Why vote?

[Lue C Fur]

Why vote? Because in America, that is the way we change things. That is the way we reform the system. That is the way we guard against the threats to our liberties and exercise our responsibilities. That is the way that we keep America free.
Candidates come and candidates go. Elections are won and lost. Sometimes we elect crooks and nobodies and, every once in while, a statesman who strides across the Congress or, from the Oval Office, across the world like a colossus, showing the world what it means to be a free people and, more importantly, why freedom matters.
And, for the same reason, it matters that you vote. It is your voice – and the only person who can silence your voice is you. So applaud, complain, march, protest, petition – these are your rights but, without your vote, they are meaningless actions, backed up by nothing.

http://www.foxnews.com/opinion/2010...idates-elections-congress-oval-office-george/

 

[over9five]

Exciting day! Unfortunately, I'm on nights this week. Thinking of banging in and watching the results come in all night!

 

[clueless]

For the first time in my adult life......I woke up this morning and couldn't wait to vote! I've never been this enthusiastic about getting to the polls. Ever.

 

[Lue C Fur]

For the first time in my adult life......I woke up this morning and couldn't wait to vote! I've never been this enthusiastic about getting to the polls. Ever.

+1. My son picked me up this morning and we both voted and were done by 6:30am. I have not been this fired up in along time with voting.

 

[UpstateNYUPSer(Ret)]

I was there by 7:45am and had to wait.

 

[Atietoo]

Will all you folks admit in August of 2012 that the 'change' you voted in is just more of the same? Or maybe even worse for the well being of the country as a whole?

Welcome to an even more intense, extreme corporatism in the USA.

I can understand folks like moreluck and the owners of this site who are millionaires are voting for Republicans, and even management who have been shown the carrot, but for the life of me, I cant understand why 95% of the population would vote against their own personal interests and support the corporate party. Not that both parties aren't beholden to the corporations, but geez, one is really in their pocket.

 

[Lue C Fur]

Will all you folks admit in August of 2012 that the 'change' you voted in is just more of the same? Or maybe even worse for the well being of the country as a whole?

Welcome to an even more intense, extreme corporatism in the USA.

I can understand folks like moreluck and the owners of this site who are millionaires are voting for Republicans, and even management who have been shown the carrot, but for the life of me, I cant understand why 95% of the population would vote against their own personal interests and support the corporate party. Not that both parties aren't beholden to the corporations, but geez, one is really in their pocket.

Oh no!!!!! You drank the Liberal Obama Kool-aid....

 

[clueless]

Will all you folks admit in August of 2012 that the 'change' you voted in is just more of the same? Or maybe even worse for the well being of the country as a whole?

Welcome to an even more intense, extreme corporatism in the USA.

I can understand folks like moreluck and the owners of this site who are millionaires are voting for Republicans, and even management who have been shown the carrot, but for the life of me, I cant understand why 95% of the population would vote against their own personal interests and support the corporate party. Not that both parties aren't beholden to the corporations, but geez, one is really in their pocket.

Maybe some of us don't appreciate the slide towards European-style socialism--a model of gov't that is now collapsing as attested to by the events in Greece, Portugal, France, Germany and England, for example. All those nations are having to backpedal as fast as they can on the socialistic promises made to their populations since they simply weren't feasible or sustainable.

It seems Obama and his minions are incapable of creating, 'saving' or supporting anything but gov't jobs. Is that the kind of country you want--where we are dependent on the gov't for sustainence instead of ourselves?

Strictly from an economic perspective--how efficient is it to filter tax dollars through a massive government bureaucracy--with each layer--federal, state, local--siphoning off its 'share' before the money goes to the intended recipient? Think 'overhead' here. Leaving aside all the waste, fraud and abuse and lack of accountability--think about all the gov't bureaucrats that get paid. think about all the buildings they use to administer the programs, all the heating, lights, computer systems needed to sustain the massive bureaucratic infrastructure.

It's much more efficient and makes far more sense to LET PEOPLE KEEP MORE OF THEIR OWN MONEY so they could pay for those things some think gov't should provide--education, health care, food, shelter, heat. Yes, some people need assistance--but as long as those dollars are taxed away, that leaves fewer dollars to support themselves and to support charities that could provide those things far more efficiently than any permanent gov't infrastructure ever could.

You don't have to be a 'millionaire' to understand this. As long as the gov't gets bigger, the private citizen gets smaller as he cedes more and more control of his or her life and resources over to Big Nanny.

 

[browndevil]

will all you folks admit in august of 2012 that the 'change' you voted in is just more of the same? Or maybe even worse for the well being of the country as a whole?

Welcome to an even more intense, extreme corporatism in the usa.

I can understand folks like moreluck and the owners of this site who are millionaires are voting for republicans, and even management who have been shown the carrot, but for the life of me, i cant understand why 95% of the population would vote against their own personal interests and support the corporate party. Not that both parties aren't beholden to the corporations, but geez, one is really in their pocket.

the best post ever!

 

[browndevil]

Oh no!!!!! You drank the Liberal Obama Kool-aid....

What exactly do you think the Reps will bring? Or how do you think a McCain-Palin administration would have fared? Ask any reputable economist how long it will take to get out of this economic mess we are in. Two years? Hell no try at least 10. There is a great article in the September 20 New Yorker "The Financial Page" that sums things up pretty well

 

[bbsam]

Oh no!!!!! You drank the Liberal Obama Kool-aid....

That's the kind of image that makes people think racism may be a factor, sucka.

 

[ajblakejr]

I voted last week.
I went to the Health Department to turn in my needles and get a flu shot.
I saw an elderly man voting.

I asked if I can cast my vote and I was provided a ballot.
I squealed like that little pig in the Gieco Commercial.
I jumped up and down and got the booobeeees bouncing and the elderly man got excited (I saw his old lady elbow him in the ribs).

I look at that ballot like a golden ticket...
I kissed it....
I marked my lines...
I finished...I think guys call it a "happy ending!!"
I used Space and Visibility to safely walk my ballot to the desk.
I turned it in and started bouncing the Boobees ...AGAIN.

I voted.
The lady took it and then asked me if I needed a cigarette.

 

[Lue C Fur]

That's the kind of image that makes people think racism may be a factor, sucka.

We can always count on you to play the:

 

[Nimnim]

Polls are now closed in my area, I was there 5 minutes before they opened this morning and voted without a line this time. I'm just hoping Grayson is out, just can't stand that guy, nor do I agree with any of his positions.

 

[browndevil]

Polls are now closed in my area, I was there 5 minutes before they opened this morning and voted without a line this time. I'm just hoping Grayson is out, just can't stand that guy, nor do I agree with any of his positions.

Are you anti-labor? He is pro-labor

 

[Nimnim]

Are you anti-labor? He is pro-labor

I'm sorry, I don't view pro labor as someone who wants to increase taxes, either through climate or estate legislation, or spend taxpayer money through nonworking stimulus that only further burdens the workforce through lower wages taken home or kept to pass on to their children. That's assuming they can even get a job when this kind of nonsense isn't adding any incentive for employers to hire people.

 

[Lue C Fur]

Polls are now closed in my area, I was there 5 minutes before they opened this morning and voted without a line this time. I'm just hoping Grayson is out, just can't stand that guy, nor do I agree with any of his positions.

Grayson is gone...and it was not even close.

 

[Nimnim]

Grayson is gone...and it was not even close.

Most likely right, but I never say it's over when I'm looking at only 2/3rds of the vote tallied.

Really though, I preferred one of the 3rd party candidates, but when they're only looking to pull 6% together, I'll throw my vote to my second pick who has a chance to win.

 

[superballs63]

Will all you folks admit in August of 2012 that the 'change' you voted in is just more of the same? Or maybe even worse for the well being of the country as a whole?

Welcome to an even more intense, extreme corporatism in the USA.

I can understand folks like moreluck and the owners of this site who are millionaires are voting for Republicans, and even management who have been shown the carrot, but for the life of me, I cant understand why 95% of the population would vote against their own personal interests and support the corporate party. Not that both parties aren't beholden to the corporations, but geez, one is really in their pocket.

Are you serious? How about all that CHANGE!!! That Obama was so excited about? There has been CHANGE, but most of it has been negative

Well, you see....MY personal interests don't include Welfare, Food stamps and section 8, so I think THAT is why many people choose the Reps over the Dems. Republicans are more about PERSONAL responsibility, while Democrats LOVE to give money away to people who are too lazy to EARN their way

 

[Lue C Fur]

Are you serious? How about all that CHANGE!!! That Obama was so excited about? There has been CHANGE, but most of it has been negative

Well, you see....MY personal interests don't include Welfare, Food stamps and section 8, so I think THAT is why many people choose the Reps over the Dems. Republicans are more about PERSONAL responsibility, while Democrats LOVE to give money away to people who are too lazy to EARN their way

+1. Now that is the greatest post ever.