Unmarried, Female and Turned Off by Politics

[gulfcoastliberal]

SEATTLE — Adriana Maza is an articulate 23-year-old nanny who hopes one day to attend medical school. She has dabbled in grass-roots politics, has opinions about the war in Iraq, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, the presidential candidates and even considers herself a feminist.

But she does not vote.

"I guess I don't really feel like there's much of a choice," she said. "Until I feel there is a candidate who really represents my views, someone who can represent something positive, I don't feel compelled to vote."

In this, she is part of a larger phenomenon. According to pollsters, when single women are compared with married men, married women and single men, they account for the largest number of Americans who are, in essence, voluntarily disenfranchised. More than 21 million single women — almost half of those eligible — did not cast ballots in the last presidential election.

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=2026&ncid=2026&e=3&u=/latimests/20040510/ts_latimes/unmarriedfemaleandturnedoffbypolitics

Interesting. We need these women voting.

[robbedvoter]

1. The only think for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing

And that's how germans are guilty as well. Adriana, vote or be guilty of all the shit BFEE is doing.

[gristy]

53. It is recommended that you not waste any more time reading this thread

In 1996 exactly 49.08% of those who were of age to vote in the U.S. did vote in the Presidential election. In 2000 the % improved only slightly to 51%. Acording to this article, more than half of the single women voted.

This reporter is simply full of s---. There's nothing to his premise at all.

[Claire Beth]

2. anyone who is eligible to vote and doesn't, should not complain! n/t

[info being]

9. They don't, they refuse to talk about it!

I live in Seattle and I know EXACTLY the kind of women they are talking about. I had just this conversation on Friday night...for some reason these 20-30-something single women get completely freaked out when the topic of politics comes up. I'm not proud to say that it scared me and I shut up quickly.

[saigon68]

28. They are needed to breed the next generation of soldiers

And to put up blue and gold stars

Watch Star WARS 2

or cry along to this

Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the flowers gone?
The girls have picked them ev'ry one.
Oh, when will you ever learn?
Oh, when will you ever learn?
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the young girls gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the young girls gone?
They've taken husbands, every one.
Oh, when will you ever learn?
Oh, when will you ever learn?

Where have all the young men gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the young men gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the young men gone?
They're all in uniform.
Oh, when will you ever learn?
Oh, when will you ever learn?

Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the soldiers gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the soldiers gone?
They've gone to graveyards, every one.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the graveyards gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the graveyards gone?
They're covered with flowers, every one.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?

Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time passing.
Where have all the flowers gone?
Long time ago.
Where have all the flowers gone?
Young girls picked them, every one.
Oh, when will they ever learn?
Oh, when will they ever learn?


Pete Seger 1956

[Bigmack]

19. I put it a little stronger than that....

any black, or Hispanic, or working class, or female, or senior, or X-gen,or military person, or veteran who doesn't get off their asses and vote this turd out of office is stupid, and they deserve the reaming they are getting - and will continue to get!

Did I leave anybody out?

[SharonAnn]

59. That's how I got my husband to vote! Told him I didn't want to

hear his opinions any more. He said he was entitled to express them. I said not in my house! He asked why, and I told that since he didn't vote he could either get registered and vote or keep quiet.

He got registered and votes regularly now, even takes pride in it.

[gulfcoastliberal]

3. The Kerry Campaign should take a Hard look at this Article

Choice Cuts:

"As a group, unmarried women tend to have liberal views on social issues such as abortion, gun control and gay rights, pollsters say. When single women vote, they generally vote Democratic."

"Many single women are alienated from the political process, Greenberg said, because they don't see connections between elections and their own lives. Or they think their votes don't matter."

Kerry, take heed!

[w4rma]

35. And do what else? Folks like this are totally out of the loop, imho. (nt)

[displacedtexan]

4. Adriana deserves what she gets for not voting.

Let's hope she never suffers the consequences of an ignorant/cruel Supreme Court.

[drfemoe]

15. What do you consider the last 3 1/2 yrs if not

consequences of an ignorant/cruel SC?

[physioex]

5. I understand their perspective..I don't agree with it

I was never politically active until this campaign (not female either, recently married male). Think about it you work a job, drive to work, and when you come home you have family problems, and chores. When all is said and done who has time for politics. This election cycle has changed my attitude towards politics, and I hope to remain active.

[pinto]

10. absentee voting takes about 3 minutes, and you mail it in.

and being informed is hard to avoid in our media soaked culture.

ps, glad you've gotten involved.

[ZenLefty]

6. I hope she doesn't mind outlawing abortion

That just might be a grim reality if we lose in November.

Politicians may not align very well with her own personal views (me either, go figure), but I think this person has a lot of rights that she takes for granted. Hopefully she won't mind much when she loses them.

[Wright Patman]

11. Single-issue voting

is pretty sad. There ought to be a great number of issues, not just that one, on which to base one's vote.

I know people on the other side who will never vote for any candidate who is not totally "pro-life" and I think that is equally sad.

That issue should never have been politicized to begin with.

[ZenLefty]

16. I just mentioned one as an example

There are many issues concerning women's rights that stand to be pushed back if republicans had their way. Unfortunately, due to the christian right's alignment with the republican party, it is politicized and we need to remember this on the way to the voting booth. They want to regulate morality, and abortion is only the beginning.

I hope she doesn't mind it if people expect her to stay home and raise kids at the expense of any carreer she may have chosen. republicans are building that bridge to the 17th century, you see.

[sandnsea]

69. Yes, but it's good enough this year

Whatever it takes to reach these young women.

[crossroads]

52. She is not motivated!

That needs to be addressed! The cons are motivated *against* gays, abortion, and taxes. These women should realize if Bush wins it will be too late! Educate them because they take the hard won freedoms of the 60s and 70s for granted. :eyes:

[struggle4progress]

7. Are Americans voluntarily abandoning democracy?

Will nobody vote unless the candidates match them completely on every issue? Why would anybody expect to be able to move the candidates in an appropriate direction without staying at least minimally involved over a period of time?

How hard is it to stay a bit informed and vote? There are plenty of easily accessible groups out there providing local, state, and national info.

[hatrack]

29. Hell, Americans are voluntarily abandoning READING

Once you've done that, what's abandoning voting and participatory government?

[struggle4progress]

55. Now that's a scary little article. eom

[Thor_MN]

67. To choose not to choose can be tempting...

Less stress, illusion of no responsibility...

It's pretty much the victim mentality, that everything that happens was done TO me, I have no responsibility for it. Sadly, I feel that the "Everyone wins, there are no losers" philosophy that seems to be floating through the education system feeds this. If a child never learns what losing is, how are they ever going to learn what responsibilty is about?

[RobinA]

8. I'm Single and Female

and have no time for this women's arguments. Don't see the connection between who you vote for and your life? I hear this opinion from all walks of life, and my only response is that the person needs to wake up. This isn't student council where you can vote for the candidate who favors Coke machines in the cafeteria. The connection between the candidate's postitions and real life aren't QUITE that bright line, but many are not particularly ambiguous. Others are a little less clear, but don't reguire a degree in economics to figure out. Some do require the degree, but there are more than enough that don't to get an awake person to the polls.

Further - to a person with this view I say, Are you the only person that matters? If a person HAS to have some personal stake in an issue to care about it, does the person not have elderly relative? Child in school? Female relative or friend of child-bearing age? Do they not care if soldiers are being killed in a war? Do they not have a job that is affected by the economy? Are they dependent enough on purchased energy that they care if they continue to be able to purchase energy? Do they vacation in National Parks? The list is endless, even without getting into the nitty gritty detail of economics.

Third - I have no patience for people who won't vote for any candidate who isn't their ideal candidate. Grow up for heaven's sake.

[info being]

12. The trouble is,

These women end up voting for and supporting Bush. They might pretend to be disenfranchised, but more likely they are driven by an intense to pretend that everything is okay. They vote status quo because the idea that things are messed up is just to emotionally painful for them.

[RedEarth]

76. Robin...very good post.......my sentiments exactly...

In particular..."Are you the only person that matters?"

[THUNDER HANDS]

13. idiots

All of them. Anyone who doesn't vote should have their taxes doubled to help defer the cost of living to the other half of America that actually gives a shit.

[4_Legs_Good]

14. I propose a voting tax credit...

but do we want uninformed votes?

I always thought a $250 voting tax credit would be very effective in getting people out to vote.

david

[THUNDER HANDS]

18. no, we want intelligent people voting

Or, in the event that is unlikely to occur - people voting intelligently.

You shouldn't have to pay people to vote.

[saracat]

32. "intelligent people voting"

Or "people voting intelligently"? You must not be refering to American voters. We have too few of those to even count!

[drfemoe]

17. Fix the system instead of beating up

on those who refuse to play.

"Maza, the nanny, said she was turned off to politics after Seattle residents voted against a major sports venue and the stadium was built anyway. "That's the perfect example where people obviously don't want something and it happens anyway," she said.

Many single women have a skeptical, if not cynical, view of the way government works. "Over and over, they used expressions like male politicians have never walked in their shoes," Greenberg said. "The spontaneous use of that phrase was rather interesting…. The whole challenge is to get them to see they have a stake."

Take, for instance, Belinda Rogers, an unemployed single mother waiting at a downtown Seattle bus stop recently when a local citizens group was registering voters. Rogers, 45, emphatically declined to sign up.

She has no time for politicians. "The ones on the top of the ladder should come down to the bottom of the ladder to see what it's really like," she said before hopping a bus to school."

[dryan]

20. Please no more articles that make women look stupid

If these women are this moronic I'm not sure I want them to vote.

[drfemoe]

22. People do not

take action unless they believe their action will result in a desired outcome. Never.

At one time, I would have been surprised that "progressives" would choose to spew bile such is displayed on this thread (and many others).

No longer. So-called "progressives" are much more responsible for the current state of affairs than they are willing to face up to.

I'm not afraid any more. I just don't give a sh*t. If you want to blame these women when Democracy falls, go right a-frkin-head. You'll enjoy camp much more that way.

[Darth_Kitten]

50. Why shouldn't politicians learn what's.....

important to single females? They sure try to learn what's important to suburban voters, seniors, "soccer moms", blue collar men, the working poor, visible minorities, Catholics, Protestants, Gays and Lesbians, Minivan owners, Irish Americans,college age voters, etc, etc, etc, etc, etc......

Why shouldn't single women be cynical?

[mulethree]

33. seems some people don't want things fixed

WASHINGTON’S BLANKET PRIMARY
http://www.sdc.wa.gov/issues/Blanket%20primary.pdf

Washington's primary leaves many confused
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/camp28.shtml

Democrats reject early Washington primary
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/prim23.shtml

[BiggJawn]

36. I don't buy her excuse...

Unless she lives alone with 45 cats.

"she was turned off to politics after Seattle residents voted against a major sports venue and the stadium was built anyway. "That's the perfect example where people obviously don't want something and it happens anyway,"

So, dear Adriana, I take it you've had only ONE boyfriend, and then maybe just ONE girlfriend in your life? After all, "If at first you don't succeed, FUCK IT", right?

look, it's a fucked-up system, but it's the ONLY system we have right now. If people like Maza bail out and say "I'm not playing, it's pointless" then the bastards who broke the damn thing in the first place get to keep on keeping on dicking with it.

There is NO excuse for not voting. It takes no longer to become informed on the issues and learn where each candidate stands than it did to memorize all those plot lines from "Friends" and the name of everyone ever kicked off "The Island".

her excuses make about as much sense as a young fellow I met 4 years ago who drew himself up and said "I'm sending a MESSAGE by staying home and witholding my vote." What an ass....

[Triana]

21. this burns me up - what a dumbass...

...i'm single and I vote. I have NEVER, EVER missed a chance to do so. Not only is this woman screwing herself by not voting until the "perfect" candidate comes along, she's screwing the rest of us too.

I'm sorry to say this woman has a really, REALLY STUPID attitude and so do the rest of them who don't even damned bother to vote.

Stupid...

:mad:

[Voltaire99]

23. Good for her. She can think for herself..

...a virtue in short supply in our two-party duopoly.

Is it any wonder that a smart young free-thinker would be turned off by the choice between Bush and Bush-lite?

Until the Democratic Party is freed from its post-Reagan corporate chains and once more asserts progressive positions, you can hardly expect the Adriana Mazas or the millions like her to settle. What--you expect her to run out and vote for lower corporate taxes and more war in Iraq? Get real, my friends.

[bacchant]

25. Voting isn't just a right, it's a responsibility

The way things are going, if people don't wake up and step up, they may lose that right altogether.

[mulethree]

34. we need a serious write-in campaign, or a none-of-the-above vote

[FlemingsGhost]

26. Hear, hear!

I don't blame her one bit...

[robbedvoter]

27. Other women fought and suffered for this "thoughtfulness"

lack of participation kills democracy. From you as well as Adriana.
It really doesn't matter in the name of what. This may be our last chance to vote - depending on you and Adriana.

[Ann Arbor Dem]

30. She is not thinking for herself...

"Until I feel there is a candidate who really represents my views, someone who can represent something positive, I don't feel compelled to vote."

Too bad she doesn't understand that one candidate will never (or rarely) represent one voter's views completely. It's sad, but not surprising, that she doesn't see the bigger picture. I've had conversations with young folks who had views like hers and have taken the opportunity to help educate them about the importance of voting. I know that some of them have gone on to become regular voters and supporters of liberal causes. Kind of a mentoring thing.

[ozone_man]

45. There is a huge proportion

of voters without a real choice, be they leftists, labor, peace activists, young 20 something "feminists" (the case at hand), the list goes on.

I will not criticize anyone for not voting for Bush or Bush lite. And, by no means, is it obvious that the choice boils down to that. It takes a long, deep view to see this, and the media and TPTB pretend that there really is a choice.

[progressivebydesign]

48. Good for her?

Umm.. okay. I doubt this woman has really spent a lot of time delving into the issues. Just a hunch.

[rman]

72. right, and those who do vote can't think for themselves

-

[loftycity]

24. We suffer mightly for their delusions

Tell them that. We are out there working for them and they sit back and don't want to know about any of it.

[MadHound]

31. Then Hey! Let's give them something to vote FOR!

You know, something like universal health care, or publicly financed elections, or a living wage. Any one of these three issues would bring out droves of the apathetic non-voters, especially universal health care.

But continuing to offer the same ol' same ol' "lesser of two evils" choice simply turns off more and more people. If you want a higher voter turn out, put something on the table that appeals to their self interests.

[mulethree]

41. maybe

fixing the gender gap in wages.

fixing overtime regs - an office admin, store manager etc. loose their overtime at a much lower pay level than a blue-collar worker.

Teach voting and election issues in school. Show these young people how various minority groups are organizing to leverage issues far beyond their population levels and beyond their economic input.

:) get your candidate an endorsement from a pretty-boy band or some other personable stud who will perform at rallies :)

Fix the primaries so the candidates aren't set in stone until the last vote is cast. Do all the largest states on the same day late in the season like April 2 or so. Yes people should care about their local and state contests, but don't make their vote meaningless for the Presidential nominations.

Get more states to use proportional electoral participation instead of winner-takes all. If it doesn't matter whether your candidate gets 51% or 91% then why vote? In a solid red or blue state many many votes don't count.

[lostnfound]

44. I agree. nt

[duvinnie]

46. yes, but

the only candidate who promised to stand for anything positive
was declared unstable by the media and dropped out.

[crossroads]

54. Something to vote FOR

that is a positive statement!
:bounce:

[VelmaD]

37. OK, I'm calling bullshit

I think this is another one of those media made-up stories like "soccer moms" and "NASCAR dads". The article notes that almost half of all eligible single women don't vote. Well, that's not a big surprise given that only half of ALL eligible voters voted in the last Presidential election. The percentage is even lower for State and local elections. Note that they left that little bit of information and perspective out of the article.

[gristy]

51. YOU ARE EXACTLY RIGHT

In 1996 exactly 49.08% of those who were of age to vote in the U.S. did vote in the Presidential election. In 2000 the % improved only slightly to 51%. Acording to this article, more than half of the single women voted.

This reporter is simply full of s---. There's nothing to his premise at all.

[drfemoe]

62. So which is it?

Either they don't matter AT ALL ..
OR
They are totally responsible for the sorry conditions we find ourselves in.

"For Gardner's purposes, it was the single women who were of particular interest. Had this group voted in the same proportion as married women in the 2000 election, she discovered, an additional 6 million votes would have been cast around the country (including an estimated 202,000 in Florida, which Bush carried by 537 votes). "

[alarimer]

64. Salon had an article a few weeks back

One this same subject. The Salon article was so condescending and so patronizing in tone. It basically equated all single nonvoting women to "chicks who are only interested in shoes". One commentator they interviewed for the article said that single women would vote if there were cute guys at the polling places! Now maybe some people are like that. I was so angry that I wrote a letter to the editor (which they did not publish).

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[johnnie]

39. I know I will get flamed for this one but...

Last election I didn't vote. I knew it was a farce and expressed my views well before November. Of course I was told to take off my tin foil hat and get real. Well, I was shown to be right. Many people asked how I knew that the outcome would be such a joke. All I can say to that is...I had a strong feeling.
I have voted in every election since I've turned 18 in 1982. I became political and knew the issues. I went and saw Bill Clinton speak on his first run for President, I even got to shake his hand. I was sickened and frustrated with what the Repubs did to Clinton for 8 years and then Bush became their prime candidate. I knew that was complete bullshit. Anyone who didn't see what was coming had rose colored glasses on.
Go ahead and flame me, but I stand by my protest of that selection and I don't feel regret. Sure my vote may have counted, but obviously a lot of people's votes didn't mean shit.
Now...as for me having no right to complain...that's bullshit. I pay my fucking taxes as do all of you. That Whithouse is as much mine as it is anyone's. I have every right to complain about the Government I financially support and I will do so as I see fit.
Get off your high horses and don't feed me that shit of me not having the right to state my opinions.
As for this administartion...they are getting what is owed to them. I will be out voting this election and will continue to make my political decisions based on my own thoughts and not the pressures of a cliche of "If you don't vote, then don't bitch".

on edit: fixed a typo

[SoCalDem]

40. I wrote this a while back, but it's still relevant

Think That Voting Doesn't Matter?



This is what NOT voting got you…

1. Lousy schools
2. Dirty air
3. Polluted water
4. Hate radio on 24/7
5. Infotainment instead of news on TV
6. Payola for Politicians
7. Expensive medicine
8. War for the sake of oil
9. Institutionalized poverty for veterans
10. Unaffordable medical insurance
11. Low interest rates for the rich, high interest rates everyone else
12. High food costs, but poor small farmers
13. High cable bills
14. High phone bills
15. People making $400,000.00 (1%) or more getting 50% of tax breaks
16. Corporations taking Good jobs away from America, to avoid paying decent wages
17. An insane drug policy that mainly benefits private prisons, locking up poor kids caught with pot
18. A vanishing middle class..
19. A hatred of America that is spreading around the world like a virus
20. Unemployment
21. Pension plans morphed into 401-k’s only to be stolen by greedy CEO’s
22. Laws that NEVER favor “the little guy”
23. Higher property taxes, as states lose federal funding
24. Union busting with a vengeance (low paid “wage slaves” are the ultimate goal)
25. Government spying on your every move

How did your absence at the polls make these things happen?? Well, while you were voting for “Kelly” instead of the other singer or you were stressing about whether Ross & Rachel would get back together, the politicians in DC were busily stuffing money into their pockets , and passing legislation that screws YOU and favors the guys with the big bucks..

How can you stop it?? Get informed… Vote the bastards OUT.. Take back YOUR government.. Do it from the ballot box.. Newspapers, radio & tv companies are ALL OWNED by the same few rich guys who just want you to buy their stuff and shut up.. Get your news online… Read foreign newspapers.. Find out what is REALLY going on..

Quit whining about how miserable your life is, and DO SOMETHING ABOUT IT !!!

[mulethree]

42. had to look twice

saw the lady liberty and assumed the guy on the ground was a NYC homeless. Took a second to click why the walls would be yellow.

As for your list, it takes at least 3 news sources to get a decent perspective on the news. How many people have that much time? Vote with your dollars for a newspaper or news show or whatever that's impartial and puts more emphasis on real news than sports commentary, recipe's and 35 different stories about the same Iraqi prisoner scandal. Then spend an hour a year to write them letters when they look biased, miss an important story or neglect to follow-up.

[BiggJawn]

78. Only 3 news sources?

OK, I have CNN, BBc, the "Journal-Courier", the "Indianapolis Star" and every obscure and mainline source referenced in this forum.
Oh, I forgot, NPR, too.

how do i have so much time that i can look at all that info?

I don't fuck around with Justin and Kelly, I don't even KNOW who's on "The Island", and what few "Friends" I have don't live in my TeeVee set.

And I don't know who's QB for the Colts, and please, somebody tell me is Gordy Howe is still playing for the New England Whalers?

[ze_dscherman]

43. If voting could change the system, it would be outlawed

Although I hold this partially right, I'm adult enough to see there are shades of gray, and have always voted for what was the lesser evil to me. Well, the German voting system is different (and in my opinion fairer), but I sure would not miss a vote if I were U.S. citizen.

In fact, having seen the very low participation in U.S. votes has made me suspect that democracy had failed / was about to fail there. It's a clear sign that a people has lost faith in its political system and wont prevent political abuse.

I wonder what it will take to wake these people up.

[progressivebydesign]

47. Oh please!

"Until I feel there is a candidate who really represents my views, someone who can represent something positive, I don't feel compelled to vote." Gee, I don't know.. what exactly could be their particular views that aren't being addressed by the numerous candidates one can vote for in their life. I frankly think this is just lazy, shallow thinking... People who don't really take the time to find out what the candidates stand for... mostly, chicks like this vote what their boyfriend or husband vote eventually. It's much easier than using their brains... If they don't vote, they deserve the country they get.

[Darth_Kitten]

49. I think I may know a few reasons why they aren't.........

no one speaks to them like they matter. Apparently they wouldn't appreciate a tax break, no, that's for married couples with kids. It seems politically correct to court: "independent" middle class couples, seniors, "soccer moms", "nascar dads", "suburban" voters, etc because they are working hard for their families and their contributions matter, yet who mentions the 20/30/40 something single female? :shrug:

She works hard, she has family, she spends a lot in this economy, yet who includes her? It just isn't that she is politically excluded, in regular society she doesn't seem to be noticed and valued. :(

[struggle4progress]

57. Of course voting isn't the whole story either ...

If she's PO'd at city, county, state, or federal politicians, nothing keeps her from picking up the phone and letting their offices know why she thinks they stink. That should get her noticed and valued. If they're stupid enough to be rude to her, she can write a LTTE denouncing them and then spend the next year telling all her friends how sucky they are and to vote against them.

[progressivebydesign]

60. Hmmm.. I never fell into those categories.. but I voted

and I even volunteered most every election. No politician ever really spoke to my particular issues.. If I wanted that, I'd hire a therapist. I DID, however, know that if I want the country to go in the direction I'd choose, then I have to vote and be active. Democracy doesnt' happen by itself.. My parents were smart enough to educate me on the importance of being involved in your world.

I frankly find it very selfish and spoiled for these women to ignore voting because it isn't personalized to them... Someone needs to clue the princesses, voting isn't instant gratification.

[Darth_Kitten]

73. That seems a tad sexist.......

women who have "issues" with politicians not speaking to them at all are selfish, spoiled princesses? Are men whiny, spoiled princes whenever they complain that their issues are not being addressed? No, they are valued voters whose opinions matter.
Don't women have the right to speak their minds? How dare they be cynical!!

They are just looking to be included, they are not mindless robots who have to vote just because they "have" to. They are not choosing not to be involved in the process,and they are hardly the only group of people choosing not to vote (apparently half the population exercises it's right not to vote, which is sad, but true)

It just seems the women get mocked......Come on ladies, it's doesn't MATTER what a politician stands for, he's a bit better than the other guy so VOTE!!! I don't think so, there has to be more.

[Blue_Tires]

56. weak

she deserves exactly what she gets...

This is EXACTLY the kind of quasi-liberal people who showed up by the thousands to put Arnold in the CA governor's chair. People that only pay attention to the 10-second sound bites and media-generated images rather than the real issues and what kind of effects your vote today has on everyone tomorrow...

[Generator]

58. What I don't get about ANYONE not voting is:

Local issues. I voted right after I turned eighteen for a school levy, that would effect ME, because if the school I was going to cut funds, it effected ME.

But at various times during my youth, there as been anti-Gay, anti-abortion, anti-smoking ballot measures in my state that mattered to ME. It would effect MY life.

This BS that politicians are all the same is a ninny's excuse. If people hadn't voted in this state, it would be a crime to be gay, to have an abortion and to smoke. I guess all these "young women" never have sex, smoke, or care about civil rights.

In other words, until it's an ideal perfected world, it's just too icky for me to consider democracy real, says Ms. nose ring drinking her half frap double iced latte. It's so difficult to care, when I have a tattoo scheduled on voting day.

That sums up my respect on the matter.

[democracyindanger]

61. Adriana Maza is

an articulate 23-year-old nanny who, despite her intelligence, is a lazy, good-for-nothing ass when it comes to participating in the American political process. She thinks of US democracy in the terms of TV's 'American Idol,' where the consequences of not voting are merely a more annoying corporate popbot.

Fuck Adriana Maza, and all those like her. If, at 23, she's not mature enough to understand the importance of participating in the political process even when your 'dream candidate' isn't there, then she's nothing but a bag of water.

[GaryL]

63. I'm afraid to say I agree.

Maybe in less caustic terms, but I get extremely angry when I hear this. My 21 year old son (and his 19 year old girlfriend) get it. Using the disenfranchised label is yet again another excuse for "I'm not responsible", a phrase all to common to the current administration. People like her will most likely never vote, content to let others choose while they continue as the center of their universe.

[Scairp]

68. You said that very well

How sad and frightening that this is the kind of person we are turning out these days. I am hoping that they will wake up eventually, but probably not in time to save this country from the fanatics that have taken it over.

[Snazzy]

65. reminds me of the t-shirt:

---

Or the recent article about some State voter regi's claiming that college students are temporary residents and can't register.

(sorry no handy link on that, but read it in last week).

Maybe this is yet another mass media approach to creating voting FUD. Cui bono? Yeah, I know it's the LAT, and they are asking a valid question. Still, I keep seeing an undercurrent of somehow you're 'like' the cool kid if you don't vote.

[Failure]

66. What's her email address...She'll vote when we're done with her...nt

[Scairp]

71. Will I get into trouble for this?

I think I'll just post the link.

http://www.anywho.com/qry/wp_fap?lastname=maza&firstname=&city=&state=WA&zip=&btnsubmit.x=47&btnsubmit.y=13

[IndianaGreen]

70. Give them a product that they will vote for

When there is a monopoly, don't expect consumers to buy it if they don't like it!

We need to smash the 2-party monopoly and allow more competition in the political system. Let the market decide!

[Darth_Kitten]

74. Nobody here will buy anything they don't want........

why should single women voters??? :D

[kitkatrose]

75. Well, that's definitely true.

I'm almost 19, and this will be my first election. I'm hauling myself out there toss bush* out on his ass in TN. We usually don't make the same mistake twice, even though I'm not sure we made it first.

Anyway, it's a cycle. No one pays attention to you if you don't vote, and no one votes if they're not paid attention to. So who breaks the chain, or downward spiral if you will, first?

[MissMarple]

77. Good point, kitkatrose.

It is time to break the cycle. Bill Moyers said we are losing our democracy. The folks who choose not to vote ultimately will disenfranchise us all.

One solution that has promise is instant run off voting. But if we don't take control of the process we will never find out how well it works.

[IndianaGreen]

79. The winner-takes-all system is what disenfranchises the electorate

Bill Moyers said that the two threats to freedom are unrestrained capitalism and a timid democracy. Money has corrupted the political process, but there is also a failure to challenge the corruption.

[catzies]

80. Indeed. Richard Clarke said it well onThe Daily Show last month.

We are the government, and it's not something to be belittled. Public service used to be a virtue. I'm tired of people who complain about government like it's nameless, faceless, or faraway. It's us.

I say change the system by getting in it. I'm very involved locally, even in the nonpartisan races because what I see affects me and it's in my power to change things by participating. So I get out there and I do it. I have a daughter her age who knows what's going on and has voted since she was 18. This gal can do it too. It's her generation that's going to lose Roe v Wade.

[Lydia Leftcoast]

81. I'd cut her a bit of slack here

She's 23, which means that the first president she remembers is Reagan. The only Democratic president she remembers is Clinton, and while the economy was better then, she was too young to be affected directly, but she may have been sharp enough to notice that Clinton dropped the ball on health care by trying to appease the insurance companies, even when he had a Dem majority in Congress, that welfare reform was unnecessarily punitive, and that there were some dubious calls on foreign intervention.

If she has not been personally affected by either Democratic or Republican policies, it may seem as if it "doesn't matter" which candidate she votes for.

She needs education and persuasion, not condemnation.