Comments on: Likelihood of Complaining about the Government vs. Voting Habits

By: Feryll

Feryll — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 21:55:41 +0000

Over 2 years of this being up and no one noticed it’s not supposed to be a line graph, but a bar graph?

By: Squiggles

Squiggles — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 01:28:39 +0000

No no you fail … spelling fail.

By: Greenster

Greenster — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 03:02:25 +0000

Good idea, Chris… just do what we’re all “obligated” to do. Go be a good little American and be happy casting your vote for a worthless candidate that doesn’t give a damn about you. Go back to American Idol and reality TV… don’t care about the true state of your country, don’t demand more from your government than empty suits and puppets that are interchangeable.

By: Greenster

Greenster — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 02:57:13 +0000

Hahaha agreed. I love that bit of his stand up.

“The only difference is that when I’m done masturbating, I’ll have a little to show for it.”

By: Worm

Worm — Tue, 30 Dec 2008 07:41:38 +0000

Also, no matter who I voted for I can always complain. If the guy in charge starts doing a bad job, especially if I voted for him, I’m going to be mad because he’s not representing me. I was sold on a particular point, that point is not being handled in the way it was supposed to be, I can complain.

What you should say is that if you don’t vote, you lose your right to complain.

By: ulooklost

ulooklost — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 17:56:33 +0000

Most people don’t wait in line for HOURS it takes me a matter of minutes to walk in, sign in, wait in line briefly, vote and stroll out. The places where people do have to wait for long periods of time will receive more attention in the future and possibly more vote machines/pole workers in the future.
Furthermore, most people don’t work the entire day, preventing them from voting at all, but those that do shouldn’t have too much trouble get off early or arranging to come in late on ELECTION DAY.
The fact that you would rather be sleeping or watching TV is certainly your business.
What many people fail to realize is that votes for a losing candidate DO count. It is the kind of thinking that “this won’t count” that prevents who knows how many additional people from voting for those candidates. And when a large segment of the population votes for a loser, that is still representative of what a group of voters want the winner to consider in his/her policies.
People also don’t seem to realize that by voting for ANY candidate at all also increases the number of voters in your demographic, whether it be race, age, economic status, etc. By voting and representing your demographic politicians and the media will cater more to your needs and present ideas that will hopefully get you to vote for them or watch their station in the future.

By: Confused

Confused — Tue, 25 Nov 2008 21:58:45 +0000

So I should stand in line for HOURS on end, take the time and energy of registering, miss work time, sleep time, or whatever, all that, to cast a SINGLE vote for a person I want to win. Forgetting, of course, that a person who gets ONE VOTE is not going to win. Which makes the whole affair an exercise in futility. So why waste my time doing all that when I can just not vote? It accomplishes the EXACT same thing (The person I want to win isn’t elected, one of two candidates I 100% disagree with will win, AND I save hours from my Nov. 4th with which to do things like work, sleep, or watch TV. Your point fails to have either relevance or a large amount of thought behind it.

By: Kaa

Kaa — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 21:08:49 +0000

This reminds me of George Carlin (rest in peace).

By: January

January — Sat, 15 Nov 2008 00:37:10 +0000

You write in the name of the candidate that does support what you want done. You quit voting for whomever the latest big party darling is and vote third party. Then you get out there when it’s not election time and either campaign for office yourself or find the candidate that best supports your interests.

By: Astro

Astro — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:52:36 +0000

I didn’t vote and I’m not ashamed of it.

That said, I DO agree that people who don’t vote shouldn’t complain. At least not about who’s in office. There’s plenty of other things to complain about that are far more interesting.

By: Astro

Astro — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:48:39 +0000

All those poor children…

By: Astro

Astro — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:43:28 +0000

Yes. Ross Perot still needs all the votes he can get.

By: Astro

Astro — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 22:41:35 +0000

However, voting isn’t necessarily a sign of thinking, either.

I know someone who voted for McCain because Obama would “enslave us all”.

And someone else who voted for Obama ‘cos he’s “kinda cute”.

Give me a non-voter any day over them.

By: Bville

Bville — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 19:06:38 +0000

Or vote third party. At least let them know you want more options.

By: Theodred

Theodred — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 18:08:25 +0000

In this particular arena, absentism (sic) is NOT a way of saying what you think. It’s merely a way of saying you DON’T think.

By: chris

chris — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 15:45:19 +0000

consider it kissed. just keep your mouth shut.

By: Czernobog

Czernobog — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:25:45 +0000

I paid very close attention to the most recent elections in my country, I could not in good conscience vote for any of the candidates. And sadly, blank “none of the above” votes don’t get counted, even though they are available.

So I didn’t vote, and anyone who thinks I don’t have a right to complain just because all of the candidates were either incompetent, corrupt, or simply reactionary nutjobs can kiss my ass.

By: Czernobog

Czernobog — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 13:20:40 +0000

Idiot.

If you don’t like your options then tell us what you’d rather see? How does that work? You go to the ballot and slip in a list of requirements?

By: xxxxxxx-head

xxxxxxx-head — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:45:59 +0000

100% Gowaduv. If you don’t like it, STFU or go home. And all the other stuff you said too!!!

By: xxxxxxx-head

xxxxxxx-head — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:43:21 +0000

Yes. Duh.

You even have to ask that? I want my brain cells back.

By: Petrograd

Petrograd — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 12:05:34 +0000

I’m kinda wondering about the ‘vote every year’ option… I thought there only were ballots every other year?

By: Lachlan

Lachlan — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 11:37:35 +0000

Obama is going to be fine, better than a female who can see Russia

By: huh?

huh? — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 05:06:40 +0000

The election is over. Move on.

By: catsrae

catsrae — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 03:45:20 +0000

Oddly enough, this is in direct opposition to your RIGHT to complain about the government. If you don’t vote, don’t expect me to listen to your whining!

By: Aaron

Aaron — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 00:29:28 +0000

My business management teacher in H.S. once told us his motto when it comes to complaining about the gub’ment: “If you don’t vote, don’t b!tch.” I agree.

By: chris

chris — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:14:52 +0000

Well alright then! Apology accepted.

By: chris

chris — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 23:14:21 +0000

Well alright then! Apology accepted.

By: j0!

j0! — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:19:22 +0000

I voted chris, don’t be so hostile ;D

By: chris

chris — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:11:12 +0000

Just saying? And just what are you saying? There is nothing just in what you’re saying. I think you’re saying, just to be saying…
None of it changes the fact that if one doesn’t vote, one should keep one’s mouth shut. If one doesn’t pay taxes, one should leave the country or go to jail. If one truly wants to be a good citizen, one should pay taxes and vote. If one can’t do these things–one should leave or be dragged out.

By: meh

meh — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 22:05:14 +0000

Exactly. Walter Sobchak is going to run you pacifists down.

By: Jocasta

Jocasta — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:49:08 +0000

Rule 34 strikes again…

By: j0!

j0! — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:25:41 +0000

Any American has the right (and some might say obligation) to complain about the government, voter or not, as long as they’re paying the taxes that fund it.

Just saying.

By: chris

chris — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:13:28 +0000

Man! You said it all thar!

By: PiMan

PiMan — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 21:03:15 +0000

Easy. The freezer. It is closer to normal temperatures.
I’ve done it before, and some people have to do it regularly as part of their job.

By: Gowaduv

Gowaduv — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:55:57 +0000

Agreed.

By: Gowaduv

Gowaduv — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:55:13 +0000

Here we go with the First Amendment again- that only prevents the government from restricting your right to free speech. It doesn’t mean that what you say (or don’t say) has any value or that we should listen to you. It doesn’t prevent me from telling people who don’t vote to quit being lazy, to figure out which candidate or local proposition/initiative/etc supports your best interests and to STFU if you don’t vote. If you don’t like the options then tell us what you’d rather see. Not voting is the best way to lose all of your rights and privileges.

By: Freddie

Freddie — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:47:09 +0000

My experience with this has been completely the opposite. The people who don’t care enough to vote usually don’t care enough to pay attention to what the government is doing either.

By: sean

sean — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:26:28 +0000

fist WIN.

By: downshift

downshift — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 19:16:04 +0000

ma, the appliances are doing the nasty again!

By: Person 2

Person 2 — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:48:49 +0000

People have the right not to vote.

By: Lyn

Lyn — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:38:14 +0000

The appropriate response is to put the oven in the freezer (hence write-in).

By: ethana2

ethana2 — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:36:26 +0000

Actually the correct answer is ‘piss off’.

By: ethana2

ethana2 — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:35:03 +0000

It is. If you don’t vote, STFU.

If you don’t like the options, say so on the ballot. Write somebody in.

By: jhimm

jhimm — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:28:55 +0000

that’s because they are too lazy to find out all the available options.

this graph is fail anyway because the author has clearly never spent any time around older people. they vote without fail and all they ever -do- is complain about the government, no matter who is in office.

go spend some time in a VFW hall and then re-think this graph.

By: sally

sally — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:18:11 +0000

wha… wha… whaaaaat?

By: Brent

Brent — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:16:45 +0000

When someone asks you if you would like to live in a walk in freezer or a walk in oven the appropriate response is to not answer. And complain like hell when they try moving you.

By: metalpotato

metalpotato — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:14:09 +0000

Forget about him, he is one of the hundreds of millions in this world that doesn’t understand that absentism is a way of saying what you think

By: ?

Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:08:45 +0000

Is it wrong to complain about the government if you didn’t vote? A lot of people don’t vote because they don’t like any of the options.

By: x-bert

x-bert — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 18:08:08 +0000

bump

By: Yuval

Yuval — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 17:51:13 +0000

huh?