throwing my vote away, eh?
I was trying to do some shopping at a tiny boutique a few days ago. The owner always strikes up conversations with customers, but unfortunately she has this annoying habit... She just can't seem to discuss things, and rather tries to convince the other person/people to agree with her. She'll raise her voice as she goes, repeating things over and over as if to drill in supposed "facts" and just won't leave you be to your shopping until you start conceding points (which I never do.. this is all why I've only shopped there twice and don't plan on returning again.)
That day's topic turned to the elections, during which I secretly rolled my eyes and tried to stay out of it. Soon enough the owner looked in my direction and asked for my opinion. She was bristled like a cat investigating a stranger, ready to defend its territory.
I said that I wanted to see Ron Paul in office, so I planned on voting for him. She immediately started jabbering about how much she loves Ron Paul, but that "Voting for Ron Paul is just throwing your vote away! You should vote for Obama!"
This lead to my explaining that the popular vote doesn't matter anyway, that all it can accomplish is telling the government - and the rest of the world - who the people want to see in office. Perhaps if he won the popular vote, the fact that the he wasn't even a candidate could stir some outrage and start some change (though we all know from experience that that won't necessarily happen. Hopeful thinking.)
But this woman just kept going on and on, telling me that I was throwing my vote away.
What happened to voting for whoever you wanted to have as president? Are "the people" really so broken that they'll obediently choose between two puppets? It doesn't matter what someone's chances are for getting into office. The whole point of voting is to support who you want as your leader.
I would be throwing my vote away if I voted for someone I didn't believe in.
Am I a nutcase for not playing the political strategy games?
That day's topic turned to the elections, during which I secretly rolled my eyes and tried to stay out of it. Soon enough the owner looked in my direction and asked for my opinion. She was bristled like a cat investigating a stranger, ready to defend its territory.
I said that I wanted to see Ron Paul in office, so I planned on voting for him. She immediately started jabbering about how much she loves Ron Paul, but that "Voting for Ron Paul is just throwing your vote away! You should vote for Obama!"
This lead to my explaining that the popular vote doesn't matter anyway, that all it can accomplish is telling the government - and the rest of the world - who the people want to see in office. Perhaps if he won the popular vote, the fact that the he wasn't even a candidate could stir some outrage and start some change (though we all know from experience that that won't necessarily happen. Hopeful thinking.)
But this woman just kept going on and on, telling me that I was throwing my vote away.
What happened to voting for whoever you wanted to have as president? Are "the people" really so broken that they'll obediently choose between two puppets? It doesn't matter what someone's chances are for getting into office. The whole point of voting is to support who you want as your leader.
I would be throwing my vote away if I voted for someone I didn't believe in.
Am I a nutcase for not playing the political strategy games?