Make Sure You Vote Today

Today is election day in the United States.  If you are a U.S. Citizen of voting age, no matter who you are for I urge you to get to your polling place and vote for him.  It doesn't matter if your candidate is picked to win or lose your state by the polls.  The polls can be wrong.  Your vote still counts.  Make sure you cast it.  Imagine how sick you would feel if your guy lost by just a few votes and you didn't bother to take the time to vote for him.  Then when you have voted ask your friends and guild mates if they have voted yet and if they haven't, remind them how important it is that they do so.  This is a crucial election and everyone needs to participate.  Don't drop the ball.  If you haven't done so already, get up right now and head out and cast your vote.

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VOTE OR DIE AMERICAH!!!
# Nov 10 2008 at 7:05 PM Rating: Default
i voted for Saprut, my favorite NPC
i voted
# Nov 10 2008 at 12:38 AM Rating: Decent
well i voted so there
More than just electing a president
# Nov 05 2008 at 3:59 AM Rating: Excellent
I am really surprised so many people still think who wins the election is the only thing that voting has an effect on, and use that as an excuse not to vote. All of us remember the crazy stories about "Video games are ruining out kids!" followed by the "Let's place a ban on violent video games!" or some other such rot. If you were like me, you probably had thoughts of finding whoever proposed such legislation (hi2uLieberman) and taking them out behind the shed. Well after my conscience reminded me that violence, no matter how fun it would be, is not the answer I felt absolutely powerless to do anything about it. I felt like there were so many people in positions of power that were trying to regulate things that didn't need regulating, and nobody to stand up against them.

It wasn't until I was 16, in my high school American Government class that I finally understood why nobody ever mentioned subjects I cared about (at that age) when they campaign. Statistics. During the last presidential election (2004), 72% of the population age 55+ turned out to vote, while only 47% of the 18-24 age population turned out. If your job as a candidate is to get as many votes as possible, why wouldn't you cater more towards an age group that is 25% more likely to get out and vote? No wonder nobody cares what young people think; why should they if you're not going to vote for or against them?

1 vote has much more of an impact in an age group than in the grand total of all voters. This is why everyone who wants change (or no change!) needs to get out and vote- So candidates at all government levels realize "Oh maybe I should veto this law that says no more blood in any video game because it will **** off all my young voters." instead of, "I might as well pass this bill. It makes the old folks that vote for me happy, and why should I care if it hurts the younger crowd? They don't vote anyways."

Even if you go to the voting booth and write-in yourself your vote will count for your age group. Yes, go to the voting booth next time and if you don't like any major candidate, elect YOURSELF for President. It's 100% legal and you can help get the message across that "Hey I'm out here and could just as easily have voted for the other guy. Now what are you going to do to keep me happy?"


*Violence in video games was just an easily relatable example. Substitute any contentious topic of your choice.
Couldn't decide.
# Nov 04 2008 at 6:52 PM Rating: Decent
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I, personally, didn't vote.

Why not?

The reason is simple: I couldn't decide between either candidate. I don't know, maybe it was the months of them trash-talking each other, pointing fingers at each other, namecalling, and all of the other BS that flies around every Election year, and the fact that neither one of them... just.. meh.

I didn't like Obama for several reasons; one being the guy has no experience in leadership whatsoever at all. Second, he wants to give all kinds of tax breaks here, tax breaks there, that's all he preaches. But that money has to come from somewhere, and there's a saying that goes "When you squeeze the nobility (read: rich), it is the poor who feels the pinch".

If he taxes the rich people more heavily, those rich people who own big businesses and such will just pass the higher taxes along to the poor people in the form of more expensive goods. A Tax break doesn't mean squat if I spend 4+ years paying inflated prices on everything, does it?

On the flipside, you got McCain, who I will refer to "MC" in the rest of this post, my fingers are tired from punching keys on a cash register all night, and "McCain" is a PITA to type out.

Anyways, MC sounds like he means well, he's a war hero, POW, etc, and he wants to change government, but can he really do that?

And his running mate... at first, I liked Palin. She seemed like a woman that was ready to stand up and fight for what's right and all, but it wasn't long until all of these different sources started pinpointing everything bad surrounding her. Most of these things I just shrugged off, I mean, a woman trying to get into the White House? A Republican? Of course they are going to attack her. But then, after so many people doing it, and so many video clips of her own words, started turning me off bigtime.

What was that crap about her "keeping a close eye on Russia" and all, just because she happened to be in Alaska? Eh, okay... whatever.

And like I said earlier, there is this whole trash-talk crap, blah blah... I couldn't decide one way or the other; I find myself wishing that there was a third viable option.

And that brings me to a rant of mine:

WHY on Earth can't we just stick EVERYONE who wants to be President up on a Podium and say "OK, This is who is running for President. Vote for whoever you want." and get rid of this whole Nomination, Democrat Convention, Republican Convention, blah blah bullcrap that is spending millions of dollars in campaign funds, and put that money to something USEFUL, like, eh, rebuilding roads, healthcare, social security, etc?

There are so many things that is screwed up in the government, I have my big doubts that anyone will be able to change it. Not Obama, not McCain, there is just far too much corruption, special interests, under-the-table deals, etc, that one man alone cannot solve.

Honestly, I don't think anything is going to "fix" our government, short of a coup or something similar. I am in no way encouraging any such drastic measures, but sadly, nothing is going to fix it short of a whole revolution.

There's far too much bickering going on between the Democrats and Republicans for anyone to ever get anything done, for real. Whatever happened to "United We Stand"? Right now, our entire nation is divided between two factions; we are pretty much fighting a civil war, but not with guns or violence, but with words and politics.

The best thing we could possibly do, is get rid of the "Parties" and just have People, no parties, no democrats, no republicans, just people and government.

One can only dream, eh?

As long as people keep thinking "Should I vote Democrat, or Republican?", this will never change.

All of you who DID vote, I hope, I seriously hope you voted for a person because of his policies, or his views, or what-not, and NOT because of what ticket he ran under. That's the single worst thing you can do; every time you do that (with anyone, not just the President), you are Encouraging this Two-Party BS that is destroying our country.

"United we stand, divided we fall."

This country is VERY divided.
the electoral system
# Nov 04 2008 at 11:04 AM Rating: Good
Unfortunately, the popular vote does not, and has not ever actually mattered in the Presidential election due to the wonderful institution that we know as the Electoral College. See, the way its supposed to work is that the Electors are all supposed to vote for the candidate that the majority of the people in their state have voted for, however this is sadly not the case. The presidential elections are decided by 270 people. that's it. every other person in America could vote for one candidate and if those particular 270 people voted for the other person, guess what, that person would be president. Guess what else, its a hell of alot easier and cheaper to pay off 270 people than it is to actually be a decent and good person that would help this country and win by merit. Everyone knows the crap that McCain and his supporters are saying about Obama. Most of it is just that, crap, and on the opposite side, Obama's camp is saying equally untrue things about his opponent. The only thing that today will decide is which party will get to ***** over the American people for the next 4 years, and honestly, whichever one has the money to pay off those 270 people, we are all going to lose. I love my country. I served as a Marine in the first Gulf War and would gladly serve to defend my nation again. I hate the corruptness of my government and the lying and misleading of the politicians that make it up. Thomas Jefferson said "Every government degenerates when trusted to the rulers of the people alone." And "Experience hath shewn, that even under the best forms of government those entrusted with power have, in time, and by slow operations, perverted it into tyranny" Our government has been for many years now turning into that tyranny and we as Americans should be appalled.

The electoral college made sense when it was first instituted. It no longer does but it also is not going to change unless the American people force the change.
the electoral system
# Nov 07 2008 at 3:51 AM Rating: Good
The electoral college is a highly regulated and watched-over system. They can't just vote for whoever they feel like. Don't believe me? Look at the 2000 election, what happened in Florida. Every vote had to be counted. Would they bother if they didn't matter? If any tampering were to occur within the electoral college, believe me, it would be the scandal that rocked the world, it would be impossible to get away with, those votes cannot even be bought. They vote based on the results within sectors, period.
the electoral system
# Nov 04 2008 at 12:45 PM Rating: Excellent
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1,086 posts
I voted early this year just to get through the lines. This is an excellent message that needs to get to everyone so you can get out there and vote. This is our chance to choose a candidate to really change not only the U.S., but the world. Good luck to your candidate!
Nothing important.
# Nov 04 2008 at 9:37 AM Rating: Excellent
First, let me just give a heartfelt thank you / congratulations to everyone who voted. Bless you for not being a lazybones and exercising rights people struggled and sometimes died to protect. You're awesome.

What I don't understand is the hostility and smack talk against people that don't choose to vote. Whatever their reason, its their choice. It doesn't make you an idiot because you don't vote, I know many idiots that vote. The two things are not necessarily intertwined. Yelling at a non-voter is like yelling at someone who didn't join the military. How would many civilians feel if they were called idiots because they didn't join the armed forces?

I have several reasons not to vote, but they don't outweigh the fact that I just choose not to. I don't care who wins, I'm sorry if that offends, but I'm just trying to make my ends....(meet)

I also disagree that voting gives you license to complain. I think it's the other way around. If you vote, you are part of the democratic system. When you vote, and your candidate loses, democracy has spoken. George Carlin put it so much more eloquently than I, so you should reference him.

Stop being so mean to people, specifically Xarxes. No need to insult because he stated an opinion. Whoever he is, whatever kind of person he is, even if he's an *******, he deserves our respect because he is a soldier. He made a choice to kill enemies of our country and sacrificed his safety so others didn't have to. So they could sit around and play Warcraft, and vote, or not vote. I think 'soldiers are fighting for our freedom' is cliche, and it seems that they're killing based on the agendas of corrupt officials, and I'm a peace-loving flower child. But soldiers take a lot of crap. They suffer indignity and danger, and someone has to do their job, so thank God to the people who do.

My spelling and grammar, while possible using too many commas, is excellent. There should be no problem then agreeing with everything I say without hesitation.

Also, Night Elves are the best dancers, proving again that they are superior in all ways to all other races.
Nothing important.
# Nov 04 2008 at 11:07 AM Rating: Decent
Alright, since I can't see his posts (did they get deleted?) I can't actually quote him, but the reason I responded so harshly to him was that he was saying bad things about people voting, discouraging them. I can understand choosing not to vote because you don't think either of the candidates deserve your vote. But not voting simply because the electoral college is a faulty system?

"There should be no problem then agreeing with everything I say without hesitation."

:O So I guess I will have to agree. Everyone can make their choice.

But female taurens do the best dance. /electricslide
~ Tig
The False Left-Right Paradigm
# Nov 04 2008 at 8:33 AM Rating: Decent
19 posts

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fTahZE4q90U
Voted!
# Nov 04 2008 at 8:08 AM Rating: Excellent
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1,154 posts
Well said boss! Honey and I sent in our ballots last week! Today, it's watching the news while I work!
Thanks Allakhazam!
# Nov 04 2008 at 7:57 AM Rating: Good
I'm glad y'all can recognize that real life events are as important (or IMO more important) than WoW events. Some players need to learn that lesson, heehee.

And in response to the military thing, my husband is in the military, deployed right now. How can I hope to make things easier for him if I just sit here and refuse to vote? How can I make a change if I don't make the first step to vote? I agree that the electoral college is an obsolete concept, but it won't change if no one does anything. By sitting on your butt whining about it, you change nothing. Call your senators, send letters to the government, make a difference! Choose to be heard, instead of "exercising your right" to act like a whiny child.
~ Tig
#REDACTED, Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 8:20 AM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) My how amusing,
voting...
# Nov 04 2008 at 7:42 AM Rating: Good
Try being Canadian... for some of the provinces, their entire vote doesn't really seem to matter, as almost half of our population resides in 1 province, Ontario, and the way they choose to vote is what decides the whole damn thing... As for what xarxes said, think of it this way: If you don't vote, you have no right at all to complain or ***** or moan about what the govt is doing. Your vote IS your licence to *****, if you don't use that, you have no right to ***** at all... Because then you are blindly accepting whatever you end up getting. As for actually working the elections, that is a real eye opener. I have worked all 3 levels of elections, and for us the crunch times were lunchtime, after supper, and the closing hour... I can remember 1 of them, just before the polls were about to close, there were something like 400 students that came to vote in one shot, several of us who had no voters to deal with ended up being drafted to help that one poll station, and even then it added 2 hours to the job that night:*)
Idiot
# Nov 04 2008 at 7:32 AM Rating: Default
For a person in the military your spelling and grammar are horrible. Twenty years and you sound like a fool so sad.
#REDACTED, Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 7:57 AM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) Explain to me your concern about my spelling? Please be specific about the errors that are in the post. I would also like to know your background.
Idiot
# Nov 04 2008 at 8:07 AM Rating: Good
"not much comminication available" Spelling error, it should be communication.
"not the electoral college which, as a concept in the late 1700's was valid as many people were uneducated, and there was..." You're missing another comma and a whole clause.
"United States military, of which I have served in for 20 years." The "of" shouldn't be there.

And considering you've already edited it 3 times, I'd guess there were other mistakes you've corrected.
~ Tig
Idiot
# Nov 04 2008 at 7:43 AM Rating: Default
Drakenv wrote:
For a person in the military your spelling and grammar are horrible. Twenty years and you sound like a fool so sad.


Saying your vote doesn't count is like saying the US military is our bravest and brightest.
Nov. 4
# Nov 04 2008 at 7:00 AM Rating: Excellent
Got over to my polling location around 7am local, and ended up waiting 40 minutes to cast my ballot. They are expecting a mad rush around 6pm tonight as people come home from work. Oh my friend (voting clerk in my area) is going to have oh so much fun.

Get out, make your voice heard, and cast your ballot.
I agree totally!
# Nov 04 2008 at 6:44 AM Rating: Excellent
Best... announcement... ever! <3
Now I hope people actually listen. :)
Happy Voting! DK
I agree totally!
# Nov 04 2008 at 9:47 AM Rating: Excellent
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1,577 posts
But Borat told me to 'NOT VOTE'! :(
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#REDACTED, Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 7:10 AM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) Really,
I agree totally!
# Nov 04 2008 at 11:26 AM Rating: Decent
'We have a stupid electoral college that in fact makes us a "Democratic Republic"..'

You might want to find out the definition of a democratic republic. It has nothing to do with the Electoral College. Don't expect people to take your seriously if you can't get the basics right!
I agree totally!
# Nov 04 2008 at 7:35 AM Rating: Default
For a person in the military your spelling and grammar are horrible. Twenty years and you sound like a fool so sad. Don't make Americans look so uneducated and pathetic go back to your cave now.
I agree totally!
# Nov 04 2008 at 7:28 AM Rating: Excellent
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5,644 posts
xarxes wrote:
Really,

Since when did you honestly think your vote made a difference?

one vote may not make a difference, but 20000 people with the mindset of 1 vote wont make a difference makes a difference.
#REDACTED, Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 7:51 AM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) "one vote may not make a difference, but 20000 people with the mindset of 1 vote wont make a difference makes a difference."
I agree totally!
# Nov 04 2008 at 8:11 AM Rating: Good
"Past candidates have WON the popular vote ,yet lost the election. This should never happen."

You're right, it shouldn't happen. So what are you doing to change it? Have you told your congressmen? Have you sent letters to your state government? Or have you sat on your butt refusing to do anything to make it better, thinking that serving in the military makes you excused from any real work?

Before you get all high-and-mighty at me, my husband is in Afghanistan right now with the Army. I know the military is a rough life. But that doesn't mean we get to just whine all the time. Do something! Make a difference!
~ Tig
#REDACTED, Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 8:35 AM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) Ah yes, because I express my opinion, I am in fact " sitting on my butt" as you so eloquently put it.
I agree totally!
# Nov 04 2008 at 9:23 AM Rating: Decent
I said you were sitting on your butt because you refuse to vote. That's like saying "everything in this country is perfect and nothing needs to be changed." And you are in the military, so I'm sure you know that's not true.

I won't give you sympathy for your injury. I will say, with complete sincerity, that I am proud to see someone so dedicated to the military. Most people would lose a foot and get chaptered out without a second glance. But you are strong or brave or something, and whatever it is that drives you, I hope you never lose sight of it.

In response to the comment higher up on the page (since I'm attempting to consolidate our arguments ^.~), of course I miss my husband. I love him. How could I not want his life overseas to be less stressful? I used the word "easier" in reference to the everyday monotony, not his actual job. I want him to wake up everyday and not be depressed and lonely and homesick. And I know that's impossible, because soldiers are always going to feel that way, but we spouses do what we can to help. It's all we've got.

"What is it that you do? What do you provide? Make a home? Pop out babies? LOL please sweetheart" This amused me. I'm a middle school math teacher, I make sure all the bills are paid and our daughter is taken care of and "make a home", like it's that easy. I'm surprised that someone as experienced in life can still be so oblivious.

"hinting that you are voting for your personal concerns" Umm, dude? Of course I vote for my personal concerns. I vote for the candidate I feel will best represent my own personal concerns. That's the whole point of elections. I don't vote on party lines, I don't vote for race or gender. I vote for the best possible future for this country, the way I think it should be. Doesn't everyone?

I'm gonna ignore the part where I'm supposed to call you a jerk, cuz you are right. Spouses should be more focused on taking care of things back here so the deployed soldiers don't have to worry about anything but staying alive and doing their job. You said it kind of rudely, but whatever.

I would love to see you actually answer my question. You said the electoral college is outdated. What are you doing to change it? And don't say "serving in the military for 20 years", because by your own admission soldiers are no more than property and they don't make a difference. What have you done to make your voice heard?
~ Tig
#REDACTED, Posted: Nov 04 2008 at 11:28 AM, Rating: Sub-Default, (Expand Post) I have no interest in making my " voice " heard. Why is it so important to you that everyone has their voice heard? Some people have no desire to have their voice heard, or to take an active part of changing things, for the better or worse. I merely made the comment initially that I don't vote because it doesn't matter.. Please don't use the argument that " if everyone felt that way" Because I am as you put it oblivious. actually a better word is indifferent. I really don't give a rats *** about the political system, or what happens in politics. All of the busy bodies that go about trying to make the world a better place or make changes, more power to them, and to you if you are one of them. I simply have no interest in it. Sure politicians determine what happens in the military, but my days there are pretty much done anyway. I have invested well, and have no need to work. I have not now , nor ever had any desire to reproduce and therefore have no children, and my days in this country are numbered. I will soon be in the south pacific until I die, or someone I pissed off along the way comes to take me out... either way.. I don't give a **** about which of those possible outcomes happens first either.
I agree totally!
# Nov 04 2008 at 3:28 PM Rating: Excellent
-REDACTED-
Guru
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6,786 posts
xarxes wrote:
I have no interest in making my " voice " heard. Why is it so important to you that everyone has their voice heard? Some people have no desire to have their voice heard, or to take an active part of changing things, for the better or worse.


Well, it would be your right to not voice your opinion. But IMO, if you don't vote, you can't complain.
I agree totally!
# Nov 06 2008 at 10:53 AM Rating: Decent
Calthine wrote:


Well, it would be your right to not voice your opinion. But IMO, if you don't vote, you can't complain.


That's exactly how I feel.
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