Please Vote!

[Adam White]

That aside, voting is a waste of time if you don't like any of the candidates. It's like choosing between being shot or electrocuted - what kind of choice is that?

Not voting - and the right or choice not to vote - is just as important as voting. One might argue that it's more important, because if you think the system is broken or rigged, you can make more of a statement by not voting than by voting and giving an air of legitimacy to the whole charade.

SHOUT OUT TO MY VOTE FOR JIM GILMORE YESTERDAY   /not even joking

I was going to ask who that is - but then I went ahead and checked Wikipedia. At first, I thought you were referring to that country singer.

Nah, just some dude I knew had dropped out of the race.  Despite my quite liberal leanings, I am registered Republican for professional reasons, which I had actually forgotten when I showed up to vote yesterday.  Couldn't bring myself to vote for any of the "real" candidates.

Registered Republican for professional reasons? Are you a slumlord or a sweatshop owner or something?

[vicupstate]

Write your state representatives/senators and tell them to allow Independents to vote in the primary of their choice.

[Cheshire Cat]

Just a reach to those in the MJ universe, or at least those in Florida, please vote!!

If you are conscientious objector to voting, I would like to offer a small remark that many men and women have supported your right to object over the history of our country.

If you choose to not make it to the voting booth, please remember those who supported your right to do so.

GO VOTE!

Take advantage of the most powerful tool to manage government.

That's barely true, to be honest. Most wars fought by the USA had nothing to do with protecting American rights. Although one could argue that had the Nazis or Imperial Japan won the Second World War, the USA might've eventually found itself in peril - but there is no way to know that (and it's highly unlikely). That's not to say we shouldn't have fought that war - just that it wasn't about protecting our way of life.

That aside, voting is a waste of time if you don't like any of the candidates. It's like choosing between being shot or electrocuted - what kind of choice is that?

Not voting - and the right or choice not to vote - is just as important as voting. One might argue that it's more important, because if you think the system is broken or rigged, you can make more of a statement by not voting than by voting and giving an air of legitimacy to the whole charade.

Actually the statement is very true as I read it.  First there was no mention of these men and women fighting in a war but understand that if our troops had not fought back after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor or entered into WWI to fight the Nazi war for global dominance, we well could be living in a nation with no voting rights what-so-ever.  It is also true that women fought, some were jailed and some died fighting for a woman's right to vote in this country.

The right to vote should not be ignored, not ever.  Even if you do not like any of the candidates because like them or not one or another will be voted into office.  Your vote can in fact be part of a stop gap measure from allowing the wrong person to be voted in.  This election cycle is a great example.  With a GOP filed of less than stellar candidates and the looming possibility of a Trump or Cruz in office, not voting is completely irresponsible and can lead to great damage by voter defaulT.

Note: I notice others in this thread have the same insight on this. 

[Cheshire Cat]

I have decided our primary system is a bunch of bullshit.

Preach. Not that I love the Republican's system, but the Democrats is totally crazy. What the hell is a superdelegate (I do know, so asking a little rhetorically)? I think Iowa's democratic caucus is a microcosm of people's frustration: Sanders beat Clinton, 49.84% to 49.59% (O'Malley got the rest). As a result, Sanders got 23 Delegates, Clinton 21. But...now we have SUPERDELEGATES! Of Iowa's 8 Superdelegates that can seeming do whatever they want, 7 have backed Clinton. The final result will either be 29-23 or 28-24 in favor of Clinton.

Good representation of the desires of the Iowa Democrats!

You got that right Steve.  The super delegate system was put into place by the DNC political establishment as a way to inoculate themselves from a grassroots candidate campaign.  A perfect example is Bernie Sanders, whom establishment Dem's want to stop.

[Cheshire Cat]

Write your state representatives/senators and tell them to allow Independents to vote in the primary of their choice.

What we need is legislation to allow Florida to be an open Primary state.  That would mean all people regardless of party can vote in a primary.  Remember Independents is not an "other" category but actually a party designation.  NPA are no party affiliation folks with several hundred little known but viable parties nationwide that are registered to vote.