An Idiot's Guide to Voting...

It's nearly election time again and some informed people and great masses of the uninformed will go to the polls to cast their votes. So, out of boredom and cynicism, I've composed the Idiot's Guide to Voting.

Idiot's Voting Rule #1
Read the Constitution and Bill of Rights *before* you vote for the first time or, if you have never read them before, read them before you go vote again.

Constitution and Bill of Rights... have a good read: http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/continental/index.html
http://www.law.cornell.edu/constitution/constitution.overview.html
http://usinfo.state.gov/usa/infousa/facts/funddocs/billeng.htm

If you haven't read the Constitution and Bill of Rights, then you probably don't have an understanding of how the government and laws are suposed to work. You probably also don't know what rights you are guaranteed by the Constitution and what rights you may not take away from others.

Idiot's Voting Rule #2
Know the roles of each branch of government and what powers they have and do not have.

Do not vote for the President because he is "pro-life" or because he is "pro-choice." The Office of Presidency has little, if any, power over the precedence of Supreme Court decisions. Single issue voters often have good intentions, but their energy would be better used writing to their representatives and congressmen who make the laws.

Vote for a President for three reasons: 1) Who they may choose as a Supreme Court Justice should there be a seat to fill... 2) How well they will represent the Country and the people when it comes to foreign relations... 3) If they have leadership *and* humility (i.e. if they will subvert their own personal opinions to the best interest of the public)

Idiot's Voting Rule #3
Always remember that the government is made of and exists to protect a country's citizens and their rights... all of the citizens, even the ones you don't like or disagree with.

Idiot's Voting Rule #4
Know why you're voting and for whom.

Informed voting is better than not voting...
Not voting is better than uninformed voting...
Uninformed voting is a danger to democracy.

If you don't understand the language of a proposed law or ammendment, don't vote either way... skip it and move on. Read the ENTIRE law or ammendment IN CONTEXT. Often they will write laws where the first sentence or two sounds like a good idea, knowing that people won't read the whole thing. Unfortunately, the next few sentences may be a very bad idea, or may even violate someone's right's under the Constitution! Bad laws and bad ammendments cost tax payers a lot of money in lawsuits and court costs.

If you see a candidate on the ballot that you don't recognize, don't vote for them just because you like their name or because they are in the party that you identify with. This could easily turn into a bad decision. Research the candidates before you go to the polls and vote for the person you think will uphold the law and work in the best interest of *all* of the people... not just yourself. If you don't recognize the people running for an office, just skip it and move on. Not voting is better than uninformed voting.

Idiot's Voting Rule #5
Do not single issue vote.

You may feel very compassionate about an issue and only want to vote for the person who feels the same way about it as you do. Unfortunately, politicians know this and will lie about how they really feel just so they can get your vote. Also, for every decision that you feel is a good one that they make, there could be 10 bad ones.

Know as many sides of an issue, law, or amendment that you can find. There may be something that you didn't think about that will be an important reason why you should/should not vote for something.

Also, often times you may votefor a person because of a single issue, but that person cannot not do anything about that issue given the position for which they are running.

Idiot's Voting Rule #6
Voting is NOT an opinion poll!

Do not vote for something because it's your opinion that something should be one way or another. Do not treat the rights of others and the rights of yourself as if they are a Cosmopolitan Quiz of the month. Know your rights and DO NOT do anything to subvert the rights of others, they may one day subvert yours!

Do not waste time with questions on ballots that are opinion-type questions. If the branch of government cannot do anything about an issue, it does NOT belong on a voting ballot. It rather, belongs on an opinion poll.

Your rights should not be left up to the whimsical opinions of others!

Idiot's Voting Rule #7
Voting is not a popularity contest.

I really have heard people say, "Oh, I voted for so-and-so because I thought they were cuter."

Idiot's Voting Rule #8
If you have ever violated rule 7... grab yourself a gallon of bleach and a gallon of ammonia, lock yourself in the bathroom, mix the two together in the tub and JUST STAY HOME!!!

Actually, don't do that... it's rumored it will kill you... but DO STAY HOME!