I will not be voting in this Presidential election.

**Tri-Ungulate** · 11-13-2007, 10:26 PM

There are prolly more than 538 people in Florida who wished they'd voted for ManBearPigHunter in 2000.

**Spats** · 11-13-2007, 10:34 PM

By not voting, you are casting your vote for "whoever everyone else voted for."

Not voting is not an effective protest. "None of the above" ever won any election, no matter how many people don't vote.

Ron Paul has raised over $8.1 million now, including over $4 million in one day, which is more than any other Republican candidate in the race. He's won every single Republican debate according to viewer votes, and a significant proportion of straw polls across the country. He's at 6% and climbing in national polls, which is amazing considering he wasn't even included in them until very recently, and despite receiving almost no news coverage until last week. So if you're one of those people that can't vote for someone until everyone else does, you can feel secure voting for Ron Paul.

Want the Iraq war ended now? Not conditionally, after unspecified future goals are reached, but now? Ron Paul is the only candidate who will do this.

Value your privacy and freedom? Ron Paul is the only candidate to vote against the PATRIOT Act.

Want the federal government not to spend itself into bankruptcy on the military-industrial complex? Ron Paul is the only candidate who even mentions the words.

Want to opt out of the bankrupt Social Security system because you know you'll be getting bupkis? Ron Paul.

Latest video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKZmIzEMUN8
Official site, with all political positions clearly stated:
www.ronpaul2008.com

**Blizzard7763** · 11-13-2007, 10:47 PM

I'm not saying avoiding voting is a revolution of any sort. The primary reason for voting is self-satisfaction. Not voting shouldn't be any different.

And yeah, Ron Paul looks like he could be pretty cool. He sounds kind of Libertarian-ish.

doughboyshredder · 11-13-2007, 10:55 PM

Ron Paul will get my vote. In the primary.

I highly doubt he will get the republican parties nomination.

The real problem is our nomination and election process. A runoff style election would probably receive more participation, and would definitely give alternative candidates much more of a chance.

**Parvo** · 11-13-2007, 10:57 PM

votin's important, k. ron paul is my guy.
but, to be funny sometimes, i say stuff to friends about not voting because that's how you get jury duty. and they look at me like i just threw fecal matter in their face.
so the whole smug, "i'm a big voter person that votes every election and people died so you can vote so go vote now" type of person is an asshat.

**Mime** · 11-13-2007, 11:02 PM

*********

**timvwcom** · 11-13-2007, 11:27 PM

A journey of 1,000 miles begins with a single step.

**rideit** · 11-14-2007, 12:18 AM

I'm voting for Paul....

**dirtybryan** · 11-14-2007, 02:10 AM

**MapleSyrup** · 11-14-2007, 02:46 AM

Edit: Seriously though, VOTE! It may not be the perfect candidate for you, but you can cast your opinion for one general direction or the other.

**Rasputin** · 11-14-2007, 03:11 AM

Originally Posted by Rooster

Ron Paul. Dennis Kucinich. Ralph Nader. They've either been shutout or just aren't popular amongst the morons in the U.S. I could vote for one of these candidates, but I feel that at this point in American politics, my vote means more by not being cast.

I refuse to vote for any major candidate, by thus continuing the status quo which maintains the influence of the military industrial complex. The relaxing of government regulations due to corporate lobbyist influence(FCC, USDA, EPA, etc.) and the general lack of responsiveness from U.S. politicians to U.S. concerns.

What does it matter if they aren't popular? Just vote your conscience. Voting is no different than self acceptance. Not voting is telling yourself that you don't count, and agreeing with those you are seeking to distance yourself from.

I sat out an election or two for the same reasons as you have mentioned, until I got a ride hitch hiking with a Rastafarian who pointed me to the example of South Africa, where one man, one vote, changed their history. I must admit I felt a bit ashamed, because the truth is that I was relinquishing one of my rights, and if I give them up on my own, that can only encourage those who seek to take the rest of my rights away.

Even if the person you vote for doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell, at least you spoke your piece in the voting box and added your volition to the collective. It doesn't take a lot of effort, but speaking from experience, it feels better than sitting on the sidelines and complaining without participating. Don't give up, you're not alone.

**MapleSyrup** · 11-14-2007, 03:21 AM

Originally Posted by Rasputin

Even if the person you vote for doesn't stand a snowball's chance in hell, at least you spoke your piece in the voting box and added your volition to the collective. It doesn't take a lot of effort, but speaking from experience, it feels better than sitting on the sidelines and complaining without participating. Don't give up, you're not alone.

Quoted for truth

**Jer** · 11-14-2007, 06:34 PM

If Ron Paul ever got anywhere near the Office, he'd be mysteriously shot in the head. No way The Man would ever let anyone like him in the White House.

**adam** · 11-14-2007, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by Jer

If Ron Paul ever got anywhere near the Office, he'd be mysteriously shot in the head. No way The Man would ever let anyone like him in the White House.

I hate being the Angst ridden teen conspiracy-theorist, but he is right. The people in charge like having all the power (they create the illusion of democracy with campaigns such as, "Rock the Vote"), and to have power you have to be repressive. Ron Paul is an ok guy as far as those types go. But he won't win. Even if everyone in America votes Ron Paul, it will not happen.

**nick > jesus** · 11-14-2007, 09:37 PM

the puppet on the left, or the puppet on the right

**Spats** · 11-14-2007, 10:24 PM

Originally Posted by adam

I hate being the Angst ridden teen conspiracy-theorist, but he is right. The people in charge like having all the power (they create the illusion of democracy with campaigns such as, "Rock the Vote"), and to have power you have to be repressive. Ron Paul is an ok guy as far as those types go. But he won't win. Even if everyone in America votes Ron Paul, it will not happen.

If there is a "they" you speak of, they wouldn't shoot him in the head. "They" would just try to convince people that "they" already control everything, so there's no use in activism or voting or speaking your mind.

Looks like they already control you!

Fortunately it's easy to take control back from "them". All you have to do is give a shit, get active, and vote.

"Despair is the infantile disorder of the revolutionaries of everyday life" -Raoul Vaneigem

**Tourette Dude** · 11-14-2007, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by Spats

"Despair is the infantile disorder of the revolutionaries of everyday life" -Raoul Vaneigem

I like the quote.

Its very easy to believe the system is completely detached from the populace, esp. after 2006

You seem to be more of a moderate, so why did Ron Paul choose the run withthe Republican Party?

**adam** · 11-14-2007, 11:37 PM

Originally Posted by Spats

If there is a "they" you speak of, they wouldn't shoot him in the head. "They" would just try to convince people that "they" already control everything, so there's no use in activism or voting or speaking your mind.

Looks like they already control you!

Fortunately it's easy to take control back from "them". All you have to do is give a shit, get active, and vote.

"Despair is the infantile disorder of the revolutionaries of everyday life" -Raoul Vaneigem

activism is not electoral based.
"The government has failed us; you can’t deny that. Anytime you live in the twentieth century, 1964, and you walkin' around here singing “We Shall Overcome,” the government has failed us.

This is part of what’s wrong with you -- you do too much singing. Today it’s time to stop singing and start swinging. You can’t sing up on freedom, but you can swing up on some freedom. Cassius Clay can sing, but singing didn’t help him to become the heavyweight champion of the world; swinging helped him become the heavyweight champion. This government has failed us; the government itself has failed us, and the white liberals who have been posing as our friends have failed us."
Malcolm X, from, "The Bullet Or the Ballot"

**orange** · 11-14-2007, 11:44 PM

Originally Posted by adam

I hate being the Angst ridden teen conspiracy-theorist, but he is right. The people in charge like having all the power (they create the illusion of democracy with campaigns such as, "Rock the Vote"), and to have power you have to be repressive. Ron Paul is an ok guy as far as those types go. But he won't win. Even if everyone in America votes Ron Paul, it will not happen.

Angst ridden teen conspiracy-theorist.

Rooster · 11-14-2007, 11:51 PM

Originally Posted by Tmorry326

Angst ridden teen conspiracy-theorist.

Shut the Fuck Up if you have nothing constructive to add. I'm still angst-ridden and almost out of my twenties. Not everyone gives up on their ideals, or compromises their moral beliefs to feel they are a part of society.

**rip** · 11-15-2007, 01:40 AM

"The ocean is made of drops"

Ron Paul lays the smack down against some media bias.

**Andy_B** · 11-15-2007, 08:51 AM

Originally Posted by Spats

/snip
Ron Paul has raised over $8.1 million now, including over $4 million in one day, which is more than any other Republican candidate in the race. /snip

Fail.

It was not done in a day.

It took a Ron Paul Supporter 3 weeks to coordinate and raise the 4million dollars via his website November's5th.com. On 11/5 the money was simply handed over to R.Paul thus a 4millon dollar day.

**St. Jerry** · 11-15-2007, 09:49 AM

I gave money to Ron Paul and I will again. Go Ron!

**Harv** · 11-15-2007, 10:04 AM

Originally Posted by doughboyshredder

I pretty much feel the same way.

I will NOT vote for Hillary, Giuliani, Romney, or Obama. (At least that's what I am saying at this point).

OTOH, as a nation, I truly believe that Giuliani or Romney, would be much worse for us, than Hillary or Obama. Bush has done some serious damage, and we need someon that will at least attempt to reverse some of the harm that has been done.

A vote for the lesser of two evils. Pretty much how it has been since I first voted.

A non vote may just mean more.

this summarizes how I have voted since I have had the legal right to. And the last two I voted for Gore and Kerry despite the fact that I gave money to Nader because I succumbed to guilt about the lesser of two evils. At the end of the day my vote meant shit all because Colorado handed all its electoral college votes to Bush by a wide margin...

So this year, no matter what, I am voting conscious. The whole "this is the best we can do" just does not seem good enough for a Country that has the most successful democracy in the World.

**Kevo** · 11-15-2007, 10:16 AM

Agreed with Nick and Adam. I honestly don't believe that things would be very different had Gore or Kerry won in 2000 or 2004. (Especially if Kerry had won). The powers at be would have gotten their war in Iraq regardless of who won and the middle east would have been destabilized one way or another.

I think that the current political system is a way of keeping the status quo without ever actually changing anything. The masses fight over hot button issues once every two to four years and the powers at be (organizations with enough lobbying money to get candidates that will benefit them from either side, (also insert ridiculous conspiracy theory here)) will always get who they want into office.

After the election, the populous mysteriously stops caring about politics and the direction of the country. Constituents have NO FUCKING IDEA if the people that they voted into office keep up with the platforms that got them voted into office in the first place.

The problem is that I see no easy way to change all of this. We will be once again be choosing between an douche bag and an asshole in the next election, and no one will really change the country for the better.