How likely are Americans to vote in the 2012 elections?

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  1. davenmidtown profile image69
    davenmidtownposted 12 years ago

    The occupy wall street movement has been the subject of many hubs.  Some of these  hubs bring up a really good question about voting in the 2012 election.  One hub  (   http://ryankett.hubpages.com/hub/What-D … -Or-Demand )

    by Ryankett  What do the Occupy Wall-street Protesters want or demand indicated many voters may not vote at all in 2012.  I recommend this hub as a good read.    So how likely are Americans to vote in this upcoming election?  What would be your motivation to vote?

    1. Quilligrapher profile image74
      Quilligrapherposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      In 2012, Americans will have to choose between the party that created the worst economic meltdown in America since the Great Depression and the only President to devote a major part of his first term working to clean up their mess. Has he finished the job yet? No.  Is the opposition-dominated congress working with the present administration to facilitate the creation of new jobs? No.  Has the opposition party tarnished the nation’s AAA+ credit rating by passing a budget in the spring and then bickering months later over raising the debt limit to finance it? Yes. “They fought in the summer over the federal debt limit, which Republicans refused to raise without offsetting deficit reduction measures,” the NY Times reported. (1)

      With national elections a year away, we look on helplessly as middle class citizens struggle to find a job and to pay their mortgages. The most wealthy among us continue to become more wealthy.  The foxes of big business have already raided the hen house and it has cost this nation trillions of dollars in handouts paid to those who needed them the least. Handouts so huge they overshadow all of the nation’s welfare programs for people.  The congress has committed $11 trillion dollars to Federal bailouts and stimulus for big business (2) and some freshman in congress are adamant about reducing Federal programs costing only $700 Billion (3) in 2011 to assist the country’s least wealthy Americans and retirees. The numbers reveal that the wealthiest among us have received the largest corporate welfare package in history and are still complaining about income taxes and government assistance for the struggling masses. The average American can’t even get a job out of the deal. We look on helplessly as big business stuffs its pockets with taxpayer money and extraordinary payroll savings from sending jobs over seas while their advocates in Washington refuse to work with the Obama administration to facilitate new job creation. When times were rosy, Americans didn’t take much notice. But in these hard times, it is much easier to see who are the winners and who are losers in America. 

      All Americans yearn for a bright and prosperous future even as they quibble over how to best achieve it.  It took eight years for the previous administration to create this problem.  When the time comes, I think American voters will give this President eight years to clean it up.


      References:
      (1) (http://topics.nytimes.com/top/reference … index.html)
      (2) http://money.cnn.com/news/storysuppleme … uttracker/
      (3) http://www.usgovernmentspending.com/yea … 40#usgs302

    2. GoGreenTips profile image61
      GoGreenTipsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      The problem with voting is simply that the big money interests have for the most part bought and paid for both parties. So...many of the disaffected, or those that have dropped out of the voting process because they see no change irregardless of whom is in office, well essentially they are right.

      Oh there is some change, but for the most part big business gets what they want.  I will vote as a civic duty, and hope that a candidate such as Ron Paul makes it to the ballot.  Although, I am unsure of what one man can do in a rigged system.

      I fear that it will take more to change the system, such as grass roots movements such as : http://moveyourmoneyproject.org/ and OWS...

      1. davenmidtown profile image69
        davenmidtownposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        so why must we concentrate on just the two parties??? why can not voters make their own party?  We have other party's in the running besides just the two major parties.  We do not have to be slaves to either party... we have choices.

        1. GoGreenTips profile image61
          GoGreenTipsposted 12 years agoin reply to this

          Unfortunately the system is pretty much rigged with the electoral college against an independent candidate winning. Take for instance the 2000 election when George Bush actually lost the popular vote, not only was the peoples voice not heard, but the supreme court determined whom would be president.

          Unfortunately as a long time Libertarian, and have voted that way for may years, and will continue to vote. Changes in the actual system most take place for this to happen. But the system and rules have been changed, for example take the recent Supreme Court ruling to allow corporate financing of candidates. Essentially this takes more power away from the ordinary voter and places it in the hand of corporate and big money.

          The media wishes to tell us we have choices, but in reality we really do not. This is essential though... Because if we ever realize that we do not, in reality have choices, then well there will be more protests such as OWS.

      2. profile image0
        marellenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

        Personally, I don't think it matters if you vote or not. I can't remember the last president elected that stood by his word or promises while championing.  You vote and pick your favorite because we all hope they can help this country and look at the mess we're in now.  I'm afraid the GOP doesn't have a good enough candidate and Obama will be back.

    3. profile image0
      klanguedocposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      The numbers (percentage) of voters should be about as previous elections. It usually depends on how frustrated people are in the system at election time and how much they believe their vote will actually count

  2. davenmidtown profile image69
    davenmidtownposted 12 years ago

    so vote for someone new... try another party... try another philosophy...

  3. davenmidtown profile image69
    davenmidtownposted 12 years ago

    We do not have to go into civil disobedience or a civil war to promote change.  We just need to move past the idea that it must be a democrat or a republican.

  4. davenmidtown profile image69
    davenmidtownposted 12 years ago

    I continually refuse to submit to the defeatist attitude that nothing can be done because everything is already planned out.  If the electoral college does not work then impeach the Governors of the state where it is not working.  There is a recall option that voters have and in too many cases we never use it.  Kick them out of office.  The voters have the tools but they do not want to do the job.  Instead we will bitch and complain about how everything is outside of our control and that is a thought that is just simply not true.

  5. Evan G Rogers profile image61
    Evan G Rogersposted 12 years ago

    There's no way in hell you could keep me from voting for Ron Paul in 2012.

    No one else is really worth voting for.

    1. davenmidtown profile image69
      davenmidtownposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      Why RP?

  6. Mighty Mom profile image77
    Mighty Momposted 12 years ago

    I suspect turnout will not be as high in 2012 as in 2008.
    Americans are mad, but I don't think they identify any one candidate or party as the solution.
    The bloom is somewhat off the Obama rose for the optimists.
    Many hate Obama. But they don't seem to really like their own options much better.
    Romney by default? Really??
    Paul is not tapping into that primal anger and angst Americans feel.
    Not saying he's not the most viable alternative to BHO. Just not enough to get out the votes...

 
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