Why I don't vote

[prosto_tak]

Every four years I'm genuinely puzzled by why people vote.  I can think of a dozen reasons not to vote, and none whatsoever to do so.  Here are my dozen reasons not to vote:

1) I live in California, where the probability of my vote mattering is zero.

2) Even if I lived in a different state, the probability of my vote mattering is as close to zero as

Comments

[iz_tumana]

so you don't vote. But do you contribute money to causes/initiatives that you support?
This is another way to make your opinion count.

[prosto_tak]

Humanitarian causes - yes. Could do more, of course. Not political causes. Again, have not found the ones that would inspire me.

[iz_tumana]

humanitarian and charity is a totally different issue.
I am talking political.
inspire? what about disgust :) Or, say, would make your life difficult as a business owner?
Or goes against your ideology? How do you stand up for what you believe in?
Let's say there is an issue you care about, what do you do?

[prosto_tak]

Define the difference between humanitarian causes and charity? If you are helping the victims of a terror act, or sick children, which one is it?

[iz_tumana]

no, what I mean is that giving money to charity, humanitarian causes and philanthropy is different than supporting political candidates or issues/legislature. That's why there are no limits on contributions to charity :)

I see your point in this: Volunteer for his campaign, collect money, come up with better ways to spread the word (instead of voting). So, you are saying also give money, right? So if you do that instead of voting, it's all right. Especially if it is a lot of money :) And some people do exactly that, but in addition to voting!

I usually vote only on those issues/candidates that I've spend minimal time to understand. I skip many others. I am often worried and irritated when people vote for what "sounds like a good thing" and doing more harm than good.

[prosto_tak]

Oh, I see what you mean.

No, my point is that voting seems like such an inefficient/minuscule way to help a cause compared to some other ways. But my problems is that I have not seen a political cause that I'd truly want to support. Maybe give me an example of a kind of a cause you have in mind...

[iz_tumana]

Ok, let's say you don't care about death penalty, but Prop 30 and Prop 32? Those will affect you in a very direct way, both as a taxpayer, as a state resident and a parent of children in public school.
They are crucial propositions for California. What do you think of those?