Do you choose not to vote even though you are elligible?

[TheSutterDynasty]

I didn't vote, and have only voted once because I knew the guy and knew he'd be great.

I think this whole "go out and vote!" thing is crap. It's all over social media today. Just like the Jays, just like anything, people see something and pick up on it and suddenly because they drew a meaningless "x" on a ballot are now part of the solution somehow.

I understand the thought. Go vote, elect someone who can run the country and your riding properly, but I really have trouble believing any more than a few percentage of the population is actually knowledgeable enough to choose. There's a lot of resources now for choosing a platform, but as far as I've seen all of these positions and promises change the second someone is elected.

As far as I can tell the vast majority of people vote based on a few opinions/positions important to them and that's that. There's a lot more to it than that, and a whole lot more behind the scenes and bureaucracy than anyone less than an expert won't see. That's not even mentioning the portion of people who are way too attached to one party. I know there are studies looking at people's political position and engaging in debate actually enforced each group's bias.

Do your thing people, but stop spending 2-3 days shoving it down everyone's throat. Stop the god damn self-righteousness. I didn't vote and I'm proud of it.

Maybe someone here can change my mind.

[Matata]

Agreed, I refuse to believe that a poorly informed vote is better than no vote. How does someone with virtually no understanding of the political climate voting make our society better?

I think the feel-good 'rah rah rah' nonsense has gone a long ways to poisoning the modern political discourse.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Matata

Agreed, I refuse to believe that a poorly informed vote is better than no vote. How does someone with virtually no understanding of the political climate voting make our society better?

I think the feel-good 'rah rah rah' nonsense has gone a long ways to poisoning the modern political discourse.

So what's the threshold for an informed vote?

[Finger Cookin]

Voter turnout was up to 68% for the election. Just make it easy on yourself, and ignore 1 out of every 3 opinions about federal politics or policy you see. Statistically, you're probably pretty close.

I choose to ignore Ozy_Flame.

[nik-]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

So what's the threshold for an informed vote?

If you vote for the person I vote for it means you're informed!

[Locke]

Dont blame me, I voted for Kodos.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by Finger Cookin

Voter turnout was up to 68% for the election. Just make it easy on yourself, and ignore 1 out of every 3 opinions about federal politics or policy you see. Statistically, you're probably pretty close.

I choose to ignore Ozy_Flame.

I like how you announced that. Usually ignoring someone should draw no attention.

BTW, there is an Ignore feature on the board. I use it all the time.

[undercoverbrother]

Mod edit- not appropriate

[TheSutterDynasty]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

So what's the threshold for an informed vote?

Definitely more than 5 minutes on a platform checker website which i was scolded to do.

[John Doe]

So I went out and did my civic duty last night. I had previously looked at all of the party platforms and checked out the releases, backgrounds and interviews that were online for all of the candidates. I left the polling station satisfied that I had done everything I could to make an informed choice.

My choice received 14% of the vote. The Conservative candidate is a militantly anti-rights, pro-life, homophobic, racist jerk. He has the potential to be the next Rob Anders. He won with 69% of the vote, solely because of the party he belonged to.

Can somebody explain to me again how I didn't waste my time last night voting?

[blankall]

Originally Posted by John Doe

So I went out and did my civic duty last night. I had previously looked at all of the party platforms and checked out the releases, backgrounds and interviews that were online for all of the candidates. I left the polling station satisfied that I had done everything I could to make an informed choice.

My choice received 14% of the vote. The Conservative candidate is a militantly anti-rights, pro-life, homophobic, racist jerk. He has the potential to be the next Rob Anders. He won with 69% of the vote, solely because of the party he belonged to.

Can somebody explain to me again how I didn't waste my time last night voting?

Same deal in my riding, except with the NDP.

This is the major problem with the past the post system. Some ridings are just illogically attached to one political party. It makes any minority vote in those ridings meaningless.

I voted for a party outside the big 3. Solely to give them encouragement for future elections.

[octothorp]

Originally Posted by John Doe

So I went out and did my civic duty last night. I had previously looked at all of the party platforms and checked out the releases, backgrounds and interviews that were online for all of the candidates. I left the polling station satisfied that I had done everything I could to make an informed choice.

My choice received 14% of the vote. The Conservative candidate is a militantly anti-rights, pro-life, homophobic, racist jerk. He has the potential to be the next Rob Anders. He won with 69% of the vote, solely because of the party he belonged to.

Can somebody explain to me again how I didn't waste my time last night voting?

Yup, you did. But just because it was a waste of your time doesn't mean it wasn't the right thing to do. You're certainly not alone. Many voters voted for a candidate that did not get elected. Most voted for a government that did not win. We kinda implicitly agree that we're going to engage in this activity which will probably be a waste of time on some level for the majority of us, but collectively it's not a waste of time because the alternative (very few voting, and a government elected by the few) would be very harmful to us.

Look, it's possible that if you live all your life in the same riding, you'll spend your whole life voting for candidates who don't get elected, and are represented by someone who's views differ greatly from yours. That sucks. I don't have an answer to how you're supposed to not get discouraged. But voting is just one of many ways you can make a difference in your community and nation. You know what? Say "I want to make a difference in my society, but voting is a waste of my time. Fine. Instead, I'll spend a few hours volunteering at a local homeless shelter. At least then I'll know that the time I've spent has had some sort of positive impact, somewhere, on someone." Or some other cause that addresses the change you want to see in your society.

[#-3]

Originally Posted by Matata

Agreed, I refuse to believe that a poorly informed vote is better than no vote. How does someone with virtually no understanding of the political climate voting make our society better?

I think the feel-good 'rah rah rah' nonsense has gone a long ways to poisoning the modern political discourse.

I usually vote but pretty much this.

The uninformed voter is the singles biggest failing of representative democracy. I am not confident enough in any alternative to want a new system, but it makes me think it is stupid to pressure unengaged people to make an uninformed choice.

[codynw]

Originally Posted by Locke

Dont blame me, I voted for Kodos.

Don't eat me, I have a wife and kids! Eat them!