I want to vote, but I don't know where to start

[seang]

What the title says, I don't know where to begin. Every day it seems like someone wants me to vote for this or that, and it seems insurmountable. I don't expect my votes to instantly change the whole world all at once, so I am realistic in that sense. I was raised in a household where political correctness just wasn't part of the daily score, annual score, or hardly any scores. I do care about certain things, and I don't want to be trodden on by some elected prick who doesn't, in my opinion, deserve to be who he or she is. How can I get a handle on this? I want to be more active.

[smockers83]

To be able to vote, you need to go to your local state branch, whatever they call it in your state (here in MI they call it the Secretary of the State office). There you can register to vote.

[srellim234]

Here in California you can go to any local city hall and register to vote. They have the forms there.

[seang]

How many elections do they actually hold per year? Is is Federal standard to hold them in October/November?

[dusred]

Don't vote based on what people tell you. Use Google to do your own research and find the truth about who you are voting for . I've found that in many cases you must choose the lesser of 2 evils. I turned 18 in January of this year so I wasn't able to vote in this last election but I plan on voting in all future elections.

What are your political views? Are you Libertarian, Conservative, Liberal, (those are the 3 most common) or do you consider yourself independent? I've found that hanging around different political forums and reading the detailed debates has taught me the most about politics.

Don't think that your vote doesn't count. There are millions of Americans each year that don't vote because "their lousy little vote doesn't count" but it does. If you could combine all of the non voters into one group it would be enough votes to swing almost any election.

Enjoy the Political Formus.

[seang]

I don't want to negate myself with labels, but I kind of like republican. I like the idea that if I make some money, I get to use it however I want. Ironically, I'm unemployed . But I'm working on that... A friend of mine who I feel is smarter than me told me that it's a proven fact that the part of the population with the highest IQ's usually votes republican, not just the most wealthy. This makes sense to me because the stereotypical "rich person" only got that way as a secondary reward of making intelligent choices. So of course its gonna "seem" that only rich people vote republican, it's an observation. I'm not saying that everyone believes that "only rich people vote republican", but it does get brought up sometimes.

[AZhitman]

Sean, congrats on getting involved... Voting is one of our more cherished freedoms, and too many take it for granted (then whine about the results).

I'd suggest maybe hitting up a local community college US Government class... good overview of the system.

Planned to type more, but apparently it's past my bedtime. Good luck on your job search, and as was said previously, don't get wrapped up in labels and groups... Vote the issues.

[dusred]

A friend of mine who I feel is smarter than me told me that it's a proven fact that the part of the population with the highest IQ's usually votes republican,

I'm a Conservative Republican so I would like to think that's true . Do you have any further details or a link to the study? It would be an interesting read.

We may be on the right path to figuring out Howie .

[AZhitman]

As a Conservative Independent, with a bit of a social liberal streak and a ton of fiscal COnservatism, I'd disagree with that generalization all day long.

There are a ton of Libby academics who are just plain brilliant, and I don't think intellect has any bearing on political leanings.

Yeah, I said it.

HOWEVER, I do think the differences are more complex and fundamentally ingrained than simlpe intellect... Much like the differences in communication and thinking styles that we see between genders, such is the case with pure conservatives and pure liberals. The thinking is different. The communication is different. The perceptions are different, and they process information differently.

It's all Mars / Venus up in here, y0.

[seang]

I'm a Conservative Republican so I would like to think that's true . Do you have any further details or a link to the study? It would be an interesting read. We may be on the right path to figuring out Howie .

I haven't spoken with him in like a year at least, but I will try to get ahold of him sometime so I can ask him about it. I'm not just making it up.

Thank you AZhitman for your advice, and thank you to anyone else for your bits of advice. I'm glad I asked. There may even be other people on this forum who could benefit from these Q and A's.

I don't want to inundate this thread with the drawn out differences between political parties, (that would just spoil it), but this is definitely a topic I want to read about and/or contribute to if there are any threads here that already deal with these differences.
Modified by seang at 12:16 PM 10/15/2009

[telcoman]

I don't want to inundate this thread with the drawn out differences between political parties, (that would just spoil it), but this is definitely a topic I want to read about and/or contribute to if there are any threads here that already deal with these differences. Modified by seang at 12:16 PM 10/15/2009

Seang

You can find some good information here.http://www.dailykos.com/

Thank you AZhitman for your advice, and thank you to anyone else for your bits of advice. I'm glad I asked. There may even be other people on this forum who could benefit from these Q and A's. Modified by seang at 12:16 PM 10/15/2009

Greg is a nice guy but he is just a little warped to the right so beware

We may be on the right path to figuring out Howie .

No your not!

You'll never figure me out

Telcoman

[AZhitman]

Greg is a nice guy...

YOU LIE.



DailyKos? Oh, hell. At least give him a legitimate source, Howie!

[srellim234]

Actually, better info is available here with a rundown of all the political parties:

http://www.politics1.com/parties.htm

It's the link that is held by a sticky at thetop of the politics forum here.

[dusred]

The best source for political info is this:

http://www.foxnews.com/hannity

all other info is garbage.
Modified by dusred at 9:05 PM 10/15/2009

[srellim234]

Seang is seriously trying to engage himself in the process. You guys are doing him a tremendous disservice by trying to direct him toward partisan websites. Have some respect, treat him like an adult and let him do some serious research at impartial sites.

BTW, dusred, when I clicked on your link it didn't work if your intention was to direct him to fox.

[seang]

let him do some serious research at impartial sites.

Is there such a thing?

[dusred]

BTW, dusred, when I clicked on your link it didn't work if your intention was to direct him to fox.

FTFY

I know you hate Fox and everything but it IS the top rated news organization. Wonder why?

[srellim234]

I don't wonder why at all. Highly partisan people are going to be devoted to what they watch and Fox is in the entetainment business catering specifically to their partisan folowing. The numbers still pale in comparison to the overall numbers and the general networks. Plus, if you believe that Fox is the only conservative outlet as they claim, that means that they are not spliiting their viewership among multiple outets like the other outlets have to.

Research is done in many ways. Sending someone to a partisan website that will not take a critical look at its own side and admit that they do make mistakes and they are not right 100% of the time is not research. Finding websites that take critical views of both sides is the key, as well as checking the party websites gainst voting records to see if they truly are what they say they are. Fox, MSNBC, etc. are not good sites to do true research at. They are only self serving enterprises for the purpose of making a profit at the expense of accuracy. Neither really does the news or impartial research.

[heliochrome85]

the more i dread by srellim234, the more respect for him I have. Dusred, you fail. Yet again.

Fox news is number 1 for the same reasons the crazies are always the loudest in the room.

[dusred]

Dusred, you fail. Yet again.

That coming from you I'm not concerned.

Pointing out facts is certainly a way to fail on a Political forum .

[heliochrome85]

what facts were pointed out? That fox news is number 1 in the viewership? Way to go kid.

[AZhitman]

Wait.

How can the #1 rated news source be right-slanted if this country is supposedly moving left?

I mean, the MAJORITY elected a Dem.

Can't have it both ways, guys. Argument is nullified (or at least much more complex than you make it out to be).

[telcoman]

Wait.

How can the #1 rated news source be right-slanted if this country is supposedly moving left?

I mean, the MAJORITY elected a Dem.

Can't have it both ways, guys. Argument is nullified (or at least much more complex than you make it out to be).

Self proclaimed #1

Fox claiming they are the #1 news source is like Howard Stern claiming to be the king of all media.

Both are self proclaimed are are just for audience amusement.

President Obama did an interview with O'Reilly but the White House doesn't think too highly of Fox noise. Too many right wing wacko's catering to the birthers, gun huggers, tea party wingnuts, acorn haters and others that want to bring sub machine guns to political rallies.

Telcoman

[seang]

[QUOTE=AZhitman]I mean, the MAJORITY elected a Dem. [QUOTE]

I am somewhat leary of "left", because an extreme left, I feel, would deprive me of autonomy, which is very important to me. I don't feel the need to belong to a leftish movement, and any pseudo-need to belong to a movement like that would at least eventually be outweighed by my love for autonomy.

[srellim234]

Wait.

How can the #1 rated news source be right-slanted if this country is supposedly moving left?

I mean, the MAJORITY elected a Dem.

Can't have it both ways, guys. Argument is nullified (or at least much more complex than you make it out to be).

As I pointed out, Fox loves to clalim they are the ONLY right leaning news organization out there against a liberal media. If you subscribe to that theory, then they are not splitting the right wing viewership with any other outlets, unlike the lef leaning outlets that must split viewership with other outlets.

Add up all of the other outlets, including network tv which Fox claims is as liberally biased as any sources out there, and Fox comes nowhere close to commading a majority of the viewers.

Toyota might be #1 in world car sales but it comes nowhere near to selling a majority of the cars worldwide. Same thing with Fox in the cable tv entertainment (or news, if you care to call it that) business. The majority is still elsewhere.

[nissangirl74]

Politics can be as simple or complex as you make them. If you like a sense of autonomy, I would suggest you pick your battles very carefully (especially in here). The most important thing to remember though is to educate yourself. As far as credible sources are considered, that depends entirely on who you are in debate with. Some would like to see everyone at FOX news DIAF, other would say the say the same for MSNBC. I say, read everything you can get your hands on and draw your own conclusions. Education and knowledge are never a waste. Don't worry about which party you want / think you should belong to. That's the same as setting limits for yourself. Vote your conscious, not majority or party opinion. By all means, go register to vote. Monday morning. Don't believe all the crap that non-voters will tell you about your vote not making a difference. It's funny, they are usually the ones that b**** the most when things don't go their way. I have voted in almost every eligible election since I was 18. I'd like to think I have made a difference. Many cities have an election office. All you have to do is call the town hall and they will be happy to let you know where to go to register. Also, you can now register to vote at most Driver's License Centers.

[telcoman]

That coming from you I'm not concerned.

You should be!

[Urabus GodofTraction]

Despite the name, The Christian Science Monitor has a fantastic reputation for non-partisanship.

I also enjoy the Wall Street Journal, and I pirate The Economist's audio copy to listen to on the way to and from work.

The audio Economist is brilliant.

[heliochrome85]

Despite the name, The Christian Science Monitor has a fantastic reputation for non-partisanship.

I also enjoy the Wall Street Journal, and I pirate The Economist's audio copy to listen to on the way to and from work.

The audio Economist is brilliant.

i agree with everything said here.

might i add, The New Republic, The Atlantic Monthly, and Spectator Magazine.

[seang]

Thanks guy's. Your word means alot to me, as it obviously means alot to you. I have been getting emails from a website called "RocktheVote" for a few months. What do you think about them? http://www.rockthevote.com/ It seems pretty democratic as far as I know. I said earlier in this thread that I am leary of the extreme left, but this website seems dignified. What do you know?