Christophany's picture
Christophany
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Abstaining from the Election Process

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With election season quickly approaching this year (in America), I have decided to abstain from casting my vote at the ballot box. The 2 party system just isn't sustainable, especially not in a country that has ruled corporations are people, money is free speech, and where approximately 98% of passed legislation favors corporate interests. The way I see it, both parties are full of shit! All politicians, Democrats and Republicans alike, receive campaign contributions from their corporate sugar daddies. In turn, they must draft legislation that negates the well-being of everyday citizens. I'm not buying into the lip-service any longer.

COMMENTS CLOSED
Pale's picture

No POLITICS! Closed!

Greg's picture

Quiter. Your solution to the problem (everyone not voting) would leave us with a president appointed by the congress, or electoral college.

There are more than 2 parties and you can vote independent, i.e., vote for who you feel is the best no matter how small the party or their chance of winning. Or even write in a vote.

Whatever, just vote. You are not as unique as you think. There are thousands that would vote just like you (or not vote at all just like you) even a protest vote is better than no vote.

Think of it this way, The libertarian party was a joke in the 70's, but each year they keep getting better turnouts. Each better turnout gives the party more credibility and in turn more people vote libertarian. Eventually, as Democrats become more Socialist in there ideals, Republicans act more like Democrats, Libertarians might actually win something. (this is an example, you can replace the libertarian party with any one of a half dozen small parties).

Christophany's picture

It's not so much that I am quitting as much as it is an awakening of sorts. Admittedly, I was quite naive about the political structure in America for the longest time. I learned over that course of time, gradually, just how corrupt our government is. It's not just the Executive or Legislative branches of government. Although the Judiciary does not directly make laws, it does so in essence, by proxy, by deciding on what is and is not constitutional. The biggest problem I see is not one that simply boils down to the 2 party system, albeit that is a huge factor in my decision to abstain from the voting process. Rather, the Citizens United decision is what started the spark in my head. If corporations can buy off the politicians, regardless of their party affiliation, then that is the problem that will corrupt even newer parties that might arise.

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Fangsharp's picture

I respect anyones decision not to vote. No matter what level of corruption happens after I vote I truly feel blessed that men have given the ultimate sacrifice so I can exercise that right.

Sam I Am's picture

Theres plenty of socialist candidates this year as well as libertarians. Theres always new blood in both parts. My advice is quit watching the news. If you have to watch the BBC. The Brits could care less and report our news more fairly imo...

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Christophany's picture

I actually watch the BBC quite often. I do find the reporting, as you have said, to be more balanced than that of news networks in the U.S.

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Manshit's picture

Well I vote.Usually libertarian but in my state there aren’t many that run.I usually vote conservative.I just have a value that is ,if you don’t own your labor,then you are effectively a slave.I can’t vote for an open socialist.I do believe in welfare for the sic but not for those that can.I just see free everything as theft.I just can’t wrap my head around it.That being said I also don’t take it personal,when people disagree with me.

Christophany's picture

I just see free everything as theft.

I hear you. I've come across plenty of people who are milking the system. I've seen crack dealers come into a gas station, purchase hundreds of dollars of junk food with their food stamps, and then walk out of the store and into their new luxury convertibles. My tax dollars hard at work! That said, it also pisses me off that we always seem to have the money to bailout the banking industry -- both parties have done it. We also spend nearly $1 trillion annually on our military budget, a figure nearly as much as the rest of the world combined. I'm all for having the strongest military, but I see a lot of it as wasteful spending.

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Manshit's picture

You just said why I vote libertarian when possible.You can also change the system from the inside with guys like Rand Paul,but there are way too few of them.Time to stop supporting the whole world.I didn’t vote for Trump( I didn’t vote for Hilary either) but I do like some of the things he is doing.He seems like a bull in a china shop at times,but he is a master of chaos control,and seems to keep getting what he wants.
You wouldn’t know it by listening to the news,but the stock market is up,Unemployment is down and wages are growing at a faster rate that in 100 years.The GDP is also growing faster than the last thirty years.All of this while raising interest rates at the FED.You are even starting to see some savings interest,something that we didn’t see since the last recession started.Ive decided that since both parties hate him he is the right guy for the job.

Christophany's picture

Both Bush and Obama pretty much fucked the economy. I do agree with Trump that the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) was an economic disaster, though I have my reservations as to why Trump feels that way. GDP is up -- there's no disputing that. Still, we have a lot of wasteful spending in this country.

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Sam I Am's picture

I've seen the same. The bad thing here is nobody talks about the people that have paid plenty in plenty and just need some help between jobs. Not all people receiving benefits are gaming the system.

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Manshit's picture

I have no problem with that.I don’t consider new job training or unemployment insurance to be theft,because when the person gets back into the system they pay it back.A social safety net is a good thing.Socialism is not.In my opinion.

Christophany's picture

Agreed. I know people working 2 or more jobs that are on some type of government assistance. They are not trying to milk the system; rather, wages flat suck.

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Sam I Am's picture

A big thing I've noticed where I live is the lack of skilled employees. When I graduated you either went to work in the mines,joined the military, or attended college or a trade school. I ask young people all the time what there going to do. They say get a job. That's a dead end 99 percent of the time. I haven't seen a red cap hired at a mine in years. It's sad.

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Christophany's picture

I believe the U.S. education system is ranked #38 worldwide. I might be wrong about the exact figure, but it would explain a lot.

Edit: I found this: http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2017/02/15/u-s-students-internation...

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Christophany's picture

So I have been told. The way I see it, people who vote for either party are voting against their own interests.

Edit: I guess it boils down to a "lesser of the two evils" type of decision.

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Christophany's picture

I know what you mean. However, I have seen it work both ways.

(1) Corporations are forced to pay higher taxes -- prices go up.

(2) Corporations receive a tax break -- prices go up.

I'm all for jobs, but none of the politicians appear to be listening to their expert economists -- not ever. I've seen a handful of administrations come and go. I've seen both parties come and go in my home state. No matter who is in office, no matter their party affiliation, nothing changes.

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Sam I Am's picture

Trump is betting that putting more money in company's will create more jobs which will increase spending. It's a big gamble because for all the campaign talk his budget was higher than Obama's. If you take away the corporate money who covers the budget deficit? Same people that always do the middle class..

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Greg's picture

If you have a booming economy and a much smaller trade deficit, it'll be other countries that pay, there wouldn't be a deficit if revenue exceeded spending.

Like dieting, you can eat less or increase exercise.

You can spend less, or produce and sell more. (at a profit, again, with a trade deficit, we are bleeding money)

Manshit's picture

Nice analogy.I like how you think!Trump is betting on growth.The tax cut was also to get corporations to bring the money home.It has worked to some extent.

Christophany's picture

The rule of thumb: drive taxes and spending through the roof and hand the bill to the middle-class!

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Sam I Am's picture

I don't think the countrys ready to elect Bernie but he may be your guy. I like alot of his ideas but I can say that for Republicans and Democrats. I think if the stock markets are doing good he will be reelected. If it's not he woulnt.

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Christophany's picture

Sanders is much like the U.K.'s Corbyn. It'll be a tough sell for someone like that to get elected, even if their ideas are exceedingly popular.

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Manshit's picture

Prices have to go up because the FED is always printing money.Its not that prices go up as much as the buying power of money goes down.The real problem is that wages have remained pretty much the same except in tech heavy sectors.That is starting to change but for way too long wages for services like plumbing and such never kept up with inflation.I do feel you pain though,and you are correct about one thing the real masters aren’t general population.

Sam I Am's picture

That's what I like with bitcoin. From what I understand theres only so many and there will never be more created. I don't have any but I do like the idea.

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Manshit's picture

Crypto is putting a lot of pressure on the banking industry to give us sound money.For so long the cartel was the only game in town.Crypto has changed things so much the banks are now paying attention.

Christophany's picture

The real problem is that wages have remained pretty much the same except in tech heavy sectors.

That's the truth!

According to most economists, real wages have not gone up since 1968. Hard to believe something like that could happen in the richest nation in history for half a century! Luckily my family has done okay. We're not rich by any means, but we are not struggling to get by.

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