A first time voter's impressions of politics.

Screw both of them, I'm not voting. Wonderful first impression of our voting system for me. All there is is negatives about the canditates. Even the newspapers don't know what kerry's plans or motivation for being president are, and all the Bush bashing doesn't make me like him very much either. I have to choose the question mark or the imbecile who wants to use my future children as cannon fodder for a war against any middle eastern country he can pronounce first, it would seem.

My life will not change either way, and whoever does get voted in probably will do things completely different from what they promise during a campaign anyway, so whats the point of voting?

But then maybe im wrong, and I've been mistakenly made pessimistic about our governmental system and you have some remarkable fact to have me give a shit about the election, if so, I'm all for it!

Halo2 comes out the week after anyway, I'd rather think about that than this dumb election.

I couldn't be happier that a first time voter isn't voting.

Thanks for giving me that much more clout with my vote.

Aren't you a hero.

CTL

Neither the Democratic cancidate nor the Republican candidate will EVER be "perfect" or just what you want. You need to choose the person whose platform most closely matches your own beliefs.

Or, when an incumbant is running, compare his past performance with how you think his opponent might do.

I'm not wild about Kerry, he is somewhat of a question mark, but I really believe Bush has ed things up so badly that I don't want him to be able to do so for four more years. Not just him, a lot of it is his cabinet, but it's all one package.

You should still vote, but don't vote for someone you don't think would do a good job. So don't vote for either of them. There are other options, or simply write someone in. It's really not a wasted vote.

Also you will want to vote for your state and local representatives.

[quote name='CTLesq']I couldn't be happier that a first time voter isn't voting.

Thanks for giving me that much more clout with my vote.

Aren't you a hero.

CTL[/quote]

Agreed.

What a doofus.

You do understand that there is more than just two candidates right? If you don't agree with either of the two find another you agree with. If you don't think that your vote counts I have one question for you: Don't you think that on the off chance that maybe, just maybe your vote does matter, that it would be a good idea to vote?

Remember every vote that isn't cast is one more vote for the candidate you least like.

Just please, for the love of god, help get John Ashcroft out of the White House.

Im just saying that it seems like no matter who I vote for, it doesn't seem like it's going to change anything.

[quote name='Quackzilla']Just please, for the love of god, help get John Ashcroft out of the White House.[/quote]

What election are you following? I had no idea he was President.

[quote name='jer7583']Im just saying that it seems like no matter who I vote for, it doesn't seem like it's going to change anything.[/quote]

Change can be slow, but it has to start somewhere. If you want an option other than the two big and corrupt parties, vote for someone other than Bush or Kerry. That is the way to show you want another choice, and if that voice becomes loud enough someone will listen. Just don't expect it to happen overnight. Remember, it takes a long time to change things peacefully sometimes.

(sorry about the triple post, dumb computer)

(sorry for the triple post, dumb computer)

You should still vote, if nothing else vote for the people running at the local levels because those things will affect your life. Vote for Governor or the senate, city council whatever, get educated about your local canidates and you should be able to make a decision. Nothing says you have to go into the voting booth and vote for the president, hell I may likely be with you in not voting anyone for pesident, but I'm still going to vote beause there are many positions that do matter alot and do have an effect on your everyday satate of living.

Go to the candidates websites and you can get a better idea of their platforms. The mainstream media has done a lousy job of reporting those because they are too concerned with Vietnam.

[quote name='jer7583']Im just saying that it seems like no matter who I vote for, it doesn't seem like it's going to change anything.[/quote]

If Bush wins, we keep Ashcroft as attourney general, who is behind such horrid things as Operation TIPS and the Patriot Act.

It's inhumane.

[quote name='Quackzilla'][quote name='jer7583']Im just saying that it seems like no matter who I vote for, it doesn't seem like it's going to change anything.[/quote]

If Bush wins, we keep Ashcroft as attourney general, who is behind such horrid things as Operation TIPS and the Patriot Act.

It's inhumane.[/quote]

Ashcroft is not behind the Patriot Act, that is a law passed by Congress, so blame them if you want (I do). The tips thing is pretty scary though.

[quote name='CTLesq']I couldn't be happier that a first time voter isn't voting.

Thanks for giving me that much more clout with my vote.

Aren't you a hero.

CTL[/quote]

But a republican vote in CT doesnt mean all tha much.... Mine in WI on the other hand could have an impact. Thats why I will be taking my younger sister to register to vote and have her vote for Bush.

hmm, I'll just tell her Bush wants to legalize weed.

[quote name='jer7583']Screw both of them, I'm not voting. [/quote]

Well, if you lived in ohio, it seems there might be a chance that you wouldn't get to vote anyway. The GOP in that state are throwing out thousands of new voter registration applications:

Ohio rejects 1000s of voter registration applications due to paper weight.

When voter registration applications were maintained for years and used to verify signatures for petitions a requirement that the cards be on 80 lb. stock paper was adopted in Ohio, that law remains on the books. Since the applications are now scanned for preservation, there is no current need to continue that requirement. Today the only time that the heavy weight paper becomes an issue is when the new voter uses the application as a postcard. If heavy paper isn't used for postcards the machinery jams at the Post Office.

In the final days before the registration deadline Ken Blackwell, Ohio Secretary of State, has ordered the local election boards to send out new applications to applicants who have submitted registrations on the wrong paper. The ostensible reason for this order is to insure that the applications can make it through the postal system without being damaged. The Secretary didn't point to any examples of voters who were stupid enough to mail regular weight paper as a postcard, nor did he cite examples of complaints from the Postal Service that this has been a problem. Never mind also that the applications he wants thrown out have already been delivered to the election boards safely.

The local boards have been bombarded with applications and will be unable to comply with Blackwell's order before the deadline to register to vote for this November's election. In one county common sense has prevailed:

In Cuyahoga County (Cleveland) the board of elections officials are ignoring the edict because they have already had an avalanche of new registrations submitted on forms printed on the newsprint in The Plain Dealer.
"We don't have a micrometer at each desk to check the weight of the paper," said Michael Vu, director of the Cuyahoga County election Board.

Ironically, if an applicant downloaded the federal form onto paper that is not regulation, that application will be accepted in compliance with federal law. So in reality there is no substantive issue with the weight of the paper, the Secretary's order is simply to create a roadblock to limit new registration.

Katherine Harris should have been so cunning.

http://www.dailykos.com/story/2004/9/27/112229/106

You know, I've always been more concerned about the "undercard" as it were. They always try to sneak in millage increases, tax hikes and a myriad of other things on election day.. there are plenty of other critical things to vote on other than the presidential election. Sure, your vote may be small in terms of the presidential election, but on local issues, your vote could be huge.

Strangely, in New Jersey, the community must vote whether or not to allow the school budgets for their district to increase. Of course, many (if not most) communities vote "no" because that means their taxes will go up. The consequences are becoming apparent - a lot of districts around here have already eliminated buses. They're starting to cut athletic and arts as well. They're in a pinch because all the schools are receiving only 1% of the funding from the federal government needed to meet the "No Child Left Behind" mandates.

Bet you didn't know that because of "No Child Left Behind", the new average spent on one disabled child (such as autism) in New Jersey is roughly $100,000. The average spent on a normal student is around $15,000. So the schools are in a bind to meet new federal mandates to get these kids up to speed as much as possible to "provide them the same opportunites as any other child". That might mean sending them to expensive training and private education where the public schools MUST pay not only to do that but also for the transportation. This is where I start sounding like a republican and ask "where's the return on investment"? Seriously, something's broke, but Bush is too stubborn to eliminate the "No Child Left Behind" act.

There is pretty big difference between the candidates. There is a fork in the road and you get to decide which route you think is best for the country to take. Do your homework on the candidates.

Of course one vote doesn't really matter. Thats why you gotta talk to friends, relatives, and acquaintances and persuade them to vote the same as you.

I don't knock on doors or anything but in the last 2 years I have probably persuaded about 9 people to vote the same way that I'm voting. Thats not a whole lot, but I feel like i have the power of 10 votes. And hopefull they will each get a friend to vote too.

Don't only look at the negatives. Its hard get past that stuff, especially within the mainstream media, but there is better information out there to glean your information from.

Good Luck!