don't "just vote"

I just need to add this....
I overheard on a certain (rap) radio station last week that there would be "demonstrations" on how voting 'machines' work. And, that people should not be afraid or intimidated... like the Republicans want "us" to be...

I thought how incredible it was??? What did I just hear???

Seems like there's a real long way to go before the 'races' will truly accept one another...... :(
 
there are already 9 cases filed in florida against the republicans for intimidating blacks not to vote.

so i ask, who is the more racist groups? polls haven't even opened yet and fingers are already pointing.
 
Lauren said:
there are already 9 cases filed in florida against the republicans for intimidating blacks not to vote.

so i ask, who is the more racist groups? polls haven't even opened yet and fingers are already pointing.
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Nothing was proven in 2000, nothing will be proven in 2004. If it was proven, believe me, Jeb Bush would NEVER have been re-elected Governor. Other than requiring proper ID, (picture/signature) EVERYONE that is properly registered will vote hassle free. If you forgot to check the "yes I'm an American Citizen" box and didn't properly fill out the registration, you might have a problem, race, creed or whatever doesn't matter. My wife had to go over her's twice, due to an issue with our address, she's white and blonde :D I and everone else will have to show the same ID, fill out the same registration, etc. If they claim this is intimidation then.................we don't have the proper smilie :) If the poles open at 6am and close at 8pm, you need to be there within that time, no crying about not having enough time to vote!!!! :mad: They don't close any poling sites early!!! That was a bunch of BS the media generated.

I just hope today goes smoothly and whoever the majority feels is most qualified is elected without a bunch of lawers getting involved.
 
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aquariumfishguy said:
Voting is definitely not a right, no place does it say so in our constitution or any place really. Do you think that the States have to allow you to vote? No way... Then again, there would be backlash like no tomorrow in today's society, but it still doesn't mean it is a right that we have.
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Voting most certainly IS a right under the Constitution:

"Amendment XXVI

Section 1. The right of citizens of the United States, who are 18 years of age or older, to vote, shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or any state on account of age.


Section 2. The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

I have a real problem with the rather elitist attitude that only the "informed" vote. I think you'd have a real hard time finding someone who had absolutely no opinion or knowledge of the candidate or issues. You will find plenty of people who are misinformed but, frankly, anyone who accepts, at face value, anything a politician says as fact is misinformed. (boy that's a lot of commas but it sounds right in my head).

Encouraging people to keep their votes to themselves unless they are informed is highly dangerous. Even if you are voting for a candidate based on one issue important to you, it is still your right and you should exercise it.

Those who don't vote forfeit the right to complain about whomever is elected.
 
I'm not in the voting talk here, I'm just glad the "Bird is back"!
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tomm10 said:
Even if you are voting for a candidate based on one issue important to you, it is still your right and you should exercise it.

Those who don't vote forfeit the right to complain about whomever is elected.
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i cant agree more with the second statement, but im not so sure on the first. I think that people shouldnt vote on one principle or issue. You should be balanced; conservative in some areas, liberal in others. Dont vote for a canidate just because he/she (someday, we all hope, im sure) represents your party, and dont vote for a canidate just becuase he agrees with one side of an issue that you also agree with. You have to be a little more informed, you have to take it beyond those "first impressions" and the common knowledge. People who dont research their vote a little more than average forfeit thier right to complain when the new prez does something they dont agree with.
 
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To go back a few posts - voting is an official act, granted. But to think voting is a permanent right or something that cannot be revoked is dangerous thinking, IMO.

"The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

... that means a lot.
 
aquariumfishguy said:
To go back a few posts - voting is an official act, granted. But to think voting is a permanent right or something that cannot be revoked is dangerous thinking, IMO.

"The Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation."

... that means a lot.
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I don't want to get bogged down in this too much but the article specifically mentions voting is a right. The power of congress comes in enforcing this right not in modifying it. In order to alter or deny the right to vote an amendment to the constitution would have to be made. We are in no more danger of that than we are of an amendment allowing poodles the right to be president.

chunksofpoooo, my point was not that voters should not bother to be informed but rather that they don't use their limited knowledge as an excuse NOT to vote. Be as informed as you possibly can but even if you just know you can't stand X about candidate B vote and voice that opinion.
 
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I don't consider myself an intellectual person. By no means am I a dummy, but I'm not the type to sit down and read the newspaper from cover to cover, and I very rarely read magazines like Newsweek and Time (though I have been known to watch CNN if there's nothing else on :) ).

I know who I'm voting for, I know the issues and I know where my candidate stands. I know quite a few people who think "I'm not well informed, therefore I shouldn't waste my vote, so I'm not getting involved at all". That is fundamentally wrong. As Tom posted, voting is a RIGHT given to all American citizens by our Constitution. Every single American aged 18 and older, should vote. People all over the world DIE FOR THE RIGHT TO VOTE.

I don't care if you are as informed as Peter Jennings or as uninformed as my brother (until we had a 3-hour sit down last weekend ;) ) - get the hell out and vote today.

There are quite a few tools will enable a voter to make an informed decision, with just a few minutes time investment... here are two, there are tons more - just go to google...
AOL News Election Guide
Vote Smart


IT'S YOUR RIGHT - GET OUT AND VOTE!
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