Why my little brother didn't vote (Not a Vanity)

San Francisco Chronicle ^ | 11-08-2004 | Matt Alber

[Cagey]

I just got off the phone with my younger brother, Bryce. We had a great talk. He's 20 years old and lives in the twilight zone of Mobile, Ala., surrounded by a populace celebrating "the victory." He feels pretty isolated - - as if everyone else is taking crazy pills.

We talked about his reasons for choosing not to vote. They were rooted in a sincere distrust of the Electoral College. I think he's onto something. Have you ever tried convincing an anti-George W. Bush 20-year-old in Mobile, Ala., to vote? Why his vote counts? Ever tried to convince him that a convoluted system like the Electoral College will actually be voting for him, and that he's just gonna have to trust them on that? Harder than you think.

Bryce is such a brilliant guy, who cares so much about the world and wants so much more justice and freedom for it than it has today. He recognizes that multitudes are living in fear of terrorism, fear of gays, fear of apocalypse, and they acted on those fears at the voting booths in his state.

So I realized he isn't who we should be pointing our finger at. Respect and trust are things we as adults expect others to earn from us over time by consistently demonstrating to us their ability to deliver. Why would we expect young people to bestow such precious things as trust and respect to a political system that fails them every day? Fails to pay its bills. Fails to achieve peace. Fails to repair crumbling schools. Fails to fire up their burned-out teachers or equip their new ones with textbooks in their language. Fails to loan them enough money for education.

[dead]

I sucked it up and went to the polls in New Jersey, knowing full well that my vote for Bush would never be reflected in the EC.

Bryce is a cry baby, but I guess that's what you're looking for when you name a boy Bryce.

[nosofar]

We seem to have forgotten that young people are confronted with more empty talk than any other demographic, except perhaps the very elderly.

I can believe it.

[Prime Choice]

Sure. Do away with the Electoral College. I'm sure everyone wants every Presidential election determined by Liberals in New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

NOT.

[Dan from Michigan]

I wouldn't try and convince Bryce to vote...

[Prime Choice]

Actually… I’m glad Bryce didn’t vote

That makes two of us.

Stupidity should be painful. And, for Bryce, it thankfully is.

[RandallFlagg]

I can tell ya why my older brother didn't vote.

He's a moron.

[KC_Conspirator]

I'm sure everyone wants every Presidential election determined by Liberals in New York City, Los Angeles and San Francisco.

I have heard more liberals say this now because they hate the fact that people in places like GA, TN, TX, MO, and WY have a say in national elections. Shame on those totalitarians.

[Cagey]

I am so sick of media making as though my state (and the entire South) is just the cesspool of idiots, backwards fools and ignorant racists.

Me too. But, it's so much more than just the media who think that way. And I'd bet that most of those who do have never set foot in the South.

[BrigidZ]

"Fails to pay its bills. Fails to achieve peace. Fails to repair crumbling schools. Fails to fire up their burned-out teachers or equip their new ones with textbooks in their language. Fails to loan them enough money for education."


Hey, this kid has got to stop listening to the Fascist University Teachers. Hello, we (THE GOVERMENT,yes we are the government b/c WE pay the bills) do not OWN him money for college, or own him a JOB - His problem is that he wants to blame the electoral college on his not voting - that's NOT Brilliant - IT IS STUPID... point of Electoral College is to PREVENT the suppression of a STATE like KANSAS or UTAH to be dictated by those High-population tiny STATES like RI. HELLO get a clue we have had our freedom and Constitutional Republic for over 200 years b/c we don't allow the STUPID masses to dictate.- oh WAIT the stupid LEFTWING BLUE County MASSES - the Red State County are OK though ... AND I say COUNTY not States b/c Kerry was luck to get PA and NH ...

It's great that the Dems/Liberals JUST will NOT get it!!! Good they will be marginalized, as THEY should be.

[scott7278]

I brought it up a few months ago that nearing the 2000 election, the MSM was predicting that Gore would win the Electoral College but not the popular vote.

Someone leaked a story about how the Bush Team would then sue in the federal court system. A little trial balloon, perhaps? I remember thinking at the time that that didn't sound like George W. Bush, but we found out it was actually Gore who had the plan.

[Chad Fairbanks]

Fails to fire up their burned-out teachers or equip their new ones with textbooks in their language.

So, what language, other than english, should this nation's text books be in? Hmmm? Hmmmm?

[VoiceOfBruck]

Actually… I’m glad Bryce didn’t vote

I was just discussing this with Mrs. Bruck the other evening - why are people trying to "get out the vote?" It just waters down the value of their own vote. Of course she pointed out the obvious, that people are trying to encourage like-minded voters to vote.

I think next election I'll start a "just stay home" campaign so my vote counts for more. If things go well, in the logical extreme, I'll be able to completely control the election of every representative of my district! And all the major parties, interest groups, and media will have to pander to me!

[wasp69]

I am so sick of media making as though my state (and the entire South) is just the cesspool of idiots, backwards fools and ignorant racists.

Not me, I love being underestimated. Just makes it that much more painful when I win. And from the tone of the rehtoric, it was indeed very painful.

[scott0347]

"We talked about his reasons for choosing not to vote. They were rooted in a sincere distrust of the Electoral College."

Bryce, step away from the voting booth. You need to refrain from voting for anything until you grow up and stop whining

[N. Theknow]

So another Conservatives, Christians, Republicans, anybody who lives in a red state, anybody who does not live or have a desire to live in NY, SF, LA, Chicago are fools, morons and idiots (not to mention being unsophisticated rubes and hayseeds) hit piece.

Let's go to the fact file.

Except for Gerald Ford pardoning Nixon and pissing everybody off, the enlightened liberals and Democrats have not gotten a majority of the votes in any presidential election since 1964.

Isn't the definition of a fool someone who keeps doing the same stupid thing and expecting different results?

[Max Combined]

"He's 20 years old and lives in the twilight zone of Mobile, Ala."

I like Mobile. Is this guy at University of South Alabama? If so, it is not a school for geniuses though.

[IStillBelieve]

I'm sure Bryce constantly bothers Matt with complaints about the lack of bathhouses in Mobile.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

So Bryce is both ignorant and lazy?

Not voting sounds like the right move for him.