anogete | The Youth Vote?

I was watching the news tonight and caught the end of a segment on this story by John Stossel of ABC News. Basically, he is asserting that it may just be your civic duty to not vote if you are uninformed on the issues. Specifically, he's talking about young voters. I'm 27; I do not know if I am considered a young voter or not, but I am appalled when I attempt to discuss politics with anyone my age. They know very little and are unable to answer even the simplest questions about our government.

So, my question is: Should you sit out and not vote if you are uninformed about the candidates or issues? I am not asking whether the government should prevent you from voting, because I would not be in favor of that in any way, shape, or form. My questions is whether the voter should have the presence of mind to say, "Hey, I don't really understand what these people are talking about. Maybe I shouldn't be making such an important decision without all the facts." Thoughts? Hate mail? Flames?

And, you know, this isn't just about young voters. Jason's mother is turning 60 in a week, and she couldn't give me one legitimate reason she's voting for the candidate she supports, other than she thinks he's a nice fellow and is very genuine. Riiiiiight...

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Hmmm...I would have no problem with the uninformed citizen sitting out the vote, as long as they then didn't spend the next however many years complaining. I have a friend who isn't even registered (I was, and am still, horrified that anyone close to me doesn't vote if they are able) who said that he could complain because someone else made a bad decision. I said hell no. You don't vote, you don't get to bitch. And I truly think that should also apply to the uninformed who do vote. Those who say, after the fact, if only I'd paid more attention. Well you didn't, and you screwed up. Shut up and live with it.

So, basically, yeah...I'd rather the uniformed sit it out, if they so choose, than spend 4 years bitching because they couldn't be bothered to look at the issues/candidates/etc.

I always complain, but that's because the person I vote for never wins. ;-) I've had friends who don't vote, and I'm actually glad they don't vote. Some people just don't know enough to make an informed decision, and then they go in there and vote for someone they wouldn't want if they knew the facts. The boss' daughter at work is voting for McCain because her mommy told her he was the best. She shouldn't be voting. And the Obama supporter I saw a video clip of today that thought Sarah Palin was Obama's V.P. pick shouldn't be going near the polls either.

Wow. Palin as Obama's VP? That would be...a sign of the apocalypse or something.

I have almost always found that third party voters are the most educated on the issues. It's easy to pick candidate a or b without necessarily being informed. It's a lot harder to pick candidate c, when you know they likely won't win. Unless you also know they really are the best choice. And that means being informed.

I think it would be great if third party voters were more vocal in their complaints, if only so one day someone like Ron Paul could really have a shot. I was constantly amazed this election cycle how many people didn't know anything about him, and yet they were fairly educated on the issues. Unfortunately until third party voters get vocal enough to really make waves on the news, that's likely to continue.

The problem, as I see it, isn't really the third-party voters. All of the ones I know in person and on the internet are very vocal and willing to discuss the issues. The problem is really the media. Most media outlets don't treat the third-party candidates as possible contenders. They spend all of their time discussing the two major party candidates and tack a short interview with someone like Bob Barr or Chuck Baldwin onto the end of a show at airs at 2:00 most people are at work. It's also very difficult for third-party candidates to get on the ballot in several states. Despite missing the deadline to declare themselves and their V.P. choices for the ballot in Texas, both major party candidates were allowed on the ballot anyway. The rules were simply a formality to be ignored by both of them. However, third-party candidates often have to collect signatures and waste important campaign dollars on lawsuits in order to be allow on the ballot. It's actually quite shameful and the discrimination is built into our current system. It's why I'd rather chuck it all in and move to an island with a new government based in facts and fairness instead of corrupt political games and career politicians who feed off the people of this country.

Uck, rant much. See, you got me started. :-)

That was a pretty interesting article.
I don't think uninformed people should be voting, either. However, I don't think you have to know how many senators each state gets or the names of all the Supreme Court Justices to be up on current events like the war and the economy. If you have a solid grasp of the big issues of the day and have an actual informed opinion about them, then I think you're perfectly qualified enough to vote.

I consider myself fairly well-informed when it comes to politics and government, however I'd never be able to tell you the names of all those on the Supreme Court. I'm just talking general things like the three branches of the government and the main responsibilities of each. It would also be nice if they knew the names of everyone (including the third party candidates) running for President on the ballot in their state. I saw a clip of an Obama supporter telling a reporter that he likes Obama's V.P. pick. Who did he think Obama picked? Sarah Palin. That person should probably sit out because woah. I didn't know you could get that wrong since the four names have been all over the news for the past two months.

Yes! For the love of god, yes. Stay home.

This election particularly, I find myself in the same age group as some of the dumbest, and the most ignorant people I've ever had the misfortune to talk politics with. And I'm not saying 'ignorant,' and meaning 'has different ideas than me.' I mean...'claim to support a candidate, then when they realize just how politically savvy I am, ask me to explain their candidate's positions.'

...wtf? Maybe learn about those positions before you start waving the banner and buying the t-shirt and joining the facebook groups.

Ugh.

My question is whether the voter should have the presence of mind to say, "Hey, I don't really understand what these people are talking about. Maybe I shouldn't be making such an important decision without all the facts."

If they had the presence of mind to decide that, they would have the presence of mind to be informed about voting. Thus, stupid people will mindlessly stumble into the voting booths, because it's their civic duty as morons to vote based on assumptions and illogical out-of-context "facts."

I'm intelligent, and I know the facts, but I don't want to vote. Mainly because I don't like the idea of a democracy in which certain states (battleground and swing) are more important than others. Hell, 537 people decided the 2000 election. Everybody else didn't fucking matter. And it's proven by the fact that Gore had more popular votes, but lost the election.

This "democracy" is a joke, and the world is laughing at us. Until we have the instant runoff voting, we will be hopelessly entrenched in the sham that is voting.

/end rant

If they had the presence of mind to decide that, they would have the presence of mind to be informed about voting.

I, too, had this thought. The thing is, when I was 18, I knew I wasn't knowledgeable enough to vote, and I didn't. I actually didn't cast a ballot until I was 21 and felt like I knew what I was doing. But voting is so damn cool now. All the bands and movie stars are doing it.

If they ever start a new country with a fair government on some island somewhere, I'm moving. I'll send you an invitation if you're as disenchanted with the system as I am by then.

The only thing that will bother me about that new fair government, is that 200 years from now it will be corrupt.

The Youth Vote?

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