Your Election Experience...

[Ball Lightning]

I'm from Aussie, so i couldn't vote. But We've got our state election, and i'm to young to vote!!

 

[Irish Caesar]

lucky! You guys get to vote, I can't, so unfair.

But would you really want every 14-year-old to be allowed to vote?

 

[greenpeace]

But would you really want every 14-year-old to be allowed to vote?

Why not? In fact, why not have everyone with the capability to read, analyse, and vote be able to vote? At the very least we could get a fraction of a vote.

In the end, however it doesn't matter alll that much. The citizens of America and most Western countries live in a federal republic which imeans that we are basically electing an oligarchy to rule over us, and they hardly represent what we really stand for. I think it would be much more democratic if we could all (excluding those who are physically unable to vote, ie. 1 year olds) vote on bills that have gone through the entire governmental process. At least, we could vote on major things like amendments and declarations of war. Also, we should have complete direct democracy on the local level (ie. communities) where everybody can have a direct effect on there community.

oops, got a little *cough*very*cough*off topic there.

 

[Stolen Rutters]

Light drizzle. Only one in line but the voting booths were full. They were getting people through like dervishes apparently. Voted, pushed the paper ballot into the optical reader and left. Got "I Voted" sticker. Less than 5 minutes. Easy picks. I was glad I read them all ahead of time on the internet.

Proposal 2, wow, what a doozy, all discrimination (the original kind) and preferences (read affirmative action) in any state transaction, hiring, education, etc. is now banned based on gender, race, national origin, etc. That's a total legal blank slate if I ever saw one.

 

[Dr. Yoshi]

No line, the room smelled like old fish though. The poll workers made sure I knew how to use the paper ballot before casting my vote. I was rather disappointed to find a whole bunch of judges that I knew nothing about, they weren't even in the election booklet that you get in California with the full text of all the propositions and the candidates' views. In the end, I voted all libertarian. Some may say that I threw away my vote but I don't think so. I'm simply tired of the two-party system in the US with the two parties both equally corrupt and equally trying to destroy the foundations of this great nation.

 

[Irish Caesar]

Why not? In fact, why not have everyone with the capability to read, analyse, and vote be able to vote? At the very least we could get a fraction of a vote.

I think the current able to vote, able to get drafted is fair.

And I would imagine that by allowing kids to vote, it's just an extra vote for whoever the parents are voting for anyway. Not a good plan. And as for giving a part of a vote, well, all I can think of is "three-fifths," and I don't think we want to start anything like that up again.

In the end, however it doesn't matter alll that much. The citizens of America and most Western countries live in a federal republic which imeans that we are basically electing an oligarchy to rule over us, and they hardly represent what we really stand for. I think it would be much more democratic if we could all (excluding those who are physically unable to vote, ie. 1 year olds) vote on bills that have gone through the entire governmental process. At least, we could vote on major things like amendments and declarations of war. Also, we should have complete direct democracy on the local level (ie. communities) where everybody can have a direct effect on there community.

With the local level, I'll agree with you, but coming from a New England Town Meeting area, I guess I'm surprised that most places don't have that anyway.

I think the system we have is probably about as good as one can hope for, for a nation of 300 million people, but the system as written in the Constitution, with a Hell of a lot more federalism, and maybe adding term limits, would be better than what we have.

Oh well.

 

[Perfection]

At 4:00 AM I wandered to my dorm's bathroom to take a leak before going to bed (I'm typically a late riser). On the way back from the bathroom I was apprehended by two men in black ski masks and jumpsuits. One bore a sedevacantist symbol, the other the southern baptist logo. The handcuffed me and forced out the door into a waiting black van. I was taken to a detention center where I was waterboarded and fit with a hidden camera and tracking ankle bracelet. I was told that I was to do whatever they said or they would have the ankle bracelet inject me with poison (which they demonstrated on a Mexican immigrant with ruthless efficiency).

I was then forced into another van with 4 people who have undergone similar treatment. We were forced to go from polling station to polling station using false identification and psuedonyms and make fraudalent votes for the Republican canidates. This occured without cessation until the polling stations closed.

I was then drugged, chained to a large anchor and thrown into the Mississippi River. Luckily, I got snagged on a piece of driftwood that kept me afloat until I was rescued by a kind boater, who then drove me back to the dorm.

I considered telling the police but I figured it would draw the attention of these folks who would go back and complete their work, so I'll have to settle on telling you fine folks.

Spread the truth!

 

[greenpeace]

At 4:00 AM I wandered to my dorm's bathroom to take a leak before going to bed (I'm typically a late riser). On the way back from the bathroom I was apprehended by two men in black ski masks and jumpsuits. One bore a sedevacantist symbol, the other the southern baptist logo. The handcuffed me and forced out the door into a waiting black van. I was taken to a detention center where I was waterboarded and fit with a hidden camera and tracking ankle bracelet. I was told that I was to do whatever they said or they would have the ankle bracelet inject me with poison (which they demonstrated on a Mexican immigrant with ruthless efficiency).

I was then forced into another van with 4 people who have undergone similar treatment. We were forced to go from polling station to polling station using false identification and psuedonyms and make fraudalent votes for the Republican canidates. This occured without cessation until the polling stations closed.

I was then drugged, chained to a large anchor and thrown into the Mississippi River. Luckily, I got snagged on a piece of driftwood that kept me afloat until I was rescued by a kind boater, who then drove me back to the dorm.

I considered telling the police but I figured it would draw the attention of these folks who would go back and complete their work, so I'll have to settle on telling you fine folks.

Spread the truth!

amazing, I certaintly will *hacks into a couple hundred thousand blogspots and deletes all the text and replaces it with this truthful story.*
Fight the fascists!!!

 

[greenpeace]

I think the current able to vote, able to get drafted is fair.

What the family forum? What do you mean everybody who can be drafted should be drafted? Nobody should be drafted at all period.

And I would imagine that by allowing kids to vote, it's just an extra vote for whoever the parents are voting for anyway. Not a good plan. And as for giving a part of a vote, well, all I can think of is "three-fifths," and I don't think we want to start anything like that up again.

Lol, on the 3/5 vote (yes a get the history reference). Whats so bad about it if it doesn't (according to you) change the outcome, besides the children will get some experience and encouragement to vote, and will have a voice.

With the local level, I'll agree with you, but coming from a New England Town Meeting area, I guess I'm surprised that most places don't have that anyway.

I think the system we have is probably about as good as one can hope for, for a nation of 300 million people, but the system as written in the Constitution, with a Hell of a lot more federalism, and maybe adding term limits, would be better than what we have.
Oh well.

Well, it wouldn't be that drastic if all we did was add the right to vote on major things like amendments and declarations of war (it would be better to be able to vote on everything, which would let us be more truly so a democratic nation, but still).

oops, sorry about the double post, I was going to copy this and edit it into the other post, but I forgot and posted twice.

 

[Irish Caesar]

What the family forum? What do you mean everybody who can be drafted should be drafted? Nobody should be drafted at all period.

I'm saying that 18 is a good age for military service; it's also a good age for being able to vote. No older, and certainly no younger.

I'm no fan of the draft, but if they call my name, I've got nothing against going. I think I'm able to do more for the country here, but I'd be proud to work a reactor on a carrier if that's what they want me to do.

Lol, on the 3/5 vote (yes a get the history reference). Whats so bad about it if it doesn't (according to you) change the outcome, besides the children will get some experience and encouragement to vote, and will have a voice.

My problem is that it likely will change the outcome. As a single person, I prefer not to have politicians caring only about the family vote so Billy, Jimmy, Sally, and Suzie can vote with Mama and Daddy.

Well, it wouldn't be that drastic if all we did was add the right to vote on major things like amendments and declarations of war (it would be better to be able to vote on everything, which would let us be more truly so a democratic nation, but still).

Perhaps not, but we'd either have to vote on things every week, nothing would get done for a year, or people with no idea about the issues would be voting. None of those scenarios is appealing. We vote for the best we can, and if we don't like what they've done, we kick 'em out in two years.

Democracy isn't practical, but it's many times better than the other systems we've tried.

 

[Godwynn]

Light rain and no lines.

Great Day.

 

[greenpeace]

I'm saying that 18 is a good age for military service; it's also a good age for being able to vote. No older, and certainly no younger.

I'm no fan of the draft, but if they call my name, I've got nothing against going. I think I'm able to do more for the country here, but I'd be proud to work a reactor on a carrier if that's what they want me to do.

To say the very least, not many people would follow their government as willingly as you would. You probably wouldn't, but according to that post, you would be ok with a draft against a war on swiss cheese.

My problem is that it likely will change the outcome. As a single person, I prefer not to have politicians caring only about the family vote so Billy, Jimmy, Sally, and Suzie can vote with Mama and Daddy.

Whats so bad about the election results being efffected if they represent what the people think?

Perhaps not, but we'd either have to vote on things every week, nothing would get done for a year, or people with no idea about the issues would be voting. None of those scenarios is appealing. We vote for the best we can, and if we don't like what they've done, we kick 'em out in two years.

It probably wouldn't happen that often (honestly I don't know how often bills are passed though).
Besides, if we just gave the power for the citiznes to vote on major things like declarations of war and amendments to the constitution, we would only be voting once every couple of years, probably even decades apart (excluding regular voting of course).

Democracy isn't practical, but it's many times better than the other systems we've tried.

Well, we haven't tried the proposed method of democracy.

 

[Irish Caesar]

To say the very least, not many people would follow their government as willingly as you would. You probably wouldn't, but according to that post, you would be ok with a draft against a war on swiss cheese.

I'm not concerned about there being a draft, I'm opposed to it, but I would gladly pick up a gun and go if they needed me badly enough to institute one.

Whats so bad about the election results being efffected if they represent what the people think?

Kids voting for who their parents tell them to isn't democratic. People who vote should be able to inform themselves about the issues, understand them, and if they can't do that, they shouldn't vote. I'm sure there are many middle- and high-school students who could do that, but there are countless more who couldn't or wouldn't and therefore shouldn't.

It probably wouldn't happen that often (honestly I don't know how often bills are passed though).

It would be a royal mess if citizens were called to vote on things like the most recent Energy Bill, Transportation Bill, Medicare Bill, etc., etc. It might be more democratic, but I think Senators and Congressmen are more informed on the finer points of all the stuff Congress passes and doesn't pass. People whose full-time jobs are legislation are going to be more aware of the various issues in the legislation.

Besides, if we just gave the power for the citiznes to vote on major things like declarations of war and amendments to the constitution, we would only be voting once every couple of years, probably even decades apart (excluding regular voting of course).

True, but Constitutional amendments are voted on by State legislatures, which is at least closer to the democratic system you speak of. But if there's one thing the citizens shouldn't be voting on, it's declarations of war. Democracy is bad at running wars; people would be easily convinced to go to war and then unable to win it.

Well, we haven't tried the proposed method of democracy.

It's pretty close to New England Town Meeting, or so it seems. It works great, until you have a large town. Typically, the town decides to become a city and have a mayor run it, because that makes more sense.

***

Edit: an epic 5,000th post. I'm glad it wasn't in the penguin thread...

 

[CaptainF]

As someone who is too young to vote, my day was utterly devoid of voting.

I haven't even paid much attention to the election either.

 

[Erik Mesoy]

Voted by mail, Democrat, about a week ago.

But would you really want every 14-year-old to be allowed to vote?

[REDACTED] no!

 

[MYRM1D0N]

I have never voted, but i do plan on voting once i turn 18 and an election comes up.

 

[JerichoHill]

I had alot of fun when I went to the polls. Flashed my credentials and man alive, they treat you differently. And then I heard about a few problems, took down a few notes, and voted in 3 elections and was done. 15 minutes.

At my precinct, they told me only 1 person had done it by paper

And no, 14 year olds should not be able to vote. They don't even know world history then, let alone the economic impact of money

 

[DBear]

Voted during my lunch hour at the usual place--retirement home a few blocks away. Two of the election judges knew me by sight, so I didn't even have to show ID, just signed in. Our area uses optical scanners to record votes. No troubles at all.