People who dont vote dont count...you agree?
540046
Agree 100%. People who don't vote shouldn't complain. They had their chance to voice their opinion they same as everyone else by casting a vote. If they chose not to vote then they need to shut up!!!
929397
I would like to see a law passed that eliminates the tie between voting and jury duty. I believe many low income Americans don't vote because jury duty would break them financially. This is unfortunate.
972793
They know the vote isn't valid, since they've been disenfranchising the votes.  The ironic thing is that they actually think challenging the validity of the vote will HELP their count!
898355
People that don't vote are 1) ignoring their responsibility as a citizen, and 2) should keep their mouths shut when it comes to complaining about how the nation or their state is run.  Don't vote, then don't complain!!!!!!!!!
812824
If people don't vote, they need to accept everyone else's decisions becuase that is why you have the right to vote.  You each have to exercise that right or you don't have anyone to blame but yourself.
86638
Sure they could. It's called voting. People need to direct more thought into voting. The American people vote their representatives into office, who in turn get to make the laws and vote for the President. Too many people sit idly by and don't make sure their voices are heard. Whenever there is an issue that I strongly have an opinion about, I make sure to call my Representative's office-be it a local, state, or Federal issue. This is the only way to make sure your opinion gets recorded! They are your elected reps. and are there for you, to vote according to the people of their districts. Signatures on a petition are just an amplification of this. Also, if more people who disagree with the system and would take action to run for office can you imagine the changes that would ocurr? I'm not saying any nutjob can get elected, but if you make sense and others agree with you then why not give it a try? People need to realize they are vested in the actions of this country whether they agree with them or not. We need to eliminate the people from office who do not represent our views as a whole. Our society needs to take action! Stop saying "It doesn't matter when I vote, so I'm not going to vote". That kind of attitude is what's gotten our system into the sorry mess it's in now. If you don't vote or take action, others who do vote will get control of things & quite possibly do things you don't agree with.
1094293
Absolutely, if you do not vote then do not complain. You voice is through voting. Vote, work on campaigns, talk to your friends, if you have them, about your candidate, place signs in yard if Homeowners Association will allow. I worked on my 1st campaign when I was 15 yrs old & 35 yrs later I still try to support them. I hate stuffing enevolpes - always have. I study all the candidates & pick the one that will vote most closely to my beliefs. Then I try to trust & support them after voting for them.
1089093
Thanks for the question. I think it is sad how few people vote in every election. People argue passionately but then never vote in elections.\n\nGet registered and vote!! It is your duty as an American citizen.
880524
Just over 70% in my county. Not like it used to be.\n\nAbout 30 years ago I came home from work, had supper and went to the polls. They greeted me very warmly because I was the only voter unaccounted for. After I cast my ballot, they closed up with 100% turnout.\n\nWhen I hear of low turnouts, it saddens me almost as much as knowing how uninformed those few are.\n\nPerhaps we need an IQ test for voter registration, and if you miss two consecutive elections, you are disenfranchised. Sounds fair to me.
52700
Well, if you don't vote, then my vote is worth more, so I guess that's all right with me.  \n\nI don't believe the elections were rigged and stolen.
259069
In the end you only have one vote regardless of your political affiliation.  People who don't vote are the weak ones.
19883
There is a problem here that goes a little deeper than you might expect.\n\nIn my humble opinion, people in our society have gotten very used to having someone else (i.e. "the government") do things for them.\n\nThey have moved away from (or forgotten) the concept of collaborating with their neighbors, friends, co-workers, acquaintences, etc., to accomplish needed missions and goals.  For instance, the United States has a relatively low voter turnout compared to other countries.  As a matter of fact, sources rank the U.S. in the lowest 25% worldwide in terms of voter turnout among different countries.  It should be noted that some countries such as Belgium, Australia, Brazil, Singapore, Uruguay, to name a few, have compulsory voting.  If you don't vote, you are either fined or disenfranchised.  Compulsory voting is an admirable, if not misguided, attempt at keeping people from becoming complacent.  I believe it is better though to make our decisions freely.  Free will is what was given to us by our Creator, to make right and wrong decisions.  It is what makes us Human. \n\nNow, if we don't tell the government what it is that we want, how can we expect the government to "do anything".  To take it a step further, do we really want the government to "do anything"?  After the tragedy of 9/11, the government "did something" by removing various and sundry civil protections that were afforded to us by federal statute and the Constitution.  Now that's "doing something!"\n\nI, personally, work for the government (a state, but government none-the-less).  Now, I am here to tell you that you really don't want the government "doing anything" without very clear, concise, and incontrovertible, instructions.  It is very important that you go visit at least one government office a week (preferably with a group of your associates) and let them know in very clear terms, what it is that you want them to do. You also could possibly write a letter to the manager or director of the government offices, while sending a copy to your congressman, alderman, commisioner, or what have you, clearly indicating exactly what it is that you think should be done.  Otherwise, the people that work there will go on their merry way, doing what they think they should be doing, when that's not really what they should be doing at all.  But you can't blame them... you didn't tell them!  So how are they to know?  They are people just like you and me.  But sometimes they get isolated and lost, and they forget. At first, it may appear that they are unresponsive.  But that is only because they have gone so long without being reminded what it is that they are supposed to be doing.  It may even be necessary, at first, for you and your associates to stand out in the street in front of the government office, and make a spectacle of yourselves.  But like I said, it's only because the people that work there have forgotten, because we all have gone on our way and left them to their own devices without the guidance, experience, and knowledge, of the body politic. \n\nI noticed in your question that you mentioned your paycheck.  Have you discussed this with your co-workers?  Are they having issues with their paychecks?  Maybe you should consider organising yourselves as a group, and discussing this with your employer?  Perhaps as a group, in negotiations with your employer, you could come up with ways to increase production and efficiency.  This would increase your employer's profit margin and thereby  make it easier for him to give you a raise.  Of course if after you increased his profit margins, he found himself still unable to consider your plight, you would already have formed a group of people with a common bond and concern that would find it within their ability to deal with that too!\n\nSo to answer your question... No, I don't feel particularly betrayed by my government.  I f
1162569
peoples apathy.  you get what you vote for.  if you don't vote you dont have the right to complain if what you get is not what you want.
293411
they dont care or they dont think their votes makes a differance.
449912
The votes were counted, it just didn't turn out like some people were hoping for. Anyway, they do have the right (freedom of speech) but they're credibility on the issue goes right out the window since if they didn't vote
373751
I agree. I understand that sometimes people who have no recourse are forced to protest and demand a change in the system. As a previous participant pointed out...women getting the vote and African Americans gaining their freedom from slavery. \n\nHowever, in both of those cases, there are glaring differences from the issue at hand. In the case of women voting...women were citizens of the United States who had no other recourse. It wasn't as though women could vote IF they filled out the proper paperwork and follwed the established laws that would allow them to do so. They couldn't vote at all. Illegal immigrants have legal recourse to establish legal residency or permanent citizenship in the United States. They're protesting for something that they can already acheive should they choose to do so, they simply don't want to be bothered with following the proper procedure. In the case of slaves...they were brought here against their will, stolen from their homeland and sold like animals. It was an inhumane and unfair institution and one that needed to end. These were people in the United States against their will and with no legal recourse to remedy their situation. Again, illegal immigrants did have the opportunity to obtain legal residency and/or citizenship should they have chosen to do so. Instead they chose not to be bothered with the proper procedure and now want to protest for amnesty. \n\nI might understand and actually support their cause if there were not procedures in place for them to come here legally. As it is, I can't support the cause of a group of people who are basically saying "I want to be protected by the laws of the United States even though in the past I have shown no regard or respect for them as I chose to enter this country illegally." Sorry, that's not how it works, you don't get to pick and choose what laws you want to follow and which ones you don't. You don't get to break the laws you don't agree with and still expect to reap the benefits of being a law abiding resident of the United States.
483795
I'm going to overlook your bitterness due to the fact you sound cute.  But in answer to your question these same 30% probably have probably never voted in any election (well the majority of them anyway) so they've never thought voting was important in the first place.  The sad part is that they think that voting for some one hit wonder is a thrill so more power to them.