Do you believe your vote counts?

['Gear]

As an American, do you believe your vote counts? If so, why? Do you have any reason to believe it does other then what you've been told or taught? How are you sure? How about another reason?

If not, why not? Do you have evidence to the contrary or are you just paranoid and skeptical? If you're paranoid is it oK to say so? Or is there something else?

 

[starguard]

The difference just One Vote can make......

1948 One vote per voting precinct gave Harry S. Truman the presidency. If Truman's opponent, Thomas E. Dewey, had received one vote more per precinct in Ohio and California, there would have been a tie and the House of Representatives would have decided the election. And because Dewey had more support in the House than Truman, Dewey would have won.

1820 One electoral college vote kept President James Monroe from being elected president without dispute when he ran for a second term in 1820. He was so popular that all but one of the members of the electoral college voted for him. John Quincy Adams cast the one vote against Monroe. Adams stated that the reason he did this was "to make certain that only George Washington would ever have the honor of being elected President by a unanimous vote."

1845 One vote made Texas one of the United States. In 1845, the Republic of Texas asked to become part of the United States. Many Americans, however, feared that another southern state would bring trouble. When the Senate voted on this issue, a tie occurred. Then one senator changed his vote, and by this single vote, Texas became the 28th state

1916 One vote in each of the voting districts of California reelected President Wilson. If Wilson's opponent, Charles E. Hughes, had received an additional vote in each one of California's voting precincts, he would have defeated Wilson.

1876 One vote gave Rutherford B. Hayes the presidency of the United States. In the 1876 presidential election, Samuel Tilden received a half million more popular votes than Hayes. The electoral college was not in agreement about who should be America's next leader. A special commission was formed to make the final decision. The commission decided, although Hayes had lost the actual vote by the citizens of the United States, he had won the electoral vote by just one ballot: 185 to 184

There are many other cases that I can't find sources to at the moment..

 

[Donovan]

Yes. The act of voting reaffirms a concept generations of young men and women died for, whether or not that system is now flawed. In that regard your vote counts.
Further, the act of voting by necessity inspires a certain interest level on the part of the voter; an interest level that can and often does lead to increased participation in local civic activities, larger causes and sometimes even extreme changes in personal outlook. In that regard your vote counts.
In times of great anger and dissatisfaction, a bloc of voters can swing a victory simply by carving a chunk from the opposition (See Gore, Albert) or sometimes even surprising everyone with a victory where none was expected (see Ventura, Jesse).
Finally, your vote counts in that it is the most immediate and personal way to affirm your part in this country. It is not your right as a citizen to exercise your vote (and other freedoms), it's your responsibility. If you don't you can't complain when the flawed systems remain or grow worse. Apathy is its own enemy...

 

[Starship Coyote]

If my vote didn't count, then pollsters wouldn't be bugging me before each election, and candidates wouldn't squander millions for an office that only pays hundreds of thousands. Of course, my vote counts... at election time. At other times, during crucial issues put to the ballot... not so much.

 

['Gear]

If my vote didn't count, then pollsters wouldn't be bugging me before each election, and candidates wouldn't squander millions for an office that only pays hundreds of thousands. Of course, my vote counts... at election time. At other times, during crucial issues put to the ballot... not so much.

It'd be a great way to keep everyone busy.

 

['Gear]

Yes. The act of voting reaffirms a concept generations of young men and women died for, whether or not that system is now flawed. In that regard your vote counts.
Further, the act of voting by necessity inspires a certain interest level on the part of the voter; an interest level that can and often does lead to increased participation in local civic activities, larger causes and sometimes even extreme changes in personal outlook. In that regard your vote counts.
In times of great anger and dissatisfaction, a bloc of voters can swing a victory simply by carving a chunk from the opposition (See Gore, Albert) or sometimes even surprising everyone with a victory where none was expected (see Ventura, Jesse).
Finally, your vote counts in that it is the most immediate and personal way to affirm your part in this country. It is not your right as a citizen to exercise your vote (and other freedoms), it's your responsibility. If you don't you can't complain when the flawed systems remain or grow worse. Apathy is its own enemy...

So the value of voting, in part, is as a personal expression of respect for the dead?

You know apathy, by definition, has no complaint right? And it can only be defined as it's own enemy by an outside observer who isn't apathetic. True apathy wouldn't care.

 

[Starship Coyote]

It'd be a great way to keep everyone busy.

I don't subscribe to conspiracy theories that require the cooperation of thousands of participants over long periods of time with no whistles getting blown. Man went to the Moon, and you're vote is desired.

 

[Donovan]

So the value of voting, in part, is as a personal expression of respect for the dead?

You know apathy, by definition, has no complaint right? And it can only be defined as it's own enemy by an outside observer who isn't apathetic. True apathy wouldn't care.

No, it's an expression of respect for the idea they thought was important enough to die for. And no, I'm not talking about these exercises in empire-building we engage in these days, I mean the wars that actually shaped this country in defense of a "high concept". Take a walk around Gettysburg and you'll understand.

Re: definition of apathy- we're not arguing semantics here we're discussing ideas. And anyone who has ever tried to talk to an apathetic individual knows that they're just brimming with complaints. What they lack are solutions, drive, and self-motivation. Even when an apathetic person is presented with a number of viable options his or her response is "That wouldn't work anyway," hence apathy being its own worst enemy.

Apathy is not the act of not caring; it's the act of pretending not to care so that the inevitable failure to act will seem premeditated.

 

[Consumer]

If you don't vote, you can't gripe.

 

['Gear]

No, it's an expression of respect for the idea they thought was important enough to die for. And no, I'm not talking about these exercises in empire-building we engage in these days, I mean the wars that actually shaped this country in defense of a "high concept". Take a walk around Gettysburg and you'll understand.

Re: definition of apathy- we're not arguing semantics here we're discussing ideas. And anyone who has ever tried to talk to an apathetic individual knows that they're just brimming with complaints. What they lack are solutions, drive, and self-motivation. Even when an apathetic person is presented with a number of viable options his or her response is "That wouldn't work anyway," hence apathy being its own worst enemy.

Apathy is not the act of not caring; it's the act of pretending not to care so that the inevitable failure to act will seem premeditated.

No. You are wrong. And besides, you and I always only argue semantics. You know that.

ap·a·thy   /ˈæpəθi/ Show Spelled[ap-uh-thee]

–noun, plural -thies.
1. absence or suppression of passion, emotion, or excitement.
2. lack of interest in or concern for things that others find moving or exciting.
3. Also, ap·a·thei·a, ap·a·thi·a  /ˌæpəˈθiə/ Show Spelled[ap-uh-thee-uh] Show IPA. Stoicism . freedom from emotion of any kind.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Origin:
1595–1605; (< F) < L apathīa < Gk apátheia insensibility to suffering, equiv. to apathe- (s. of apathḗs ) unfeeling ( a- a-6 + pathe-, var. s. of páthos pathos) + -ia -ia


—Synonyms
1. coolness. 2. See indifference.

 

['Gear]

If you don't vote, you can't gripe.

What if your gripe is your belief that your vote doesn't count?

 

[Consumer]

What if your gripe is your belief that your vote doesn't count?

(sigh)

Actually, I don't believe my vote counts for much. It's symbolic at this point. This fact both angers and saddens me, as I DO love my country and have served it's ideals. Those ideals, however, are no longer practiced by it's leaders, and my ability to change them feels non-existent.

Remember: CBS news is not it's own division, it's under the entertainment department (true fact!).

 

[SAUSAGEMAN]

Remember: CBS news is not it's own division, it's under the entertainment department (true fact!).

This isn't actually true.