With the influx of new political threads I thought I would give my two cents on the matter. A new perspective if you will.

I'm not here to stump for either political parties, nor debate about party platforms or the candidates. Personally I'm not a huge fan of any of them since they all disenfranchise my demographic.

Instead I just want to reveal a few eye opening facts that basically explains why I have never, and most likely never will, vote in an American presidential, congressional, or local election.

1) Unless you live in a swing state, your vote doesn't matter in a presidential election. I live in Massachusetts, one of the bluest states in America. Regardless of whether I vote democrat or republican come November '16, the state will go with the Democrats.

2) The American system of "first past the poll" grants all the state's electoral votes to the nominee that wins the majority. So hypothetically if candidate A receives 100,001 votes and candidate B receives 100,000, Candidate B would be awarded no electoral votes at all in that particular state. Basically the minority is not represented at all if they do not win. This is why only two political parties have a shot at the white house.

3) As a law-abiding and educated citizen, my vote is worth the same as those who are barely literate, those who cannot name the current vice-president, the mentally disabled who cannot spell their name, the low-IQ (average citizens from states such as Missouri and Alabama) who do not even know the basic functions and structures of their own government, and in some states even prison inmates. Thanks but no thanks, if my vote is worth nothing (the same as illiterates who has no business being anywhere near a voting booth or making decisions that could impact everyone in the nation) then I think I'll just stay home come election day. Unless there is some kind of a standardized IQ test, literacy test, or political information test about the policies of the candidates that restricts the idiots from voting (or at least makes those who score higher have more votes per person) then I'll keep abstaining from performing my "civic duty"

Edited 1/31/2016 19:48:06

So we should be an educated elite? What about the guy fixing up your car, mowing your lawn, the underprivileged orphan or the guy cleaning toilets?

The electoral college is already basically an educated elite.

The low-IQ (average citizens from states such as Missouri and Alabama) who do not even know the basic functions and structures of their own government,

Care to back that generalization up with something? At-least have some statistics if you're going to take a dump on millions of people.

Personally, I'd rather have the country ruled by a vote of common people with average brainpower than be ruled by snobby so-called "intellectuals" who think they're better than others for some reason.

my vote is worth the same as those who are barely literate, those who cannot name the current vice-president, the mentally disabled who cannot spell their name, the low-IQ (average citizens from states such as Missouri and Alabama) who do not even know the basic functions and structures of their own government

Saying things like this doesn't exactly make you look smart, either. And if you don't vote, then you actually have *less* say in politics than those illiterates that you look down on. But if literacy tests are what you want, here you go: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Literacy_test

Also worth mentioning that a college degree doesn't make you smart. I'd rather entrust government to a plumber than to a feminist with a gender studies degree.

That said, I agree with your 1 & 2.

I believe in an aristocratic republic too Homeless. Fuck the educated and fuck the stupid they shouldn't vote they're too easily manipulated to be trusted with such an important decision.

Edited 1/31/2016 21:54:29

You say that individual's votes don't often matter- "Unless you live in a swing state, your vote doesn't matter in a presidential election."

Why then are you complaining that dumb people are voting?

"the same as illiterates who has no business being anywhere near a voting booth or making decisions that could impact everyone in the nation"

If their votes don't matter, how are they affecting policy? Or do you admit to flaws in your logic?

Also, just to sum up part of your argument- Dumb people cancel out smart people's votes, so only dumb people should vote???????

I'm confused.

They are separate reasons. I'm basically saying that A) I don't live in a swing state and B) Even if I did my vote would only be worth so much as someone who cannot the spell the name of their own candidate.

Exactly! So because your vote only counts as much as a dumb person, you refuse to vote, thereby making the dumb people's votes more powerful.

Personally, I'd rather have the country ruled by a vote of common people with average brainpower than be ruled by snobby so-called "intellectuals" who think they're better than others for some reason.

Amen brother. I'll take Jeffersonian Democracy any day over Lincolnian.

+1 jai

I will agree that the vote of the common man needs to become more important, however Jeffersonian Democracy is basically moderate socialism.


" Democracy is the wests form of socialism "

In what way wolf? Also no it isn't.

Jefferson was the modern-day Libertarian. He believed in a small and limited government. He was a strict constitutionalist and refuted the idea that the Constitution could expand and change to fit the times. He believed that being close to God and Nature would be the calling card of America. And he opposed the elitist Washington institutions that Hamilton wanted to impose by force.

He was the original champion of nullification theory, secession as a last resort, and of State's Rights.

Edited 1/31/2016 23:51:06

jai wolf is a 15 yr old edgy internet illiterate. He doesn't know shit about politics or history. Thats why he confuses liberalism with progressivism and socialism with democracy.

Living in a swing state, every election means bombardment by ads. It is horrible.

Jai I would highly suggest kicking Gas station......

Ripper I would apologize for that last comment. It couldn't be farther from the truth. Conservative is a good guy and he is knowledgeable. Please retract your comment...it was impolite at the least.

If the stupid and poor can't vote, neither should random citizens like Homeless. Only rich people who come from wealthy families should vote, and the president should be elected for life.

@Major
President for life... Let me tell you how that is most likely going to go down.
Term 1: Having Fun
Term 2: Watching You
Term 3: You're Arrested
Term 4: Assassination
Also, rich have the most power and the poorer people collectively have no voice? Cue French Revolution.