Voting from Space – You Don’t Have an Excuse
Today is voting day for the U.S. Presidency and many state ballots. We are all busy and disheartened about this election, but it is our duty as Americans to vote. It is easy to put up an excuse not to: the long lines, the candidates, the ballot initiatives, not knowing where to go, the weather, etc. So, while you contemplate how difficult getting your lazy backside out to a polling place, realize that astronaut Shane Kimbrough voted today, while orbiting the Earth.
How to vote from space?
Astronauts are provided with a standard Absentee Ballot Request form and must list their address as “low-Earth orbit”. Mission Control then sends them a digital version to the crew on voting day, who fill them out and send them back. Mission Control then transmits them directly to voting authorities. This process has been in place since 1997, because ALL Americans have the right to vote. Just because you are 249 miles above the surface, travelling at almost 5 miles-per-second, it is not an excuse to get out of voting.
So, let’s be real.
Not everyone in this world gets the opportunity to vote who their leaders are or what regional spending/legal measures will be enacted. In my home state of California, there are several ballots which are important, including numerous bond measures, legalization of marijuana, outlawing or expediting the death penalty, etc. No matter how much you hate this election cycle/circus, it is time we fulfill our duty as part of a representative republic. Vote for Mickey Mouse, one of the candidates, Vote-of-No-Confidence or even yourself (that blank field is open to everyone).
Just vote!
You are vocal about your opinions here on Steemit, why not give them as part of the governmental crafting process. Just vote!
First - I voted...
However, there are actually valid excuses.
If you're an Anarchist (which technically I am) then you don't vote because that is acknowledging the government has the right to the authority they exercise over you. Some people do not vote for that reason. It is valid.
I am an Anarchist, but I know not voting will not stop some of the local issues from happening. If I don't vote then the government will still force things upon me against my will. I vote primarily to vote on local amendments and laws that will impact me. I see the Congressional and Presidential elections as very heavily rigged (more so the presidential) and the fact we are stuck with TWO "viable" candidates is a farce.
I did vote. I voted for Gary Johnson (Libertarian party) though I think he dropped the ball and I don't like his VP candidate at all. I did this for three primary reasons.
i resteemed this post this comment. ^^
Thanks for voting. ..and thanks for having well thought out and passionate opinions. Makes me feel good to be an American when we show, act, and constructively strive for change/improvements. ..even if we don't agree on topics I am glad we are all here and voting our conscience with forethought and a desire to be a better society.
Incredibly well said. I voted for Gary Johnson for the exact same reasons in fact - esp #1 - but I could not have put it so well.
I'm likely going to quote from you on my podcast if no objections. www.AREA51.fm
Go for it. :)
Voting is a suggestion box for slaves :)
Basically yes. Yet it doesn't stop the masters from forcing you to do things. If they increase my taxes in a local area in a way I can try to stop then not voting will not stop it. I could stand on principle, but I might as well either die, or march myself off to prison. I choose to be a realist. Do what I need to do for my family and I to survive and try to help educate more people while I further educate myself so that maybe in the future we can end this crap.
On a smaller, local level I do view voting as semi-legit when used as self defense, like from tax increases and such. This federal election though, it's literally pointless. I see not voting as a vote of no-confidence in the whole system, and it does send a message, even though voters like to put down those who don't vote and say they have no right to complain.
I almost didn't pick a presidential candidate. My thought process was that I'd have some dots not filled out in my mail in ballot. So I didn't want to risk having them toss it out as invalid.
The way I see it. If they can force you to do things against your will then you definitely have the right to complain.
This post has been ranked within the top 50 most undervalued posts in the first half of Nov 09. We estimate that this post is undervalued by $3.81 as compared to a scenario in which every voter had an equal say.
See the full rankings and details in The Daily Tribune: Nov 09 - Part I. You can also read about some of our methodology, data analysis and technical details in our initial post.
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Nice. Shared this on the Facebook page of my podcast… www.AREA51.fm Followed also.
Good post, some would be cheated out of their birthright simply by words...
Blessings...
Nice. Very good post, upvoted and resteemed. ✘