I am from a small twin island republic in the Caribbean called Trinidad & Tobago (population 1.3 million) and it's the same here. It comes down to two political parties every single time. And people generally vote for the party that sucks less. But Colin, I really like your twist on the whole matter. Once again, you are able to come up with very original ways of looking at what is considered the norm.
If people from both sides of the false political paradime took 2hrs out of every week for just 6 months, to physically go down together and confront their corrupt polititions and demand a stop to lobbying, things would change.
I like his hair. For the record. Now, as for making our votes actually matter, we need to do away with the electoral college and make them count our actual votes. We need to make them go by our actual votes instead of letting the electoral college continually screw us over at every turn. I am sick of them.
I tend to agree with this. Electoral college was put in place because founders of the country didn't think the ordinary citizenry could be trusted. Particularly if paired with infrastructure to help us be better informed? Direct democracy would work better, today.
I wonder though if your party keeps losing, that they recognize the disillusioned voting base and instead try to win their vote in the next cycle. By voting as apart of the disillusion grouping, now the party sees you finally voted and it’s almost as if it’s positive reinforcement to keep doing whatever just worked even though you technically aren’t happy with the vote
It’s wishful thinking that voting will bring about what you wish for, but I get your idea. Politicians will forget about the people once elected...until the next election.
In Australia it's a crime not to vote IF a person is "enrolled" to vote. A crime that is punished by a small and thus very affordable fine. We aren't taught that we have a right not to vote?! Now that I'm enrolled, and can't be taken off "the list", the fine for each state and federal election is a part of my monthly budget at the time. #LifeIsGreat #GoingMyWay
The first time in twenty years that someone has actually given me a reason to vote. I've been feeling a prompting to vote but I have been ignoring. I missed caucuses but I think I'll register and vote for the next votes. Caucus makes me frustrated, here in Utah anyway. The only "party" that can vote anything they want is Republican, who is also the only party to vote online. Unfairness? Definitely.
I like your whole perspective on voting in the US. You certainly are woke enough to know our votes really don't matter but still have hope and participate anyways based on who politician cater to during election season. Anyway, I'd like to come to your speaking engagement next time you're in Austin Texas (January 27) but I don't see how to register on your website. Are you all booked up? I might have to travel to Dallas then.
You're too kind! There are still some tickets available for the Austin event: more info and tickets at www.eventbrite.com/e/colin-wright-author-host-of-lets-know-things-austin-tickets-51104832931
Ur vote 100% matters. U vote for the candidate of which u choose. Then whoever gets more votes in ur state wins that state's electoral college numbers.
@@eajaros exactly, u vote for wether ur state supports one candidate or the other. Ur vote still matters. If 1.5 million and 1.5 million, and u still need to vote, u could break the tie for who ur states electoral votes go to. Ur vote DOES matter at all times, no matter what.
@Shea Bryant ya so what. Its called the electoral college. And u can overturn the electoral college with a large enough win in the popular vote. Hillary won the popular vote by about 3%. It was 48% Hillary to 46%Trump. It was a 2.9 million difference. 65.8 million to 62.9 million. The electoral college is a more accurate representation by taking the most important and crucial places and gives the candidate they support most. For example California is obviously more important than Idaho.
We have a similar situation in the UK. Two main parties end up being the ones that battle it out for our votes, although there are other parties, they don't usually get much in the way of votes and subsequent seats in the houses of parliament. Again, it's the lesser of two evils. Both sides will come up with a manifesto that is full of things that people want to hear and like and then when that party is voted in will then change that manifesto (not by much, but enough) to suit the needs of themselves and corporations. This is a global issue that needs to be overhauled. Voting online would be a great thing to implement rather than voting by post (which we can do in the UK) as this would attract a younger generation who prefer the simplicity and not having to queue for ages at times at a poll station to put their X on the ballot paper. "Buying" a politician should be outlawed outright in all countries but that won't happen as most of them are in power because of the money they get from companies. A big change is needed.
+Neil Allwood great input, Neil - I think you're right that newer mechanisms for voting would help, as would revamping or eliminating systems that allow for the purchasing of influence. It's a cumbersome system developed over many decades (or in some cases, centuries), however, so I know it won't be a straight line from where we are now to where we will hopefully find ourselves someday. I'm thinking it'll take some influence from within the current system to make it happen, as well (part of why it hasn't happened yet, methinks).
I think the voting system is a huge pile of steaming poo, I don't like it, and the difference between the Democrats ans Republicans vary just slightly. So it really doesn't matter, and it really, really does't matter to me being a minimalist. Honestly, I have all the things I could ever need and want and show much more of my knowledge and passion through word of mouth, through communicating on the web etc, I don't need assholes who do very little for me to do this. I can do it myself
To be honest, I don't think that getting rid of the Electoral College is a good idea. I don't necessarily think it's the best system, but I don't think that most people are simply informed or smart enough to vote. I think the "everyone has a right to vote" idea is nonsense because they're really are now qualifications for voting, other than being of age and registering within your district. I don't necessarily think that the 538 unnamed Electors should necessarily have authority over the general populace, but the federal government has very little control over the actual personal lives of citizens...the state government does the heavy lifting there. And frankly, I'd rather have a select few decide the president rather than the masses of largely uninformed people. The Founders were right, the average man is too inept to be trusted with choosing the president.
The popular vote is also trash. But electoral college is objectively worse. And furthermore our specific take on it is worse than the idea, being somewhat arbitrary and within its set of intertwining systems (i.e. gerrymandering) is corrupt to the core. Preferential voting or some similar method is much more ideal. There should be age restrictions on voting and basic cognitive tests. The idea that people in general are too stupid to vote has no merit.
Voting third party in a US election is literally throwing your vote away and wasting one point that could have mattered between the two party candidates. We won’t see a third party until the electoral college is gone, money is out of politics, ah hell, now that Barretts in the USA govt is exterminating it’s own citizens.
I am from a small twin island republic in the Caribbean called Trinidad & Tobago (population 1.3 million) and it's the same here. It comes down to two political parties every single time. And people generally vote for the party that sucks less. But Colin, I really like your twist on the whole matter. Once again, you are able to come up with very original ways of looking at what is considered the norm.
+Emile Ackbarali thanks very much, I appreciate that :)
If people from both sides of the false political paradime took 2hrs out of every week for just 6 months, to physically go down together and confront their corrupt polititions and demand a stop to lobbying, things would change.
AMERICANS ARE TO LAZY. AS LONG AS THEY HAVE THE CONVIENACES LIKE CELL PHONES, SOCIAL MEDIA, STREAMING SERVICES, AND VIDEO GAMES THEY DOBT CARE.
Yea
Good stuff man, really enjoyed your perspective.
I like his hair. For the record. Now, as for making our votes actually matter, we need to do away with the electoral college and make them count our actual votes. We need to make them go by our actual votes instead of letting the electoral college continually screw us over at every turn. I am sick of them.
I tend to agree with this. Electoral college was put in place because founders of the country didn't think the ordinary citizenry could be trusted. Particularly if paired with infrastructure to help us be better informed? Direct democracy would work better, today.
The Founding fathers didn't vote, they fought
Well explained
Vote before the presentation
Cool idea but I disagree. I think that voting advertises that you believe the system is functioning. And I think that's a harmful message.
yeah I decided not to vote because I couldn't identify with any party other than with the democrats abit
I wonder though if your party keeps losing, that they recognize the disillusioned voting base and instead try to win their vote in the next cycle. By voting as apart of the disillusion grouping, now the party sees you finally voted and it’s almost as if it’s positive reinforcement to keep doing whatever just worked even though you technically aren’t happy with the vote
Ethan Hawke as a 20-something
It’s wishful thinking that voting will bring about what you wish for, but I get your idea. Politicians will forget about the people once elected...until the next election.
In Australia it's a crime not to vote IF a person is "enrolled" to vote. A crime that is punished by a small and thus very affordable fine. We aren't taught that we have a right not to vote?! Now that I'm enrolled, and can't be taken off "the list", the fine for each state and federal election is a part of my monthly budget at the time. #LifeIsGreat #GoingMyWay
The first time in twenty years that someone has actually given me a reason to vote. I've been feeling a prompting to vote but I have been ignoring. I missed caucuses but I think I'll register and vote for the next votes. Caucus makes me frustrated, here in Utah anyway. The only "party" that can vote anything they want is Republican, who is also the only party to vote online. Unfairness? Definitely.
I like your whole perspective on voting in the US. You certainly are woke enough to know our votes really don't matter but still have hope and participate anyways based on who politician cater to during election season. Anyway, I'd like to come to your speaking engagement next time you're in Austin Texas (January 27) but I don't see how to register on your website. Are you all booked up? I might have to travel to Dallas then.
You're too kind! There are still some tickets available for the Austin event: more info and tickets at www.eventbrite.com/e/colin-wright-author-host-of-lets-know-things-austin-tickets-51104832931
Colin Wright Thanx... see you in Austin.
Well said
+Ron Shaw thanks Ron!
moved to my new apartment new district says I can't vote that district and my car is down first time I can't vote major bullshit
Ur vote 100% matters. U vote for the candidate of which u choose. Then whoever gets more votes in ur state wins that state's electoral college numbers.
This is not true in the least. Look up what states employ “winner take all”.
@@eajaros exactly, u vote for wether ur state supports one candidate or the other. Ur vote still matters. If 1.5 million and 1.5 million, and u still need to vote, u could break the tie for who ur states electoral votes go to. Ur vote DOES matter at all times, no matter what.
@Shea Bryant really how so. In what way does my vote not matter? How did last election prove that?
@Shea Bryant ya so what. Its called the electoral college. And u can overturn the electoral college with a large enough win in the popular vote. Hillary won the popular vote by about 3%. It was 48% Hillary to 46%Trump. It was a 2.9 million difference. 65.8 million to 62.9 million. The electoral college is a more accurate representation by taking the most important and crucial places and gives the candidate they support most. For example California is obviously more important than Idaho.
We have a similar situation in the UK. Two main parties end up being the ones that battle it out for our votes, although there are other parties, they don't usually get much in the way of votes and subsequent seats in the houses of parliament. Again, it's the lesser of two evils. Both sides will come up with a manifesto that is full of things that people want to hear and like and then when that party is voted in will then change that manifesto (not by much, but enough) to suit the needs of themselves and corporations.
This is a global issue that needs to be overhauled. Voting online would be a great thing to implement rather than voting by post (which we can do in the UK) as this would attract a younger generation who prefer the simplicity and not having to queue for ages at times at a poll station to put their X on the ballot paper.
"Buying" a politician should be outlawed outright in all countries but that won't happen as most of them are in power because of the money they get from companies. A big change is needed.
+Neil Allwood great input, Neil - I think you're right that newer mechanisms for voting would help, as would revamping or eliminating systems that allow for the purchasing of influence. It's a cumbersome system developed over many decades (or in some cases, centuries), however, so I know it won't be a straight line from where we are now to where we will hopefully find ourselves someday.
I'm thinking it'll take some influence from within the current system to make it happen, as well (part of why it hasn't happened yet, methinks).
I think the voting system is a huge pile of steaming poo, I don't like it, and the difference between the Democrats ans Republicans vary just slightly. So it really doesn't matter, and it really, really does't matter to me being a minimalist. Honestly, I have all the things I could ever need and want and show much more of my knowledge and passion through word of mouth, through communicating on the web etc, I don't need assholes who do very little for me to do this. I can do it myself
+Cole Harpell Well what do you expect when both parties are essentially funded by the same corporate conglomerates?
+Qu35t10n3v3ryth1n9 - And that's why, stupid isn't it?
To be honest, I don't think that getting rid of the Electoral College is a good idea. I don't necessarily think it's the best system, but I don't think that most people are simply informed or smart enough to vote. I think the "everyone has a right to vote" idea is nonsense because they're really are now qualifications for voting, other than being of age and registering within your district.
I don't necessarily think that the 538 unnamed Electors should necessarily have authority over the general populace, but the federal government has very little control over the actual personal lives of citizens...the state government does the heavy lifting there. And frankly, I'd rather have a select few decide the president rather than the masses of largely uninformed people.
The Founders were right, the average man is too inept to be trusted with choosing the president.
The popular vote is also trash. But electoral college is objectively worse. And furthermore our specific take on it is worse than the idea, being somewhat arbitrary and within its set of intertwining systems (i.e. gerrymandering) is corrupt to the core. Preferential voting or some similar method is much more ideal. There should be age restrictions on voting and basic cognitive tests. The idea that people in general are too stupid to vote has no merit.
That’s why I’m voting green. So maybe it can one day get enough to earn money and get bigger
Voting third party in a US election is literally throwing your vote away and wasting one point that could have mattered between the two party candidates. We won’t see a third party until the electoral college is gone, money is out of politics, ah hell, now that Barretts in the USA govt is exterminating it’s own citizens.