Full Version: Are you a big democracy geek?
QUOTE
The right to vote, as guaranteed in the Constitution, is among the hallmarks of the American democratic system. But Haas has exercised his franchise rights to an embarrassing extreme, voting in every federal, state, and local election since turning 18.
"Normally, David's a reliable, punctual employee," said Dorothy Raubel, owner of Raubel Garden Center, where Haas has worked for the past seven years. "But then there's that occasional Tuesday morning in April or November when he calls in saying he'll be late to work. It's a strange habit, but we've all grown accustomed to it by now."
Haas prides himself on being an informed voter, making sure to familiarize himself with candidates' positions before casting a vote. A self-described "independent" who tends to favor Democratic candidates, he can summarize the basic position of both major parties on most issues. As a result, Haas has endured the mockery and derision of those around him.
"Normally, David's a reliable, punctual employee," said Dorothy Raubel, owner of Raubel Garden Center, where Haas has worked for the past seven years. "But then there's that occasional Tuesday morning in April or November when he calls in saying he'll be late to work. It's a strange habit, but we've all grown accustomed to it by now."
Haas prides himself on being an informed voter, making sure to familiarize himself with candidates' positions before casting a vote. A self-described "independent" who tends to favor Democratic candidates, he can summarize the basic position of both major parties on most issues. As a result, Haas has endured the mockery and derision of those around him.
http://www.theonion.com/content/node/38535
So are you like this guy? I hate to say it-but I'm definitely too white, nerdy, and geeky when it comes to civic participation.
I guess I am, though not at the uber geek level. I usually vote at every given opportunity because its my duty to myself and my country. The only time I've not voted was when I couldn't decide which perspective was closest to my own (I belong to the belligerently indecisive school of politics).
The flip side is, I've often looked back on my votes with regret. I particularly regret having voted for the far left a few years ago. What a wasted vote that was!
Often, I've fond that I vote in seperate directions in local and national elections... but I think that habit might have come to an end now.
The flip side is, I've often looked back on my votes with regret. I particularly regret having voted for the far left a few years ago. What a wasted vote that was!
Often, I've fond that I vote in seperate directions in local and national elections... but I think that habit might have come to an end now.
I have voted in every Presidential race since turning 18 and in every Congressional race since leaving college (1994). I have voted in the national primaries every year since 1996.
I do tend to be less involved on the local level and will skip elections and issues if I don't feel informed enough to vote one way or the other.
I can say that I have never voted for a tax increase.
I do tend to be less involved on the local level and will skip elections and issues if I don't feel informed enough to vote one way or the other.
I can say that I have never voted for a tax increase.
QUOTE(Amlord @ Apr 16 2007, 11:43 AM) 
I can say that I have never voted for a tax increase.
I've got you beat
. I have never voted for a tax increase NOR have I voted for a borrowing increase. These are equivalent as far as I'm concerned.
Vote me in for geek, perhaps even uber geek. So much of a geek in fact that when I read the line "American democratic system" from quote provided by nebraska I rolled my eyes, sighed, and thought, 'we're a republic not a democracy, morons!' Then I read further and realized it was an Onion article. So then I rolled my eyes at myself. 
Over the past four decades, I may have missed the occasional election, but I was raised by parents that voted in every election, and were friends with the local Pols.
I am a party member, I volunteer and while I'm not comfortable on the phone, someone has to enter the poll numbers into the computer.
I have reached a point in life where my age is criteria enough for me to vote absentee, so I can vote quite early.
I was supervising the count of absentee votes in another county one election day when I heard my favorite story of the dedicated voter. Blind since birth, she has not missed a single election since she turned 21. She comes to vote on election day with not only the ballot memorized, but the positions of the switches in the voting machines memorized.
I am a party member, I volunteer and while I'm not comfortable on the phone, someone has to enter the poll numbers into the computer.
I have reached a point in life where my age is criteria enough for me to vote absentee, so I can vote quite early.
I was supervising the count of absentee votes in another county one election day when I heard my favorite story of the dedicated voter. Blind since birth, she has not missed a single election since she turned 21. She comes to vote on election day with not only the ballot memorized, but the positions of the switches in the voting machines memorized.
Yup - I'm a geek too.
I'm a firm adherent to the school of thought that says "if you don't vote, you don't get to complain about politics".
I'm a firm adherent to the school of thought that says "if you don't vote, you don't get to complain about politics".
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