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[The Technomancer]

not if my objection is that the entire voting PROCESS is corrupt.

hypothetical- if I feel the system is rigged so that my ballot is counted for the establishment no matter what I do, then staying home is the only valid course of action. showing up to vote as "abstain" would be interpreted as an endorsement for the current system, which it isn't.

forcing me to participate and express my opinion in a way the government sees fit would most certainly violate my first amendment rights. And the courts have been VERY liberal about the kinds of things that count as "speech" right now.

But staying home doesn't communicate that either, is the problem. No-one knows why you didn't vote

 

[NeoXChaos]

We really should, but it's not going to happen.



There's some issues with that and I don't think we can really fix them.



Not only that but people are stupid and already get their identities stolen online.

mail in voting combined with automatic registration is just as good as online voting without the hacking.

 

[ivysaur12]

I want an app with push notifications on voting day

 

[B-Dubs]

mail in voting combined with automatic registration is just as good as online voting without the hacking.

Would the ballots get mailed to the people, if so we'd need to be wary of mail fraud, or do the people just print them out themselves?

I want an app with push notifications on voting day

I'd like that, but it's a ways off for the same reasons the NYC taxi companies weren't allowed to create an app back at the birth of smartphones.

 

[sphagnum]

There is no such argument. We compel speech in many cases, including trials. The fifth amendment allows you to abstain from testifying against yourself but not other people. Furthermore, what I'm proposing gives you the option to not vote. You must simply choose to do so.

An anarchist (which I'm not, mind you, but there are anarchists here) would argue that the state itself ought not to exist, and therefore that participating in a state-organized vote even if to select "abstain" is giving legitimacy to the state, which has coerced you into participating in its system.

Your argument is probably solid in terms of a liberal framework however.

 

[ivysaur12]

Would the ballots get mailed to the people, if so we'd need to be wary of mail fraud, or do the people just print them out themselves?



I'd like that, but it's a ways off for the same reasons the NYC taxi companies weren't allowed to create an app back at the birth of smartphones.

But could you imagine?

"It's primary day here in Wyoming! Remember to vote! 💯"

"Happy #ElectionDay! Pick your candidate! ✔️ #swag"

 

[B-Dubs]

But could you imagine?

"It's primary day here in Wyoming! Remember to vote! ��"

"Happy #ElectionDay! Pick your candidate! ✔️ #swag"

Actually, now I'm not so sure that's a good idea :lol

Benji would argue that the state itself ought not to exist, and therefore that participating in a state-organized vote even if to select "abstain" is giving legitimacy to the state, which has coerced you into participating in its system.

Your argument is probably solid in terms of a liberal framework however.

Fixed that for you

 

[Hazmat]

I feel like the right answer is voting by mail. Some states do it and most (all?) allow for absentee voting by mail. Make the cutoff date for returning them the Friday before the election and anyone who misses it has to drop them off at a polling place on Election Day.

Or just mail me a ballot at home that I can fill out ahead of time. On Election Day I give my information, sign the sheet confirming that I'm me, hand the polling place volunteer my ballot, and walk the fuck out. Set up an express line for the people that came prepared and let us get back to our day more quickly.

 

[Butts-a-plenty]

Mandatory voting just creates a scenario of millions of low information voters. I don't see why people think that is a preferable outcome....

 

[Spoiled Milk]

Mandatory voting just creates a scenario of millions of low information voters. I don't see why people think that is a preferable outcome....

We already have millions of low information voters. They're called... Voters.

 

[Josh5890]

Or just mail me a ballot at home that I can fill out ahead of time. On Election Day I give my information, sign the sheet confirming that I'm me, hand the polling place volunteer my ballot, and walk the fuck out. Set up an express line for the people that came prepared and let us get back to our day more quickly.

That is an idea I could get behind

 

[hawk2025]

An anarchist (which I'm not, mind you, but there are anarchists here) would argue that the state itself ought not to exist, and therefore that participating in a state-organized vote even if to select "abstain" is giving legitimacy to the state, which has coerced you into participating in its system.

Your argument is probably solid in terms of a liberal framework however.

If those special snowflakes constantly feel coerced by paying taxes anyways, I fail to see how imposing another fine on them for not voting is a big problem.

I'm not making an argument for compulsory voting, however.

 

[Josh5890]

We already have millions of low information voters. They're called... Voters.

So the answer is to flood the market with more uninformed voters?

 

[Spoiled Milk]

So the answer is to flood the market with more uninformed voters?

Yes! Uninformed voters are less likely to have extreme positions like breaking up the banks or shutting down the government.

Haven't Hillary supporters been claiming that the people who support Bernie are uninformed...?

No, you're thinking of Bernie supporters who claim that black voters are uninformed. I live in a household where someone shouts almost daily "the African Americans aren't educated enough to decide this election".

 

[sphagnum]

Yes! Uninformed voters are less likely to have extreme positions like breaking up the banks or shutting down the government.

Haven't Hillary supporters been claiming that the people who support Bernie are uninformed...?

 

[B-Dubs]

Haven't Hillary supporters been claiming that the people who support Bernie are uninformed...?

That's been going both ways. A lot of Bernie supporters have been calling people, especially black people, that don't vote for Bernie uninformed.

 

[NeoXChaos]

Harry Enten ‏@ForecasterEnten 4h4 hours ago
Higher chance than not that both Clinton and Trump sweep all 5 states on Tuesday. Still questions about margins etc.

YES QUEEN WERK IT. CAN'T STUMP THE TRUMP

 

[sphagnum]

No, you're thinking of Bernie supporters who claim that black voters are uninformed. I live in a household where someone shouts almost daily "the African Americans aren't educated enough to decide this election".

I'm thinking of the many times in PoliGAF that Hillary supporters have talked about how Bernie supporters don't understand policy nuances, how the government works, or are naive white college students who have enthusiasm but no knowledge of political history.

Nowhere did I say Bernie supporters were immune to it either.

 

[thepotatoman]

I just got polled for what was clearly research on how Hillary should run against Cruz.

I'm probably biased, but man does she have a ton of ammo to use against him and he has so little against her.

And yet that's probably still the best republicans can do without going absolutely crazy at the convention.

 

[Cybit]

That BLM / Obama thread...oy. The amount of 20 something year olds telling the biracial black man born in the 60s that he doesn't "get" racism is...oof.

Also, there were straight pages of posts in the last thread saying that Bernie supporters are too dumb to understand how policy actually gets done, or that they have to be incremental. Everyone's supporters are equally shitty.

As I'll keep saying, Humans gonna human.

 

[Kangi]

I just got polled for what was clearly research on how Hillary should run against Cruz.

I'm probably biased, but man does she have a ton of ammo to use against him and he has so little against her.

And yet that's probably still the best republicans can do without going absolutely crazy at the convention.

http://www.theonion.com/video/brutal-anti-cruz-attack-ad-just-30-seconds-candida-52562

 

[Macho Madness]

Man I am seeing more and more of Bernie people unskewing exit polls.

UNSKEWING.

EXIT.

POLLS.

 

[RustyNails]

(bored, waiting for GoT to start)

 

[Butts-a-plenty]

Just signed a petition for the $15/hr minimum wage ballot initiative in DC. And I'm a Hillary supporter. Crazy.

 

[Spoiled Milk]

I'm thinking of the many times in PoliGAF that Hillary supporters have talked about how Bernie supporters don't understand policy nuances, how the government works, or are naive white college students who have enthusiasm but no knowledge of political history.

Nowhere did I say Bernie supporters were immune to it either.

True.

Then I'll respond just by clarifying that uninformed non-voters do not hold the same positions that politically active uninformed voters have.

 

[Y2Kev]

is it got or dragon age 3

i guess dragon age 3 is a huge ripoff

 

[RustyNails]

is it got or dragon age 3

Shame

 

[brainchild]

What PoliGAF posters are you all most like?

I'm pretty sure I agree with Ivysaur and CCS on everything.

Not trying to sound cocky, but there is no one here that I'm like, though there are posters here that I think are pretty cool, like retro.

However, there's that meta guy who people always compare me to because the both of us tend to have a penchant for pointing out semantical distinctions, and we both can drag out debates. But I've grown tired of doing both of those things here, so I feel like meta and I don't share much in common either.

I very much feel like an outcast here, and the sad part is that in terms of the issues, most of us are on the same page, yet it's the least acknowledged factor of our commonality in these threads.

 

[Phased]

Sanders response to how specifically the DNC was unfair to him:

"They scheduled the debates during low viewer periods"

"Mutter mutter, something about the media"

I like sanders but this is rediculous. Reddit is eating it up though. Already rationalizing his loss or calling for violence/merging with trump supporters. Insanity

"I don't support or even acknowledge down ticket candidates and only became a Democrat very recently because nobody cares about independents. Why doesn't this party support me."

 

[Kangi]

.

 

[cartoon_soldier]

Guys, this is good.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/obama-legacy/racial-politics-2008-election.html

 

[Voysa Reezun]

That BLM / Obama thread...oy. The amount of 20 something year olds telling the biracial black man born in the 60s that he doesn't "get" racism is...oof.

I don't see why President Obama's age matters. As an example of why not, Cornel West is older than President Obama, but I don't know if he's the best authority on race matters (ha!) in 2016, for example.

POTUS is making a clear point about this knowing that protesters serve different functions for different purposes, number one, and second, he's right - if you can get a seat at the table, do so. You have to be part of the system to change it.

But President Obama's age or time of birth has nothing to do with him raising a fair point.

 

[RustyNails]

Guys, this is good.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/national/obama-legacy/racial-politics-2008-election.html

Yo this is badass

 

[Gotchaye]

I feel like you could make a case that as long as the option to "Abstain" or select "None of the Above" was readily available such a requirement would not represent an infringement of speech while still increasing turnout. Hell, if anything having concrete numbers about the number of abstain votes instead of just trying to figure out what proportion of the non-voting population is doing so ideologically as opposed to other reasons ultimately increases the expression of speech of abstention. The people choosing not to vote now know that the fact that they aren't voting is communicated clearly and precisely.

The real problem is implementing it in a way that doesn't just hurt already disenfranchised people

I feel like the same principle that we've seen in some recent Obamacare lawsuits applies. IIRC one argument is that it is a violation of religious conscience to force an employer to tell the government that they are not going to provide health insurance so that the government knows to provide health insurance.

To the extent that this is seen as a solid argument it's important that the government could accomplish the same end without forcing the business to file anything. So given that making sure that everyone who wants to vote has the opportunity to vote pretty much requires presenting everyone with a ballot and verifying that everyone was presented with a ballot, I think you can constitutionally compel some sort of "I'm abstaining" speech, even if that's just returning a blank ballot in such a way that it's obvious you could have voted if you'd wanted to.

 

[brainchild]

Thinking a bit more, perhaps I'm more similar to other posters here but don't realize it because I only see them post in this thread?

Maybe poliGAF should do something similar to what the LGBTQIA+ community on neogaf does; here's the format we use to introduce ourselves there (in particular, my introduction):

-I'm cis male
-Gay (haven't come out publicly yet)
-Originally from Chicago
-Live in Minneapolis
-I have pretty eclectic tastes in music. I'm a huge fan of classical music, ambient and electronica, video game soundtracks, and film scores. My favorite composers are Tchaikovsky, Mozart, Bach, Hiroyuki Sawano, Masashi Hamauzu, Motoi Sakuraba, Rei Kondoh, Dave Wise, Tim Follin, Christopher Tin, Yuki Kajiura, Mahito Yokota, Harry Gregson- Williams, Solar Fields, and many, MANY more!
-I'm an independent contractor (IT specialist)
-The Legend of Zelda: Skyward Sword is my favorite video game
-I've been a Spanish interpreter for over 15 years (and studied linguistics for about as long), I love hiking, playing pool, watching sci-fi or fantasy TV/anime, singing, playing the violin, producing/composing music, keeping up with the scientific community... there's just not enough time to do everything that I like to do!

And thanks for the warm welcome!

Anyone wanna use this template and tell me about yourselves?!

 

[Cybit]

I don't see why President Obama's age matters. As an example of why not, Cornel West is older than President Obama, but I don't know if he's the best authority on race matters (ha!) in 2016, for example.

POTUS is making a clear point about this knowing that protesters serve different functions for different purposes, number one, and second, he's right - if you can get a seat at the table, do so. You have to be part of the system to change it.

But President Obama's age or time of birth has nothing to do with him raising a fair point.

Fair enough, but let me rephrase it then.

He's a biracial black man who grew up in a times when racism was far more pervasive and prevalent, and was born in Kansas and lived in Hawaii - not exactly hot beds of AA population. It's really infuriating to see folks who almost certainly have had to deal with racism on a far lesser scale than anyone from that era having the gall to lecture Obama about how he "doesn't get it".

I 100% agree with Obama. Once they got a seat with Clinton and literally didn't have anything to say, and the two heads from Seattle trying to throw Deray under the bus for accepting an invitation to talk to Sanders when Sanders had tried to reach out to them and they had said no...I realized there are too many high up folks trying to make a name for themselves rather than be activists.

Per Brainchild's template

• Straight male, South Asian. In an interracial relationship with a hardcore academic.
• From Central IL (17 years), then to St Louis (5 years) and now Seattle (8 years). Have lived in various other places for months on end due to work.
• Classical Liberal in terms of political beliefs, also, to quote my old political boss, pragmatically principled.
• Worked for Obama in 2003/2004 (Pre US Senate, US Senate primary, and US Senate race) as well as 2008. Only will call him Barry when I see him (and he uses the American-ized version of my name) due to an awesome in-joke.
• Current political work is BLM Minneapolis (friend who got me into politics is located there), the Innocence Project (family does statistical analysis and data work, as well as advocacy), as well as fundraise for Operation Supply Drop, Child's Play, and Make-A-Wish (I am a wish kid myself)
• Gamer through and through, video games and D&D. (Proud of said title, even if dumbasses have sullied it recently. Trying to be part of the crowd that takes it back). Secret of Mana is my favorite video game of all time. I will cut anyone who says otherwise (cuts brainchild)
• Analytics / Systems Engineer currently, have done all sorts of weird jobs prior. Background is Aerospace Engineering (currently looking at either Space-X or NASA)
• Hobby wise - Failure of a Renaissance Man - Love sports, video games, sci-fi, and politics. I'm the weirdo wearing the Star Wars / UW crossover over shirt at the Husky games cheering my butt off. Baseball is my favorite sport to see in person, Football / Basketball are tied for my favorite sport to watch.

 

[aspiegamer]

.

Dammit. I've been using that joke for months! But I suppose seeing it on a billboard validates my awesomeness.

UNSKEWING.

EXIT.

POLLS.

Looks like Stage 3: Bargaining. At least they're on their way through.

 

[brainchild]

Straight male, South Asian. In an interracial relationship with a hardcore academic.

From Central IL (17 years), then to St Louis (5 years) and now Seattle (8 years). Have lived in various other places for months on end due to work.

Classical Liberal in terms of political beliefs, also, to quote my old political boss, pragmatically principled.

Worked for Obama in 2003/2004 (Pre US Senate, US Senate primary, and US Senate race) as well as 2008. Only will call him Barry when I see him (and he uses the American-ized version of my name) due to an awesome in-joke.

Current political work is BLM Minneapolis (friend who got me into politics is located there), the Innocence Project (family does statistical analysis and data work, as well as advocacy), as well as fundraise for Operation Supply Drop, Child's Play, and Make-A-Wish (I am a wish kid myself)

Gamer through and through, video games and D&D. (Proud of said title, even if dumbasses have sullied it recently. Trying to be part of the crowd that takes it back). Secret of Mana is my favorite video game of all time. I will cut anyone who says otherwise (cuts brainchild)

Analytics / Systems Engineer currently, have done all sorts of weird jobs prior. Background is Aerospace Engineering (currently looking at either Space-X or NASA)

Hobby wise - Failure of a Renaissance Man - Love sports, video games, sci-fi, and politics. I'm the weirdo wearing the Star Wars / UW crossover over shirt at the Husky games cheering my butt off. Baseball is my favorite sport to see in person, Football / Basketball are tied for my favorite sport to watch.

Awesome profile, thanks for sharing!

And Secret of Mana is a timeless classic, so I can't hate on your choice, though I resent your unfettered willingness to cut me!

 

[CCS]

Sure, good idea and I may as well do it before I head to bed

-I'm cis male

-Publicly out as bisexual, currently single hence my massive thirstiness

-Born in London UK and still live near there, currently a student though.

-First music I got into was rock/punk/metal and that's still my favourite type but I listen to all sorts of things. Whilst working I tend to end up listening to a mix of albums and film or video game soundtracks. Current favourite band is Against Me! (<3 Laura Jane Grace)

-I'm currently in my last year of study at university, doing my Masters in Mathematics. I promise I'm not totally boring, only mostly.

-My political views have moderated considerably in the last 12 months or so, which I know has to be some sort of record. I voted for Jeremy Corbyn, but the utterly atrocious job he's doing made me look again at my political views and realise that the centre left is where it's at.

-Hobbies: video games obviously, especially strategy/historical games. Also a lot of sport, play football and rugby, am a rugby referee and a black belt in taekwondo. Play keyboard/piano (badly) and bass (worse).

-Best game ever is Age of Empires 2. I will hear no arguments to the contrary.

 

[cartoon_soldier]

- Straight Male, 31 years old. Got married earlier this year.
- Born and raised in India, came to US for studies then worked. Moved back to India in 2014 (various reasons).
- Not a US citizen, so can't vote.
- Did volunteer work for Obama in 2008 in NC. So fierce defender of him. Had been following him since his Senate run (studied in Chicago 2002-2006)

- Love Indian music mainly. Listen to rap, pop, anything too. It's more about the song/lyrics/music than genre for me.

- Currently work as a consultant for US company from India + participate in family business.

- Political views are probably left of center. But I am also a realist. I think a country needs different policies and politics depending on their circumstances. I don't strive for perfection in policies I support. I support Democrats in US while I voted for what is considered the right-wing party in last Indian elections.

- Hobbies: Chess, Video Games, Reading online news/articles/etc, movies/tv shows, big follower of EPL (football/soccer). Support Manchester United.

 

[Ignatz Mouse]

You're right--why would I ever think that?



Oh wait. We have RNC officials blatantly hinting that it will happen.

In which case Nate Silver would have been right all along, but had doubted himself.

 

[Wilsongt]

Huh.

http://www.cbsnews.com/news/ex-pa-senator-90-announces-same-sex-marriage-in-op-ed/

Nearly 20 years after the death of his wife, former U.S. Sen. Harris Wofford, D-Pennsylvania, penned a moving New York Times editorial Sunday, announcing his intention to marry a man 50 years his junior.

Wofford, 90, a prominent Pennsylvania Democrat who also served in President John F. Kennedy's administration and worked with Martin Luther King, will be marrying Matthew Charlton, 40, at the end of the month.

"Too often, our society seeks to label people by pinning them on the wall -- straight, gay or in between," Wofford wrote of his upcoming marriage. "I don't categorize myself based on the gender of those I love. I had a half-century of marriage with a wonderful woman, and now am lucky for a second time to have found happiness."

 

[Tamanon]

90 and 40. That's a long span between ages.

 

[Wilsongt]

*runs into GayGAF thread, grabs the template, then runs out* Whew.

Your gender? Male
Your sexual orientation? Gay
Where Are You From? Columbia, SC
Where Do You Live? Columbia, SC
How Old Are you? 30
Favorite Type of Music? Dance/Electronica, Soundscapes
Profession or Career interest? A fucking job at this point. Screw anything field related.
Favorite video game(s)? Shining Force, Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy in general
What are your hobbies (other than gaming)? None. I'm boring as fuck.

 

[NeoXChaos]

so does this mean our 2 insiders from Obama world know each other?

 

[sphagnum]

Straight cis white male
From NJ, always lived here and probably always will
27
Socialist
I have diverse tastes in music (classical, religious music like Orthodox chants, classical rock, "indie", shoegazer, chillwave, K-pop, etc.). Favorite band is Arcade Fire.
I analyze heart rhythms for a living. Wanted to work in classical history but it didn't work out.
Favorite games: Zelda series
Other hobbies: Mostly reading history and Star Wars.

 

[Butts-a-plenty]

cartoon_solider isn't even American? Mind blown. It makes cartoon solidering even more crazy!

 

[B-Dubs]

Well, I suppose I could give it a go but my answers are of the boring variety.

Your gender? Male
Your sexual orientation? Straight
Where Are You From? NY, NY
Where Do You Live? NY, NY
How Old Are you? 26
Favorite Type of Music? Rock, Prog Rock, Rap
Profession or Career interest? Journalist, freelance and on staff at a magazine
Favorite video game(s)? Zelda, specifically Skyward Sword
What are your hobbies (other than gaming)? writing, reading, videogames

90 and 40. That's a long span between ages.

I'd say he's robbing the cradle given the age gap, but given the actual ages...

 

[brainchild]

Sure, good idea and I may as well do it before I head to bed

-I'm cis male

-Publicly out as bisexual, currently single hence my massive thirstiness

-Born in London UK and still live near there, currently a student though.

-First music I got into was rock/punk/metal and that's still my favourite type but I listen to all sorts of things. Whilst working I tend to end up listening to a mix of albums and film or video game soundtracks. Current favourite band is Against Me! (<3 Laura Jane Grace)

-I'm currently in my last year of study at university, doing my Masters in Mathematics. I promise I'm not totally boring, only mostly.

-My political views have moderated considerably in the last 12 months or so, which I know has to be some sort of record. I voted for Jeremy Corbyn, but the utterly atrocious job he's doing made me look again at my political views and realise that the centre left is where it's at.

-Hobbies: video games obviously, especially strategy/historical games. Also a lot of sport, play football and rugby, am a rugby referee and a black belt in taekwondo. Play keyboard/piano (badly) and bass (worse).


-Best game ever is Age of Empires 2. I will hear no arguments to the contrary.

HELL. YES.

- Straight Male, 31 years old. Got married earlier this year.
- Born and raised in India, came to US for studies then worked. Moved back to India in 2014 (various reasons).
- Not a US citizen, so can't vote.
- Did volunteer work for Obama in 2008 in NC. So fierce defender of him. Had been following him since his Senate run (studied in Chicago 2002-2006)

- Love Indian music mainly. Listen to rap, pop, anything too. It's more about the song/lyrics/music than genre for me.

- Currently work as a consultant for US company from India + participate in family business.

- Political views are probably left of center. But I am also a realist. I think a country needs different policies and politics depending on their circumstances. I don't strive for perfection in policies I support. I support Democrats in US while I voted for what is considered the right-wing party in last Indian elections.

- Hobbies: Chess, Video Games, Reading online news/articles/etc, movies/tv shows, big follower of EPL (football/soccer). Support Manchester United.

Didn't know you weren't from the U.S. That's quite the revelation!

*runs into GayGAF thread, grabs the template, then runs out* Whew.

Your gender? Male
Your sexual orientation? Gay
Where Are You From? Columbia, SC
Where Do You Live? Columbia, SC
How Old Are you? 30
Favorite Type of Music? Dance/Electronica, Soundscapes
Profession or Career interest? A fucking job at this point. Screw anything field related.
Favorite video game(s)? Shining Force, Final Fantasy Tactics, Final Fantasy in general
What are your hobbies (other than gaming)? None. I'm boring as fuck.

Yaasssss

Straight cis white male
From NJ, always lived here and probably always will
27
Socialist
I have diverse tastes in music (classical, religious music like Orthodox chants, classical rock, "indie", shoegazer, chillwave, K-pop, etc.). Favorite band is Arcade Fire.
I analyze heart rhythms for a living. Wanted to work in classical history but it didn't work out.
Favorite games: Zelda series
Other hobbies: Mostly reading history and Star Wars.

Good taste

Well, I suppose I could give it a go but my answers are of the boring variety.

Your gender? Male
Your sexual orientation? Straight
Where Are You From? NY, NY
Where Do You Live? NY, NY
How Old Are you? 26
Favorite Type of Music? Rock, Prog Rock, Rap
Profession or Career interest? Journalist, freelance and on staff at a magazine
Favorite video game(s)? Zelda, specifically Skyward Sword
What are your hobbies (other than gaming)? writing, reading, videogames



I'd say he's robbing the cradle given the age gap, but given the actual ages...

OMG, you've just gained 100000000+ respect points from me. We're a dying breed!!

I'd say he's robbing the cradle given the age gap, but given the actual ages...

Yeah, more like Matthew's robbing the grave

 

[ItWasMeantToBe19]

Gender: Cis male
Sex: Bi
From: SLC, Utah
Live: SLC, Utah
Age: 23
Music: Metal: Sludge metal and death metal in particular.
Career interest: Economics professor
Favorite games: Mario, Metroid, Metal Gear.
Favorite hobbies: Basketball, statistical analysis, baking.