It’s a day of choices here in the “Divided States of America” – Go Vote!

45 Comments

1. Hi Steve: I am 58 years old and have spent above 1/3 of my life in my birth place Taiwan, 1/3 in my country of nationality the US, and 1/3 in the People’s Republic of Cina. I have travelled to and lived briefly in many countries. I truly believe the US style democracy is the best political system……money can buy. (Long on personality and short on campaign dollars just won’t cut it.) It works because people in one state, one county, one community, one family, one date, can each vote with his/her free will and be respected. Life goes on peacefully with freedom and respect before and after the voting day. Isn’t it wonderful?
   Chih

2. Wow, I just saw the results. Voters numbered in the 100 million and change. Less than half, but not too bad, compared to our 35% eligible voter rate. These 100 million probably translate into 45% or more of people eligible to vote. Well done!

3. People in authoritarian countries know what it is like not to be able to vote. “Understanding” the issues (whatever that may mean) doesn’t come into it, neither does an intelligence or literacy test. It’s a fundamental right, and I consider it a duty to exercise that right (living in Holland). It’s called democracy, and it is, next to freedom, the most valuable thing a society can have.

   Great post Steve!

   • And whom can you vote for, choice A or choice B? Voting is not a right, it is a privilege humans created for themselves. Just because you can vote does not mean you actually have “choices”. Just because you can vote does not mean you should. Authoritarian countries won’t even bother trying to sell you an illusion of democracy, where as in western countries, voting is an illusion like a magic show. You’re presnted with 2 choices but whatever one you choose, they are both owned by they;re masters, the corporations. If you disagree, you need to ask why corporations and special interest groups contribute millions of dollars to all politicians…it surely is not out of the kindness of their corporate hearts. Choosing the leser of two evils is still choosing evil. unlike most folks, I prefer not to chose crap over turd, and I sleep at night knowing that I didn’t vote for some basterd, unlike most. the act of voting was done since man lived in caves and chased after game in bare feet. the question is not if you can vote, but what you can vote for. Choice A or choice B is no different than one choice. the system is set up so that only choice A and B have any chance getting elected. It’s a racket that’s been going onfor a long time. But there comes a time when even eternal optimists must face reality.

4. Steve, I am old as much as you are, and I live north of USA. I stopped voting when I found out no parties brought political goals/agendas that I can agree with. I will vote again when I find a party that I can agree to. Good luck to you, Americans.

5. Well, it looks like Coke won over Pepsi today. Will it be Pepsi in four years or will it be Coke? Stay tuned for the same old same old.

6. I get enough of politics every where I turn…didn’t need to see it here. Goodbye.

   • I hope you opted out of subscribing to comments or now you’ll be seeing politics in your inbox as well. 😉

   • Like health, you will miss it when you lost it.

7. Yes, go and vote. Will it be Coke this year or Pepsi? Maybe Pepsi will be the choice this year followed by Coke. Pepsi, coke, coke, Pepsi, you have a choice of two.. Just like pro wrestling the politicians are friends cutting deals in the background with each other and their coporate masters, but act up as enemies in the public..and folks buy into it every year. A choice between cow dung and donkey dung and people still choose one or the other. A two teamed footbal league, owned by the same folks,that’s basically what politics has become not just in America, but all over the world. At least in other countries they’re straight forward, you have 2 choices, a vote for the dictator, or one for prison if you don’t. In america and other like countries, they feed you an illusion of choice, but you really got none. It’s easy to get elected when your chances are 50/50. So will it be Pepsi or Coke this year, folks?

   • Does anyone truly believe the world will be the same if it was Gore, rather than Bush, who was elected the president of the US in 2000? Or the difference is irrelevant? It was a close election like this one. What fortune, and responsibility, US voters like you have that gets to decide who will hold the world’s most powerful office.
     Chih

8. I am watching this HBO series “NewsRoom” boy you guys have serious issues. Now I know exactly what Steve is talking about. 🙂

9. I worked the polls today. We had record turnout in our precinct. I’m beyond tired.

10. I’m just thankful to live in a country that offers me the opportunity to vote.

    • How right you are!

11. I Voted every election and sitting this one out. I voted for independent candidates the last two elections and the way it seems will never have a viable third party because of the two party gangs will crush any attempts for it. Money greed and special interests run both parties, were the most advanced banana republic on the planet. This election is almost like deja fu all over again, same things they said about gearge bush failing there saying about obama.

    • Agreed whole heartedly. Now that you didn’t vote you can say with a clear mind that you did NOT vote for the ones who are going to make the next mess. I learned about the reality politics way way back in highschool. Back then, it’s was all about electing who I liked or not, and for the candidate, it was all about their self interests, ei their popularity. The big stage politis is no different, except you just replace highschool popularity with money…big money. Money for the corporations, speical interests. The voting public dont count for nothing. well, at least back in highchool there was more than 7 choices. People dont even have a choice of having other choices.

      And the folks in America cry about the lack of freedoms in China. At least in China , they’re upfront about the lack of choice.and they don’t waste money and time with elections when everyone there knows everything is going to be the same. In America, they sell you an illusion of choice. Two choices that lead to one master. You cant feel sorry for victims who want to be abused. The politicians, the ones in power, the media, and soon the internet if not now, are all owned by your corporate masters. The only friend people have left is their own common sense, if there’s any logic left in folks these days.

      Now I’m not trying to convince anyone here of anything. I know most will go and vote for one of the two chosen choices. I only stand here laughing at those folks who fool themselves into thinking their vote will change anything. I wonder how many life times more will it take for people to wake up and realize the true problem of mankind. You can’t win the game if the rules have been fixed, you can’t make good from within a corrupt system.

      I used to be against politicians but after a while you realize it’s not the folks who deal the con that’s the problem, it’s the ones who believe in the con. You stop blaming the drug dealer when you realize that there wouldn’t be drug dealers if not for compliant addicts. It is high time political addicts in all contries sought help, but chances are they won’t. They’ll go and cast yet another vote, hoping and believing that the system will somehow uncorrupt itself…that one man will defy his corporate master and make a real change.Nothing could be further from the truth, but voters obviously don’t want the truth but illusions. Sometimes you just have to step back and watch people who want to be slaves, be inslaved.

12. In Australia we are fined if we don’t vote.
    Vote like your life depends on it because it does.

    • Wow I didn’t know that. I wish we did that here.

    • One of the smartest moves Australia has made, along with socialised medicine.

13. Uplifting post…however, I do beg to differ: who wins will make a huge difference in the lives of many people.

    My sister has a pre existing condition; is a breast cancer survivor. There is only one candidate that will guarantee her health insurance in spite of a pre existing condition.

    Look at the great federal response to hurricane Sandy and contrast that with the disastrous response to hurricane Katrina.

    On a host of issues, from healthcare to war and peace to college scholarships to a woman’s right to choose, the election will change many lives.

    Now sure we will survive, and we can recover even from a failed presidency like the Bush term, but the consequences are enormous to many.

    • Indeed.

14. Not being political and not participating in the electoral process are two different things. I respect ones right to withhold their beliefs in a public forum even if thats not how I am. We should always vote because it’s not just about who will become president but local ballot measures that will directly affect the city or town you are living in.

    OBAMA/BIDEN 2012

    • Johnloumiles, I would fan you here if I could, but I never forget. Ahmen to all you say my friend!!!

15. Words of wisdom. Greetings from New Zealand.

16. In Canada, many voters feel spoiling the ballot is the way to register a “protest” vote. This is untrue, and is recorded simply as a spoiled ballot. But, to properly protest at the voting station, if the voter is handed the ballot, then immediately returns it and says “I choose not to vote”, it is recorded as a DNV (Did Not Vote). I’d think a similar approach exists in the U.S..

    One can therefore pass judgement without taking sides with any political party, and still carry out their civic duty. Their right to complain still stands as they’ve carried out their responsibility.

17. If you don’t vote, you haven’t earned the right to complain about the results. I am conservative by nature and have become somewhat cynical in my old age. I think special interests drive political decision making worldwide, not just in the States, so I’m guessing it doesn’t really matter who gets the nod.

18. Same as it ever was. Still, go out and vote.

    • “Go out and vote” is a puzzling opinion. You should only vote if you understand the issues. Don’t vote to just vote.

      • Every American should vote and I think anyone who is alive knows the issues. You can’t NOT know them, no matter who you are. Like I said..vote for YOU.

        • I wish most people would stop voting agaist their own interests!!

19. Agreed Steve! I get my news from NPR. I find it about the least biased of the mainstream media outlets. I don’t watch TV (except for Netflix) and read the New York Times. The thing that is important is to recognize that everyone has different viewpoints, respect each other, and work for the common good. Elected officials ought to vote on what’s best for this country, which isn’t always the best for their party. Unfortunately, no one seems to be willing to compromise and thus nothing gets accomplished.

    • NPR and the NYT have a liberal bent – the bias is clear and part of both organization’s histories.

      Unfortunately, there is no such thing as an unbiased news source.

      I find financial newspapers like the Financial Times to be well written with minimal bias.

20. For the first time in my life, I am not voting. I may never vote again. I work in the restaurant industry and more that a 1/3 of my income goes to paying taxes and I still can not afford health insurance. I have to stand all day and I have heel spurs which kill me and I can not afford to have surgery or take the time off of work for recovery. To me, health insurance, like education, should be a right, not a priviledge. This is why I pay taxes. My taxes pay for the health insurance of our elected officials so why not me and everyone else in the restaurant industry? Are the suits more important? Furthermore, I can’t understand why insurance companies are in the business of making money off of people who are sick. If we had two candidates running for office, one from Goldman Sachs and the other from Deutsche Bank, that is not a choice. Simply put, I am not important and our government does not care about people like me. I’m out.

    • Sorry, David, but your situation is the perfect one to make an argument in favor of voting. Others can disagree, even lambast me, but I’ll say no more.

    • Living in the UK, I take our National Health Service fore granted most of the time. I can not imagine living in a wealthy country where health care is not universal – it strikes me as being inhumane.

      David, I’d encourage you to vote.

      • It is inhumane. and a certain group, who we will leave nameless, know that if it is ever installed in this country that the people will not let it be taken away. It can be paid for,just lay off some of this global roman empire building stuff. Oh what the hell, there is always the ER room cause thats free.

        • +1 Every other first tier country has healthcare for all and yet we label ourselves leaders of the free world. What people never seem to absorb is the fact that we already have laws on our books that force hospitals to care for anyone that comes through their doors in need of medical attention whether they can pay or not. So what we have is people with no insurance calling up 911 for ambulances to take them to the emergency room for issues that could have been handled in a clinic setting with socialized health care.

          So instead of paying for someone to going to a clinic and get a prescription for $200 the taxpayers are forced to pay thousands for the ambulance and emergency room care not to mention the burden it puts on doctors that should be dealing with life and death scenarios. Try to tell me I’m wrong and I’ll say come to Long Beach, CA…it happens every day all day. The only doctor that are against this are the ones who have a nice cushy private practice that caters to people with money and good insurance. The taxpayers pay either way, lets make the smart decision and save some money rather then worry that someone who is poor is getting something for free.

        • +1000.
          Universal healthcare is on the ballot on this election; one candidate has achieved it but it has not yet been phased in, while the other candidate will get rid of it.

    • If you are knowledgable of the issues, then go vote.

      At least vote on the local election issues/candidates that will directly impact you.

    • If you don’t vote, you can’t complain. If you don’t like the candidates, run for office. If you don’t like the laws, work to change them–people do it all the time. You can make a difference.

    • In Australia we have universal health care via a system of universal insurance. It is very popular ie. >75%approval with the general population. No party would dare suggest getting rid of it!

      Voting is compulsory in Australia. The fine for not voting is low. Actually what you have to do is turn up to a polling station and have your name crossed off. You can then just put a blank ballot paper in the box (or you could put some rude words in the paper if you are that way inclined!). We vote on Saturdays not a week day.

      It is interesting how different countries solve their issues. However, universal health care of some sort is common to all developed countries except the US. I think it is an idea which seems inevitable.

21. Just be careful when you are in the polling place voting – taking pictures is NOT allowed inside from what I know, and election workers get testy about it 😀

22. RIGHT ON, STEVE

23. Agree with you 100%, maybe that’s why I do not listen to the radio shows, here in Colombia are the same and some are pro-government of the current one. Congratulations for your space.

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