Thank You for Not Voting?
Oh. My. God. I just got back from voting a little while ago and I’m still in disbelief that people like this haven’t already been killed off by natural selection.
As I was leaving the voting facility, I heard the old man who was working the door asking someone “Are you sure you don’t want to vote?”
I looked to my left as I exited to see a young man of about 19 or 20 sitting on the bench with a companion. They appeared to be waiting for someone.
He replied, “Nah. I’m not voting. It’s too much trouble.”
Now I know it’s none of my business and obviously I would be sticking my nose into someone else’s conversation but I just couldn’t help myself.
Me to Him: Did you just say you’re not voting because it’s too much trouble?
Him: Yeah
Me: Seriously?
Him: Yeah
Me: But you’re already here. You just go in and show your ID and vote. There’s not even a line. Takes less than five minutes. It’s easy!
I’m practically begging the guy to vote.
Him: Nah. I don’t feel like it.
Me: Really?
Him: *blink* He doesn’t even have the good sense to look embarrassed.
Me: Do you ever complain about the government? Do you ever watch the news and get mad? Aren’t there any laws you disagree with? Anything? If so, you should vote.
Him: I only watch AFL and Sportscenter.
Me: Wow. *shaking my head, I walk away*
Him: Thank you! I’m assuming that was supposed to clever…
Upon further reflection, perhaps it’s best that he didn’t vote.* I mean he watches arena football exclusively, for God’s sake.
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*This line is bolded for the benefit of anyone considering leaving a comment to the effect that I should be happy that someone so clueless didn’t vote etc. I agree and as noted, I’ve already made that point. Thank you :)
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There’s no hope for him. I’m aghast.
Being that damned stupid should be painful.
Maybe he was a convicted felon. Watching arena footbal should be a felony anyway.
Wow. Unreal.
You HAVE to see the movie “Idiocracy” when it comes out on DVD. This guy would fit right in.
Yeah…I think I’m at peace with his decision.
Makes you wonder how he got to the polling place in the first place if it’s so much trouble.
Why should he vote?
Each side is as bad as the other for lying, cheating and misleading the public. It’s a free country and his abstention is sending as powerful a message as your vote.
HE is the reason WE vote.
Good for you Izzy for saying your piece even if it didn\’t crack this dumbass\’ thick skull.
Why should he vote? Because if nobody votes, nothing ever changes. Because democracy is supposedly the reason (now) why our troops are fighting in Iraq. Because it’s his civic duty. Shall I go on?
As for this side or that side, there are more than two sides, as well as write-in votes. He need not commit to a party. Perhaps living in South Africa, you’re not aware of this?
Abstention is not a statement. It’s a show of ignorance, particularly when one’s reason for not voting is “because it’s too much trouble.”
These comments are all terrific. I wanted to add that I can Totally see you having that conversation, and I would have loved to have seen the look on your face when you said “Wow”.
Betcha he was a convicted felon.
I had to stop myself from laying the smackdown on a coworker, female sadly, who said and I quote, “Is it, like, bad that I didn’t vote?” Mind you it was only 2 p.m. YESS!!! YES! It’s bad. Two other co-workers pounced on her to strike some sense into her and she just smiled and said, “Well, I like, really don’t care about anything…”
UGHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Not voting sends no message other than you are too lazy to do it. In fact, I think apathy (as in voter turn out) sends our leaders the message that they can freely trample our rights or, at least, do whatever they want because there is no consequence for them. The only votes that register with the politicians are those that are cast. I’m with you, Izzy.
Great now all the political ads will be guys throwing footballs and saying rude stuff about their opponents.
Perhaps the appropriate response to him would just be to put your boot up his ass and haul him in to vote.
But then, violence is never the answer. But it sure would have felt good, I bet. Good for you, for at least trying to get the turd to vote.
you know, I might have cut him some slack if he claimed to be an AFC fan. But Arena Football?
Can’t we ship him overseas with some of the jobs?
please?
Wow! And I felt bad for voting without being clear on all the issues! Amazing that he didn’t feel the slightest ounce of shame - he must have been one of us lazy Republicans!
you don’t want him voting anyway… he would have voted without even knowing what he was voting on or for! iw ould rather have somewhat educated votes, than guesses… know what i mean?
I wish the morons here in Virginia had sat outside too.
Did you see the amendment we just passed? I feel sick.
hmmm maybe better off then huh?
I bet he was white too. The white men always take everything for granted. Idiots.
I’m with Janet - HE’S why we vote.
:( I love arena football. Like…a LOT.
But I DID vote…excitedly, even.
Yeah … we should elect the anchors of sportscenter … then everyone would vote! But honestly I’m glad he didn’t/doesn’t.
And that comment about his abstention being as strong of a statement as a vote is ridiculous.
Maybe someday he’ll wise up. When sportscenter starts doing politics. ;)
Just because it is my daughters birthday i am going to give the guy the benefit of the doubt and say maybe he did not understand the issues well enough and wanted to look like he did not care to cover up the fact that he did not know. That being said, I am in a really good mood right now….
We are SO in trouble if that young man was a reflection of his generation.
And I am SO raising my daughter with the same values I was given, that voting is a privelige and a responsiblity.
You GO Girl!!
I’m sorry, Chase! I actually meant that it’s kind of wack to watch ONLY arena football :)
Hopefully, he’ll mature with age and realize that voting is important.
Dude! I think you met my brother in law! Sad.
What an ass! Good thing anyway. He probably would have made the wrong choice.
I guess I’m in the minority but I’d rather someone didn’t vote if they have no clue what to vote on since they haven’t done any research. I hate people who think they’re so great for voting, but just make random selections.
It is a sad reflection upon society that he is either so stupid he cannot/will not vote , that he doesent care or that he feels so alienated and detached that he feels there is no point.
I’m pretty sure this guy wouldn’t have helped either way. Voting is important, yes, but if he didn’t know anything in the first place, why should he vote? Voting by making an informed decision is much more important than voting just because someone thinks it’s important.
there is something so enriching about these random encounters. the little pauses that make you think. or weep.
His apathy scares me.
If he’s that clueless he really shouldn’t vote. What does he know about for whom he should vote? He’d be singing a different tune if it was a football elections kind of thing to where you were begging him to go.
When I was 19, I really didn’t care too much about politics or consider how they impact me personally. Maybe he was just too young to fully understand the gravity of how important it is to vote.
We’re involved in a war, we’ve been attacked by terrorists, we’re having a healthcare crisis, global warming is no longer “bad science’ as proclaimed by Dubya, but an undeniable fact etc etc etc.
He may not understand the importance of voting but I frankly think that is a lame excuse given the aforementioned facts.
Furthermore, I GAVE him the brief overview on why it’s important. No matter how you slice it, he is, IMHO, a spoiled American idiot who needs a good smack.
I’m taking a Government class for college, so I’m in it with a few people that guy’s age. Most of them understand how important it is to vote, but they’ve admitted that they probably wouldn’t have this year if it wasn’t for the Gov’t class helping them understand. The professor went as far as asking them all for ideas on how to get young people more interested in voting. I was lucky with parents who could help me understand all things political, but my husband wasn’t so lucky (his parents were more concerned about who was at the bar any given night).
Anyway, I agree with you - it’s so sad. It’s a reminder of how important it is to talk with our children and also how important it is to pay attention in school! LOL Or maybe some schools need to have better Gov’t studies.
I bet the kid cared about pot laws. Maybe if you told him he could votefor legalized pot he would have voted.
Izzy, GREAT BLOG, and you are obviously a well informed and intelligent person, but Global Warming is nothing like an “undeniable fact” and there is stillno evidence it is produced by mankind whatsoever. Just an FYI.