helping John Kerry win a small battle in a war that he unfortunatly lost. I stood up for what I believed in and I used the most potent weapon I as an American citizen have: my vote.

To those that did not vote, I only wish that you could feel the sense of pride that I feel knowing that I made a difference yesterday. I helped fight a battle to see if the state I live in would turn out Republican or Democrat, and I helped win a narrow battle for the Democrats. Truely in Wisconsin, every vote mattered.

I plan on voting for every single thing I can, be it locally, statewide, or nationally. This is a right that I am proud my forefathers have given me, and I plan on using it until I reach my grave.


I live in Burlington, Wisconsin (the west side of Racine County) and I voted for Bush, so I canceled out your vote ;) Have a nice day :-)

All kidding aside, I'm glad you feel the way you do about your country and your rights, it's good to see the next generation isn't a total loss.

I voted for Kerry and l'm sorry that others in Ohio don't realize how wrong Bush is for this country.

Genuine question here: why do Americans put up with a voting system where there are situations where votes don't matter? Doesn't that kinda spoil the idea of democracy, and each person having a voice in government?

Speaking as, though not a Westerner, one to whom the West is very near and dear, I personally would be appalled to see things go to a straight population-based system. New England would be in charge of the entire country. Did you know that in Alaska almost 100% of the citizens are in favor of drilling for oil? It's the reason why no Democrat ever stops to campaign there. That and it's too far away. Anyway, point is, if a ban on Alaskan oil drilling is put in place, it will be against the will of all those who are affected the most. Tyrranny of the Majority is indeed still a large problem for over half of the country, land-wise. Not everybody is, like the majority, crowded into a narrow strip along the east coast. (Okay, there's one along the west coast too, and an isolated spot here where I live, in Chicago, but still).

What ever happened to states' rights?

I plan on voting for every single thing I can, be it locally, statewide, or nationally. This is a right that I am proud my forefathers have given me, and I plan on using it until I reach my grave.

Actually, it's the right the draft gave you. If it were up to the forefathers, you wouldn't be voting 'til 21. ;)

Thanks Automagfreek--for your vote, for your attitude, for all of it. Thanks.

Anything under 25,000 votes is very close. Over 110 million people voted!

Not really, in many of the smaller states 25,000 is a lot of margin. Place like the dakotas and montana, there were only a few hundred thousand votes. I dont think the differance was under 25k in those states, but that is because they are strong bush states.

Genuine question here: why do Americans put up with a voting system where there are situations where votes don't matter? Doesn't that kinda spoil the idea of democracy, and each person having a voice in government?

It is a falacy that a vote doesn't matter just because your state goes heavily for the other guy in the electoral college system.

It's purely a matter of perception: If we all threw the votes in 1 big pot, and the other guy wins by 10 million votes, you could just as easily say your vote didn't matter then, either.

The election is run by slightly different rules, so your vote is counted a little differently, but you can't say it doesn't matter.

That's why both liberals and conservatives need to come together and abolish the electoral college. Only then will every vote count, because the attitude of 'well, I live in a heavily Democratic/Republican state, and I'm a Republican/Democrat, so why bother voting?' is just not right nor is it fair to every American.

No the Electoral college fulfills a very important role. You have to think of the balance of power in govt and which politicians are beholden to which group of voters. You cant look at the Presidential election in isolation.

But alas we've seen the major flaws of the electoral college, and I think it's time to go back to good 'ole tyranny of the majority'.

What flaws are so glaring that they overide the benefits of the college?

Why let that stop you? I heard that, back in the 1960s in Chicago, there were a whole bunch of dead people who voted. :D

/me snickers.

--The Jovial States of Cogitation
"Laugh about it for a moment."
NationStates Self-Proclaimed Court Jester

Still happens now. I think it was Iowa that had an absentee ballot from a guy that was dead for 20 years. It will continue to happen until we reform the polling/registration process.

I voted for Kerry and l'm sorry that others in Ohio don't realize how wrong Bush is for this country.

I voted libertarian but I am glad that the majority of people realized how bad Kerry would have been forthe country.

Speaking as, though not a Westerner, one to whom the West is very near and dear, I personally would be appalled to see things go to a straight population-based system. New England would be in charge of the entire country. Did you know that in Alaska almost 100% of the citizens are in favor of drilling for oil? It's the reason why no Democrat ever stops to campaign there. That and it's too far away. Anyway, point is, if a ban on Alaskan oil drilling is put in place, it will be against the will of all those who are affected the most. Tyrranny of the Majority is indeed still a large problem for over half of the country, land-wise. Not everybody is, like the majority, crowded into a narrow strip along the east coast. (Okay, there's one along the west coast too, and an isolated spot here where I live, in Chicago, but still).

What ever happened to states' rights?

Excellent points! From time to time, almost all points on the political compass have decried the Electoral College, but the fact that it's still there after all these years indicates that it was a good idea.

Whatever happened to states rights? Pay a visit to the South and you'll find out! :)

Genuine question here: why do Americans put up with a voting system where there are situations where votes don't matter? Doesn't that kinda spoil the idea of democracy, and each person having a voice in government?

Because America, despite administration references to the contrary, is not a democracy, it is a republic. Because our founding fathers recognized that the majority isn't always right, and that simply saying, 'guy X is more popular' isn't the same as saying, 'guy X is better for the country'.

We were never meant to have a voice in our government unless we were intelligent, educated, and informed. At the time of our founding, the racist, sexist, elitist bastards thought that meant you had to be white, male, and wealthy to meet those requirements. That is certainly stupid today, but it is also stupid to watch all the commercials that say, "vote or die" or other such poppy-cock. If you don't know/understand who/what you are voting for, the rest of us are much better off if you just stay the hell home.