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Originally Posted by chezlaw
Voting for someone we dont want is the cop out.
I think that depends a bit; there can be strategic reasons to vote for the lesser of two evils. I partially agree with you, but I don't believe this is an absolute rule.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chezlaw
Democracy and voting are extremely imporrtant and powerful but only if people use their vote to stand up and be counted for what they want. Sometimes that may mean not voting or writing something in
Writing something in/spoiling the ballot, yes! Not voting leads to:
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Originally Posted by chezlaw
Also we mustn't confuse the apthetic with those determined to vote for what they want. The former are irrelevent, the later are the people the politicians are desperate to adjust to.
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Originally Posted by 5 south
I have abstained from voting since 2008 but realize that is a mistake and should have been voting 3rd party. If a 3rd party candidate can get some % of the popular vote it at least sends a message that people are out there voting, just not for you two.
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Originally Posted by Didace
Many people might believe that it doesn't matter which of the two main candidates win; their lives will not change either way. If that is your belief, not voting is logical.
Not really, IMO. I think it's important that those who don't like either candidate make their voice heard separately from those who just don't care. Also, many elections have much more to vote on - IE other levels of government, initiatives, referendums, etc.
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Originally Posted by chezlaw
If there's a suitable alternative candidate then voting for them is far better than abstaining. Some form of organisation beyond voting is really needed to advocate for the sort of policies we want but that has to be backed with our (non) vote or the politicians have ~no reason to care. It's democracy - the power is with the voters but we have to choose to exercise it.
Exactly.
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Originally Posted by No_Limit_Joker
Voting helps you decide small local things, like which candidate gets to steal money from your town.
JK local votes count
Not only do they count, they're important. For those who say they don't vote because the two parties are the same - I hope you go out for your local elections, because that often has the greatest impact on your day to day life at home, and it's pretty rare that every candidate would do the exact same thing at that level. If you sit those out as well, I suspect that the reason you don't vote in the bigger elections has little to do with the parties being the same.
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Originally Posted by No_Limit_Joker
but its too much of a hassle
Is that worth missing work for and not getting paid? not really
That's sad, for a couple of reasons. First off, I think it's a disappointing attitude. But much more importantly, it demonstrates the need for something like this:
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The federal election has been called for October 21, 2019. Employers should be aware that, under the Canada Elections Act, they must provide employees paid time off to vote.
Three consecutive hours to vote
All employees who are Canadian citizens and 18 years of age or older are entitled to have three consecutive hours off on Election Day to vote. Voting hours in the Eastern time zone are from 9:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. If an employee’s hours of work do not allow for three consecutive hours off within this period, the employer must give them sufficient time off to meet the requirement of three consecutive hours.
Therefore, for example, if an employee works from 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., it is not necessary for the employer to give them time off, as the employee has more than three hours after work in which to vote. If an employee works from 10:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m., the employer must provide some time off, but it is not necessary to grant three hours off during the middle of the day. The Act provides that voting time is to be allowed at the convenience of the employer, so the employer in this case may allow the employee to leave work at 6:30 p.m.
https://ehlaw.ca/voting-time-employe...-election-day/
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Originally Posted by Victor
or surveilling the whole country, drone bombing American citizens, rounding up and deporting millions, torturing prisoners, and doing genocide.
At least the ice cream picture was good.