Go Florida!
April 25th, 2007 by Nancy ClevelandFinally, somewhere, a long-held wish of mine might just come true.
In 2000 I became sadly disenchanted by our election process following the farce in Florida. 2004 had no desire to vote for John Kerry the Vacillator and, if possible, even less for George Bush. No-one on the ballot worth my consideration but, more importantly, trust, and I decided to abstain. It wasn’t very satisfying, I must admit…so I didn’t go to the polls.
Other people don’t go for whatever reason…weather, no ride, ambivalence but for such as myself, it was none of these. I wanted to go, I wanted to check a box saying I wanted “this person†to be our CiC, run my country, that he had earned a country’s trust…into which we willingly and knowledgeably put ours and our children’s lives…and respect for at least the next four years but, since in all conscience I could not, then select the box abstaining from voting and why…my own protest, make a statement of conscience. Yes, I could “write-in†anyone…big deal. That didn’t say “You people need to get a grip and at least offer someone with integrity, honesty, stick-to-it-ivness if you want my vote.†When I listen to candidates I listen carefully…is it too much to expect that with their platform pronouncements, their campaign promises they don’t just pay lip service but mean what they say…or, at the very least, say nothing? I might not agree entirely with my chosen candidate but I will respect whomever it is so long as they believe what they say and continue to do so…then do what they’ve said they will, not do what they said they won’t. It’s not enough for others to tell me “Well, that’s the name of the game. That’s politics…†Yes, it is. But WHY? Why do we continue to accept this ? And by voting for someone who doesn’t or won’t stand by the words they speak, we allow it to continue. Let them know if and when we “choose not to vote†or abstain. Let them know why. And if it doesn’t win a race…that’s a start.
I hope this Bill succeeds. I hope it’s the forerunner for any and all of us to be able to formally make it known the “lesser of two evils is still evilâ€â€¦n’est pas? And ‘none of you are worth a plug nickel’; that it isn’t apathy or laziness or weather or better things to do that keep many of us from the polls but that ’if you are all we’ve got…not good enough!’
April 25th, 2007 at 7:43 pm
…or vote for the Bo Gritz or another third-party candidate just to take your vote away from the majors ?
Also, I don’t agree that voting “Decline” or “I choose not to vote for this office” gives any additional griping rights than if a voter stayed home all together. I generally don’t talk politics with non-voters (habitual non-voters, Nancy…I’m not picking on you). I don’t feel it’s right to complain about an office-holder who someone declined to vote for.
I understand, with the optical scan ballots we have in Ohio, you have to VOTE for every office…otherwise your ballot is cancelled, so I can see its merits as well. But I still don’t agree with it.
April 25th, 2007 at 10:15 pm
Pat, I understand there are many who don’t agree with this stance but maybe one has to be the person abstaining from voting with reason, belief and principle because they really care, to determine whether or not there is no difference between her/him and one who just doesn’t care at all and simply exercises apathy. But I appreciate your input and respect your belief.
April 26th, 2007 at 6:35 am
Why should you compromise if you do not care for either candidate?
I have been trying for years to figure out the logic behind “if you do not vote you have no right to complain.” To me, that is just plain square headed. If you pay taxes and are a legal resident you have every right to complain.
April 26th, 2007 at 9:11 am
Whoa…I just made an opinion, Pete. Just because I have a flat-top is no need to call me (or those that share my opinion) “square-headed.”
I just believe in taking my complaints to the polling place. If I have a complaint, I vote for the other person. I just know too many people who you couldn’t pay to get to the ballot box (apathy), then do nothing but gripe about who gets in.
April 26th, 2007 at 2:39 pm
Pat, no offence intended. If I had hair I could have a flat top also.
April 26th, 2007 at 8:17 pm
Thanks, Pete. You’re a good man.
Maybe I overreacted…I’m sorry.
Like I said, though, we have optical scan ballots in Summit County, where you pencil-in your choices (kinda like the old computer sheets), then put it into a scanner. It reads the dots and lets you know whether or not the ballot was complete, thereby requiring you to vote for every office. So in some regards, the thought does have its merits…
April 29th, 2007 at 5:34 am
I would like some type of machine that reads a thumb print that verifies that you are a legal voter. The reports lately have said that voter fraud is way down but I have a hard time accepting that.
April 29th, 2007 at 7:10 am
When we vote here in Ohio, we have to show photo ID (driver’s license or state-issued ID).