And so, for what it's worth, is voting for Ralph Nader when you know for a fact that he's not going to win, and that George Bush might win if you don't vote for the other guy.
How do I know this?
Because I was alive in 2000. And then I lived the past 10 years.
Please, for the love of God, do not recommend this diary. The last thing we need on the wreck list right now is another meta-meta-meta diary about whether or not it's really ok to stay home.
But I'm personally with Craig Ferguson on this.
(Watch at about 6:45 in the video if you want to get right to the point)
Are we so lost that we have to be sold our own democratic right? What the hell is wrong with - what is going on? We have to "sexy up the vote" for young people? Remember 4 years ago Puff Diddly had that group "Vote or Die"?
And then it turns out he didn't even vote himself? Maybe he forgot what name he registered under.
Listen, here's what I'm saying to you. Here's what I would say: If you don't vote, you're a moron. I know you say, "Well, not voting IS a vote." No it isn't. No. Not voting is just being stupid. Voting is not sexy. Voting is not hip. It's not fashionable. It's not a movie. It's not a video game. All the kids ain't doin it! Frankly, voting is a pain in the ass.
But here's a word. Look it up. It is your duty to vote.
Duty?
The foundation in this democracy is on free people making free choices. So, young people - if you can't take your hand out of your bag of Cheetos long enough to fill out a form, then you can't complain when we end up with President Sanjaya.
Listen. I'm an American. This country, as it is right now, is at war. Americans in foreign lands, and wearing uniforms, representing this country, are losing their lives. Americans here in this country are losing their homes.
This stuff is real. It's not a dress rehearsal. We are really running a $2 trillion deficit for the year. We are really $12.8+ trillion in debt, as a nation. We are at 10% unemployment. The people who have the money, the financial capital, the apparent edge on power, are trying to keep that advantage. And the primary way that they're doing that is by trying to isolate you, disenfranchise you, and make you feel that your voice isn't being heard.
But your voice IS being heard. It can be heard. It can make a difference.
And if your message isn't getting across, don't blame other people. Don't blame President Obama or the Democrats. Don't even blame the Republicans. Blame yourself.
Blame yourself for lacking the communication skills to speak out and be the change you want to see in the world.
Stop blaming elected officials for not voting the way you'd like them to. Elected officials vote the way they do because they're trying to follow the will of the people they represent. If they don't do a good enough job of that, they'll lose their job.
If you're tired of Blanche Lincoln, there's an alternative.
If you're upset with the filibusters in the Senate, the way to fix that is NOT by hoping the Republicans will loosen up and play nice. They won't. They've got to be defeated and sent home.
And if you don't like Harry Reid, that's fine. But look at the alternative - do you really want Sue Lowden to be representing the great state of Nevada? Do you really want her to help guide the country out of the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression?
Do I need to remind you how things turned out when we all decided to "go Galt" in Massachusetts with Martha Coakley? We now have Senator Naked Scott Brown. So, thanks a lot for that.
One more closing thought: If you're not out there changing the minds of people to the right of you - people more moderate than you - people more uninformed than you - then don't bother coming here to the Big Orange Satan and complaining about the lack of progress.
[/rant]