I don't care if you write in fucking Mickey Mouse. At least you can say you voted and made an attempt to change things. No voting=no attempt to change things=no bitching
Who are you to tell me what I can and can't do? I'm of the mind that no candidate will change what's already going to happen. This isn't fucking Nazi Germany, I can do and think as I please. I'm not all over your ass for supporting Obama, or someone else's for supporting McCain.
Oh sweet Jesus. Lets all calm down now. I am disappointed by some of the recent responses in this thread but unfortunately you cannot force someone to vote if they don't want to. Now, being a first time voter myself, I couldn't even imagine passing up the opportunity to be part of something monumental such as this. I am not blind to our country's problems but sitting back and not contributing tomorrow when it means most is just sad. But then again, I actually favor a candidate. It doesn't mean everything will be sunshine and roses if he takes office, but with effort maybe our country can get there. Who knows, the future is uncertain.
Personally, I think everyone should vote. You've got the power to try to put the people you think will run the country well into office, so why not make use of the power you've been given? It doesn't matter, like Todd said, if you write in Mickey Mouse as your candidate, at least you're voting. (And obviously his example is a little "ridiculous.") To not vote just seems counterproductive. I'm not saying anyone should vote if they don't want to, but they might want to consider it. If voting for someone you don't think should be in office isn't going to "change anything," neither is not voting for someone you don't think should be in office. It's a catch 22.
Will, I think the principle is this: If you do not vote you are telling the parties that you agree with neither of them, and that they need to put forth a stronger candidate next election as you won't vote for anyone they throw up there.
Good luck on tomorrow's elections, and I personally hope Obama will win. When the next election could very well be one election too late I think what you've just written is not an option.
I think the problem with this is that there isn't ever going to be a candidate that someone agrees with 100% unless they're a blind follower and they're voting for that candidate based on his name or his party rather than his actual views. But no, I'm not telling people they should vote, just that I'd prefer it if they did, because as the past two elections have proven, every vote matters.
Not voting because you're careless or lazy is ridiculous, but choosing not to vote because you disagree with both candidates by principal isn't. At least that's how I look at it.
Proposition 8 is on the ballot in California, it is to determine whether or not gays have the right to marry here. I am against it passing, because it will take away that right.