Why Is It Citizens Don't Vote During Federal Elections?

[centurionguard]

OK Canadians are making their next bloody Federal Election in two years instead of four on May 2ond next month.

Americans go to the federal voting polls in November 2012.

Is it just me or is their a growing trend of poor voting percentage increasingly every four years?

Statistics show that in both countries there’s nearly 40% plus of the eligible voters who could careless about taking up their democratic duty.

As Catholics I often wonder how many get tired of voting since NO politician will ever entertain the Abortion issue in their platforms

Like an increasing trend of citizens do we Catholics find ourselves getting (“apathetic”) every time Election time comes up?

I don’t know. Long winded speeches from candidates with a huge bait of empty promises.

All the fanfare and glamour attraction for a single vote.

Same load of C#*p! different pile and doesn’t matter who takes power, Republicans, Democrats, Liberals or Conservatives.

I admit I find myself getting trapped in all this trying to find some appreciable Catholic Moral issues and those of Social Justice to base my vote on.

Increasingly; I find its getting more difficult voting for the lessor of two impending evils every time federal election time comes up.

Any thoughts?

Peace
Chris

 

[ANNE_2]

Catholics are required to vote.
The “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” is a universal document - for the entire world.
CCC - " 2240 Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one’s country"

Many times we are faced with voting for the “lessor of the evils”, but I suppose that’s better than the most evil.
In the USA, abortion is in the National Democratic Platform, and has been for years.

 

[puzzleannie]

OK Canadians are making their next bloody Federal Election in two years instead of four on May 2ond next month.

Americans go to the federal voting polls in November 2012.

Is it just me or is their a growing trend of poor voting percentage increasingly every four years?

Statistics show that in both countries there’s nearly 40% plus of the eligible voters who could careless about taking up their democratic duty.

my guess is that these are people who have not fought and seen comrades die to defend their right to vote, and those who have always had it, and did not have to go through civil rights struggles, emigration and citizenship exams, and overcome other hurdles to gain that right.

I vote because I can.

 

[PatrickSebast]

Honestly I think a major part of the problem is with the voting system. Now-a-days you are pretty much voting for a party rather than an individual candidate or representative. Democrats and Republicans essentially hold a monopoly on the political system as far as the federal government is concerned. Tons of things could be done to change this and make it easier for independent candidates to have access, but when the parties in power make the rules it isn’t exactly easy to change them in such a way that those parties stand to lose power.

 

[Will_B]

Why is it Citizens Don’t Vote During Federal Elections.

Three Reason… One is valid, the others just excuses.

1. 
   *]Can’t due to illness, or incapacitated in the hospital.
   *]Lazy.
   *]Don’t Care

 

[The_Reginator]

OK Canadians are making their next bloody Federal Election in two years instead of four on May 2ond next month.

Americans go to the federal voting polls in November 2012.

Is it just me or is their a growing trend of poor voting percentage increasingly every four years?

Statistics show that in both countries there’s nearly 40% plus of the eligible voters who could careless about taking up their democratic duty.

As Catholics I often wonder how many get tired of voting since NO politician will ever entertain the Abortion issue in their platforms

Like an increasing trend of citizens do we Catholics find ourselves getting (“apathetic”) every time Election time comes up?

I don’t know. Long winded speeches from candidates with a huge bait of empty promises.

All the fanfare and glamour attraction for a single vote.

Same load of C#*p! different pile and doesn’t matter who takes power, Republicans, Democrats, Liberals or Conservatives.

I admit I find myself getting trapped in all this trying to find some appreciable Catholic Moral issues and those of Social Justice to base my vote on.

Increasingly;** I find its getting more difficult voting for the lessor of two impending evils every time federal election time comes up.**

Any thoughts?

Peace
Chris

I share your plight Chris.

I no longer seem to vote FOR anybody. I simply vote against those who are farthest away from even attempting to carry out policies that do not go against Catholic truth.

For me, and hopefully for all Catholics (ya, right), the fundamental issue of the right to life comes before health care or the economy. Protecting the environment is very important to me – just don’t mention Anthropomorphic Global Warming.

As much as I don’t like him or his policies, at least Steven Harper rebelled and now Canada now stands virtually alone among its G8 partners in opposing abortion as part of family-planning projects in poor nations…

My biggest beef with him would be his ‘law and order’ policies. I don’t want my tax dollars going towards incarcerating more people rather than rehabilitation.
He’d make a good dictator though…

Sorry for the off topic rant.
If we really don’t think that it will make any sort of difference, voting feels almost useless. (I exaggerate. Useless isn’t’ the right word … I gotta go soon.) But I’ll vote anyways.
I don’t know if my kids will bother though. (My son is more likely to vote in a municipal election as it affects him more directly.)

Reg.

 

[Taoist]

I vote in every election no matter what because I care about the right to vote and don’t want to be a part of why it might go away. One vote may not be much, but if more people voted then the whacked extremists wouldn’t get past the primaries. I may not vote on every issue or for every office, but my name is crossed off the list of people who voted. There is a petition drive in California to make the national election day a state holiday, and I’ll sign that petition.

To make voting easier I became a permanent Absentee Voter, that way I have the ballot in my hand weeks before the election and have the option of either mailing it in or dropping it off at the polling place. I usually drop the ballot off at the polling place along with my wife’s.

 

[Beth_Cecilia]

Well, statistics cannot tell the difference between an apathetic citizen and someone who abstains because they do not see a moral choice. I have voted in every election since I was of age except one. That one, I abstained seeing both choices as equally evil. I know people who cast throw away votes- like for Mickey Mouse, for themselves, for the Pope, for their relatives etc… I chose not to vote. I do think that I fulfilled my moral obligation in that case, as in every other election. I try to evaluate each candidate to the best of my knowledge and with help in educating myself from the various resources provided by the Church. I have never been apathetic, I am usually very politically active. I have been involved in many campaigns. I do not think that just because a person chooses not to vote, it necessarily follows that they do not care.

 

[centurionguard]

I share your plight Chris.

I no longer seem to vote FOR anybody. I simply vote against those who are farthest away from even attempting to carry out policies that do not go against Catholic truth.

For me, and hopefully for all Catholics (ya, right), the fundamental issue of the right to life comes before health care or the economy. Protecting the environment is very important to me – just don’t mention Anthropomorphic Global Warming.

As much as I don’t like him or his policies, at least Steven Harper rebelled and now Canada now stands virtually alone among its G8 partners in opposing abortion as part of family-planning projects in poor nations…

My biggest beef with him would be his ‘law and order’ policies. I don’t want my tax dollars going towards incarcerating more people rather than rehabilitation.
He’d make a good dictator though…

Sorry for the off topic rant.
If we really don’t think that it will make any sort of difference, voting feels almost useless. (I exaggerate. Useless isn’t’ the right word … I gotta go soon.) But I’ll vote anyways.
I don’t know if my kids will bother though. (My son is more likely to vote in a municipal election as it affects him more directly.)

Reg.

I feel many of the sentiments you do.

As much as I feel these days my vote means nothing I will drag my butt out to the voting poles on election day. At least then I have a licence to B***H against those in power.

 

[centurionguard]

I often wonder how much importance and gravity the issue of Abortion Really means to ALL Catholics when it comes time to voting in their respective countries.

When I think of my own country Canada my mind switches to the importance of what Father Corapi said a few years back during an American Federal Election.

To me this really should hit to the core of the heart with “all” Catholics regardless of national borders.

youtube.com/watch?v=TCC8SGfCGd8

youtube.com/watch?v=VkDVzLAdtZE&feature=related

youtube.com/watch?v=ACm5BRK0OiA

Even Catholic Answers spoke about it in a monumental thread.
And I think it has as much prevalence now as it did years ago when Father Corapi addressed its importance.

forums.catholic-questions.org/showthread.php?t=117868&page=4

Seems that not all Catholics care to vote on the Abortion issue as having a huge importance. Perhaps its true we really do Reap What We Sow

Peace
Chris

 

[puzzleannie]

Why is it Citizens Don’t Vote During Federal Elections.

Three Reason… One is valid, the others just excuses.

1. 
   *]Can’t due to illness, or incapacitated in the hospital.

1. 
   unless it was an emergency in almost every state it is possible to do early voting or absentee ballot

 

[centurionguard]

unless it was an emergency in almost every state it is possible to do early voting or absentee ballot

This is the same in Canada. Sometimes depending on the degree of seriousness of those who are sick, electoral offices have representatives that have an outreach program that will visit private residences and even hospitals so those who are incapacitated can vote.
Again this depends on the seriousness of the illness.

However; I’ve seen people within my own family that are terminally ill request this service and are completely ignored. And its happen more than one occasion.

In Canada at every income tax year there’s an (“optional”) check-box on the tax form asking the individual if they want to register their name with the federal Revenue Tax office for the Electoral ballot in the event of an election.

Again its “optional”. Surprises the heck out of me.

Peace
Chris

 

[Gift_from_God]

One of my professor told me that people often make excuses to vote (I couldn’t find a good time, it skipped my mind, etc.) but if people really wanted to vote, they would go out and find a way to do it

 

[centurionguard]

One of my professor told me that people often make excuses to vote (I couldn’t find a good time, it skipped my mind, etc.) but if people really wanted to vote, they would go out and find a way to do it

Hello Gift from God;

I can certainly understand the pressures of family and commitments to work which can make voting even in advance polls inconvenient and sometimes unintentionally forgetting to get your democratic vote in.

This election year has made it more increasingly difficult to decide who deserves a vote in Canada when all four federal constituent representatives are all Pro Abortion.
That includes Prime Minister Harper too who is Pro Abortion.

Mr. Prime Minister Harper certainly gives very little care about Christian and Jewish religious obligations placing advance voting polls on Good Friday and Holy Saturday for those unable to vote for whatever valid reason on May 2ond.

And as one gentleman already made evident in this thread (“Who wants to vote for Green Environment issues”) Sure they have a certain relevance as a distant reason for voting. Virtually any Catholic Moral issue has been eliminated.

Medical Health Care in Canada is virtually bleed of fiscal support. Like the Americans we will be paying entirely for our own health care soon. Well at least those who can afford it.

I feel caught between a rock and a hard place deciding who to vote for if your voting for Catholic Moral issues.

I hope God and His Angels are with me when I make my mark in the check-box.
God forbid I’m voting for the Green Party

Peace
Chris

 

[Taoist]

All this harping about politicians not being Catholic enough is getting old. If you want a politician to vote according to Catholic doctrine then nominate one for an election.

 

[centurionguard]

All this harping about politicians not being Catholic enough is getting old. If you want a politician to vote according to Catholic doctrine then nominate one for an election.

Exciting! A secular humanist who has an opinion.

So tell me what is it really dislike about this thread?

That harping against political leaders of western world countries who support Abortion is a useless endeavor?

 

[Taoist]

So tell me what is it really dislike about this thread?

That harping against political leaders of western world countries who support Abortion is a useless endeavor?

Yep. Nominate your own.

 

[centurionguard]

Catholics are required to vote.
The “Catechism of the Catholic Church, Second Edition” is a universal document - for the entire world.
CCC - " 2240 Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one’s country"

Many times we are faced with voting for the “lessor of the evils”, but I suppose that’s better than the most evil.
In the USA, abortion is in the National Democratic Platform, and has been for years.

…

CCC - " 2240 Submission to authority and co-responsibility for the common good make it morally obligatory to pay taxes, to exercise the right to vote, and to defend one’s country"

The Catholic Church calls upon all Catholics to vote on moral grounds.
When was the last time you or I seen a federal leader of a western world country uphold Pro-Life? I haven’t witnessed any Catholic President or Prime Minister") uphold Catholic Morals to protect the unborn in at least fifty years?

No Canadian Catholic Prime Minister since 1968 when Abortion became legal in Canada ever cared to uphold Pro Life issues.

In the U.S., JFK was the last Catholic President of America and he was murdered November 22, 1963.

As citizens we all have the duty of paying our taxes.

Any Catholic person (citizen) who votes for a Pro-Abortion candidate President or Prime Minister is guilty of serious sin. Genocide! The slaughter of multiple millions of innocent children in the wombs of mothers.

Strange how society would like to ignore this and clear their conscious.

When we vote in federal elections which is the primary cause to why we vote?
So we all collectively pay or taxes, and defend our country from foreign and domestic enemies?

Is this the primary reason why we vote?

I hope not!

Moral Obligations in voting should derive from a far higher frame of mind.

Funny how some Catholics get Indifferent and Cowardice when push comes to shove when voting for real issues that morally count during our countries federal elections.

And God surely sees all of this.

Peace
Chris

 

[The_Reginator]

…

The Catholic Church calls upon all Catholics to vote on moral grounds.

Any Catholic person (citizen) who votes for a Pro-Abortion candidate President or Prime Minister is guilty of serious sin. Genocide! The slaughter of multiple millions of innocent children in the wombs of mothers.

Strange how society would like to ignore this and clear their conscious.

When we vote in federal elections which is the primary cause to why we vote?
So we all collectively pay or taxes, and defend our country from foreign and domestic enemies?

Is this the primary reason why we vote?

I hope not!

Moral Obligations in voting should derive from a far higher frame of mind.

How very true Chris.

 

[Peepers]

The idea of individuals may vote in their own interest in free and honest elections is the most radical social change in 1,000 or more years in my opinion. If we all did that in an informed and responsible way then the world would be a much better place. With the current US situation I fear that we have lost control of our elected bodied. They are too influenced by big business and money who pays for the election funds. Resultantly, people feel discouraged to vote because they feel their vote means little or nothing. I also think that a parliamentary system improves the political process. Instead of two parties locking in fatal combat over issues why not have the “Catholic Party” which holds whatever percentage of the vote it gets in the House of Representatives. Also then the “Green Party” would hold its percentage of seats. This way, more views would be represented and more realistic compromises could be achieved. Governance would return to the middle, instead of extremist’s filibusters hijacking the political process.