dUSt Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 It is of my opinion that one should live responsibly in reality. The United States is a two party system. We must choose the best candidate in that system or not vote at all. I choose not to vote at all. Discuss. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HisChildForever Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 I thought this way during last election. I also was convinced at that time that a vote for third party was a vote for Obama. But now, with the next election looming, if Trump gets the nod I can't in good conscience vote for him. So that either has me voting third party or not voting at all. And I would much rather vote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisa Marie Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 If you don't vote, that sends the message you don't care about politics. If you vote third party, is says you care about politics but you're dissatisfied with the two parties. If you want to complain about anything political in this country, you have an obligation to participate in the process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 What do you mean you're not voting at all when you have such great choices as Pedro? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 2 hours ago, dUSt said: It is of my opinion that one should live responsibly in reality. The United States is a two party system. We must choose the best candidate in that system or not vote at all. I choose not to vote at all. Discuss. Have your opinions changed since the last election cycle? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LittleWaySoul Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 It seems to me that not voting at all does the same thing as voting third party: hands the vote to the candidate you like least. Perhaps that's my misunderstanding of the system, though. Feel free to correct me here. Ive always been under the belief that if I want my vote to count for something, the only option is voting for one of the two partisan candidates. Voting 3rd party and not voting at all seem to me like they'd both do a disservice to my actual views/desires. Though with this election I'm not quite as secure in this above belief as I once was. I'm interested in hearing other people's thoughts on this topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bardegaulois Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 3 hours ago, dUSt said: It is of my opinion that one should live responsibly in reality. The United States is a two party system. We must choose the best candidate in that system or not vote at all. I choose not to vote at all. Discuss. I disagree. My state always goes solid blue in every election cycle. Thus, whenever I'm not pleased with either of the main party's presidential candidates, I will vote for the candidate of one of the minor parties. The reason for this is that any party scoring at least 5% is automatically on the ballot next time around. So I decide that I'll put my vote where it actually does matter by voting for a more diverse ballot. Moreover, most local elections in my area are non-partisan, and many of them are three-ways as well. New England really isn't a two-party area insofar as local elections are concerned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HisChildForever Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 23 minutes ago, LittleWaySoul said: It seems to me that not voting at all does the same thing as voting third party: hands the vote to the candidate you like least. Perhaps that's my misunderstanding of the system, though. Feel free to correct me here. Ive always been under the belief that if I want my vote to count for something, the only option is voting for one of the two partisan candidates. Voting 3rd party and not voting at all seem to me like they'd both do a disservice to my actual views/desires. Though with this election I'm not quite as secure in this above belief as I once was. I'm interested in hearing other people's thoughts on this topic. These are my exact feelings too. I now understand those last election who said they weren't comfortable voting for the GOP runner. But I enjoy presidential elections and being part of the discussion, even just reading and listening to others' thoughts. If Trump isn't the GOP candidate then I'll be voting for whoever is. This is my third presidential election so it's still fresh (and exciting) to me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 42 minutes ago, HisChildForever said: These are my exact feelings too. I now understand those last election who said they weren't comfortable voting for the GOP runner. But I enjoy presidential elections and being part of the discussion, even just reading and listening to others' thoughts. If Trump isn't the GOP candidate then I'll be voting for whoever is. This is my third presidential election so it's still fresh (and exciting) to me. This is my first presidential election I can participate in, and that Trump is the likely candidate makes me wholly unexcited. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Papist Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 I mean, really. It's like going into your first election and your options are Incompetent Hitler or Less Genocidal Stalin. If Rubio or some other competent person doesn't get the nomination I'm honestly not sure who I'm voting for. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
KnightofChrist Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 I gave up long ago on the two party only thought system. We only have two parties because people think we can only have two parties. That helps the two parties keep it a two party system. The Trump effect, for me at least, is certainly interesting. The other week or so when Trump visited my state I saw a church-van load of grandmas (of various ethic backgrounds, white, black, spanish) taking a pit stop at a McDonalds, every single one of them decked out in Trump gear. Also I live in a very heavily populated black/spanish neighborhood and I've seen a number of houses cars with Trump signs and bumper stickers. Despite all the brew-ha-ha about him being a destroyer of worlds he should get support from groups we're told would never support him. Also, I really doubt he'd be any better or worse than any other sellout, fake and typical politician. 16 minutes ago, PhuturePriest said: I mean, really. It's like going into your first election and your options are Incompetent Hitler or Less Genocidal Stalin. If Rubio or some other competent person doesn't get the nomination I'm honestly not sure who I'm voting for. He's another corporate owned phony, when it came to voting for actual funding of Planned Parenthood he didn't show up. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Basilisa Marie Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 When you vote third party, at least you're counted as someone who is interested in participating in the political process. When you don't vote at all you can be written off as someone who just isn't interested, so there's no point for people to really campaign for your issues. If third party candidates start getting more votes, it can force mainline candidates to swing toward them. The practical result is basically the same - your candidate won't get elected. But it's better than not voting at all. If you don't vote because you feel like all voting for any of the candidates would violate your conscience, that's different. No, wait, still vote. Write someone in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PhuturePriest Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 (edited) 17 minutes ago, Basilisa Marie said: When you vote third party, at least you're counted as someone who is interested in participating in the political process. When you don't vote at all you can be written off as someone who just isn't interested, so there's no point for people to really campaign for your issues. If third party candidates start getting more votes, it can force mainline candidates to swing toward them. The practical result is basically the same - your candidate won't get elected. But it's better than not voting at all. If you don't vote because you feel like all voting for any of the candidates would violate your conscience, that's different. No, wait, still vote. Write someone in. Clearly, the answer is obvious. I'm seriously writing in Vermin Supreme if it comes down to Trump or Hillary. At least with Supreme we would all get ponies. Plus, look at the joy the guy brings. Even his opponents love him. Edited January 11, 2016 by PhuturePriest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nihil Obstat Posted January 11, 2016 Share Posted January 11, 2016 12 minutes ago, PhuturePriest said: Clearly, the answer is obvious. I'm seriously writing in Vermin Supreme if it comes down to Trump or Hillary. At least with Supreme we would all get ponies. Plus, look at the joy the guy brings. Even his opponents love him. I would be incredibly mad if someone threw that much glitter on my suit. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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