[The_Blur]

Originally Posted by Punk_rider

I quite don't agree with the general mood ... American, french, english ... people died all over the world for freedom. I guess it includes the freedom not to vote.

I mean i've read here "you don't have the right to complain if the one you wanted doesn't win as you didn't vote" ... well ... what if you or I did not support any of the candidates?

I've been into that when I was 18 or so .. there was this pressure "vote vote vote" ...ok I've voted for a guy ... he lost ... no drama ...

That was 10 years from now, I've decided never to vote again unless I agree 100% with the guy I'm voting for. Cause voting for a guy is giving him the power to do whatever he wants on behalf of you. Right now obama is your boss. Anything he is gonna do will be legitimatye cause you have voted for him ...

I trust no one (secretly I'm some kinda republican anarchist)

While you are absolutely correct that freedom is not exclusive to the Unites States, I can only speak for our citizens. I am proud of those who fell under a flag with 13 stripes and a blue corner full of stars. I'm sure you feel some level of pride about those who died for your lifestyle, as well.

You'll never, in your life or anyone else's, find a candidate that matches your value. Furthermore, assuming that this candidate will change the system to your liking is even more impossible because we do not vote for absolute monarchs. If you don't vote because no one is good enough for you, maybe you should run for office. It will teach you how to compromise with your neighbors on policy issues, and it will also teach you that people who stick to their values and block out the world become marginalized and lose elections. I don't mean to be harsh, but you need to seek out candidates and parties that reflect your values. There is not perfect-match party. When you get them elected, you need to take the democratic responsibility to contact your officials to demand they vote your way. As a constituent, you hold your elected officials accountable. It is your responsibility to change society, not your elected official's.

On the issue of not voting, I can agree with you. While I don't agree with your reasons, I do respect that you don't vote. That is your choice. On that same token, I have the same freedom to disagree with your decision as you have to disagree with my opinions on candidates and voting. Obviously, I feel that voting is important to maintaining a democracy. Apparently, you feel that voting for someone with values that even slightly deviate from your values is inappropriate. I don't expect to change your opinion, but I do want to express that voting is essential to democracy, and apathy is the evil that leads to authoritarianism. Every time you vote, you are voting for democracy. If you don't vote, you're supporting a much more evil alternative. Would you rather be led by someone who seized power greedily and by force or by someone you didn't elect but was elected by a plurality of your country? I think the choice is obvious.

Originally Posted by Skyman 08

I hold to my statement, and Shame on you for not voting. (you could have just written in your own name) I guess you like not having any say so in anything.. do you let everyone else tell you what to say and what to do without you giving your opinion? That is what you do when you don't vote.

By the way Obama is not my "BOSS" as you put it. he does not tell me what to do or how to live, the only one that does that holds a much higher office than him...

No American President gets enough respect to call him or, someday, her boss. Obama is the election winner. This is not the end of the road. A lot of politicking has to happen for Obama to get anything his way, even with a Democratic Congress. In other words, voting only legitimizes the system of democracy. Doing what Obama says legitimizes his campaign. If he runs on the economy but wages war on Canada, that would delegitimize Obama. As a democratically elected leader, it is Obama's responsibility to maintain the support he earned in the election. One big mistake is enough to make all of that go away. As I've stated before, Obama does very little without the consent of Congress. Democracy tends to work from the legislature, not the executive.

Originally Posted by Punk_rider

Just to make clear, i'm not american so I wasn't supposed to vote.

Besides that, I understand your point, but just understand mine.

Let's say I just hate both candidates. Am I supposed to vote anyway?

What I mean is that when you vote for someone, you don't have the choice in his program. You can't say "i vote for war but not for abortion". You vote, you give your legitimacy for the whole program.

I think people have the right (actually in belgium the law forces you to vote) to say "none of the candidates represent my beliefs, I won't give up my legitimacy to them".

Hope you understand, by not voting the only thing I say is "not in my name".

People died for freedom. I feel like applying this freedom when I choose to not chosse between what I may consider being two bad diseases.

Oh, BTW, if would have been american, I would have voted yesterday. Actually, I wouldn't have voted "for" but "against" someone. I don't feel like doing that is a proper way to apply freedom.

But no mistake, I understand you point. I just don't agree. To me freedom is also the freedom not to get involved in something you don't like.

As told, this way of thinking applies much more in free countries where there are no risk of dictature. Sure if tomorrow I have to vote to choose between Hitler and a repulicrat (or a demoblican) I'd vote...

Anyway, you guys made your choices. And actually I won't even voice what I think of the new president cause it's useless.

First of all, we're trying to keep the opinions of Obama under wraps. We don't want the mods to yell at us.

Second of all, you do have a say in the program because you can call any public office in any democratic country to ask for change. In many countries, it is also possible to participate in interest groups based on your desire for change.

Third of all, many people vote against someone. Yesterday, a lot of people voted against Republicans by voting for Democrats. Sometimes, expressing yourself with a single vote is a very complicated thing. Elected officials are aware of that. They also readily accept feedback from constituents on how they can better serve their communities. They aren't evil. They are just people doing a job.