I guess a milestone of sorts has been reached with Barack Obama becoming president…. I find myself older than the President of the United States!!!! Up until now I have thought of them as older men, now, guess what? I’m the old man!!!!! Not by too much, but still it is different thinking that I am senior in age to the President.
Oh, in case anybody wonders, I am over it!
Vote by all means!! Here’s why:
Even if you don’t like the candidates you should go cast a valid write in vote. Do not stay home in protest as you will simply be ignored.
Example:
Candidate “A” wins with a little over 50% of popular vote, while candidate “B” comes in second with a bit under 50%. You know the news will be all about how “A” had a bit over 50% and “B” had a bit under, but they won’t be spending a lot of time on the fact that only half of the registered voters bothered voting.
That’s right, the 50% that stayed home will simply be glossed over. At most, it will be mentioned in passing; but no emphasis will be made on the fact in most cases.
If the 50% that would have stayed home goes and casts valid write in (No, Donald Duck, etc. votes don’t count!), then the winning candidate will win with about 25% of popular votes. They will know that 75% of the country wanted somebody else. Figures like this cannot be ignored or passed over.
Simply take the responsibility to cast a valid write in; neighbor, school shop teacher, whoever is eligible to be in the office in question.
You may hear that write ins “thin the votes” or something like that… I say “???”! You are making your opinions known in a way that cannot be ignored. Yes, the popular vote percentage is lowered significantly, and that puts the message loud and clear to the winning candidate that there is no comfort margin at all in feeling that half the country is behind them.
You may also feel that it will make no difference as to who wins, but you can still lower the percentage comfort margin in a way that can’t be ignored.
Voting is a right that not every country enjoys; take advantage of that right and go vote, even if you don’t like who is running. Make your voice heard whether you vote for an established candidate or submit a write in!
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