Is Voting a "Duty?"

I got into a debate with someone whose opinion is that it's everyone's civic duty to vote, regardless if they aren't thrilled with either candidate. My position is that if neither candidate speaks to me, and I'm unimpressed by both....then fuck it....neither deserves my vote and I'll just stay home on election day. I personally don't think I owe it to anyone to give out my vote like Skittles on Halloween, just because.

What do you think....should everyone vote for a candidate, regardless if they are feeling the choices?

Marc™ wrote:I got into a debate with someone whose opinion is that it's everyone's civic duty to vote, regardless if they aren't thrilled with either candidate. My position is that if neither candidate speaks to me, and I'm unimpressed by both....then fuck it....neither deserves my vote and I'll just stay home on election day. I personally don't think I owe it to anyone to give out my vote like Skittles on Halloween, just because.

What do you think....should everyone vote for a candidate, regardless if they are feeling the choices?

I've had a very strong opinion on this for a long time. I firmly believe that if you don't vote, then keep your mouth shut if you don't like the way things are run. A person's choice on for whom to vote isn't limited to Democrat or Republican. Even if they're the only two candidates on the ballot. Write someone in. Vote for the lesser of the two evils. Vote for someone you think would do a better job. When I get back on Sunday I'll probably read how this is "wasting" my vote. Bullshit. The only time you waste your vote is when you don't vote. A few weeks ago I posted something on the Republican efforts at voter suppression. That any rational person can see is very real. I guess one of the things that pisses me off is when people treat their right to vote as their right not to vote.

Alan Smithee wrote:

I've had a very strong opinion on this for a long time. I firmly believe that if you don't vote, then keep your mouth shut if you don't like the way things are run. A person's choice on for whom to vote isn't limited to Democrat or Republican. Even if they're the only two candidates on the ballot. Write someone in. Vote for the lesser of the two evils. Vote for someone you think would do a better job. When I get back on Sunday I'll probably read how this is "wasting" my vote. Bullshit. The only time you waste your vote is when you don't vote. A few weeks ago I posted something on the Republican efforts at voter suppression. That any rational person can see is very real. I guess one of the things that pisses me off is when people treat their right to vote as their right not to vote.

repeatedly

Sometimes

Is voting a civic duty? Only in the philosophical sense, to those who believe that every right implies a responsibility to that right. However, in the most literal sense of the term, no. Voting is NOT a civic duty. Signing up for the draft when you reach the age of majority is a civic duty. Serving on a jury is a civic duty. Paying taxes is a civic duty. All of these are things required by the law of citizens. Voting (or even registering to vote) are not. That is merely a right that we are guaranteed as citizens, but it is not a civic duty.

The voting age in the US was 21 when I first started voting. I was 21 a few days before so I registered before my birthday. My first vote was cast November 4th 1960. I have voted in every election I was qualified to vote in. Even though we weren't Canadian citizens until we were qualified (after 5 years then) we were still able to vote in city elections and did. It is a duty and a privilege and a right to vote. If you lived in many other countries you wouldn't be allowed to vote or forced to vote for only one candidate. So get out there and vote, you may not like the candidates so vote for the lesser of 2 evils!

Alan Smithee wrote:

I've had a very strong opinion on this for a long time. I firmly believe that if you don't vote, then keep your mouth shut if you don't like the way things are run. A person's choice on for whom to vote isn't limited to Democrat or Republican. Even if they're the only two candidates on the ballot. Write someone in. Vote for the lesser of the two evils. Vote for someone you think would do a better job. When I get back on Sunday I'll probably read how this is "wasting" my vote. Bullshit. The only time you waste your vote is when you don't vote. A few weeks ago I posted something on the Republican efforts at voter suppression. That any rational person can see is very real. I guess one of the things that pisses me off is when people treat their right to vote as their right not to vote.

And being that it wasn't that long ago when I personally wouldn't have been able TO vote, I definitely feel compelled to. People have died for my right to vote.

Alan Smithee wrote: I guess one of the things that pisses me off is when people treat their right to vote as their right not to vote.

Be that as it may, people DO in fact have the right NOT to vote. Unless something is mandated by law, it cannot be considered a "civic duty". Voting is a "choice" just like tithing to your church is a choice. Some people feel that it is their duty to tithe also, but at the end of the day it remains their choice. It's not something you necessarily HAVE to do. Whether or not people SHOULD do it is a completely different argument. You are unlikely to encounter a person living in the US who feels like they should not have the RIGHT to vote. But that in itself doesn't mean that they must feel compelled to actually vote. Not every woman who is "pro-choice" would feel compelled to get an abortion if they got pregnant. Having the right to do something should not necessitate an expectation of doing that thing.

In every presidential election since I became eligible to vote, I have had strong enough feelings for (or against) one side to make it my business to get to the polls and vote. I almost can't imagine a situation where presidential candidates would cause me indifference, or where I'd be offput by them both to the point of not wanting to bother. I'm a democrat and so I never want to see a Republican in office, that alone is motivation enough even if I'm not in awe of my party's guy.

However, I have been known to skip local elections for the same reasons.

Yes. I think everyone should see it as their duty to get out and vote. Let your opinion factor into how the country is steered and run. Even if you don't like your parties guy, do like Allen said and vote for who you think the lesser evil is.

I'm in a similar predicament now. In '08 I enthusiastically voted for Obama, but he's been a colossal disappointment. My support hasn't turned to Romney and if I do make it out to vote again this year Obama will most likely be who I choose but he's been such a disappointment that I almost dread voting in his favor again.

Verve wrote:I'm in a similar predicament now. In '08 I enthusiastically voted for Obama, but he's been a colossal disappointment. My support hasn't turned to Romney and if I do make it out to vote again this year Obama will most likely be who I choose but he's been such a disappointment that I almost dread voting in his favor again.

I have to ask how much more did you expect Obama to accomplish with the republicans in congress unwilling to cooperate at all? You forget that the republicans would destroy your country to make sure Obama doesn't get a 2nd term in office? Mitch McConnell said that was their only priority. In spite of their obstructionism

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05/19/12 Agreement negotiated and completed to allow blind Chinese dissident, Chen Guangcheng, to study in USA International Relations Compassion & Freedom of Speech
05/09/12 Barack Obama becomes the first President to publicly support the legalization of same sex marriage Defense of Marriage Act LGBT
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09/06/11 U.S./Pakistani joint arrest of suspected Chief Al-Qaeda Younis al-Mauritani in Quetta Al-Qaeda Defeating Al Qaeda
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06/07/11 East Africa's Al-Qaeda senior leader Harun Fazul killed at security checkpoint in Somalia Al-Qaeda Defeating Al Qaeda
06/03/11 Al-Qaeda Commander Ilyas Kashmiri Killed in U.S. Predator Strike Al-Qaeda Defeating Al Qaeda
2011 JUN 6 senior Al-Qaeda figures killed in U.S. Air Strike Al-Qaeda Defeating Al Qaeda
05/02/11 US Forces Kill Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan Al-Qaeda Defeating Al Qaeda
02/23/11 Defense of Marriage Act declared unconstitutional and no longer defended in federal courts by the Obama Administration Defense of Marriage Act LGBT
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01/04/11 Small family farms selling locally exempted from federal regulations such as traceability and record keeping Food Safety Modernization Act Farmers & Improving Govt Efficiency
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12/22/10 US sponsored measure to include “sexual orientation” in the definition of human rights adopted by the UN General Assembly, 122- 0. Discrimination LGBT
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12/17/10 $40 billion in tax credits for college students and lower income families with children 2010 Tax & Jobs Compromise Poor & Students
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05/21/10 Al-Qaeda’s number three commander Sheik Saeed al-Masri killed in U.S. drone attack Al-Qaeda Defeating Al Qaeda
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03/18/10 Offsets costs through a 30 percent withholding tax on income from certain U.S. financial assets held by foreign banks who have not agreed to disclosures. Hire Act Unemployed
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2010 MAR Al-Qaeda operative Hussein al-Yemeni killed by U.S. drone attack in Pakistan Al-Qaeda Defeating Al Qaeda
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2010 FEB Militant commander Muhammad Haqqani killed by U.S. drone attacks Terrorism Combating Terrorism
01/01/10 Discrimination based on gender identity banned in federal workplaces Discrimination LGBT
2009 $28.6 billion net public benefit in income taxes and social security taxes paid because liquidation of GM and Chrysler avoided Taxes Businesses & Improving the Economy
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12/17/09 Al-Qaeda Operational Commander Abdallah Sa’id killed in U.S. drone attack Al-Qaeda Defeating Al Qaeda
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10/30/09 People with HIV/AIDS no longer prohibited from entering the United States Discrimination Immigrants & LGBT
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Thank you Suzi. I'll admit I'm not very enthusiastic this time around myself. So I understand that. But seriously do people who strongly believe in equal rights & the US getting back on its feet want to sit home on election day while the other side runs to the polls to vote for Romney because...well...the black guy?


Because honestly, we know the truth. People are willing to see this country destroyed, the middle class being decimated, corporations raking in record profits off the backs of the working class & rights being taken away just because of that. I'll be in that voting booth if I have to crawl there.

CeCe wrote:Thank you Suzi. I'll admit I'm not very enthusiastic this time around myself. So I understand that. But seriously do people who strongly believe in equal rights & the US getting back on its feet want to sit home on election day while the other side runs to the polls to vote for Romney because...well...the black guy?


Because honestly, we know the truth. People are willing to see this country destroyed, the middle class being decimated, corporations raking in record profits off the backs of the working class & rights being taken away just because of that. I'll be in that voting booth if I have to crawl there.