Why don't people vote? I want to know what everyone here thinks are the

[dawgman]

main reason such a huge percentage of Americans don't that the time to vote.

[One Taste]

1. Apathy

feeling that they cannot make a difference, that the country has already been bought and sold, etc.

[Fla_Democrat]

2. It's either ignorance or apathy

I don't know which, and I really don't care. :evilgrin:

[corporatewhore]

3. many reasons

alot of politicians dont connect w/people
i got to register a vet that for the first time registered afterhe heard kucinich speak
Political reasons some of my anarchist friends dont vote because they dont want to perpetuate the hirearchical system
Some feel their votes dont count (beginig to feel like that living in tom delays texas)

[Nite Owl]

4. I think that

they feel that all politians are bad and self serving so they don't bother. They don't see a difference between the parties.

[dawgman]

6. If that is the case couldn't the Dems motivate a HUGE number

of people to vote by moving away from the "normal" candidate? By nominating and running someone who is different than anyone who has run in the last 30 years. I f that is the case isn't it a mistake to couch dem platforms in terms of centrism?

[GreatCaesarsGhost]

5. they don't want to serve on jury duty

[alarimer]

9. well

Here they use Driver's license rolls, not registered voters. Bigger pool I guess.

[FloridaPat]

7. After that Florida fiasco in 2000, it's pretty obvious our votes

don't count. Our elected leaders get tons of mail against something and they vote for it - like Iraq. It's hard to care. In fact, since 1980, I haven't voted FOR anyone. I just vote AGAINST the republicans. I use to ignore the non-presidental elections - until Florida and 2000. Now I get twice as much pleasure voting against them.

Another problem - why can't we get competent people to run for office? This year it looks like we have some really decent folks running. But is this the best America can do? Almost every politican is a thief.

[bvar22]

8. Daschle and Pelosi's response to bush*.

I'm disgusted, and I like these guys.

[Davis_X_Machina]

10. Start here...

...the good folks at the Census ask precisely that question.

[dawgman]

11. According to that you could motivate an additional 30 percent or so

just by finding a candidate that would convey a message to motivate these people. Finding a candidate that could speak to issues that actually affected them should then be a priority should it not?

[pasadenaboy]

12. Your choice is between

people who are for the IWR, No Child Left Behind, The patriot act, and against gay marriage

and people who are for the IWR, No child left behind, the patriot act, and against gay marriage.

[Robbien]

13. Many people are using all the energy they have toward

keeping their lives together. There is a great deal of self involvement and they do not see the greater picture that elections make a difference in their lives.

[dawgman]

14. couldn't it be argued that the reason they don't see

the point of elections is that the message isn't sufficient to motivate them? If that is the case isn't it then a problem with the message and not the voter?

[BeFree]

15. Involvement in politics....

...is not something everyone wants to get into. It takes research and formation of an opinion before one might feel comfortable casting a vote. Most of those that don't vote just don't want to delve into all, or any of that.

Besides, some political involvement can leave tire-tracks up across your back. Just look at GD 2004 Primary.... people are running all over each other in there. Some folks don't want to get involved when it gets so nasty, so they just say to hell with it and turn their backs on all of it.

Not me, tho. I am a junkie. Wouldn't miss a vote if ya paid me.

[cryofan]

16. search google.com for "chomsky" + "apathy"

[creativelcro]

17. I think there should be a law that people who don't vote

for two times in a row without a serious reason, lose their privilege to vote. Look, this nation is talking about having the draft again, so don't tell me it would be too harsh on people. It seems just fair.

[3rdParty]

18. why vote if things don't change?

I think one reason people don't vote is because they don't trust politicians - they only really serve the special interest groups and will say anything to get elected.