Please VOTE this Tuesday !!!

[dach]

I don't care who you vote for but just vote. Thousands and thousands of people have forfeited their lives in efforts to give us the freedom to vote among other things. Voting is YOUR only time to make your input to decide how our country will be run and how our policies towards others will be. Often the choices we may have between candidates or parties make us choose the lesser of two evils or cause us to vote for the less (insert your word here ie: stupid, crooked, etc) _____________ , but as hollow and faceless as many elections may be, this is still your only time to make your statement.

PLEASE CAST YOUR VOTE ON TUESDAY

I know this does not belong here but it's more important than any audio post I'll ever make here.

Chuck

[TAlderson]

As an addendum, vote for who you actually like.

The political system is such now that no one votes for third party candidates because they think that they cannot win, therefore making it so that they cannot win. If people started voting for these guys, they'd start winning, and we'd have a choice of a douchebag, a turd, or an asshole instead of just a douchebag and a turd.

-Tyler

[dach]

TA,

Big Thanks for responding... and by my estimation, you do make an appropriate description of many political figures...

Normally I'd agree with you but not this time. I would urge everyone to vote their conscience, but this election is crucial and I think the smart message is to make your vote count. Unfortunately, Independents do not play a strong enough role in this mid-term election to have much consideration given to them in the big picture.... perhaps in 2008, and even then doubtfull - but this race is crucial to determine the overall house and senate makeup. The Libertarian party and other indies are unfortunately not even a factor. My purpose for posting is not to sway anyone's vote, just to get out and make a vote... and hopefully a vote that counts.

The "3rd" party will have their day eventually - I'm sure of it, but it's just not about them this time. If it was, perhaps we would be living in a different world climate... or maybe not, but without getting overly political... GET OUT AND VOTE.....

sincerely,
CHUCK

[lumpy]

Dach,
Don't even tell me my vote doesn't count if I vote third party or independent! Really, I'm tired of getting into these pissing contests. My bladder hurts but oh well, one more time before Tuesday! Keep in mind that this op-ed is coming from a Libertarian point of view.

Libertarians actually win elections! That's right! While we may not hold the glamour jobs yet there are numerous superior and state court judges in California, New York and Arizona. Alaska has had several Libertarian state legislators as have Vermont and New Hampshire. There are also numerous Libertarian mayors spread throughout the country. Right now there are at least 600 Libertarians holding an elected office somewhere.

Voting for the lesser of the two evils, like so many voters are settling for in recent elections, is an unprincipled vote and therefore a wasted vote. Voting is your chance to tell the country what your vision of government and society is. If the principles of the Democrat or Republican platform mirror your principles, by all means vote D or R. But if they don't you are just maintaining the status quo you despise. Remember, the lesser of the two evils is still evil!

There are enough Libertarian, and other third party votes cast in elections that the D's and the R's do take notice. Sometimes the big two take action by putting third party ideas into legislation.

By not voting your conscience you are just playing into lazy polititians' hands. There is really only one party; that of the incumbent. The incumbent places emphasis on hot button non-issues like abortion, race, or guns in order to pigeonhole individuals into small collective groups that are easy to rule.

How does it feel to be ruled?

Lump

[dach]

Hey Lumpy -

I agree with you in sentiment, but this race is important. Denying that based on principle is just STUPID. As you grow up and become more of an adult you will learn that everything is not black and white and Utopia certainly doesn't exist... if that was the case, I might be voting Independent tomorrow, but to be honest, there's none running here and none on the ballot for this state or for any of the states that are at issue here. Sometimes it's just wise to play the game for not only yours and my benefit, but everyones. I don't like the game either, but since it's Monday, I don't have time to change the world by tomorrow.

I like the Libertarian party - although some is a little out there for me... personally, my perfect party would have elements of all three - and of course we need Independents. However, pick up a copy of the Times or the Journal or tune in to CNN... and see who is running if you don't already know. The country has some big decisions to make and unfortunately independents DO NOT play a role in this election. I'm sorry things are not to your liking but that's just the way it is.

BTW, the only reason YOU get in pissing contests is because of you and your sensibilities seem to be offended so easily. So, to not piss and moan with me anymore, I'm asking you to not read or reply to any threads I start. I certainly don't join in on yours... no matter what I think of your views or statements.

I don't care what affiliation you have, I don't care what color or sexual preference you are or have, I don't care what you smoke.... but I do care that you seem to have a hard on for anything you don't agree with. So, stick it somewhere other than threads I participate in or ask B. to delete this thread.

[brandondrury]

Alright dudes,

This one is getting a little heated. Let's take a minute and relax.

I think everyone has had something of value to say in this thread. It doesn't really belong here, but I'll leave it until Wednesday or so because it is an important thread.

Now Dach and Lumpy,
I consider both of you to be friends and both of your are very intelligent dudes. Both of you have made great points and it's clear that both of you feel passionately about your views. That's what explains the "heated" nature of your posts.

Just make sure that you use those stupid smiley faces every once in a while (if they apply) because they have a way of avoiding this "heated" topics.

[brandondrury]

Back to topic,

I'm personally of the opinion that the eventual doom of this country will be the 2 party system with total control over the media. Taking the blind guess that the shit is really going to hit the fan in 25 years, it may be smart to start investing 25 years of my votes into a system where there are 3 parties that are 33% in control more or less.

Hitler burned down the Reichstag and blame it on the other party. That's how he was elected. A 3 party system would make this Hitler thing much tougher to repeat itself based on my limited understanding of politics.

Of course, this means that my vote won't make an immediate impact, but I've been questioning that for a while anyway. My views on democracy have been expressed before.....
If a high school class could vote on whether they spend an hour on history, grammar, whatever or have a free day, the kids would vote for free day every single day. Being lazy and doing nothing will always get more votes than doing hardwork. Basically, the most self-destructive ideas will be the most popular.
I think our society is overwhelmingly dominated by people who would vote for the free day in every possible situation. I'm grossly outnumbered.

At the moment, I personally don't see any issues on the ballot that pose a direct threat to my way of life, so I think it makes sense to invest my vote into a multi-party system.

------------------

I voted for Bush last time because (even though I was aware of all the negatives) I thought he would save me some money on my taxes. (My other online businesses were doing very well at the time). It turned out that voting for one package for one specific issue was a poor choice.

Brandon

[lumpy]

MMMMM...
That was sluggishly gratifying!
Rick