I didn't have the chance to do so early, so I cast my ballot this morning before heading to work. It was raining as I walked into the middle school that was my polling place today, much like the first time I voted in a major election in 1992 (I remember it well). But I'm a much different person than that eager 19-year-old. Some ways the same, of course. I still have a terrific singing voice and the ability to scale tall buildings in a single bound.
Yes, U.S. citizens 18 and older have that right to vote. That is an awesome right to have, one that is more inclusive and goes beyond what our country was founded on. Still, I stick by an earlier post that questions whether everyone should vote. I'm most perplexed by anyone who this very day calls him or herself an "undecided voter."
Unless one has been living under a rock for the past year, being undecided says more about that person's lack of convictions than it does about the candidates. There is no perfect candidate. Each person is multi-faceted, is generally old enough to have done some really dumb things, and is going to make a decision or two (or three or four ...) that we don't like. But by golly, the candidates' philosophies are different and well-defined enough to be distinguishable. Believe in something! Pick one!
I heard that in the past, some undecided voters don't know who they're going to vote for until they step into the booth. Are they flipping coins? Are they eenie minie-moe-ing their ballots?
Yes, they've got that right. And when the dust settles, their uneducated vote will count just as much as the ones from people who did their homework, know what they stand for and voted accordingly. God Bless America.
Undecided voters are people who agree with some aspects of both sides. Also, they are people (like me) who believe most, if not all, politicians are swine, and we are faced with the lesser of two evils every time we go to the polls. Most people don't realize that, listening to candidates' platforms, those platforms need to be passed by CONGRESS. So, as voters we need to at least start there. Who cares if Kerry has a health plan? It will need to be passed first. Who cares if Bush wants to re-new the Patriot Act? It needs to pass.
It just so happens that the current administration, for me, has not worked. However, the alternative is not that much better either.
It is the constant 'lesser of two evils' choice that infuriates me--the mediocrity of the candidates and their platforms. So yes...maybe some Undecided ARE indeed flipping coins. Until we're presented with better choices, I don't blame them.
P.S. I voted in 10 mins. to-day. Thank God for the ability to work from home and hit the polls on "off hours."
I voted today, as I do at every election. I don't particularly like politics, but I try hard to make wise decisions. And I don't just pull the party lever.
I'm with you all the way, T-bone. I've ALWAYS voted. It's the only way I feel justified in complaining about the government - I can sleep at night knowing I did everything I could.
You can still feel justified in complaining about the gov't. as long as you pay your taxes. It's still your money, and you have a say--whether through voting, or just ranting/writing.
T-bone, I'm with you about being unsure about "everyone" voting.
Think about all the first-time voters who went to the polls yesterday -- armed only with the knowledge that MTV said they should vote and that they got an e-mail saying that Bush would draft them into the military.
Our ballot measures here in CA were so numerous and complex that I spent more time studying the propositions than I did for any mid-term.
How scary that people went to the polls without having made any invstment in preparing for the responsibility.
While I was passionate about the presidential races, and certain other senate and house races around the country, I admittedly did not have time (or make time) to research each of the propositions that were up for vote. Being a GOP member and living in California, I usually vote "NO" on everything unless I read something that says to do otherwise. Most everything that makes it to ballot I don't want anyway with all these crazy liberals ruling the roost out here. This year I got a nice little packet in the mail from Ah-nuld that was my "guide" to how to vote on the props. Of course he was a wimp (it wasn't mentioned in his guide on how to vote) on the prop regarding stem-cells for which I voted a resounding NO. It passed narrowly, unfortunately, and I'm scared to think what it will bring in its wake.
I digress. Undecided people for a presidential election totally perplex me. If I was that middle of the road I would decide which issues I most cared about and see who fit those issues.