I think the negative campaigning is working

[Name Lips]

Emerald told me that in her Political Science classes they taught that the purpose of negative campaigning is not to convince people to vote for one candidate or another, but to disgust the populace.

If you target the right people and get enough of them disgusted with the political process in general, you can influence the people who favorably respond to polls, who bother to register to vote, and who bother to go out and vote at all. Targeting the right demographics can then tilt the election in your favor.

I say that the negative campaign is working because I'm hearing more and more tones of disgust from articles, pundits, and regular people. Most of us here on KT aren't going to be so disgusted as to bow out of the political process entirely... but imagine somebody who hasn't yet registered to vote, who started out relatively undecided... at this point this person will probably say that both candidates aren't worthy of his vote and not go through the trouble of registering and voting so he can support one of them.

[FeatsofClay]

I say that the negative campaign is working because I'm hearing more and more tones of disgust from articles, pundits, and regular people. Most of us here on KT aren't going to be so disgusted as to bow out of the political process entirely... but imagine somebody who hasn't yet registered to vote, who started out relatively undecided... at this point this person will probably say that both candidates aren't worthy of his vote and not go through the trouble of registering and voting so he can support one of them.

I see more and more people who proudly claim they do not vote. It is, to many, a sign of solidarity against the system as it stands. When these people speak I hear murmurs of 'not fighting for eaither side', as if American politics was a Civil War theywould not participate in.

Drive these people out, these people who are usually middle of the roaders, and you are left with fringes and ner-fringes battling it out. The Right's fringe is bigger. Period.

[AZRogue]

Not voting isn't a political stand; it's a political cop-out. It may be easier to swallow if we imagine that not voting is actually accomplishing something worthwhile, but it isn't. That's just the balm we apply to our conscience for forsaking our duty.

Now, more than ever, we need everyone to vote. If neither party satisfies, vote for a third. Lord knows we could use another party or three.

[Dacke]

I see more and more people who proudly claim they do not vote. It is, to many, a sign of solidarity against the system as it stands
Show them that Craig Ferguson video.

[Iron Jenny Kidd]

Not voting isn't a political stand; it's a political cop-out. It may be easier to swallow if we imagine that not voting is actually accomplishing something worthwhile, but it isn't. That's just the balm we apply to our conscience for forsaking our duty.

Now, more than ever, we need everyone to vote. If neither party satisfies, vote for a third. Lord knows we could use another party or three.

This is what I've been encouraging my non-voting friends to do since 1998. I don't think it's been effective but this year I brought them all voter registration forms. I'm hoping they take advantage of the opportunity and vote how they see fit. I'm also thinking about forming a carpool, seeing how so many of them don't drive and will find one excuse or another to not make the polls.