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Never voted before nor want to. Who else doesn't vote? (Page 2)
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 2006-09-14 4:01 PM in reply to: #540537 |
Veteran  260   Near Salt Lake City |  Subject: RE: Never voted before nor want to. Who else doesn't vote?Even though my personal vote does not matter here in Utah (we have voted Republican since the dawn of time) I go vote every time there is an election. People have paid too high a price for me not to vote. Will my personal vote change anything? No, but my personal voice can. The greatest thing about this country to me is: If you don't like the way it is or run, you can do something about it. Maybe not with one vote but by other means you can be heard. {queue the national anthem in background} |
| 2006-09-14 4:20 PM in reply to: #541662 |
Pro 4206 Los Angeles, CA | Subject: RE: Never voted before nor want to. Who else doesn't vote? But that's sort of my point (maybe flawed, but I'm not getting it then). For simplicity sake, just say there is 100 people in the United States. 40 people are like me, we don't vote. The rest of the 60 are voters. So, let's assume there are 50 democrat and 50 republican. Voter support down the middle. Now, we bring it down to 60 because 40 don't vote. Let's assume 30 democrat, 30 republican left. Again, down the middle +- standard deviation. So, here's the balance I'm talking about. Let's assume it's not 50/50 but the makeup is 60% democrat and 40% republican for the 60 people (36 democrat persons, 24 republican persons) that do vote. Using the 60 people makeup, the bill is passed by democrats with republicans losing 36 to 24. Now, in the static state, the bill will always pass. So, eventually, the 26 republican persons on the sideline (of the 100 that didn't vote) will possibly get fed up, vote with the other 24 republican persons, and defeat the bill, 50 to 36. Now, those 24 republican persons, some will probably sit out and the bill goes which ever way again. The defeat may rile up the 14 democrats sitting out. But my point is, the whole cycle continues, balancing everything out. |
| 2006-09-14 4:28 PM in reply to: #540537 |
| Alpharetta, Georgia | Subject: RE: Never voted before nor want to. Who else doesn't vote? I just wanted to add a little story from my city. Last year, elected officials proposed a 1% sales tax increase to fund a new downtown arena. This would move our combined sales tax from 6.3% to 7.3%. There were lots of pro's and con's, people took sides, campaigning for or against said arena. Only about 30% of registered voters voted (like usual)... and it passed. OF those who voted, 51% voted YES and 49% voted NO. Pretty slim margins. Can you guess how many people are now biatching about their increased sales tax? Wanna take bets on how many of them actually voted? I realize this was a local deal, but I'm just sayin'--- your vote matters. |
| 2006-09-14 5:06 PM in reply to: #540537 |
Master 2232 Des Moines, Iowa | Subject: RE: Never voted before nor want to. Who else doesn't vote? A single vote not mattering....I think we all feel that way sometimes, but then the phrase, "hanging chad" comes to mind. Votes do matter, even if they are recounted a dozen times and come up with different results. That says more about the process than the act of voting. I, like many above, try to vote in all the major elections. Also, the ones that have significant impact on my community (school bonds, tax levies, etc). I also feel too high a price has been paid not to participate. But, hey, it's a free country. Vote or not vote. That's your own decision. |
| 2006-09-14 5:10 PM in reply to: #541709 |
Master 2232 Des Moines, Iowa | Subject: RE: Never voted before nor want to. Who else doesn't vote? auto208562 - 2006-09-14 4:20 PM But that's sort of my point (maybe flawed, but I'm not getting it then). For simplicity sake, just say there is 100 people in the United States. 40 people are like me, we don't vote. The rest of the 60 are voters. So, let's assume there are 50 democrat and 50 republican. Voter support down the middle. Now, we bring it down to 60 because 40 don't vote. Let's assume 30 democrat, 30 republican left. Again, down the middle +- standard deviation. So, here's the balance I'm talking about. Let's assume it's not 50/50 but the makeup is 60% democrat and 40% republican for the 60 people (36 democrat persons, 24 republican persons) that do vote. Using the 60 people makeup, the bill is passed by democrats with republicans losing 36 to 24. Now, in the static state, the bill will always pass. So, eventually, the 26 republican persons on the sideline (of the 100 that didn't vote) will possibly get fed up, vote with the other 24 republican persons, and defeat the bill, 50 to 36. Now, those 24 republican persons, some will probably sit out and the bill goes which ever way again. The defeat may rile up the 14 democrats sitting out. But my point is, the whole cycle continues, balancing everything out. To me your example shows why it's even more important to vote. If everything is so close (50/50) then your vote matters more and could sway the election result.....(?) If all votes were so lopsided all the time, then maybe your vote doesn't seem to matter as much. But , as you say, they aren't lopsided most of the time... Just Sayin... Edited by shawn barr 2006-09-14 5:11 PM |
| 2006-09-14 8:16 PM in reply to: #540537 |
Master 1534  | Subject: RE: Never voted before nor want to. Who else doesn't vote? I agree about the voting rights = b*tching rights. It really bugs me when people complain about the current govn't but don't vote. Example, sponsorship scandal and the Gomery inquiry. You know where to find me come next election. |
| 2006-09-14 8:36 PM in reply to: #540537 |
Master 2287 Calgary, Alberta | Subject: RE: Never voted before nor want to. Who else doesn't vote? My Dad had to escape from Czechoslovakia some time after the population voted in the Communist party. As he tells it people didn't take the election seriously and when the communists got in people thought they'd be able to vote them out come the next election.... so I take elections and the right to vote seriously. I may not always like the parties I have to choose from but I still make a point of getting out to vote. |
| 2006-09-15 7:58 AM in reply to: #540537 |
Veteran 222 Norman, Oklahoma | Subject: RE: Never voted before nor want to. Who else doesn't vote? I think voting in the primary is more important if you want your vote to have more firepower. The 30% or so of the people who vote in the primaries are the hard core political base. They drive party platforms to the fringe of whatever party they vote for. More people that vote in the primary brings the platforms back to center...if you think that's a good thing. If only 30% vote then your voice is larger...statistically speaking. |
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