"Don't vote! We'll be fine without" --Bob Roberts

If you've never seen the film "Bob Roberts" starring Tim Robbins, you won't recall this song that was part of the movie. It is a movie worth renting. Robbins plays a folk singing, senatorial candidate. One of the songs is "Don't vote" with the lyric--"We'll be fine without you" That is exactly what many politicians are hoping for this November 2nd. DON'T VOTE!! You see, the smaller the electorate (voters) the more likely that the fringe candidates and less popular candidates can win. Wait! If they are less popular, won't they lose? No. Follow this scenario: 100 CAN vote. If they had to vote and all 100 voted, candidate A would get 48, candidate B would get 44, 8 votes would go to the wide variety of fringe candidates that are on the ballot. (there are many) But all 100 who CAN vote, don't. The turnout is around 50%, so only 50 vote. But, candidate A's backers are unenthused, are apathetic, are too busy and in reality only 22 actually get out and vote for their candidate. Candidate B's supporters are enthused, active, and can't wait to vote.30 of them get out and vote. The remaining 8% also vote to some extent or another. B wins!! A's supporters who didn't vote wonder what happened. They weren't all that excited about the job A was doing and really were busy on election day and had to get their car in for servicing. Candidate B did a good job of reminding A's supporters that A hadn't kept all their promises and that everyone was disappointed in what was happening now. This message resonates. Even though A had done a pretty good job since being elected originally, A's backers felt let down and discouraged and apathetic. Why support A again? A hadn't done everything that they promised to get elected. Things are better but not perfect. I give up. I tried to help change things and nothing(?) changed. Why vote again?

After election day, B is the winner and the realization that oops, maybe they won't be such a good leader hits. The improvement of A will start to be reversed by B and his backers.

Who wants to have a large voter turnout? The answer should be everyone, but it is not. In some states several billboards have gone up stating that voter fraud is a crime and could result in jail. This is accompanied with a picture of someone looking regretful behind bars. Whenever voter fraud is investigated, it is found to be next to nothing. We should all work to prevent voter fraud, but these billboards have an intimidating effect that mostly affects poor and undereducated. Some voters in lower income neighborhoods have received postcards telling them that they are not eligible to vote. Who could possibly want to intimidate voters into possibly not voting?

If the news media decides to follow up and report on that, you can decide that question.

But this has nothing to do with me. I'm intelligent, not poor, and I am eligible to vote. Being eligible to vote and doing so are two far, far different things. Will you vote? Pick out your favorite candidate, or party, or position and go and vote. Can't get there on Nov. 2nd? Vote absentee ballot. Go to your city hall and vote now. Write and get an absentee ballot by mail. You still have time if you act now! You will be sent an absentee ballot by mail, fill it out, and mail it back. Away at college? Do this or you have the option in many states of being listed as a resident of the area you are in and can vote in the city of your college. Some states have no advance voter registration, like Wisconsin, and you can sign up the day of the election. Just bring ID and address verification, like a drivers license or utility bill of your current address.

DO SOMETHING!!!! GO VOTE!!!!

or

They'll be fine without you.