Mock The Vote

Sure Joe Rogan Said it but...

2011-12-16T16:58:00.002-06:00

Rogan added that voting might just be a waste of time in today's politics. "At this point in my life, I feel like voting for president is a lot like rooting on professional wrestling. It might make you feel better, but I'm not sure it effects the outcome that much."

[from here]

Michele Bachmann

2011-08-14T19:14:00.000-05:00

2012

2011-06-25T12:54:00.000-05:00

Well... It's getting to be that time again.

Lots of folks are vying for the republican nomination.

Who will it come down to?

Will it be another year that your vote means nothing?

Will you waste your time and believe the lies?

Well

2008-11-05T07:32:00.002-06:00

It's been a year since we came up with our idea to start this blog.
We've had a lot of web traffic here. That tells me that there's a lot of people who are sick of the current system.

Most of our visits were from a key word search of "the two party system sucks".

So while a new chunk of history was made last night. Maybe we can move past the two party system and make more history.

So thanks for visiting.

Updates will probably slow down for awhile, but dumb political things always happen, so we'll have more to say I'm sure.

Today Is The Day

2008-11-04T09:35:00.001-06:00

Mock The Vote.

Tomorrow is the day

2008-11-03T14:16:00.000-06:00

Go out and pretend your vote counts.

You know deep down that it doesn't.

Dow industrials fall over 600 points, below 9,000

2008-10-09T14:56:00.003-05:00

Good thing the fuckers in Washington passed the bailout bill. Or else things could be bad.

Seriously. What The Fuck?

Yes, yes, I know it will take some time, blah blah blah. But couldn't we be in this exact same mess without giving away taxpayer money?

[LINK]

And The House

2008-10-04T15:48:00.002-05:00

So we the suckers were fucked by our congressmen. a 700 billion bill wasn't enough. and they didn't want to pass it. But add 140 billion of pork to it and they passed it.

Why?

Because they are corrupt liars.

They don't care about serving the people. They care about lining the pockets of those who pull their strings.

MAybe once the middle class really starts to disappear, we won't be so content and lazy about rising up to fight this bullshit.

I Spoke Too Soon

2008-10-01T21:54:00.002-05:00

Senate passes $700B rescue.

"Once the Senate was finished adding sweeteners Wednesday to entice reluctant House Republicans to change their minds and vote for the bailout, the bill heading for passage had grown to 451 pages."

451 pages of pure bullshit.

Welcome to socialism.

Hopefully congress will veto this hunk of shit again. But I doubt it. I am sure the back room deals have swayed enough greedy power hungry bastards.

Failed

2008-09-29T14:18:00.002-05:00

I am very happy the buyout bill has failed. Lets keep it that way. Make sure you let your congressman know that they will not get your vote (if you are a sucker who votes) if they voted yes to pass the buyout.

I am truly shocked that congress had some balls and didn't just hand over the 700 billion to the assholes on wall street.

This You Should Vote On

2008-09-25T16:46:00.001-05:00

Got to this website for a national popular vote.

Electoral Votes Are Such A Bad Idea

2008-09-25T10:13:00.003-05:00

This map just makes me so mad.
Don't vote.

The free market has nothing to do with the current crisis

2008-09-24T23:06:00.000-05:00

From a pretty interesting article:

"When you, Joe Citizen, spend frivolously and default on your loans, the bank takes your house. When the government spends your tax dollars frivolously, it simply cooks the books to cover its excesses. When the books are left in ashes, the government just takes more of your money, or it prints more money, leaving the money it hasn't already taken from you devalued. Over the last few weeks, we've learned that you now face the prospect of an additional indignity: When your neighbor's bank spends frivolously and defaults on its loans, the government's going to take your money then too, to keep the bank in business."

Vinnie Stigma for President!

2008-09-24T10:51:00.000-05:00

A Tie?

2008-09-23T09:12:00.002-05:00

This article talks about the possibility of an electoral college tie in the vote for president. And then goes on to talk about all the other crazy things that could happen from that.

We need to dump our current system. IT is flat out fucked.

Two-party 'charade' must end, Ron Paul says

2008-09-19T11:33:00.000-05:00

"I've come to the conclusion, after having spent many years in politics, is that our presidential elections turn out to be more of a charade than anything else, and I think that is true today. It is a charade," Ron Paul said.

This is change.

Taxes

2008-09-18T11:38:00.003-05:00

Biden calls paying higher taxes a patriotic act.

How about a campaign that 's rally cry is Change do something radical, like a flat tax?

Dismantle the IRS. get rid of loop holes for corporations.

You make $X you pay X%.

No refunds, no owing more. Seems simple to me.

Why Do We Allow The Government To Handle Our Money So Poorly?

2008-09-09T11:32:00.000-05:00

So I just read this article about the Federal deficit to soar to $407 billion.

That is an assload of money.

So say we have 100 million taxpayers.

Statistics show the average US salary is 36k per year.

So if each person is taxed 20% they are giving the government $7,200 per year or $600 per month or $138 per week or $20 per day.

This comes to a total of 720 billion dollars.

So does anyone else see a problem in our governments spending?

Attacks, praise stretch truth at GOP convention

2008-09-04T11:32:00.001-05:00

I would love to see a lot more articles like this one.

It takes statements made in speeches at the RNC and shows where there were lies or exaggerations. I would like to see become the job of an indifferent 3rd party group. Make it easily accessible to all people. That way we can quickly start to tally up the lies all the politicians are telling as they try to drum up votes.

All politicians are liars. Lets show everyone when it occurs.

Stealing America Vote By Vote

2008-09-02T20:08:00.002-05:00

A new movie about how votes aren't counted or rigged or many other wrong doings.
Know how to avoid this?
Don't vote.

Why the two party system sucks

2008-08-27T12:11:00.002-05:00

Our system is set up to make people wonder why they put their time and money behind a candidate, when their choice isn't the one who gets the nomination. The two party system is set up to be partisan.

I feel lucky since I don't like any of the candidates and don't vote, I can just sit back and watch.

But I do understand how biter people are over what is going on in the Democratic party right now. Why would we expect people to switch who they support just because they are affiliated with a party?

Why can't we have multiple candidates from all parties be on the ballot? Then we can destroy the electoral college and make it a popular vote.

Why do we have a hundred choices when it comes to buying a pair of jeans or most any other product but truly only two choices when it comes to such a seemingly important job?

Oh yeah it comes down to money. You need to be rich or have the backing of a lot of rich companies to become president.

Our system is so broken.

She Just Can't Stop

2008-08-07T09:20:00.002-05:00

This article is why the Democrats will lose.

Sure there are plenty of Republican that hate McCain but still support their parties decision.

Lucky for me I hate both parties and think both the incumbent candidates suck.

Face It. We Are Poorer.

2008-08-04T08:47:00.001-05:00

Excerpt from THIS article:

When you have a loss of wealth, the best way to cope is to accept it and adapt to a lower standard of living, sooner rather than later. Sending out rebates, eliminating gas taxes, bailing out homeowners and accelerating monetary growth, among the proposed remedies, do exactly the opposite. They spare us the obligation of dealing with reality by making us feel richer so we can keep on as we were before.

Jesse Ventura on Larry King Live

2008-07-16T16:28:00.002-05:00

Is Anyone Shocked?

2008-07-09T06:34:00.002-05:00

Yes people. Congress sucks. They don't do what they say they'll do. They just want your vote, then they want to do what they want to do. Why were so many people fooled to think that a democratic majority congress was really going to be better.

The percentage of voters who give Congress good or excellent ratings has fallen to single digits for the first time in Rasmussen Reports tracking history. This month, just 9% say Congress is doing a good or excellent job. Most voters (52%) say Congress is doing a poor job, which ties the record high in that dubious category.

US candidates practise their U-turns

2008-07-07T10:14:00.000-05:00

This just in. All politicians are liars.

It's summer. Break out the flip flopping.

Another Reason Why Government Sucks

2008-06-20T08:38:00.001-05:00

So Hilary is going on vacation to recuperate after her campaign for the nomination.

So she needs time off from her job while trying to get a better job?

Imagine if you tried this same thing.

She may well be tired, but no one made her do what she did. She has an obligation to do her duties as a senator.

All politicians are lame.

WATCH HILARY FALLING

2008-06-12T15:35:00.002-05:00

A good watch/play...enjoy.
[HERE]

What being president used to mean

2008-05-13T16:27:00.000-05:00

This is an excerpt from this article:

Instead of stoking public demands for action, the chief magistrate was expected to resist “the transient impulses of the people” and use his veto to keep Congress within its constitutional bounds. That role didn’t require much speechifying. Early presidents rarely spoke directly to the public; from George Washington through Andrew Jackson, they averaged little more than three speeches per year, with those mostly confined to ceremonial addresses. In his first year in office, by comparison, President Clinton delivered 600.

Screwing The Every-Man

2008-05-01T13:34:00.000-05:00

I am all for ex-presidents getting benefits once they leave office. But this article shows that it's out of control. Why wouldn't these benefits work similar to unemployment benefits for the average joe, if you need them and meet the correct qualifications you get it, if you don't need them you don't get them.

Read all about it. Get pissed off.

Your wasted tax dollars at work

2008-04-10T11:27:00.001-05:00

Go here and see how each dollar is spent.

...

2008-04-09T14:18:00.003-05:00

Jesse The Body

2008-04-08T15:44:00.001-05:00

Liberty Mutual Ad

2008-04-08T09:26:00.001-05:00

Dumb and degrading if you ask me.

Where to buy your Gas

2008-04-02T07:26:00.001-05:00

Here are some large companies that do not import Middle Eastern oil:

Sunoco..................0 barrels

Conoco..................0 barrels

Sinclair..................0 barrels

BP/Phillips.............0 barrels

Hess......................0 barrels

ARC0.....................0 barrels

If you go to Sunoco.com, you will get a list of the station locations near you.

YOU'RE NOT OLD ARE YOU? BECAUSE...

2008-03-28T16:53:00.001-05:00

Watch

2008-03-27T23:42:00.001-05:00

Interesting.

Earmarks

2008-03-26T13:56:00.002-05:00

Why do we the people stand for this shit?
Earmarks are nothing more than payola, for power hungry politicians to use to payback campaign donations from evil big business.

Hillary Clinton's earmark total from 2002 to 2006 was $2.2 billion.

Read all about it here.

I like

2008-03-18T12:54:00.001-05:00

I like the ambush spirit of this.

Now if we could just get the system fixed so all this excellent effort isn't a complete waste.

Poll

2008-03-18T12:13:00.002-05:00

So polls are dumb. But here is one anyway.
You can go here to see the entire article.

2008-03-07T11:05:00.001-06:00

WORLD FACT BOOK

2008-03-07T10:49:00.000-06:00

[CURRENT ACCOUNT BALANCE]

Why

2008-03-03T14:42:00.002-06:00

“It’s a very complex system, and very hard to understand,” said John C. Green, a political scientist at the University of Akron. “But the bottom line of it is that if you are going to win a lot of delegates, you’d better win big.”

Why is it a complex system?

Voting should be one of the simplest things to do. Each vote should count equally.

Strike to Abolish the Federal Reserve

2008-02-28T23:03:00.001-06:00

Strike to Abolish the Federal Reserve

America will be virtually shut down on April, 15, 2008

WHEREAS:
The Federal Reserve is an illegal corporation that operates for profit and is NOT part of the federal government of the United States of America.

WHEREAS:
The Federal Reserve has stolen Trillions of Dollars from the citizens of the United States, without even having the Constitutional authority to exist.

WHEREAS:
100% of the money you pay in income taxes goes to pay interest on a non-existent debt to the Fed. (Your income taxes do not benefit the U.S. at all!!)

WHEREAS:
The New World Order could not continue its march to destroy America and it's freedoms without the help of the Federal Reserve stockholders.

WHEREAS:
We can never have honest politicians as long as corrupt money from this corrupt organization keeps dishonest politicians in power.

…..All Americans that favor abolishing the Federal Reserve and the income tax will be on strike or calling in sick in protest on April 15, 2008.

If you love freedom and want to end the confiscation of your hard earned money by illegal bankers, join all America in striking on April 15, 2008 to let your politicians know that enough is enough…the scam is over. Join the famous Americans below that have spoken out and condemned the Federal Reserve System.

Let's end the income tax and the Federal Reserve forever. Let's demand that the stockholders of the Federal Reserve return all that they have stolen by deceit. They are common thieves and all that they own is owed to Americans as restitution.

· 1. Please forward this email to as many people as possible

· 2. Watch the videos linked at the bottom of this page.

· 3. Sign the Petition at the link provided

· 4. Stay home from work on April 15, 2008 (if you can afford to, miss the entire week—and let others know what you're doing)

"This [Federal Reserve Act] establishes the most gigantic trust on earth. When the President [Wilson} signs this bill, the invisible government of the monetary power will be legalized....the worst legislative crime of the ages is perpetrated by this banking and currency bill." -- Charles A. Lindbergh, Sr. , 1913

"It is well that the people of the nation do not understand our banking and monetary system, for if they did, I believe there would be a revolution before tomorrow morning." - Henry Ford

"We have, in this country, one of the most corrupt institutions the world has ever known. I refer to the Federal Reserve Board. This evil institution has impoverished the people of the United States and has practically bankrupted our government. It has done this through the corrupt practices of the moneyed vultures who control it". -- Congressman Louis T. McFadden

"The [Federal Reserve Act] as it stands seems to me to open the way to a vast inflation of the currency... I do not like to think that any law can be passed that will make it possible to submerge the gold standard in a flood of irredeemable paper currency." -- Henry Cabot Lodge Sr., 1913

"A great industrial nation is controlled by it's system of credit. Our system of credit is concentrated in the hands of a few men. We have come to be one of the worst ruled, one of the most completely controlled and dominated governments in the world--no longer a government of free opinion, no longer a government by conviction and vote of the majority, but a government by the opinion and duress of small groups of dominant men." --President Woodrow Wilson

"I believe that banking institutions are more dangerous to our liberties than standing armies. Already they have raised up a monied aristocracy that has set the government at defiance. The issuing power (of money) should be taken away from the banks and restored to the people to whom it properly belongs."--Thomas Jefferson, U.S. President.

"History records that the money changers have used every form of abuse, intrigue, deceit, and violent means possible to maintain their control over governments by controlling money and it's issuance". -- James Madison

"Every Congressman, every Senator knows precisely what causes inflation...but can't, [won't] support the drastic reforms to stop it [repeal of the Federal Reserve Act] because it could cost him his job." -- Robert A. Heinlein

"...the increase in the assets of the Federal Reserve banks from 143 million dollars in 1913 to 45 billion dollars in 1949 went directly to the private stockholders of the [federal reserve] banks." -- Eustace Mullins

"While boasting of our noble deeds were careful to conceal the ugly fact that by an iniquitous money system we have nationalized a system of oppression which, though more refined, is not less cruel than the old system of chattel slavery. - Horace Greeley

"The Federal Reserve banks, while not part of the government,..." -- United States budget for 1991 and 1992 part 7, page 10

"Most Americans have no real understanding of the operation of the international money lenders. The accounts of the Federal Reserve System have never been audited. It operates outside the control of Congress and manipulates the credit of the United States" -- Sen. Barry Goldwater (Rep. AR)

"By this means government may secretly and unobserved, confiscate the wealth of the people, and not one man in a million will detect the theft." - John Maynard Keynes

Whereas the currency, the honest sort provided by the Constitution pays nobody but those who contribute in some useful way. It is absurd to say our Country can issue bonds and cannot issue currency. Both are promises to pay, but one fattens the usurer and the other helps the People. If the currency issued by the People were no good, then the bonds would be no good, either. It is a terrible situation when the Government, to insure the National Wealth, must go in debt and submit to ruinous interest charges at the hands of men who control the fictitious value of gold. Interest is the invention of Satan." - Thomas Edison

If, as it appears, the experiment that was called "America" is at an end…then perhaps a fitting epitaph would be…."here lies America the greatest nation that might have been had it not been for the Edomite bankers who first stole their money, used their stolen money to buy their politicians and press and lastly deprived them of their constitutional freedom by the most evil device yet created---The Federal Reserve Banking System" G.D. McDaniel

"Capital must protect itself in every way...Debts must be collected and loans and mortgages foreclosed as soon as possible. When through a process of law the common people have lost their homes, they will be more tractable and more easily governed by the strong arm of the law applied by the central power of leading financiers. People without homes will not quarrel with their leaders. This is well known among our principal men now engaged in forming an imperialism of capitalism to govern the world. By dividing the people we can get them to expend their energies in fighting over questions of no importance to us except as teachers of the common herd."

JP Morgan….creator of the Federal Reserve

Abolish the Federal Reserve Petitions

Here

And Here

Here We Go Again

2008-02-25T14:32:00.002-06:00

Now he is just starting to seem like a spoiled brat.
So Ralph Nader is running for President again. While I love the idea of more options for candidates and I love his anti-corporate stance, he just seems to be lacking in a lot of other areas. And until our current two party system is overhauled he doesn't have a chance.

Why So Many Rules

2008-02-17T09:51:00.002-06:00

I have never claimed to know a lot about the political system. Why would I? It's complicated and confusing as hell. I think that's why most people stick their head in the sand and want to think their vote matters. The latest thing that has me annoyed is the Democratic term, "super delegate". I hear it being thrown around a lot.

They say it's a form of checks and balances so the wrong person for the party doesn't get elected. What it seems like to me is yet again a group of people who get to have more power and that their vote and opinion matters more than everyone else's.

Take Missouri for example, the votes of the people had Obama win. But right now the super delegates are divided 4-4 with 6 undecided and 2 more not yet chosen. And these people don't have to follow what the population wants. They can do whatever they like.

So why are so many voters fine with not truly having their voice heard? Why bother to go out of your way to vote when in the end it doesn't count for shit.

OILY CANDIDATES

2008-02-15T11:16:00.002-06:00

[OIL MONEY] tracking petroleum industry campaign contributions.

Out of Control

2008-02-08T15:05:00.000-06:00

What ever happened to:

"government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth"

Why is campaign spending out of control?

And then there were Three

2008-02-07T13:56:00.000-06:00

Well Romney is out.
This leaves McCain as the Republican front runner. Ron Paul and Huckabee are far too behind.
So know will the Democrats continue to battle each other or will they work together to figure out who matches up better. What am I saying. Of course they won't work together. Why on earth would they do that? For the greater good of the country? Ha! Both the democratic candidates will continue to waste millions upon millions of dollars. Why use that money for anything good. Just use it to spread your generic rhetoric to the nation.

Super Tuesday

2008-02-05T10:25:00.000-06:00

Wow! Get out there if you are a registered Democrat or Republican.

Yeah that makes sense. Register your views to only one way of thinking. Not that there is any real difference in both sides candidates anyway.

And when has a candidate really done what they promised anyway? Even if they mean well the system is far to fucked up to really make a difference.

Apathetic? Yes. But no matter what, the middle east will still be fucked up. The poor will get poorer, while the rich get richer and the middle class gets fucked. Corporations will still be evil. All the places that donated money to campaigns will still get their kick backs in the form of laws or what not that benefit them and them alone.

Mock the Vote.

No Right To Complain

2008-02-04T12:53:00.000-06:00

I have been hearing that a lot lately. Every time there is some asshole urging people to vote, they say if you don't vote you have no right to complain.

Of course I have a right to complain. Just because I refuse to succumb to the lesser of two evils voting method that much of the population uses doesn't mean I don't get to voice my opinion. I would say just the opposite. It wasn't me who put the current dumb ass in office, nor sis I have anything to do with any other president.

And don't be fooled. Your vote doesn't really count anyway.

So everyone should be complaining.

Green Candidate Guide

2008-02-04T09:07:00.002-06:00

If this isn't a cry that we need change I don't know what is

2008-02-01T11:50:00.001-06:00

This clip goes on for a bit and sure it's painful it's Hanity and Ann Coulter, but listen to what Ann says at the 2:22 mark. This is why the two party partisan system is a big steaming pile of shit.

Xtreme sports don't vote

2008-01-31T09:42:00.000-06:00

From a Ryan Villopoto interview with RacerX magazine.
Villopoto was last years Supercross Lites champion.

Who are you going to vote for? Do you vote?
"I’ve never voted. It doesn’t matter who runs the country, it’s still going
to be jacked up."

Dropping Like Flies

2008-01-30T15:50:00.000-06:00

Edwards- OUT!
Giuliani- OUT!
Thompson- OUT!

Wouldn't it be cool if they all dropped out. If no one ran for president what would happen?

And what will happen if it does come down to Clinton and McCain two people who polarize even their own parties.

From the site filibustercartoons.com

Almost all countries in the world with an executive, decision-making president allow the voters to elect him or her directly, in an open, nation-wide election. This happens in the US as well, of course, but the American system is distinct because of the presence of the United States Electoral College.

The American electoral college is the closest thing to an American parliament, in the sense that it selects the head of government in a similar manner in which most parliaments select their nation's prime minister. Each state elects a certain number of members to the College, and the members assemble and collectively vote to choose the President of the United States. Of course, nowadays this is just a huge formality. They no longer even put the names of Electoral College candidates on the US ballots anymore. Americans just vote for their president, and the party whose candidate gets the most votes sends some figurehead delegates to symbolically cast their votes for the same person.

What makes the College controversial is the fact that there is always a narrow possibility that the formalities do not go quite as planned. Because the electoral college is a "first-past-the-post" state-based representative body it is possible for a candidate to win more seats despite winning a minority of the popular vote. This is what happened in the 2000 election, when George W. Bush won the most seats but Al Gore got more of the popular vote.

Anyway, the point is, no other country with a directly elected president has to go through such shenanigans. In countries like France, Finland, Ireland, and all of South America, the president is chosen solely on the basis of whoever wins the largest percentage of the popular vote, with no middleman.

The closest equivalent occurs in some countries with figurehead presidents, like India, Germany, and Israel. In those cases the presidents are elected by the national parliament (sometimes along with state legislatures). But since their presidents are largely powerless nobodies, this is not of much practical relevance to the government.

Hacking Democracy

2008-01-25T09:01:00.000-06:00

Electronic voting machines count about 87% of the votes cast in America today. But are they reliable? Are they safe from tampering? From a current congressional hearing to persistent media reports that suggest misuse of data and even outright fraud, concerns over the integrity of electronic voting are growing by the day. And if the voting process is not secure, neither is America's democracy. The timely, cautionary documentary HACKING DEMOCRACY exposes gaping holes in the security of America's electronic voting system.

PART ONE of NINE

Take Me To Your Leader

2008-01-10T15:18:00.001-06:00

We are living in an artificially induced state of consciousness that resembles sleep. The poor and the underclass are growing. Racial justice and human rights are nonexistent.
They have created a repressive society and we are their unwitting accomplices ...their intention to rule rests with the annihilation of consciousness.
We have been lulled into a trance.
They have made us indifferent, to ourselves, to others, we are focused only on our own gain. They are safe as long as they are not discovered ...that is their primary method of survival. Keep us asleep, keep us selfish, keep us sedated...they are dismantling the sleeping middle class.
More and more people are becoming poor. We are their cattle. We are being bred for slavery."

Iowa

2008-01-04T08:41:00.000-06:00

So I guess we can see why the candidates focus so much on Iowa. I don't think you could have a more divided state. How do you have the numbers of people who would vote so that on one side Huckabee wins and the other Obama wins?

Buy My Vote. Please.

2008-01-02T08:42:00.000-06:00

So I guess this statement doesn't really stand anymore:
..."and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."

An unprecedented swell of money is flooding into Iowa for tomorrow's caucuses, with campaigns on track to spend roughly $50 million - a record-setting figure that doubles the staggering per-vote amount billionaire Mayor Bloomberg shelled out in 2005.
The shocking expenditures: about $200 per vote for each of the roughly 250,000 caucus-goers expected to turn out.

What is wrong with the people of America

2007-12-19T08:45:00.000-06:00

Why? Why on earth would anyone vote for this guy to be president? We really need a new system.

This makes me sad

2007-12-15T17:06:00.000-06:00

So he doesn't understand why his not believing in evolution matters in his running for president. How about becasue if you want the office of the most powerful man in this country you can't be retarded.

I don't Even Believe In Jebus

2007-12-14T15:44:00.000-06:00

So what happened to the separation of church and state? The main topic among the republican candidates is faith, faith, faith. Why is it a huge hang up for so many people what imaginary thing someone chooses to believe in? I wouldn't care what religion someone was if they could be a good leader. I want a leader to follow the constitution, not their bible.

The Case for Reform

2007-12-13T17:22:00.000-06:00

This was taken from an interesting website.

When the Founders reached the compromise that became the Electoral College, they had relevant reasons to do so. Communications technology, modes of transportation and voter education was all very crude, limiting the ability of the public to make a well-informed judgment about candidates.

Also a major factor was Americas slave population. To determine representation in Congress, slaves were counted as 3/5 of a voter - but, without the right to vote and some sort of mechanism of letting slaves be counted, the South would have been doomed to political domination by the North.

To skirt these problems the founders settled on the Electoral College.

However, today’s conditions are much different. Candidates are able to travel from state to state with ease. Television, the internet, radio, and the mass print media allow voters to get to know the candidates even when they’re not in our own state. Today our country has the tools to handle direct elections of the president very responsibly.

Beyond the antiquated reasons for its creation there are many compelling reasons why the Electoral College system makes our democratic system unhealthy. To begin with, the Electoral College favors certain states over others. Most will say that this discriminatory nature of the institution protects the interests of small states who might otherwise be overshadowed by more populous states. However, small state interests are already protected in the Senate, as every state has an equal number of senators, despite population. The Electoral College only multiplies this overrepresentation for small states and effectively overshadows the interests of larger states.

Results from the last five presidential races are indicative. In almost every case, the 13 small states have split - giving 21 Electoral votes to Democrats and 19 votes to Republicans. Only New Hampshire consistently shifts its 4 votes between parties. The 'safe' status of the small states they are already ignored during the modern presidential campaign.

With the current system candidates are forced to focus in only a few battleground states as they compete for specific electoral votes, instead of battling for a nationwide public mandate. In 2004 nearly 3/4 of the states were completely ignored during the 'national' campaign. They were not visited by candidates, TV ads were not aired in most states and it seems reasonable to assume the specific interests of a majority of voters were not addressed by candidates for the nation's highest office.

The Electoral College fails to protect state interests but succeeds in disenfranchising voters. In safe states voters who support the candidate most of their neighbors oppose might as well not vote at all. By the time the votes are tallied and the winner of the state is awarded all of that state’s electoral votes (except in Maine and Nebraska), every vote for a losing candidate means nothing and does not help support their candidates.

It's time to shift the founding rhetoric of 'one person one vote' and make it a reality. The longest lasting democracy in the world should directly elect it's top leader.

You Are Not Alone

2007-12-10T10:00:00.000-06:00

1 in 5 Americans believe that elections are fraudulent.
That's over 41 Million Americans.

Survey Says

2007-12-04T09:27:00.000-06:00

So I get a call last night. It's a recorded message that asks questions. Without even asking if I was a registered voter it started asking me about my thoughts on candidates. I was prompted to press #1 for one answer and #2 for the other answer. When I reached the question that I pressed #3 (I didn't support either parties candidate) it quickly said goodbye and hung up on me.

So when you read all the numbers from surveys in the paper and hear about them on the news, how can you believe anything they say? If you give people limit choices of answers you can sway your data anyway you like.

Spending other peoples money

2007-12-03T13:13:00.000-06:00

National debt grows $1 million a minute. The government sure is good at wasting money that isn't theirs. This is a total reason to change the current system. make the people that are in office accountable for their actions. I want a government that keeps it's debt to a minimum. Is our system broken beyond repair? I don't think so, but it needs to be smashed and rebuilt from the ground up.

Find out why things suck here

They're Here

2007-12-03T08:32:00.000-06:00

The pins are in. And they are awesome. Show your Mock the Vote pride and get one today.

I'd Like To Buy A Vowel

2007-11-28T14:48:00.001-06:00

This is from Pat Sajack. Yes the one from Wheel of Fortune. It's pretty funny.

There have been so many debates and interviews and columns and profiles and polls, it’s hard to believe the election for president is still about 11 months away. Recently, celebrity endorsements have been making news, with Oprah Winfrey saying she would campaign for Barack Obama and Barbra Streisand making the not-so-stunning announcement that she was supporting Hillary Clinton.
There are reasons, of course, why candidates welcome such help. First, there’s the bonanza of free publicity. With so many names and faces vying for attention, what could be better than the burst of news such endorsements bring? There’s also the burst of money these high-profile celebs can bring in themselves and attract from others. Then there’s the extra attention and excitement these stars engender when they appear at a candidate’s political events. It’s far easier to attract a crowd in Des Moines if a big TV, movie or recording star is standing next to the politician.
Putting those obvious benefits aside, the question remains: do these endorsements really translate into votes? Does anyone decide which candidate to choose based on the recommendation of a TV talk show host or a singer/actress? If any group of citizens is uniquely unqualified to tell someone else how to vote, it’s those of us who live in the sheltered, privileged arena of celebrityhood. It’s one thing to buy an ab machine because Chuck Norris recommends it (he’s in good shape, isn’t he?) or a grill because George Foreman’s name is on it (he’s a great guy, so it must be a great grill!), but the idea of choosing the Leader of the Free World based on the advice of someone who lives in the cloistered world of stardom seems a bit loony to me.This is America, and we celebrities have just as much right as anyone else to speak up about any issue. The problem is that more attention is paid to what we say because we’re well known. But why should that matter? O.J. Simpson is one of the world’s best-known celebrities, but I can’t imagine anyone following his lead in a voting booth.
I suppose anything that gets people engaged in the political process is a good thing, but the idea that a gold record, a top-ten TV show or an Oscar translates into some sort of political wisdom doesn’t make much sense to me. Trust me, one’s view of the world isn’t any clearer from the back seat of a limo.

The debate

2007-11-25T16:31:00.000-06:00

We have a pretty good idea of a plan for the VP debate that will be at Wash U. We have quite a bit of time, but what we will need are volunteers. Let us know if you may be interested.

Shocked

2007-11-24T09:06:00.000-06:00

I am a bit shocked that most people we talk to about Mock the Vote seem all for it. And most of the people we have spoken to, don't vote. We were prepared for backlash on this idea, but so far we have only gotten support.

What would happen

2007-11-22T18:19:00.000-06:00

I would love to see both the runner ups in the two major parties join together and run for president and VP as independents. Or I would love every person going for their parties nomination to run as independents once they don't win the nomination. I think these things could start to be that push to the current system that can set change in motion.

It could be the type of thing that finally makes all the frustrated people out there stand up and take notice.

Not Thankful

2007-11-22T08:33:00.000-06:00

That in this next election we will still only be given a choice between the dumb and dumber parties.

27 file for Mo. presidential primaries

2007-11-21T11:42:00.001-06:00

ASSOCIATED PRESS
11/21/2007

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. -- Voters will have plenty of choices in Missouri's presidential primaries.
Twenty-seven candidates have signed up for the Feb. 5 primaries. The deadline to do so was Tuesday evening.
The list includes all the leading contenders from the Democratic and Republican parties -- Hillary Clinton, Barack Obama, John Edwards, Rudy Giuliani, John McCain, Mitt Romney, Fred Thompson and Mike Huckabee.
It also includes numerous lesser-known candidates.
Anyone who paid a $1,000 filing fee to his or her party could qualify for the primary.
The ballot will include 12 Republicans, nine Democrats and six Libertarians.

What do they have in common? They all suck.

Cool Article

2007-11-21T09:06:00.000-06:00

I really dug this article. Most of the site it's on may be a little too out there for a lot of people. But this article really made alot of the points we are talking about on this site.

Read it here

Tell Us

2007-11-20T13:45:00.000-06:00

Why don't you vote?

I have never voted because the lesser of two evils never made much sense to me. I truly need a candidate I believe and believe in to make me want to cast a vote for someone. It needs to be far more than, "this person doesn't suck as bad as that one." Is that how you make any other choices in your life? I doubt it. So why is it how you choose the leader of the free world?

Pins are on their way

2007-11-20T13:37:00.000-06:00

I just ordered Mock The Vote pins.

Want one? Let me know.

Show people that you are not afraid to Mock The Vote.

IN CASE YOU'RE RETARDED

2007-11-20T13:30:00.001-06:00

And didn't see the giant logo above.

We're official....we have a logo...

We should do something

2007-11-20T08:34:00.000-06:00

So for the fifth year Wash U. will be hosting the televised vice presidential debate. I think Mock the Vote needs to do something for this.

Check out the article here

Democracy--the God that Failed

2007-11-19T08:27:00.000-06:00

Below is a link to a book that you can read online. I have yet to really delve into this but...

Click to check out the book

Observation

2007-11-17T14:10:00.000-06:00

Why is it we have countless choices when we are at the grocery store, or when we want to buy a pair of jeans, but when it comes to how many choices we get on who will run the country for 4 years we get basically two? How about all the candidates that are running right now to get their parties nomination get to run for president. That could at least be a start.

On anther note:
Before the last election my brother in law was urging me to vote, because he didn't want another 4 years of Bush in office. I told him that my vote wouldn't matter. Since I live in a city that is almost always a Blue city but it happens to be in a typically Red state, it wouldn't have mattered if I voted or not.

When the electoral college was set up people were about their state first and their country second. People had similar thinking state by state.

This is no longer the case. I don't even share the same views as my next door neighbor.

Just a thought

2007-11-17T13:54:00.000-06:00

What if instead of a bunch of lame celebrities urging people to get out and vote they told people to stay home as protest? Could new record numbers of non-voters send a message that we are fed up with our current two party system, where neither choice is truly any good?

Quotes

2007-11-16T10:59:00.000-06:00

“I have ever considered the constitutional mode of election…as the most dangerous blot on our constitution, and one which some unlucky chance will some day hit.”
Thomas Jefferson, 1823

“Can we forget for whom we are forming a government? Is it for men, or for the imaginary beings called States?”
James Wilson

"It's a ridiculous setup, which thwarts the will of the majority, distorts presidential campaigning and has the potential to produce a true constitutional crisis…The majority does not rule, and every vote is not equal — those are reasons enough for scrapping the system."
The New York Times, 08/29/04

Percent

2007-11-16T10:51:00.000-06:00

Voting has gone up and down by small amounts in different eras. It has sunk to 49 percent in the 1996 presidential election and rose slightly to 51 percent in 2000.

So normally half the people don't vote. This tells me that the system is broken.

Do you vote?

2007-11-16T09:36:00.000-06:00

Why?
Has there really ever been a president that truly impacted your day to day life?
No.