IYO...should parents encourage their kids to vote?

[Dancing Fire]

 

[sonnyjane]

I'm assuming that you mean encourage their kids to vote in general, and not encourage their kids to vote as they would? If so, then yes, they should encourage them to vote if they care about the outcome of elections. I don't care if people don't vote, but I do care if they don't vote and then complain.

 

[Enerchi]

Yes. I would (and do) encourage my kids to get out and vote. Its a privilege we have in a democratic society, to be able to influence the world we live in. Doesn't have to be the way I vote, just get out and exercise the right to have a say in the future.

 

[Fly Girl]

Absolutely. I just send DD the link to order her absentee ballot, but I'm not going to hound her about it.

 

[Ravenne]

Absolutely. I feel like my generation in general doesn't care about politics enough. And its going to bite us in the rear. I made sure I registered/changed my address to vote after I moved last year. I started paying attention too late to vote in the last election. And afterwards, I realized I didn't really know enough to make an informed decision anyway. Not gonna happen this year.

My parents never really nagged me to vote. Mom took me to register on my 18th birthday, but she also took me to buy my first lottery ticket right after. Kind of a "you're an adult" day. But they don't talk politics or if they do, it's just about how bad the economy is.

So yes, I think the importance of voting should be emphasized. But not necessarily for just one party. My parents are republican. I'm not. But I didn't know that until I really started paying attention. I know a bunch of people who say "I'm a Democrat." but when I ask why, they say "Well, my parents are Democrat/Republican and I agree/disagree." instead of coming to their own conclusions. It's kinda scary, really.

 

[Gypsy]

Of course. Voting is something to celebrate! How many people have died trying to get the same rights we take for granted? How many have been abused, beaten, raped, imprisoned? Just because they want a say in how they are governed.

The fact that we have the right to vote means every citizen should celebrate it and should exercise that right as often as possible.

Voting is not a DUTY-- it's something that is special and amazing and wonderful. It's a a victory.

 

[VRBeauty]

Parents should encourage their children to be aware of what's going on around them, and to form their own informed opinions about what's going on around them so they will want to vote.

But if the kids don't know any more about what's going on than what they see on political ads, then no, please don't encourage them to vote. Better no vote than an uninformed vote, IMHO.

 

[sonnyjane]

Parents should encourage their children to be aware of what's going on around them, and to form their own informed opinions about what's going on around them so they will want to vote.

But if the kids don't know any more about what's going on than what they see on political ads, then no, please don't encourage them to vote. Better no vote than an uninformed vote, IMHO.

Actually a REALLY GOOD POINT! I'd rather someone NOT vote than to vote without all the information!

 

[Snicklefritz]

Duh...

 

[MissGotRocks]

Absolutely. Many have fought and died for us to have the privilege of voting and it is something I don't take lightly. My children have been encouraged to keep current and always vote. I don't think either of them have missed an election since they've been old enough to vote!

And yes, an informed voter is the best kind but I would never want to take the right away from anyone. I had a neighbor come up to me while waiting in line for the last presidential election to say that he knew our votes were just going to cancel each other out. Presumptive but whatever. I told him that was his point of view - my vote was important to me and I don't worry about who it cancels out. Funny how people can rationalize and talk themselves into being apathetic about voting - I still think my vote counts!

 

[distracts]

I'm assuming that you mean encourage their kids to vote in general, and not encourage their kids to vote as they would? If so, then yes, they should encourage them to vote if they care about the outcome of elections. I don't care if people don't vote, but I do care if they don't vote and then complain.

Yes. I work in politics and I see all the time non-voters who say "Well, I don't vote because there's no one who represents my interests." Probably the reason no one represents your interests is because they know they can get away with it because you're not voting either for or against them... The more people vote, the more fully their interests will be represented in the political sphere. Would we like politicians to actually represent ALL people? Yes. But they too are fallible people and will often, like many people, want to do the minimum amount of work required to keep doing what they're doing, and pursuing the interests of non-voters is not in THEIR self-interest.

So yes, I think the importance of voting should be emphasized. But not necessarily for just one party. My parents are republican. I'm not. But I didn't know that until I really started paying attention. I know a bunch of people who say "I'm a Democrat." but when I ask why, they say "Well, my parents are Democrat/Republican and I agree/disagree." instead of coming to their own conclusions. It's kinda scary, really.

What's even scarier is the people who vote for Party A because they support X but actually Party B is the one who supports X, and the people just somehow have their information all turned around. I see that one allllllllll the time. My favorite comment recently was from a man who told me chambers of commerce are radical liberal organizations. Well, okay, sir, that's not the opinion shared by every other person on the face of the planet, but you go on believing what you believe.

 

[decodelighted]

Actually I think parents should butt out. If they are "kids" they aren't of voting age. If they are ADULTS, then they should already know how their parents think about voting. BE the change you want to see in the world. If you care about voting, VOTE. Lead by example.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Absolutely. Many have fought and died for us to have the privilege of voting and it is something I don't take lightly. My children have been encouraged to keep current and always vote. I don't think either of them have missed an election since they've been old enough to vote!

And yes, an informed voter is the best kind but I would never want to take the right away from anyone. I had a neighbor come up to me while waiting in line for the last presidential election to say that he knew our votes were just going to cancel each other out. Presumptive but whatever. I told him that was his point of view - my vote was important to me and I don't worry about who it cancels out. Funny how people can rationalize and talk themselves into being apathetic about voting - I still think my vote counts!

not if your state had already been decided.

 

[sonnyjane]

Absolutely. Many have fought and died for us to have the privilege of voting and it is something I don't take lightly. My children have been encouraged to keep current and always vote. I don't think either of them have missed an election since they've been old enough to vote!

And yes, an informed voter is the best kind but I would never want to take the right away from anyone. I had a neighbor come up to me while waiting in line for the last presidential election to say that he knew our votes were just going to cancel each other out. Presumptive but whatever. I told him that was his point of view - my vote was important to me and I don't worry about who it cancels out. Funny how people can rationalize and talk themselves into being apathetic about voting - I still think my vote counts!

not if your state had already been decided.

Hmmm, if I recall correctly, we're not supposed to talk about politics on here, so I'll keep going until it veers away from this general voting discussion...

I also live in a state that is "already decided". That said, if enough people think that we are "already decided" and don't vote, guess what? We won't be "already decided" anymore!

 

[MissGotRocks]

Absolutely. Many have fought and died for us to have the privilege of voting and it is something I don't take lightly. My children have been encouraged to keep current and always vote. I don't think either of them have missed an election since they've been old enough to vote!

And yes, an informed voter is the best kind but I would never want to take the right away from anyone. I had a neighbor come up to me while waiting in line for the last presidential election to say that he knew our votes were just going to cancel each other out. Presumptive but whatever. I told him that was his point of view - my vote was important to me and I don't worry about who it cancels out. Funny how people can rationalize and talk themselves into being apathetic about voting - I still think my vote counts!

not if your state had already been decided.

But one state does not determine the outcome of an election so I don't see it that way either.

 

[distracts]

Funny how people can rationalize and talk themselves into being apathetic about voting - I still think my vote counts!

not if your state had already been decided.

There are races other than national ones, you know. State, county, city, etc. All of which your vote has far more weight in since there are fewer and fewer people voting as you go down the ballot, not just because the districts are smaller, but also because a lot of people just vote in the top few races and then stop.

Actually I think parents should butt out. If they are "kids" they aren't of voting age. If they are ADULTS, then they should already know how their parents think about voting. BE the change you want to see in the world. If you care about voting, VOTE. Lead by example.

I think I interpreted this question a little differently - my parents did encourage me to vote, I think, but they did that by taking me to the polls with them while they voted when I was a kid and teaching me about the process, helping me to register to vote when I turned 18, making sure I knew where to find information on endorsements and local races, taking me to the polls the first time I went as a voter and walking me through the process so I wouldn't be confused, and then while I was in college they made sure I knew when the elections were. It wasn't like they really said "You must go vote! It's really important!" but they made sure I had all the information necessary to do it. When registering voters, something I encounter is that a lot of people, especially lower-income people, aren't registered or don't vote because they simply don't know how and find the process intimidating and need someone to explain it to them. When I was about 17 I felt the same way, but then my parents helped me out.

 

[Dancing Fire]

[quote="sonnyjane|1348264672|

Hmmm, if I recall correctly, we're not supposed to talk about politics on here, so I'll keep going until it veers away from this general voting discussion...

I also live in a state that is "already decided". That said, if enough people think that we are "already decided" and don't vote, guess what? We won't be "already decided" anymore![/quote]


lets not talk about...

the middle east crisis
gas price near all time high
unemployment at over 8%
16 trillion in debt.
more people are on government assistan than ever.

if Romney doesn't win in Nov they should just dissolve the republican party and close up shop...

 

[Dancing Fire]

Parents should encourage their children to be aware of what's going on around them, and to form their own informed opinions about what's going on around them so they will want to vote.

But if the kids don't know any more about what's going on than what they see on political ads, then no, please don't encourage them to vote. Better no vote than an uninformed vote, IMHO.

ditto!!..

 

[Kaleigh]

I would be embarrassed if they didn't vote. It's something I hold strong. I don't sway them in how they think. They are very strong in their convictions and take great pleasure in casting their votes.

They try to sway me in my thinking. But I hold firm...

 

[Dancing Fire]

I would be embarrassed if they didn't vote. It's something I hold strong. I don't sway them in how they think. They are very strong in their convictions and take great pleasure in casting their votes.

They try to sway me in my thinking. But I hold firm...

me neither!... i ask my younger daughter couple of Qs...
do you have a permanent job? ...
how much does it cost to fill up your little Honda Civic?

 

[0-0-0]

Of course! I think it's as important as encouraging them to read, write, and do math.

And please don't close up shop ... I would miss out on a lot of the humor.

 

[Octavia]

Parents should teach and encourage their children to be good and responsible citizens. Voting is a small, but integral, part of that responsibility.

 

[Dancing Fire]

Of course! I think it's as important as encouraging them to read, write, and do math.

And please don't close up shop ... I would miss out on a lot of the humor.

don't forget to watch the first of three comedy shows on Oct 3...

 

[Mayk]

[quote="sonnyjane|1348264672|

Hmmm, if I recall correctly, we're not supposed to talk about politics on here, so I'll keep going until it veers away from this general voting discussion...

I also live in a state that is "already decided". That said, if enough people think that we are "already decided" and don't vote, guess what? We won't be "already decided" anymore!

lets not talk about...

the middle east crisis
gas price near all time high
unemployment at over 8%
16 trillion in debt.
more people are on government assistan than ever.

if Romney doesn't win in Nov they should just dissolve the republican party and close up shop... [/quote]


Please vote, encorage you freinds and family and kids to vote.. be informed and be passionate about your choice.. this is a HUGE privledge!!! Also.. hopefully showing an i.d....

 

[Tuckins1]

Encourage them to exercise their right to vote? Absolutely. Pressure them to vote in a particular way, not really.

 

[Alexiszoe]

Yes. I would (and do) encourage my kids to get out and vote. Its a privilege we have in a democratic society, to be able to influence the world we live in. Doesn't have to be the way I vote, just get out and exercise the right to have a say in the future.

Word. I believe it is a privilege, as well as a civic responsibility to vote.

 

[Dancing Fire]

[quote="Mayk|1348309061|

Please vote, encorage you freinds and family and kids to vote.. be informed and be passionate about your choice.. this is a HUGE privledge!!! Also.. hopefully showing an i.d....[/quote]



yeah,isn't it crazy?..you need an I.D. to buy booze but not to vote?..