Specifically, the midterm elections for US Senate are coming up. I agree with both of the main candidates on some issues, and disagree strongly with them both on others. So I'm not realy sure how to proceed.
Here are the options as I see them:
1. Vote for the 'lesser of two evils' so to speak, even though I'd still be voting for someone I would rather not have in congress.
2. Vote for a third party candidate that has no chance at winning... and I still don't really agree with.
3. Write in someone with whom I do agree?
4. Conscientiously abstain from voting.
In the past, I have usually not voted due to indecision. Which is far from ideal. And not a trend I'd like to continue.
I'm not sure where you're from or what the political climate is there, but if it's anything like it is in the US, then I would highly recommend against voting, and I would even ask that you advise others to do the same.
People like to pontificate about the value of voting and "making your voice heard," but in reality, unless you are a wealthy capitalist, it is nearly impossible for your voice to even be part of political discourse, as your class interests likely don't reflect the interests of wealthy capitalists. At the end of the day, you are simply deciding which brand of paltry concessions the ruling class will make in order to prevent an angry mob from burning everything down.
As we have seen time and time again, voting does not necessitate a shift in policy. As such, it's probably better not to do anything that further cements the belief that this particular brand of representative democracy represents anything other than the class interests of those with financial and political power.
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Playing with proxied cards at sanctioned events is good, actually.
2. Vote for a third party candidate that has no chance at winning... and I still don't really agree with.
This idea feels like a self fulfilling prophecy... because the idea exists it is true. It would be interesting to see what kind of support a 3rd party would get if people did not already assume they cannot win.
Probably not very much, due to the extreme lack of resources they have to run against the dominant parties. The two party system really is disgustingly broken at this point.
Regardless I do personally tend to go for option 2, or not vote. The way I see it it makes little difference anyway, so I might as well either not bother or show symbolic support for whosoever I align with most.
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"Virtue, Jacques, is an excellent thing. Both good people and wicked people speak highly of it..."
Mid term elections this year are pretty important. The key to picking a candidate is prioritizing what issues are most important to you, and pick the candidate who values your point of view on those issues. You'll also get a lot you don't like in either case.
Voting in the upcoming mid terms is actually pretty important, especially if you don't want the Republicans to have control of both houses.
As South Park pointed out: you better get used to choosing between a douche and a turd.
I don't get this sentiment.
Are we supposed to only vote for people that we agree fully with?
I think the idea is that the two party system has pretty much eliminated nuance from various points of view, thus leaving you with having to prioritize the candidate who is the least damaging or will support the causes you care about most.
Obviously, of course something like that is going to happen. It's just American Idealism, especially when young, often lends naive people the idea that in a democracy your voice is being heard, when the reality is more that you're helping choose whose voice is heard.
I think the idea is that the two party system has pretty much eliminated nuance from various points of view, thus leaving you with having to prioritize the candidate who is the least damaging or will support the causes you care about most.
Bleh. How do people expect politics to occur? When's the last time you managed to actually come to agreeable terms with your friend on an issue that you two disagree with outside of "so, where should we eat today?" or some other mundane crap.
And there are many issues out there. Along with many people who think differently on those issues. I'm personally quite liberal when it comes to social issues like gay marriage, but then ambivalent on things like abortions. I am on the fence when it comes to gun-control, largely because of the way I interpret the 2nd Amendment clashing with my emotion and gut feeling. I am quite hawkish when it comes to foreign policy. I don't like tax breaks to big corporations and I don't buy the conventional Republican sound-bytes on the economy. I think Obamacare is a huge mistake, and that social welfare is a well-intended but quite possibly the worst policy implemented in the 20th century.
Now try to get me to find someone that I can be 100% behind.
It's just American Idealism, especially when young, often lends naive people the idea that in a democracy your voice is being heard, when the reality is more that you're helping choose whose voice is heard.
I think it's because people misunderstand what the point of the Republican system of government is supposed to achieve.
For one thing... how the **** is your representative supposed to know what you want if you don't tell them? People do know that you can write your representatives letters, and that they (or at least their aides) do read and take them seriously, yes?
The idea is very simple- if they wrote a letter to you, then that means that they actually care about the issue enough to do something.
I don't believe in the whole "marginal voter" thing. Here in Texas, we have a pool of about 50-60 candidates to choose from in your average presidential election. Some of these will be obscure family judges, JPs, and Supreme Court judges. Hell, in Louisiana I saw a commercial for a coroner in Orleans Parish. Your vote matters somewhat in these elections due to the obscurity, but if your state has straight ticket options it doesn't matter much.
I haven't voted since 2012 because of my state's dumb voter ID requirements, so I really stopped caring once I lost the franchise. I say this as someone who used to go with the entire family to vote and considered it a civic duty.
Here are the options as I see them:
1. Vote for the 'lesser of two evils' so to speak, even though I'd still be voting for someone I would rather not have in congress.
2. Vote for a third party candidate that has no chance at winning... and I still don't really agree with.
3. Write in someone with whom I do agree?
4. Conscientiously abstain from voting.
In the past, I have usually not voted due to indecision. Which is far from ideal. And not a trend I'd like to continue.
Any advice?
People like to pontificate about the value of voting and "making your voice heard," but in reality, unless you are a wealthy capitalist, it is nearly impossible for your voice to even be part of political discourse, as your class interests likely don't reflect the interests of wealthy capitalists. At the end of the day, you are simply deciding which brand of paltry concessions the ruling class will make in order to prevent an angry mob from burning everything down.
As we have seen time and time again, voting does not necessitate a shift in policy. As such, it's probably better not to do anything that further cements the belief that this particular brand of representative democracy represents anything other than the class interests of those with financial and political power.
Blue lives don't matter in the slightest.
But if only 60% of the population is doing it, it loses a lot of its power, and it gets less important.
This idea feels like a self fulfilling prophecy... because the idea exists it is true. It would be interesting to see what kind of support a 3rd party would get if people did not already assume they cannot win.
Regardless I do personally tend to go for option 2, or not vote. The way I see it it makes little difference anyway, so I might as well either not bother or show symbolic support for whosoever I align with most.
Voting in the upcoming mid terms is actually pretty important, especially if you don't want the Republicans to have control of both houses.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
I don't get this sentiment.
Are we supposed to only vote for people that we agree fully with?
I think the idea is that the two party system has pretty much eliminated nuance from various points of view, thus leaving you with having to prioritize the candidate who is the least damaging or will support the causes you care about most.
Obviously, of course something like that is going to happen. It's just American Idealism, especially when young, often lends naive people the idea that in a democracy your voice is being heard, when the reality is more that you're helping choose whose voice is heard.
TerribleBad at Magic since 1998.A Vorthos Guide to Magic Story | Twitter | Tumblr
[Primer] Krenko | Azor | Kess | Zacama | Kumena | Sram | The Ur-Dragon | Edgar Markov | Daretti | Marath
Bleh. How do people expect politics to occur? When's the last time you managed to actually come to agreeable terms with your friend on an issue that you two disagree with outside of "so, where should we eat today?" or some other mundane crap.
And there are many issues out there. Along with many people who think differently on those issues. I'm personally quite liberal when it comes to social issues like gay marriage, but then ambivalent on things like abortions. I am on the fence when it comes to gun-control, largely because of the way I interpret the 2nd Amendment clashing with my emotion and gut feeling. I am quite hawkish when it comes to foreign policy. I don't like tax breaks to big corporations and I don't buy the conventional Republican sound-bytes on the economy. I think Obamacare is a huge mistake, and that social welfare is a well-intended but quite possibly the worst policy implemented in the 20th century.
Now try to get me to find someone that I can be 100% behind.
I think it's because people misunderstand what the point of the Republican system of government is supposed to achieve.
For one thing... how the **** is your representative supposed to know what you want if you don't tell them? People do know that you can write your representatives letters, and that they (or at least their aides) do read and take them seriously, yes?
The idea is very simple- if they wrote a letter to you, then that means that they actually care about the issue enough to do something.
I haven't voted since 2012 because of my state's dumb voter ID requirements, so I really stopped caring once I lost the franchise. I say this as someone who used to go with the entire family to vote and considered it a civic duty.