I've decided I won't be apart anymore.

Like most. Multi-party system that has to come up with a coalition to rule. There were 8 parties or something like that and all of them get seats in the National Assembly. I have no idea what they all stand for or anything. That would require advanced Spanish. The guy who got elected had the backing of numerous parties. With a system like that you don't get government shutdowns because a group like the Tea Party does not wield enough power to stop things from moving forward. Plus, it's not "party above all" anyway. It's just a different mentality.

 

I can agree with that. And in the meantime they will divorce themselves from the whole process.

 

I notice you say
this is not about Obama or the Republics
You do not mention the democrats until the end of your post

Trying to read between the lines
I also notice you repeat at the end
The democrats talking points About the republicans
And the republicans talking points about the democrats
I voted my first time for a republican Dwight D. Eisenhower
After that I voted democrat for one reason
The republicans kept telling everyone how bad the democrats would be

There is a distinct difference between the two parties
But in order to find out what the differences are You must listen only to positive politics
only listen to a politician when he tells you what he will do and what he has done

Since you say you're going to give up voting
It will not hurt you to investigate both parties
do Not let conservative tell you how a liberal thinks
And not let a liberal tell you how a conservative thinks

You also have to understand how government really works
And limits on different political offices

 

I was the same as the OP. But i decided i will vote third party. Third parties are good because if they get big enough they will move the mainstream politicians in the direction you like, like in France (National Front), Greece (Golden Dawn) and England with the UKIP. Even the Nazi Party was a third party. The Tea Party is another example and is sort of third party ish. People got pissed off and started voting for people who didn't have a chance.

It wont hurt you to vote for a party you like and give them some money. Although i have very little faith they will get anywhere I wont waste my vote. At least I do my job.

The democrats have made voting a joke. My vote is practically eliminated by the millions of immigrants who are coming. My vote has been totally devalued and is devalued each day.

 

I may cast a vote for Jesse if he runs for president.

He has made getting into the debates a prerequisite for his running, though.

 

That's the exact same attitude that's causing the problem in the first place. We need people to vote, it's only way we can stop the descent into madness. If the moderates and indepedents of America got together and just voted they would be in such a position to make moderatism something again in this nation. We have shifted too far to the right because people hate the government, so let's stop the shift and swing the pendleum back the other way.

 

I can't help but see some logic in what George Carlin said:

 

When it comes to money. They differ quite a bit more on social issues.

 

I am willing to vote along party lines, for the party that is willing be fiscally responsible enough to end the drug war.

 

Let me guess you voted for Ron Paul in 2008

 

Voting is the least important way one can participate in democracy. If you do not want to vote, don't vote.

 

OP, I think your position is one that should be taken up by leftists everywhere.

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To far to the right? The government takes 40% from the people. Will we be too right wing when they get past 50?

 

Yea, I think of it like tipping on bad service.....

If you don't leave a tip, the waiter/waitress will assume you forgot, if you leave a penny, they will get the message.


Sometimes you vote against someone.

 

Well as someone who took George Carlins advice as posted in post #32. That does not help either you are becoming like most Americans. You are better off to vote third party even though they will not win. If all of us that hate the system did that the republicans and democrats would have to change. I am trying to get motivated to participate but admit it is hard. I have never voted D or R the only time I did vote(Perot) it made a statement but did not change much IMO. If all Americans that refuse to vote did so and voted 3rd party they would win. That would change things but with the electoral college it is very difficult to change the system.

 

So you still believe change can come?

You know we have had a democrat or republican president for the past 160 years?


I'm sorry I have lost faith in both of those parties and America has decided that they ONLY have faith in those parties, so even if my vote did matter they would still win as they always have.


I also want to say thank you for the people who gave constructive advice.

 

I vote every time … But I am not saying that it is always productive.
It is far more productive when I take special interest in seeing that a vote goes one way or the other in local issues.

I have a stateside residence in a small town in Louisiana … And regardless of conditions, we have made sure there hasn't been a tax increase, bond issue, or millage tax increase in 12 years.
We still have the best funded schools in the Parish, better roads, better services and what-not … But without the constant need to redistribute the wealth.

It is rather easy to get friends and neighbors to vote against increases when you go to them armed with information about how politicians should have been more responsible with what they did.
It is appealing to people when they accept the idea that the government should live within its budget … And treat the money they do get like it isn't an infinite amount of campaign funding.
It is a lot easier when the people know the candidates … The base of every issue … And can see where spending money more wisely outweighs the desire to just throw money at a problem.

If people want to “check-out” and quit voting … Then they deserve whatever they get in return … Too bad the people that do vote seldom get what they want anyway.

 

The last sentence, "Too bad the people that do vote seldom get what they want anyway." that is the way I feel, I vote and it seems like the things I want and the things most people I know want go ignored, I know that this is probably untrue everywhere, but I travel and I see a lot of different people and a lot of them have the same viewpoint as me and but the government seems to be going in the other direction.

 

I am willing to vote along party lines, for the party that is willing be fiscally responsible enough to end the drug war.

 

That's because our government is bought and paid for by special interest groups. You know who does not have a special interest group? The actual voters. So the people vote candidates in and then the special interest groups run the show from there. And since both parties operate the same way when you vote for either you are just allowing the problem to fester.

 

Because they do not need one.

The voters do not have to beg and manipulate people to get their will done...they merely have to elect someone that shares their views. There were TONS of people opposing pot legalization in Colorado, from both parties. They saturated us with advertising telling us how it was a huge mistake and not to vote for it. But it happened anyway.

Influence is not control.

 

And then who do they give that money out to? Corporations in the form of subsidies or to the people itself?

 

hell here in california my vote has never counted..all it does it get me called for jury duty..but i learned how to get rid of that easily

 

What subsidies other then FDR's dumb farm programs? Please don't tell me you are one of those leftists who think claiming expense deductions are subsidies. I have been hearing that argument here and it is ludicrous.

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Sound like we should limit government and cut off as much cash as possible.

 

When was the last time you talked to a politician? Formed a group to go visit their office? Government goes to those who show up.

 

I'm not sure why I bother to vote anymore...I live in a one-party state with most races unopposed. Honestly...the only reason I DO bother is because of ballot questions.