This is a public service announcement:

Jun 28, 2007 22:16

One of many that I'll be making over the course of the next year and a half. In honor of the end of the second quarter (Saturday), my first election PSA ( Read more... )

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anonymous July 5 2007, 20:45:46 UTC
The electoral college means a lot more than the popular vote irregularities. Because electoral college votes are directly proportional to state populatio
ns, voters in certain states carry signifigantly more voting power. How democractic! For example, voters in Wyoming hold three times as much power as voters in California.

States (besides Maine and Nebraska) vote on a "winner-take-all-system." So, whoever wins the popular vote of a state gets all of the state's electoral votes. Because of this system, voting Democractic in a state like Texas ACTUALLY will be wasted. And the popular vote DOES have the final say. In the 2000 election the popular vote was contested and then recounted--Bush won the popular vote recount then took all of Flordia's 25 electoral votes.

In 2006, 18-24 year olds did vote in record numbers. But Congressional voting doesn't use the electoral college. Although a European-style proportional voting system would be more democractic, I think it's more worth voting than Presidential elections.

So, in Presidential elections votes are actually wasted. And Congressional elections are not very democractic. I'm not disparaging voting, but I'd like to have a system that goes beyond the gridlock two-party system. So, keep encouraging people to vote! But don't think all people who don't vote in Presidential elections are ignorant.

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theatremaiden July 6 2007, 22:07:18 UTC
From the beginning, this was never about the electoral college. Obviously it is an antiquated, ineffectual system, I will not argue about that. But again, I will argue about the importance of voting.

Voting is a civic duty. It's not about "wasted" vs "powerful" votes. It is not just our right and our priviledge, but our responsibility to make sure our voices are heard.

The only way to achieve change is to work for it. Yes, Texas probably won't go blue in '08. But why not in 2012? One of my best friends is a Democrat living in Texas. She doesn't feel like her vote is wasted-she feels it's working toward change.

I most certainly DO NOT think people who don't vote are ignorant. One of my best friends isn't registered to vote, and she's about 10 times smarter than me. She wants to vote - she just didn't know where to start. I'm doing these posts (and yes, there will be more) because not everyone thinks about politics 24/7, but that doesn't mean they don't care. It's everyone's civic duty to vote, and I feel it is mine to give them the necessary tools to make the decision on their own.

Living in a free society, voting is your voice. I'm choosing to use mine, do with yours what you wish.

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anonymous July 6 2007, 23:19:40 UTC
Are you implying that if I don't vote in Presidential elections I have no voice? Doing real activism and grassroots work "voices" your convictions more than a silly vote. And, another thing, when you "vote" for President you're just hoping that your appointed elector will vote according to party lines. Admittingly, an overwhelming percentage of the time the elctor votes according to the voters, but what about "faithless electors"?

I just think people who boast about applying their "civic duty," and having their "voice" heard are overly self-righteous and frankly, really annoying to listen to.

I don't even know how I came across your post. I don't know you personally. And again, I'm not discouraging your cyber voting rights activism, but Presidential voting isn't as ideal and straight-foward as you seem to lead your readers.

One last point. You said:
"Living in a free society, voting is your voice. I'm choosing to use mine, do with yours what you wish."

Would a REAL voting rights advocate be condescending? Would a REAL voting rights advocate be complacent with people not voting by saying "do with yours what you wish"?

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theatremaiden July 7 2007, 02:00:18 UTC
I'm not "leading my readers." I'm friends with every single one of my livejournal friends in real life. This is for them - not for you. I'm not being condescending toward them - but I'm being condescending toward you now. My "readers" have all thanked me for this post.

One last thing - if you find me overly self-righteous and really annoying to listen to, read someone else's journal. Good day sir.

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