[SprinkL3]

The Merriam-Webster definition of "anti-political" is "opposing or reacting against traditional political policies and principles"

I want to vote no confidence
I want to be a member of an apolitical party
I wish there were no politics, but that's not possible
It's almost impossible to be apolitical and nonpartisan
The best I could think of is being anti-political - a term I looked up after considering the term "anti-racist" to mean being against racism through action, not just speech and self-preservation

The game-playing hate (of politics) in ad hominem attacks (political vitriol) will only create more division, chaos, pollution, disease, mortality, poverty, and injustice that no civil or revolutionary or evolutionary war will cure.

It's like this is the end. So, why not agree to disagree with it all?

- The things I think about when googling a word and its definition. It's not what I thought it was, or perhaps it is everything I thought it was - and more.

[loren1975]

There was a book I was reading years ago that talked about having a lottery or draft so to speak to chose the people that would run the government. You would do your term of serve then when it was up, go back to your normal life. I always thought that was an ideal worth looking at. Of course there would have to be standards and certain qualification, but I am sure it could be done. Bureaucrats would have to be closely monitored and penalties for grift harsh.

I don't know it just seem like the whole thing is rotten now

[downandlonely]

The two party system of the United States seems to ensure that you vote for the candidate you hate least rather than one you really like. At least that's been my experience.

[SprinkL3]

Originally Posted by downandlonely

The two party system of the United States seems to ensure that you vote for the candidate you hate least rather than one you really like. At least that's been my experience.

I completely agree!

I used to be a registered independent (or what some states now force you to deem as "unaffiliated"). I used to consider myself a moderate before that was even perverted to mean a "weakened bipartisan stance."

[downandlonely]

I am not registered with either party. That means I get to choose whether to vote in the Democratic or Republican primary. I vote in the one that I think will make the most difference.

[SprinkL3]

Originally Posted by downandlonely

I am not registered with either party. That means I get to choose whether to vote in the Democratic or Republican primary. I vote in the one that I think will make the most difference.

That may be in your state, but other states can pick and choose who gets to vote in the primaries. In Idaho, for instance, only registered parties can vote in the primaries. When I was unaffiliated, and also a concurrent absentee voter, I wasn't allowed to vote absentee in the primaries at all. I had no choice but to switch to one of the parties in order to vote in the primaries.

Here, in this state of Idaho, they are forcing people to choose the lesser of two evils, so many democrats and moderates and independents I know are posing at "republicans" on the voting registry just to make sure that they can vote during the primaries in order to keep out the extremists. I didn't even know that was possible. Then, I think what happens is that they can choose whatever come the elections, but most here will just choose the less of two evils.

It's sick how this game works. I just don't like this two-party system at all. And NOT ALL STATES have the same voting operations and laws as the other, so that is why any national votes are always brought into question. There's no uniformity at all. I just wished that the popular vote for any political party was there instead of this mess.

I'm glad your state allows the unaffiliated or independents or nonpartisans to vote in the primaries.

[downandlonely]

Yes, Texas allows us to choose.

However, they have are very strict about mail in ballots. A lot of states let people mail in in 2020 due to Covid. In Texas you could only do it if you were over 65, disabled, or actually out of the country. So I had to vote in person or not at all. I did early voting so it was not that crowded and wore a mask. They also had these disposable finger condom things.

[SprinkL3]

Originally Posted by downandlonely

Yes, Texas allows us to choose.

However, they have are very strict about mail in ballots. A lot of states let people mail in in 2020 due to Covid. In Texas you could only do it if you were over 65, disabled, or actually out of the country. So I had to vote in person or not at all. I did early voting so it was not that crowded and wore a mask. They also had these disposable finger condom things.

The virus is airborn/aerosolized, not fomite-heavy. They should chuck the finger condoms.

Thankfully, Idaho still allows (as far as I know) anyone to vote absentee. They will still need some sort of proof of residence by mail, but they don't need proof of disability. I happen to be disabled anyway, but really anyone could elect to choose absentee. Most people out here are red anyway, so they don't care unless they see an uptick in left-leaning votes.

Also, the disparities for voting are such as these:

1. Not everyone has affordable healthcare to get diagnosed with a disorder in order to be deemed temporarily or permanently disabled. Copays costs money, and going to a doctor just to get yet another appointment to prove to the DMV, the voting registrar, etc., that they are disabled or that their condition is disabling becomes an added risk to them, an added monetary risk as well as an added risk of exposure or accident should they go out. These people are often overlooked for voting rights, and they often need absentee ballots available to give them equal opportunity (equity) to vote.

2. Many people wait months or years to get Social Security Disability just to prove they are disabled. These people would be least likely able to vote in person. They also are least likely to have the means to download forms off the internet to vote absentee. They therefore are the least likely to vote, even though they are the most likely to want to vote. The laws making it impossible for caregivers to assist such person with voting make it more likely that millions of disabled voters won't get to vote. And many of them would be more likely left-leaning, which the right and right-moderates despise. So such laws are written to keep such votes out as well. It's a dirty trick when gerrymandering isn't working.

3. Many people who, for whatever reason, refuse the vaccination may still want to vote absentee so that they aren't exposed to potential virus, especially in flu season (during November) when the voting season typically occurs. They may be immunocompromised and not deemed "disabled" by SSDI yet, but nonetheless at risk in crowded, prolonged situations such as polling booths and long lines - esp. if indoors.

4. Many minorities (by age, race, (dis)ability, etc.) who are hospitalized in psych wards or in hospitals don't realize that they can vote absentee, but you don't see many people going to bat to inform them either. This population rarely votes, if they did accurate data collection on voters to begin with. They may also be the least likely to vote if they are hospitalized.

5. Some younger adults are disabled or at high-risk, but they can't stand in long lines and also can't get the disability stance in time to vote absentee. They then choose not to vote at all.

6. This pandemic has increased the likelihood of avoiding identification renewals in crowded places like the DMV and passport application areas, so many people go without having proper ID to vote in person, but can vote absentee with proof of who they are by lease and other means, such as birth certificates or otherwise. When laws get passed where they can't vote absentee in certain states, then it means these people (most often minorities) can't vote. Minorities are not just racial minorities, but also the disabled.

7. Homeless persons are often excluded from being helped with voting. They are also largely without identification. But there are ways they can find alternative documentation to prove who they are in order to vote absentee or in person. Many homeless are disabled, but they aren't "substantially" disabled through programs like SSI or SSDI, so they miss out on a lot. This is why they are often forgotten. Sadly, their votes would matter, as many of them are in fact U.S. Citizens, but they are forgotten by society. They also are more prone to not vote, even if the choice was presented to them. They simply lack the education and therefore the internal strengths to find resources to vote.

[downandlonely]

Yeah, I agree it wasn't fair. I think some people were afraid to vote in 2020. Covid rates were high and there were no vaccines available at the time. Luckily early voting was not crowded at all. But the day of the election was probably bad.