The American Dream

[Jamiko]

Watch tv.

Consume.

Don't make waves.

Work.

Die.

Is this the American Dream?

No, but it's the way most of us live our lives these days.

Notice that voting is not on this list. That's because only a minority of people vote in this country. The media loves to use such words as landslide and trend when they describe elections but when you break it down, it's only a small percentage of the population that decides the fate of our country.

Only 30% of all registered voters bothered to vote in the 2002 midterm elections. 16% of them voted Republican. The media called the event a mandate of the people. Since when is 16% of the country any kind of mandate? This small percentage of the American population is now controlling our House and Senate.

You want to know government's dirty little secret? It's more outrageous than any other conspiracy in our history, more telling than the Pentagon Papers or Watergate.

POLITICIANS DON'T WANT YOU TO VOTE. Voting means you're passionate about the issues, enough to get out and do something about it. Voting challenges the status quo. But the politicians in Washington don't want you to do that. They want you to sit back and enjoy the ride while they drive the country down the path of big business handouts. They love low voter turnout; it means the stalwarts will be the only ones out there carrying the party torches while the rest of us scratch our head and wonder why our voices aren't being heard.

People think by not voting, they're casting a vote against the system. WRONG! By not voting you're letting a small minority determine the policy for the rest of us. WE CAN'T SIT BACK ANYMORE! The most radical thing you can do is actually something as boring and pedestrian as voting.

Newsflash - decisions are made by the people who show up!

If 90% of the people in this country actually cast their ballots on election day, the administration would head for the hills! How about this for a crazy idea? Instead of sitting at home on your couch watching reality tv, you actually invest in your OWN reality and VOTE. I don't even care who you vote for! I'm serious! Whoever wins, the system will be working! The checks and balances will be in place! Whatever we do, we have to stop the hi-jacking of our government; it's OURS; let's take it back.

We don't need to bomb a country half way around the world in the name of democracy.

We can fight for it right here.

That's how important your ballot is this November.

Be a rebel, be a radical - vote!

The country needs YOUR input.

ARE YOU LETTING YOUR VOICE BE HEARD?

[K-RadPie]

Yeah, yeah, whatever. I won't be able to vote until 2010, and I'm sure that most people over 18 on this forum already DO vote, since, after all, this is a politics forum.

[K-RadPie]

At 9/28/07 08:23 PM, Jamiko wrote: That's how important your ballot is this November.

Wait, what's happening this November?

[Brick-top]

"Do your country proud:

VOTE!"
lol

[uhnoesanoob]

Well, at least the op isn't some odd emo dressing kid.....

[SmilezRoyale]

People don't have to vote; and voting itself is more based on what i'm going to talk about below

in my opinion, the spread of information to all people's from various sources is the key to individual thought. Instead of Discouraging the taking of sources from different people's, every single information source, news source, etc, should be encouraging other people to look at; at least ocassionally the sources of other people. When you have news sources that have people bashing eachother and telling the populace that they're source is the only worthy one; you have a problem.

now back to the topic... It's people's privaledge, and also they're duty to learn and get as many information bases as possible; and from this, try to create a good picture in they're head of what is going on in the world; however, forcing people to vote is bad it creates more unmotivated and more un-thoughtfull voters.

[fli]

At 9/28/07 08:43 PM, chocolate-penguin wrote: Yeah, politicians don't want voters. Of course, it all makes sense! They don't want to be elected! If you wonder why your voice isn't being heard, TURN 18 AND FUCKING DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT DUMBSHIT.

Okay... maybe, he said it in a different way, but I think he's saying that politicians don't want the whole population to vote because if only a small percentage is voting, then it becomes easier to pass laws with disregard for other peoples.

Imagine if what we voted actually represented what we, as a whole population, voted. I will tell you, things would be a whole lot different if Blacks voted more frequently.

But the people who vote most are old and part of the AARP, and they don't care really for young people... unless, it effects them.

[morefngdbs]

At 9/30/07 12:15 AM, fli wrote: Imagine if what we voted actually represented what we, as a whole population, voted. I will tell you, things would be a whole lot different if Blacks voted more frequently.

But the people who vote most are old and part of the AARP, and they don't care really for young people... unless, it effects them.

;
I think your statements here Fli are right on the money.
I believe even if you don't like any candidate & hate the whole system, vote anyway.
Just having the right to vote really means nothing if you don't exercise your right.
I have been accused of throwing my vote away because I usually vote for the greens, & I have voted for the Cannibis party as well (surprise ,surprise) but the green party has made some real strides forward and in Canada the more votes you collect (even though you don't win) the more money is available from elections Canada for your next attempt at the next election.

http://green.ca

[CogSpin]

The thing about the gov. not wanting people to care is TRUE. Protestors can change things, which is not a good thing for the gov.

However, bringing voting into the issue is stupid. There's no way voting is legitimately counted, especially considering a lot of it is computerised these days.

[Monsoon48]

Jam you are so correct. but u know wat the sad thing is? So many ppl know this but so many ppl don care. Its a sad truth im afraid. I guess people think that the government won't listen. And on one hand they don't. Sometimes the elections are rigged and the people in charge of it if they know they be quiet for a pretty penny. Sad truth about this country :/

[ProBo]

People don't realize that our whole government is truly run by the people. When many give up control to few, our system of government will collapse. in a sense, the people are the boss, the true rulers. We can collapse the government if we truly wanted to. Long live the republic! long live democracy!

[NHT123]

At 9/28/07 08:23 PM, Jamiko wrote: Watch tv.

Consume.

Don't make waves.

Work.

Die.

Is this the American Dream?

Oh I think we do a little more then that, but go ahead simplify things to an excess.

No, but it's the way most of us live our lives these days.

What are you doing differently?

Notice that voting is not on this list. That's because only a minority of people vote in this country. The media loves to use such words as landslide and trend when they describe elections but when you break it down, it's only a small percentage of the population that decides the fate of our country.

You just found out about this didn't you? You can't force people to vote. If this is a feeble attempt to get people to vote then ou failed.

Only 30% of all registered voters bothered to vote in the 2002 midterm elections. 16% of them voted Republican. The media called the event a mandate of the people. Since when is 16% of the country any kind of mandate? This small percentage of the American population is now controlling our House and Senate.

And yet the polls which get a bigger turnout show that more people like the republicans. Once you grow a brain you realise the democrats are only doing what is political.

You want to know government's dirty little secret? It's more outrageous than any other conspiracy in our history, more telling than the Pentagon Papers or Watergate.

Please don't say voting after this

POLITICIANS DON'T WANT YOU TO VOTE. Voting means you're passionate about the issues, enough to get out and do something about it. Voting challenges the status quo. But the politicians in Washington don't want you to do that. They want you to sit back and enjoy the ride while they drive the country down the path of big business handouts. They love low voter turnout; it means the stalwarts will be the only ones out there carrying the party torches while the rest of us scratch our head and wonder why our voices aren't being heard.

OH NOEZ, VOTE FOR THE OTHER GUY NOT TEH ME! I hardly think so.

People think by not voting, they're casting a vote against the system. WRONG! By not voting you're letting a small minority determine the policy for the rest of us. WE CAN'T SIT BACK ANYMORE! The most radical thing you can do is actually something as boring and pedestrian as voting.

How are the casting their vote against the other party will do anything? You will still get a match up of conflicting veiws. Everything is not as black and white as you see it.

Newsflash - decisions are made by the people who show up!

Yes exactly, but if you want any real change go into politics yourself and change the system from the inside out. But then you will still have to do what is politically correct, so good luck with that.

If 90% of the people in this country actually cast their ballots on election day, the administration would head for the hills! How about this for a crazy idea? Instead of sitting at home on your couch watching reality tv, you actually invest in your OWN reality and VOTE. I don't even care who you vote for! I'm serious! Whoever wins, the system will be working! The checks and balances will be in place! Whatever we do, we have to stop the hi-jacking of our government; it's OURS; let's take it back.

OH MY GOD, PEOPLE ACTUALLY CARE! WE CAN'T JUST BLOW BALLOON ANIMALS ALL DAY AND PLAY VIDEO GAMES, WE'LL HAVE TO DO REAL WORK!

Get real.

We don't need to bomb a country half way around the world in the name of democracy.

I see this is all against bush then. If people came out and voted for bush then you would be back here saying how people should all not vote period. Iraq right now is not about pulling out because we will cause more blood shed. Like you give a fuck anyways.

We can fight for it right here.

That's how important your ballot is this November.

Be a rebel, be a radical - vote!

The country needs YOUR input.

ARE YOU LETTING YOUR VOICE BE HEARD?

You are an idiot. You have no grasp of politics and are just regurgitating the crap your teacher/parent/freind said. You are not a rebel by voting, why the fuck do people care if they are rebels or not? To you know what to rebel means? I doubt it.

[EnragedSephiroth]

At 9/28/07 08:23 PM, Jamiko wrote: ARE YOU LETTING YOUR VOICE BE HEARD?

That's right, VOTE OR DIE!!! http://youtube.com/watch?v=N7U_V_UNRek

... probably not the best way to motivate people though...

[GenerousPortions]

At 9/28/07 08:23 PM, Jamiko wrote: Watch tv.

Consume.

Don't make waves.

Work.

Die.

Is this the American Dream?

Nope.

That's reality... in general. LOL

[Kev-o]

I think a large percentage of people who do not vote, find a complete lack of choice on the ballot.

[EnragedSephiroth]

At 10/3/07 11:00 PM, Kev-o wrote: I think a large percentage of people who do not vote, find a complete lack of choice on the ballot.

I find they just can't be bothered. No really I ask my coworkers or classmates and they say they're busy :\ *shrug* Voting needs to be held on a Sunday or Saturday, ALL DAY. I'm sure if they hosted it on a weekend rather than on a day when everyone's busy (like in 04') more people would vote!