You can lead a horse to water but you can't make him drink...

[kentuck]

As much as we believe that every American citizen should exercise their right to vote, we cannot force them to do so. And the sad fact is that many do not know enough about the candidates or the issues to cast a vote. But, what does it mean to be an American to these folks? They will simply float along and live with the decisions that others make for them. They have no concept of "American", in the traditonal sense of the word. They only live here. They only work here. They try to survive here. America is not the land of the free o rthe home of the brave to these folks. They could care less if we lose our democracy. They have total faith that someone else will protect their Social Security check. They have no idea it is under threat. Why should they vote?

[BOSSHOG]

1. Yesterday we had a primary runoff in Mississippi

to nominate the democratic candidate for U. S. Senate. The polls opened at 0700. I got to the polling place at 0845 and I was the first one to vote. Albeit, it is located in a rural, scarcely populated area but your point is well taken. I never miss an election. I strongly consider it my civic duty.

[halobeam]

2. people risk death to vote in other countries,

and people here have died in the past, for the right to vote. Now people don't even know when the next primary election is. Some that do know, will drive right past their own polling place. Very sad indeed.

[brook]

3. Dorothy Parker said it better.

"You can lead a whore to culture, but you can't make her think." :P

Sadly, you're right on with your take on the apathy of our society when it comes to excercising their voting rights. I have turned away more than one 'whiner' who complained to me about the current state of affairs - but who have never signed one petition, written one letter or made one phone call in the last 5 years. When it's time to go to the polls they complain that they don't know enough about either the candidates or the issues.

[tenshi816]

4. Do you remember the context of that quote?

Parker was asked to use the word "horticulture" in a sentence. That still makes me giggle like a schoolgirl.

[brook]

5. Dorothy

is one of my 'role' models. :)

I hope they have an Algonquin Roundtable in the next astral plane.

[tenshi816]

6. Me too.

She was amazing. I wish she'd had more happiness in her life though. I guess the world just wasn't ready for a woman with a mind and wit as razor sharp as hers.

[brook]

7. "Happy" pretty much

escaped her grasp it seems - but I like to think that she had moments 'sublime'. I know that looking back on a life of mountains and craters myself...the 'sublime' was outrageously worth it all. (I'm 1/2 D. Parker and 1/2 S. O'Hara!)

[LosinIt]

8. Yes, and you can also lead a Gift Horse to water, but...

you can't look him in the mouth while he's drinking.


...sorry, just had to throw that in.

[brook]

9. lol. n/t