I've had it I'm not voting

You can do what I did and skip over the offices and propositions you don't like or want to vote for. Or, you can vote for a third party.

you could vote for a third party or write in a candidate . . . it's important for everyone to have a vote! plus, if obama or mccain do get elected and mess up . . . you could also have gloating rights by saying "well, i didn't vote for him!"

I definitely understand where you are comng from.

I personally don't buy into if Obama is president then we are headed for socialism. I think people need to educate themselves way more about what exactly kind of government and economy you live in. Also get a better understanding of socialism before you deem any and all parts of it evil and not democratic. We have socialistic elements in our society. The welfare system, social security these are just examples.

I also believe you don't vote you don't have the right to complain...

Amen Jennifer!

Do what everybody else usually does. Vote your self-interest. Which presidential candidate's agenda puts more money in your pocket? Ronald Reagan supported the Earned Income Tax Credit, which means basically that people who didn't earn much paid NO taxes, but got credits from those who do. Reagan said it was “the best anti-poverty, the best. pro-family, the best job creation measure to come out of Congress..."
You also have local issues and candidates to vote for. I've been old enough to vote since 1975 and NEVER missed an election of any kind. Neither has my daughter, age 22. If you don't vote, you're leaving some important decisions in the hands of people who show up, and Woody Allen said "Eighty percent of life is just showing up."
Go vote. Even if you leave the presidential slot blank, go vote for everything else.

Neither candidate puts money into my pocket, if you want the truth...either way we will be scraping by paycheck to paycheck

Mari, you have been led to believe some lies about Obama. That is sad. My husband and I have done a lot of research about all the candidates. We genuinely feel that Obama is best for the future of this country. Please don't buy into the fear that is being spread by the McCain campaign through the negative ads and the mass emails being sent around.

Yeah just feel better and get it off your chest. not too happy but there are other's yeah, just like a few here said.

I can also, say OBAMA is socialist and I can say I'm not particularly liking MCCAIN.

Paralyzing people who speak against OBAMA reminds me of something very bad, it's called socialism, communism, dictatorship.

Maybe it's the OTHER'S, who say they can site this or that and prove OBAMA isn't a socialist so what they all could, they all did and they were if they were anyway, I don't believe it and sure I don't blame everything on OBAMA, like the lib's did BUSH, but I sure wouldn't deny the obvious.

OK , just use redistributes if it makes you feel better. Who cares?

Jennifer, you're right. The public libraries are socialist. So is the post office, so is Medicare, Medicaid and Social Security. Don't even get me started on the fire and police departments!
Maybe we could privatize the police and fire departments with monthly membership fees? Premium membership gets you instant response to axe murderers chopping down your door or a pumper truck to douse the fire in your garage. Basic membership gives you a very loud whistle to alert your neighbors, or a five gallon drum of water.

Kelldog, I hear you. Normally I don't like to see one-party dominance in the White House and the Congress, but this fillibuster stuff gets us NOWHERE. If we have a full Democratic majority in charge of everything, we have two years to see how it works out and if nothing gets done, the blame goes only one place.

This isn't THAT tough Mari......if you FEEL you are better off than you were 8 years ago, Vote for more of the same. On the other hand if you think your life hasn't improved or has gotten worse....Vote for change.
One of them is going to win no matter what YOU do or don't do.
The only Undecided at this late stage of the game are those wrestling with religious views, racial views, pocketbook issues or Military hangups.
Don't try to vote on other peoples issues and just vote on your own.
Are you better off?
Simple question. Simple answer?

Then when you don't like what the candidate who is elected does, don't complain about it. If you aren't going to step up to the plate and vote, you don't have a right to complain. I think that this attitude scares me a lot because no one is going to be perfect no matter who wins. But we have a privilege in this nation that most other countries around the world don't have and that is to decide who will run our government. Personally, I'm not thrilled with either candidate overall but out of the two, I prefer someone who doesn't make a bunch of promises he has no way to keep and is not going to try to turn our nation into a socialistic system. As a small business owner, I don't want someone in office who is gong to try to take what I've earned and give it to others who haven't earned it.

Kim, Curious here.
As a small business owner that has employees are you against sharing your profit margin by raising the minimum wage too?
Did you get Gov't help STARTING that business?
How many owners of small businesses share their success with loyal employees unless they are required to?
Look at the mess this country is in and justify anyone saying the Minimum wage causes INFLATION since it took OVER 50 YEARS to go from 95 cents an hour to 5.65.
Sorry just saw Sen Ted Kennedy heading back to DC .....he never forgot to fight for the little guys of this country!

Nancy, thank you so much for pointing out about the programs that we already have in place. People love to throw the word "socialism" around but when they consider what we already have and how it could be viewed as socialism, they shut their mouths. Especially if they're getting something out of those programs.

Well, unfortunately voting requires you to vote for an actual human being, and no one is perfect or shares the exact same views as you on every subject, so any vote is a vote for whomever you feel is the lesser of 2 evils. I'm sorry you feel discouraged but I feel that with this election and the pertinent issues at hand, there are 2 very distinct paths to choose from, and I want my voice heard.

Our ancestors died for our right to vote and I intend to exercise that right.

Im going to write in who I want.

At least vote for who you want in congress and local people.

I'm glad you aren't voting, Mari. I wish everyone who didn't have a clue would just stay home, since they are mostly voting for McCain.

I'm voiceless today Sandy, otherwise I'd say to you anyone voting for OBAMA-RITES, doesn't have a clue.
(SPEECHLESS, I guess jus' for you.)

When did KENNEDY help those making 95 ct's an hour? Oh, I forgot his very wealthy family used their monies, forced upon them "no doubt" to help the minimum wage earners, ah I see. I was right in DC and sure don't remember it that way.

I thought you LIBS didn't like "fat cats" who made their monies off of crime? OOPS, sorry necessities of the time lol

Well, well, well.

Maybe if "I" vote 11 times, I'll know what I'm doing huh Sandy? lol

If you can't be bothered to educate yourself on the issues, the candidates, their positions or what they mean...and can't see a distinct and obvious difference between these two candidates you should probably never vote at all....Seriously.

I'll join ACORN and vote anyway! 80 times, I'll have to lie and say I'm for OBAMA nuff said?!

I read the Maryland ballot on the internet and agree and would or did vote NO, on 1 & 2.

vote for rudy!

My, such bitterness. This election is sure bringing out the worst in a lot of people. I wonder if it's a good or bad thing that people can feel free to express their anger and biases anonymously in these blogs. I'd love to see some research on it.

Ditto to Jennifer and Carla.

Don, please don't say things like that.

Sorry but her attitude is disturbing.
Just agreeing with Doyle in my ignorant way.

I must say I agree with Doyle, Mari. There is no excuse really not to vote. There are very little things our country asks of you. They do not, like other countries, mandate military or governmental service. They do not, like other countries, expect you to pay high taxes that go to expansive social programs. Actually, you have it very, very easy in this country. All you are asked to do:

- Jury Duty
- Pay your taxes
- Vote

I don't know about you, but that seems like a pretty good bargain to me. And in return you actually get to participate in the kind of people and programs you want. Imagine that? YOU GET A VOICE IN THE DECISIONS MADE. But, apparently you do not want that voice - you do not want that privalege. Maybe you don't even want to pay taxes at all, or spend some time on a jury supporting our justice system.

I personally think that that kind of an attitude is extremely immature and selfish. And if everyone acted that way, we would not have a country anymore. I would advise you to spend some time between now and Tuesday, looking into the two candidates. Not lies, not propaganda, but really spending some time with their policies and thinking about their characters. Then, vote based on some knowledge. Of course, it will be difficult, as you have had over a year to do so and have not [apparently from your comments]. But, it is the least you can do as you reap tremendous benefits from being a citizen of this wonderful country.

There's a big difference between candidates. Just think if Al Gore became President instead of Bush. It makes a difference.

Take a step back and think about what the president can do.

90% if the stuff that is promised in presidential campaigns is not stuff the president has any power to do!

The president CAN get us into a war - the two candidates have very different views on war.

The president appoints judges, although these appointments must be approved, no one gets approved if they are not appointed.

The president proposes a budget, but cannot spend one cent without congressional approval. The budget that is finally passed rarely resembles the original proposal. All this talk about spending and taxes (and socialism) is largely hyperbole.

So look at who has the best leadership qualities, or make a strategic vote for or against divided government. When you separate the campaign noise from the reality, if you still cannot vote for either candidate, vote for a third party candidate.

At least make an effort.

I'm for Obama, but even if you decide you are for McCain, I'd still encourage you to vote. It's what makes this country better than so many places in the world.

Mari, you are wrong, dead wrong. Your vote matters, Obama is not sure to win and in fact, I doubt he will. I'm not looking at it with rose colored glasses. I believe that a LOT of people are scared to vote for him, really want change but will change their mind at the last minute, right in the booth.

McCain is not a crook! I doubt very much most of us could do half the good he's done in his life.

Suzi

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Happy Halloween. Hope you have a great weekend.