Insanity Is. . .

Get out the vote.

I feel like I just answered this...

ROFLOL!

I'm sure you did. This is the first of three or four iterations.

Not voting and complaining when the outcome is not what you want that being said...nothing seems to change even when the one I voted for or not wins so *sigh* I dunno...

Yeah, my feelings at times too!

We are all free to enter the voting booth and write a name in, if we so choose. It is our duty to vote. Don't vote, don't bitch. Period.

(Definition of insanity:

1: a deranged state of the mind usually occurring as a specific disorder (as schizophrenia)
2: such unsoundness of mind or lack of understanding as prevents one from having the mental capacity required by law to enter into a particular relationship, status, or transaction or as removes one from criminal or civil responsibility
3a : extreme folly or unreasonableness
b : something utterly foolish or unreasonable)

Voting is not insane.

I can't vote since I am not USA Citizen

Trust me. That wouldn't keep you from being able to vote. Not here. Not now. :-)

Is a total waste of time and effort.

Voting for the incompetent idiot and thinking he has gotten smarter all of a sudden

Voting is an effort to pick the lesser of two evils in most cases. Only occasionally does one have the pleasure of voting for someone who consistently fights to protect individual rights under a legitimately limited government. But, failing to pick the better of the candidates for an office is the equivalent of asking to be enslaved as completely and rapidly as possible. It is also cowardly and/or lazy. It takes time to understand how our government has largely fallen prey to special interests such as labor unions, rabid environmentalists, alarmist global warmers, and too many crony mercantilists, but to mention the many power-hungry politicians. The only remedy is to fight to get government to limit its powers as it is constitutionally required to do. Neither Democrat nor Republican politicians are willing to do that, but at least the Republican Party members largely understand that governments are too big. One has to work with that and try to get them to put sufficient energy into forcing their own politicians to obey the Constitution that they will do so. We know the entire Democrat Party is based fundamentally on violating the Constitution.

if you don't vote you shouldn't complain about who you get

Right. Just like the victims of robbery, murder or rape have no right to complain on account of refusing to vote on the method of their victimization. :-)

A difference is that the victims you mentioned don't usually have any choice, voice or opportunity to object

Point being, refusing to participate in a system of mass victimization doesn't remove one's right to complain about mass victimization. That "if you don't vote you have no right to complain" nonsense is a 50's fairy tale with which civics teachers used to indoctrinate their charges.

not fact ... in in my experience people who choose not to participate are either two lazy or afraid to stand up ... just my opinion

Your experience obviously doesn't include conscientious objectors. As a liberal (especially one of your generation) you should be more sensitive to the ethical decisions of others. For you, voting may be the most loyal, ethical and generous thing you can do for your community. For me, voting is ethically on par with any barbarous act which the government might do in my name.

still sounds like rationalization to me

My rationalizations don't enslave people. :-)

not voting doesn't free anyone either

Full circle:

"For you, voting may be the most loyal, ethical and generous thing you can do for your community. For me, voting is ethically on par with any barbarous act which the government might do in my name."

we have very different opinions and we will probably never agree about this issue but I respect your belief that you are right and do so from a solid thought out opinion

That's all I ask. I understand and respect the fact that others don't share my opinions. It's a given that not everyone will share my system of ethics. The good news is that, with my being a libertarian, I will never try to impose my ethics on others. The bad news is that voters are not similarly inclined. You have FAR less to fear from me than you do from another voter. :-)

THats the "beauty part" of America .. I don't fear you ... Libertarians are right on on many issues ... and usually know the subject that they talk about and are telling the truth ... thats why I usually like them ... I don't always agree with them but I respect their opinions

Doing the Same things Over and Over and expecting different results!

Firing the loser in office.

Yer' lookin' at it~~!! IMO (Several others, too)

The dumbed down flocks of American sheeple who think there is a difference between Ofraud and ORomney.

Insanity is... The American people actually believing there are 2 parties in Washington.

Yep!

The right to vote is something millions of Americans have fought and died for! We should vote to honor their sacrifices if nothing else!

I am voting because I want to. I am not sure what you would call, encouaging people not to vote, but it certainly isn't patriotic.

Actually, I disagree with Einstein on this matter...what he describes is mere stupidity, not insanity.

As for voting...If one blindly votes for the chosen son of "their party" then it is indeed stupidity (or insanity, if you prefer Einstein's view). However, there are other options...vote for Gary Johnson, or write-in Ron Paul.

A vote for the lesser of two evils is still a vote for evil. Vote for good instead, and pay no mind those who will tell you that you are "wasting your vote."

The real insanity is in the people who blindly support party politics and expect different results.
A vote may not mean much, but the more people who "wake up" and realize that the system is fixed and show their force via voting, then the more likely that a passive change can occur rather than a continued build up of the divisiveness that is so prevalent in our culture and is likely to lead to a more aggressive change.

I've always believed if you don't vote, you have no right to complain, because you did nothing to influence the outcome of the election.

Strictly speaking, not voting carries a significant amount of weight in a democracy. Each person who doesn't vote sends the message that s/he does not lend the system his or her tacit support. 'The system' cannot survive without the support of the majority.

I'm not trying to sway you one way or the other (even if I could), but let's just say there are many different reasons why one would choose not to vote.

There may be many reasons, but the fact remains; if you don't, you did nothing to change the outcome and therefore have forfeited your right to complain.

So if you vote and they still don't do as the people want, what does it make you? Blamed for voting for them!!

Bingo!

A guy comes up to you and says he's gonna rob, rape and then murder the woman across the street. He gives you the option to 'vote' on the method he'll use. You can't overpower him and there's no time to call the cops. You have only two options; vote as instructed (thereby being an accomplice to whatever he does), or refuse to be a party to the crime by walking away.

Either way you choose the result will be the same, but only by one way can you remove yourself from guilt/responsibility.