Undecided Voters: Why?

[posttrainwreck]

I don't get it.At the apex of the information age, how can you be undecided? I know it's not fair for me to say this because politics and news happens to be my interest and for some people it's baseball. But, with only a couple weeks to go, to still be undecided just doesn't sit right with me. How could you not know

Comments

Re: Two thoughts...

[posttrainwreck]

I'm pretty sure you can't stay undecided for long. You eventually notice that the policies of your country have an effect on the world and your community and start getting just as interested as you would about office politics and the security of your job. And as with office politics, a lot of people only take a notice when their job is at stake.

Thanks, I always loved writing dialog. Too bad school won't accept essays in the form of a conversation with myself.

[kishiriadgr]

"The Daily Show" just did a bit on Thursday about how the hell can anyone be undecided in this election? Although granted it's easier to understand than when it was Bush/Kerry.

Yeah

[posttrainwreck]

I saw that Daily Show episode on Hulu.com. I cringe more than anything else when people are being made fun of to their face when I don't know if they're actors or at least in on it. Sort of like a little bit of Borat. Oh hey, did you know those two are married? They're getting a sitcom on a network, so they'll be off the Daily Show pretty soon. TDS must be doing well if they can be a springboard for the career of even the least entertaining reoccurring characters.

When it was Bush/Kerry, the only reason I was given to vote Kerry was because of how terrible Bush was. He probably wouldn't have been able to do anything with a Republican controlled congress anyway, and we may not have gotten as many congressional victories under Kerry as we did in 2006. Four years ago, I sort of thought that it didn't matter who was in charge because only the super rich and the military industrial complex will ever win. In retrospect, I regret writing in Scott McKinty of the Guns and Dope party because even Kerry would have been better.

[99nails]

Yeah. I was undecided but for a peculiar reason you haven't covered here.

I basically closed my eyes, pointed at my absentee ballot and marked away.

I am probably the sort of person you hate.

not hate

[posttrainwreck]

Most of my friends care more about video games than politics.
So I certainly don't hate an undecided voter just like I don't hate someone I don't disagree with -- that would just be crazy. I'm Just confused. Everyone can choose between paper and plastic or between Italian and Chinese with authority. Almost everyone can chose more complicated things like how to fill out their w2, whether to mention a job you hated on your resume, or which dental plan is the least terrible or if you want to just go to the emergency room if it turns out you REALLY have to get your wisdom tooth removed. So why not President?

My guess, and it's only a guess, is that people are cynical, feel disenfranchised, and can't bring themselves to care even enough to find out a candidate's views on an issue the undecided voter cares about.

Re: not hate

[99nails]

My reason was far more bizarre; I had posted about it but it sounded so strange I took the post down.

I'd been having weird dreams and a strong, disturbing and pervasive feeling that one of the two is going to be assassinated. I was wondering if I should vote at all.

Told you it was weird. I think I did something similar with Kerry though (thinking he was going to be shot); I tried to confirm this but can't find the post now.

Re: not hate

[posttrainwreck]

well, that's something I can get behind and certainly something I didn't consider. Somewhat personal reasons related to a slight mental illnesses. I wonder how many undecided voters are superstitious and they can't vote for anyone who is left handed, OCD and can only vote for people of a specific height, or has a delusional paranoia that anyone whose name they write down will be killed.