civics discussion QOTD-

[gps4]

civics discussion question of the day---- suppose someone is not a registered member of any political party, or does not identify himself as a member of any particular political party. is it unpatriotic or a dereliction of civic duty not to vote in a party primary?

discuss.

[fireplug]

voting is a right....not a requirement.

[jacksbuddy]

Sorry fireplug, I believe you are half right. Voting is both a right and a responsibility of citizenship.

As a citizen, you have the right to vote for whomever you wish in an election, and you have the right to expect that your vote will count just as much as the next persons vote.

However, as a citizen, you are also expected to vote for the candidate you believe will uphold the law we govern ourselves by, and to further participate in the process if called upon by serving on jury duty as part of the execution of those laws.

Now, if you don't mind, I have to run. I promised the leprechaun under the pink mushroom a ride in a sparkle balloon to pick up his unicorn over the rainbow.

[DanP]

While I have and will be voting regardless of who we end up with, I will suggest that doing nothing is an action, and sometimes it can be pretty effective. Strategic apathy.

[JaMak84]

However, as a citizen, you are also expected to vote for the candidate you believe will uphold the law we govern ourselves by

And if that candidate doesn't exist?

We've got so used to voting the lesser of two evils that we've forgotten that we're supposed to be voting FOR something rather than "anything but".

[jacksbuddy]

And if that candidate doesn't exist?

Then vote the SOB out for someone who does exist. And if you can't find them among the alternatives available? Find someone who will and convince them to run. (Which just may be you.)

[fireplug]

Sorry fireplug, I believe you are half right. Voting is both a right and a responsibility of citizenship.

I was really just answering the question they guy asked. No one should feel guilty about not voting. That's why we live in the best country in the world. You have the right to choose.

I don't believe everyone should vote. Especially in this day and age with all the ill informed or completely ignorant population we have. If you are going to vote, Know who you are voting for and Why you are voting for them. Know what principals they live by as they will likely govern the same way. If they closely match your own, then you should support them. If there is an election coming up where there is a choice between our Republic's potential doom or just making it by another election cycle, you owe it to yourself and your country to go vote to at least maintain status quo. Electing someone like Bernie Sanders or Hillary Clinton will be potentially disastrous to the Republic as we know it. Likely with irreversible consequences.