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

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

So Edmonton just gets MLA and MP's assigned to them??

In my utopian future edmonton is bulldozed down and never spoken of again.

[Baron von Kriterium]

Originally Posted by undercoverbrother

Kind of on topic, but as I don't like any of the 3 leaders, I am going to take a micro approach and vote for the individual I think will best represent my area and my concerns.

I think that's a good approach. I voted for a small party in the Nose Hill riding. I don't typically vote, but I chatted with the candidate on the street while walking with the dogs. I honestly didn't know the party had any candidates as I didn't see any signs or anything else. But his party aligns with my beliefs the closest and I promised him I'd vote for him. He has no hope of winning, but I voted for him today.

[Baron von Kriterium]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

I hate voting. The whole process is flawed. There are two kinds of people who run for election. Criminals and incompetent ideologists. I'm not sure which is worse.

I read that as "incontinent ideologists".

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Baron von Kriterium

I read that as "incontinent ideologists".

Those guys always miss all of the votes in the house because they're in the bathroom.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Baron von Kriterium

I see the same thing. I either get the posts from the Anybody But Conservative crowd or the Trudeau-and-Mulcair-Suck-So-You'd-Better-Vote-Conservative crowd. In the end, no one is championing a Leader/Party based on how the party platforms match their personal ideals; they are voting because they don't like the other guy(s). I think this is the wrong approach. If one wants to advocate democracy, then one should probably vote positively and not negatively.

The same thing is coming from the you must vote crowd. People see the non-voters as the reason their party lost. No, the reason your party lost is because it's in shambles and couldn't put forward a half descent candidate. When you struggle to find someone with more charisma than Harper, there's an issue.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by heep223

The best argument against democracy is a 30 second conversation with the average voter. -Winston Churchill

I'd vote for Winston Churchill.

[GreenLantern2814]

Even if you don't like any of the candidates, there will always be a token green party candidate with no shot. Give that guy or gal a vote. It'll probably get them into triple digits and make them really happy. Trust me, I just got 300 likes from a comment I posted under a cracked article on Facebook. I've been telling everyone. It was a true boost.

Getting 100 votes in a federal election is probably that Green partier's back door into the history books. Give them that.

I have to think at least 40% of green party votes are protest votes anyway.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by GreenLantern2814

Even if you don't like any of the candidates, there will always be a token green party candidate with no shot. Give that guy or gal a vote. It'll probably get them into triple digits and make them really happy. Trust me, I just got 300 likes from a comment I posted under a cracked article on Facebook. I've been telling everyone. It was a true boost.

Getting 100 votes in a federal election is probably that Green partier's back door into the history books. Give them that.

I have to think at least 40% of green party votes are protest votes anyway.

The problem with this is that these joke parties then qualify for a per vote subsidy paid for with federal tax dollars. The last thing I want is these clowns getting even more public money to waste. By not voting I don't waste any public money subsidizing political parties to spew more propaganda next time.

[Dan02]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

The problem with this is that these joke parties then qualify for a per vote subsidy paid for with federal tax dollars. The last thing I want is these clowns getting even more public money to waste. By not voting I don't waste any public money subsidizing political parties to spew more propaganda next time.

The per vote subside was phased out since the last election and has been completely eliminated going into this year.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Dan02

The per vote subside was phased out since the last election and has been completely eliminated going into this year.

I hadn't heard that! I assume harper did this to cover up a different way to stuff the tax money in his cronies pockets, but still a positive result in my books.

[Ozy_Flame]

There's something pretentious and arrogant about not voting because none of the parties can meet one's political standards. "None of the choices appeal to me" is the biggest cop-out one can make in a democracy, especially if said person isn't going to roll up their sleeves and insert themselves into the ring as the best candidate.

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

There's something pretentious and arrogant about not voting because none of the parties can meet one's political standards. "None of the choices appeal to me" is the biggest cop-out one can make in a democracy, especially if said person isn't going to roll up their sleeves and insert themselves into the ring as the best candidate.

I think it's pretentious and arrogant to think that the answer to not liking the candidates is to give up your entire life to enter politics.

[sa226]

After watching some of the exclusive interview's with party leaders on CBC, l believe that I have firmed up my choice.

I'm voting for Peter Mansbridge.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

I think it's pretentious and arrogant to think that the answer to not liking the candidates is to give up your entire life to enter politics.

Alright then - ask someone who is refusing to vote for anyone if they would get into politics and make the change that's necessary for Canadians, and I'll bet you 10 out of 10 times they'll come up with some excuse, the most common of which will be "because I don't want to".

[mikephoen]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Alright then - ask someone who is refusing to vote for anyone if they would get into politics and make the change that's necessary for Canadians, and I'll bet you 10 out of 10 times they'll come up with some excuse, the most common of which will be "because I don't want to".

Ok, let's say I run next time. I wouldn't vote for me either, because I'm not qualified to do the job.

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by mikephoen

Ok, let's say I run next time. I wouldn't vote for me either, because I'm not qualified to do the job.

Then you're the kind of person who is hoping for some pie-in-the-sky candidate to make everything better and you know for a fact everyone on the ballot is definitely worse?

Sounds like a hopeless romantic ideal if you ask me.

[Locke]

Man, they'd get more people out to vote if my polling place was my local pub.

A pint and a vote? Now theres a democracy I can get behind!

[shane_c]

Originally Posted by JiriHrdina

The only message non voting sends is apathy. Parties won't interpret it any other way.
If you want to get that message sent, vote Green or something other alternate party.

Someone told me today that you can give your ballot back to the elections officer and say that you decline your vote. It would then be recorded as such in the statistics.

[blankall]

Originally Posted by Ozy_Flame

Alright then - ask someone who is refusing to vote for anyone if they would get into politics and make the change that's necessary for Canadians, and I'll bet you 10 out of 10 times they'll come up with some excuse, the most common of which will be "because I don't want to".

Ummm...running for politics is kind of a big time commitment. It's not like blowing off somebody to go for a drink. You don't need an "excuse". Most people don't have an extra 40 hours a week to spend for the next several years.

It also takes serious sucking up to a party to get them to put you forward as a candidate. I don't want to vote for a party, yet I should spend all of my time attempting to work my way up their ranks?

[Ozy_Flame]

Originally Posted by blankall

Ummm...running for politics is kind of a big time commitment. It's not like blowing off somebody to go for a drink. You don't need an "excuse". Most people don't have an extra 40 hours a week to spend for the next several years.

It also takes serious sucking up to a party to get them to put you forward as a candidate. I don't want to vote for a party, yet I should spend all of my time attempting to work my way up their ranks?

No - you don't have to. It's all about getting involved. Feel too proud to vote for any of the choices out there? Feel like the options just aren't there for yourself and the rest of Canada? Then put yourself up as a candidate or start your own party. At the very least volunteer an hour or two a week to improve the quality of candidates and help what's there become better. Complaining about the quality of candidates and not participating in democracy gets you nowhere.

It's like someone who drops a deuce on the floor and the person who sees it spends all day complaining about how gross it is but doesn't clean it up.