In spite of a lot of fanfare about last week’s election the headlines from around the state about the abysmal turnout of people who care enough to vote was the major election news story of the day. Here is a sample of those headlines:
- San Bernardino County sees record low voter turnout for Tuesday’s election
- Only 1 in 5 Voters in San Diego County Cast a Ballot
- About 13% of registered voters cast ballots in L.A. County races
- Mendocino County voter turnout extremely low
- Butte turnout pegged at 26.8 percent
- Historically Low Voter Turnout for Tuesday’s Election
- Tuesday’s election marked a low point for voter turnout
- They gave an election but nobody came
It seems the public is all too eager to complain about too much government, too little government, too dysfunctional government, but when it comes to taking the opportunity to influence the future of government there is another too – too busy. Even the convenience of voting by mail does not seem to be working.
What is wrong with you people?
How about this? As good jobs leave CA (and USA), the good BRAINS in the folks that held them (and saw the larger picture, that contributing to your community was a necessity, NOT an option,) ALSO LEFT, seeking opportunity, and the remainder are either too overburdened by the now- concentrated load, or too ignorant / apathetic to care (until consequence of their neglect appears on their OWN doorstep, THEN they’re MAD as HELL!)?, or both in combo? And when the retirees (and NEAR retirees) warming the chairs for NOW, cast that Last Big Vote In the Sky, WHAT THEN?
If you look around and see-
-How many Council / Board meetings run with NO (general) Public observers? (not counting, lobbyists, opposing candidates, and those with items ON the Agenda)
-How many vacancies are UNOPPOSED, or for appointed positions SIT VACANT FOR LACK OF APPLICANTS?
– How many candidates that DO step forward, bring NO platform (or sometimes GRASP of the current issues involved) but have a big budget and/or string of endorsements, because they are a chess piece, not an office candidate? Typical slogan- “Vote for ME, I’M FOR all the stuff that’s GOOD, and AGAINST all the stuff that’s BAD!” (and we’ll BOTH find out exactly what that IS, LATER!)
– How many candidates, once elected, make you wish you were in Italy, so a “NO-CONFIDENCE” vote could swiftly REMOVE THEM (but hey, THIS is America!)
So perhaps all those NON-Voters, STAYING THAT WAY, is a GOOD THING? I just think we should work to IMPROVE what REMAINS!
WHY doesn’t EVERY POSITION have a standardized TEST ?????
Some Offices have MORE CONTROL (if indirect) over your LIFE than a Doctor, Lawyer, Air Traffic Controller, Police, Firefighter, Nurse, College Applicant, etc., and THOSE are HEAVILY TESTED! Yet anyone with $25 and the ability to write their name (and find 2 dozen friends that can) gets a Ballot Space! So we elect Dead people, Indicted People, (OK so those 2 usually VOTE a lot, too!) and all degrees of Idiot. The phrase, “THIS is AMERICA, where ANYONE can grow up to be PRESIDENT!!”, for all its optimism, omits the important “But NOT just EVERYONE, SHOULD!”
ISN’T it time to do BETTER than THAT?
When was the last time the examination Room door opened, and the smiling white-jacketed guy who entered, said ” OK, the folks waiting outside elected me Doctor this week, ‘cus I ALWAYS vote AG’INST sickness and disease, so let’s find that sharp thingy they have around here somewhere, and SEE WHUT NEEDS CUTTIN”!!”
….”Uh, I came here for an ear ache”…
I struggle daily with the “Fight or flight” dilemma, wondering if my personal tipping point is still ahead on the road, or overlooked in the rear view mirror?
I agree with your thoughts. I was annoyed that voter turn out was so low. The polling place I went to was empty and the volunteers were playing with their phones…when they saw me they scrambled to look busy. If you ask me, we deserve the government we elect and if people are not willing to even show up to vote, then shame on them.
There was a lot of complaining these past months about groups wanting voter IDs and how it is our right to vote. I agree that we should not be required to show ID but how about getting off our asses and voting then? Are Americans aware that voting in other countries can get them killed? Are we becoming lazy and apathetic? Are we more comfortable to sign an online petition (that usually goes nowhere) than actually participate in decisions that affect us?
I am willing to bet that those individuals who did not show up to vote will “fight” to get in line if FREE stuff will be handed out. Look how many people destroyed public property to find “free money” last week.
I also agree that we do not see other as connected…if it isn’t hurting someone personally, they don’t care. If it affects their neighbor, or their community but not them personally then they figure it’s the other guys fault.
Please do not use the excuse we are just too busy to find out what’s going on because behavior shows me otherwise. It has to do with a “victim” mentality and its better to cry about the way things are than actually do something to change it.
That is exactly the problem. Virtually everyone everywhere is busy playing with their phones these days! Nobody verbally socializes or discusses matters. They all let the talking heads and Fox News/MSNBC tell them how to think and make their decisions for them. All that is left is a culture of Zombies
I think an awful lot of those who didn’t vote are those who feel like it doesn’t matter anyway, no matter who got elected they are going to get screwed. I’ve heard it too many times from too many people and while I understand it and I can’t really disagree with them too much, the attitude really pisses me off. It’s our responsibility to vote in an educated manner each and every time we are called upon, as a minimum cost for our liberty.
One rule in my house, if you don’t vote, don’t bitch!
I agree with Bill and Carl… People are too busy with their gadgets…can’t they use them to learn what is going on in their community? I admit, I don’t understand everything that is on the ballot and those I skip, but there is always something or someone I do know about and want to cast my vote. We are so fortunate to live in a country where we can vote and if the person we voted for turns out to be a rat, we can either recall that person or openly challenge them.
If people feel over whelmed or hopeless they can start small. Run for the PTA president, the school board or something else. Greg took a chance and decided to at least try.
The powers that be want us to feel hopeless. They want us to stay home. They want us to give up. And if we do that, they win every time.
Carl, I talked to my oldest grandson the weekend before and asked him about voting. He said “Why. It doesn’t mean anything” I told him that for someone who is joining the US Army I find that surprising.
Haven’t you heard?
Voting is irrational:
http://warisacrime.org/content/case-irrational-voting
People, vote or move to Russia!!!