I just witnessed real life voter apathy

In contrast, I work with a woman who makes damn sure she votes every chance she gets. Local, state, federal, it doesn't matter. She votes. She has absolutely no clue about who has what policy but she votes straight ticket Dem every time and tells us all it's our duty to vote. Personally, I think people like her are a disgrace and far worse than those who do not vote at all.

There should be some sort of voter competency test for voters. 5 questions would do it.

 

I agree with this part of what you said.

 

Yes, perhaps a literacy test and a poll tax.

 

Dude, you KNOW this thread is useless without pics.

 

for real.

 

Beat me to it.

 

Pics or Shens.

 

Can't that lady be a liberal and vote democrat because they are most likely to agree with her views? Does it really matter if she doesn't know the specifics of every candidate if she agrees with the general direction the democratic party wants to take this country?

 

Republicans vote November 4th and Democrats vote November 5th, right?

That's what this guy holding a shovel told me.

 

I'm starting to have the same thought of doing straight ticket. I am *that* against the republican party's philosophy in almost every aspect.

 

Yep. The only people disagreeing apparently read up on every single office and research the candidates on issues that are important to them.

I think straight ticket voters are better than single-issue voters (people who decide their views based on one specific issue -- say abortion or Iraq).

 

I am against voting straight ticket also. But in case you didn't realize; there are almost surely just as many if not more straight ticket Republicans than Democrats.

 

Do you guys have a lot of initiatives and the like on your ballots?

I voted by mail last week and the CA ballot had like a billion different initiatives as usual!

But the girl should still not be a lazy ass and should go and vote. There are websites (non-partisan) that give you a one-sentence description of each side's arguments for issues and a candidate's views if she is that lazy.

I still think it is important to understand the issues and the consequences, but then again, I am a political junkie. But for those who are lazy, you should point them to such websites so they can get their asses to the booths!

 

Wow, damn....all I can say is....were they hot?

 

I think it is perfectly appropriate to vote straight ticket.

very few if any know a lot about each judicial or lower ballot candidate.

Those that don't know if they generally support the
Dems or the Repubs aren't usually the most involved. That girl on the treadmill was probably one.

Party affiliation means something and once chosen it is difficult for the candidate to spin. Most folks know generally the Dems are for the poor and middle class, the environment, civil right, non-military forerign policy etc. That is just the way it is.

If you actually know enough about an individual candidate to vote against the party you generally agree with that is fine, too.

 

Except that in TX we vote for judges...trial judges...probate judges...and their takes on the big issues that divide the party are of ZERO concern to me.

There are great judges with R by their names...and great judges with D by their name...and there are assclowns who run for judge with either of those letters as well. If you're voting for the letter, you'll miss it.

 

True, but for the vast majority of folks all that is known of the judicial candidates is their party identification. It is a very valuable piece of info IMHO.