Vote or Die... or you know, don't vote.

The election season is well past being in full-swing and is now in "annoy the hell out of everyone" mode. The question is, is voting worth it? does your vote count? can i put in another vote cliche? questions that need answers.

In Arizona, either it's on the ballot, or the proverbial "they" is fighting for it to be on the ballot. The it being a provision that every general election, some random person who voted will be picked to win a million dollars. Here's a news story from May talking about it. Win a million, vote for those tax cuts for the wealthy! oh snap. The idea being, not even half the people who are eligble to vote do so, lets motivate them to. Noble idea, but I believe not so great a plan to get it done.

Do we want people just going in, punching a few holes and walking out for the chance to get a million dollars? I buy a one dollar scratcher not caring that it gives new mexico students scholarships, but because I want that freaking cash. Some people drawn in won't be doing so for the noble act of voting in america, but... because they want that freaking cash. Now, some who are lazy but pay attention to issues will be pushed to vote, but most won't.

Hell, even those of us that do vote are not so qualified to do so. I say qualified in the sense that we pay attention to the issues, and the records of the candidates and make our decisions. Now the work required for this "qualification" is hampered not only be lazyiocity and busytude, but also the useless ways campaigns present information. (thats another can of worms for a blog post I'll never write... laziocity).

Thus, does motivating a group of people not paying attention to the issues to vote really help anything? How will they vote, off a few tv ads, maybe just by party lines. Then what, we end up with a candidate voted in by indifference. sweet. I'm trying not to be on a high horse, because I really am only moderately informed, and thats not good enough either.

Then we have the Vote or Die campaign from 2 years ago, and might be there again? (i dont watch da mtvs anymore, except to make fun of kids on NEXt). don't vote just to vote, vote because you've chosen the candidates and the referendums that work for you. and please for god sakes don't vote because of your parents positions.

Ok, so you're informed. You've read lots of articles, you've watched ads, you've stalked the candidates, now you're ready to make a choice. Only you realize, they all suck ass. not just tiny ass, but major ass. What do you do?

How the hell do i know? I can only give you two examples. A family member of mine is tired of the whole process, and doesn't believe any candidate will represent him well. The whole system is in need of repair. So he's making his statement by not voting at all. I on the other hand, agree that its not perfect, and the candidates aren't either. But i'd rather have some say in whose going in, then none at all.

Neither is right, and neither is wrong. They just are, but before you go to vote, think, just a little bit, and then do what you feel is your own course of action.

[insert great political quote here, for a nice bookend to the blog post.]