Would business as usual take place in politics if everyone boycotted the voting/polling system in USA?
367828
good question. i think, firstly, to get "everyone" to boycott the vote would be an astounding task, and very unlikely, no matter what. even in countries where this has been tried, you get nothing near 100%. so, let's say it was 50%. i think you already have close to that, in some places, and thus the answer is yes, business as usual. but let's say you upped it to more, more like 80%, or 90%. then, i think you'd have some impact. the question would be what kind of impact?\n\ni think there'd be some kind of panic in the administration, but there would have to be more going on that just people staying home. large-scale protests? they don't seem to have much impact anymore. but if the people didn't just opt out of voting, but created interesting local alternatives to replace government on a communitarian sort of model, then i think there'd be--if not change on government's level, a slow eroding of their ability to influence our lives and hurt us. not voting is not enough. you've got to replace the government with more community-centered activity.
310653
America will not and cannot mind it's own business.  That's because business will mind America.  Business interests own America.  When you see us try engaging in foreign policy... it is to protect our private businesses and industries.\n\nNationalism was superceded by big business a long time ago.\n\nIs this a bad  thing?  Sometimes yes and sometimes no.  It depends on the scenario.
567462
No. I would think that re-election and good governance have no statistically significant correlation, and in some cases, have an inverse relationship. \n\nIn the US, the trend is for worse government, as officeholders increasingly abuse their spending authority to buy votes, and fail to take hard but necessary actions because it may affect their re-election. Increasingly, they act based on polls and popularity, rather than principle.\n\nBasically, we are now deep into the 'bread and circuses' type governance that brought down the Roman republic.
687624
Political system of the US. Sorry to break it to you, but this will most probably not change.
919981
You are absolutely right. If noone in this country voted for anyone, then YES, there would still be someone elected for office. They would still say that there were voters, even when there wasn't. Actually, the day we all agree to NOT vote........ Period, is the day that the goverment officials won't care, it will no longer matter that we find out that its all staged at that point, because by then, they have us so controled and under wraps per say, that we won't be able to do anything anyway. Its rather funny I think. 30% of the people here in the USA don't vote even if they are registered to. 15-20% are not registered voters. Then you have all the felons and the prisons and those that have lost their voting priveledge. Thats another 30%. At least. There is still a large portion of the people that vote in the USA, however, its the higher elected officials who's votes matter. Watch the poles, you can see it for your own eyes. Its the majority votes in the house and the senate that counts. NOT US. They just do this to make us think that we count, that the people still have a say even though we don't. It won't be long now before this country turns its own army against us. We will be a police country before long. Its sad. We thought we were free, and all along, we were given a little while they were taking alot away from us. We never saw it comeing. We work for a small pay that barely keeps our heads above the water. If work applied with you instead of you appling to work for them, what would be your self worth? How much would you charge that company to employ you? I bet it would be more then $6 -$9 an hour. I know my self worth, sweat, and hard labor is worth more then that to me. But to this country......... our physical body labor and the pains and the down falls from that labor that comes when we are older is and means nothing to the officials of this country. What is their hard labor? Signing wagers, ledgers, passing new laws, making meetings, lunches, dinners, riding in limos, have security to protect them, making public announcments. And how much do they earn? A few million a year, live in a big fancy, comfortable home, and never worry about getting through the day with a nickle, a quarter, and a few pennies in their pockets because they just paid the rent, their car insurance, and the light bill. We are real trouble, and we have been since Bush got into office. Noone thought twice about this. Come to find out, this war was all about the Iraq oil. Bush and his greed to have their oil. This is what our husbands, and sons, and daughters, and wives are dieing for and have died for. Blessed be.................\n\nPs... when is it that we make the laws and decide on new ledgers and how and when are the people invited to make these  changes or not? We don't. We are given a few to vote on during the voteing period, but look at the majority of law changes and new laws being added that are soulie up to the goverment officials, the house and the senate and the president everyday, that we are not apart of, that we find out once they have been made and decided for US.............. We never had a say in anything. we are pawns on a chess board and its the goverment that is playing us on a daily basis.
137402
No because otherwise all Americans would have to go to Washington to vote. We are a republic.
1036354
It would be more about policy and less of a popularity contest. Decisions would become less political and more about getting the job done.\n\nUnfortunately it would still leave the agenda of securing another term in power; this is one of the main factors influencing government today. Read in my answer to your other Q about my thoughts on solving this.\n\nBetter yet, why not put desicions to vote on Y!A?
276863
I'm not sure it would work.  I think we would have to test easier ways of voting first.  Then find ways to curtail the fraud that will come with it.\n\nBesides, as an American I know how easy my fellow Americans get bored.  We have a short attention span, so eventually all of the voting would be done by people who do nothing but sit around and vote.  Kinda sounds like the system we have now.
84908
It's not likely for a couple of reasons.  First, campaign finance laws rig the system in favor of Demopublicans and Republicrats.  Second, if an issue championed by a small, independent party becomes big enough, one of the two major parties will take it over as their own.\nMore Americans should register as Independents - that's the American way to vote!
655997
no but we won't be talking about it after the elections because this issue which has been around since 1849 seems to come up when politicians need distractions from the real issues affecting America such as:   corporate welfare, millions of Americans uninsured, the working poor, minimum wage increases!!, war in Iraq, WMD's, Katrina, CIA leaks, diminishing civil rights, disparity between rich and poor, using God's name for political gain, and many other issues that truly affect Americans everyday..... and not this crap about illegal immigrants being the cause of all of America's problems!!!!!
200690
because if it was on the weekend, it would be so much easier for working people to vote. We wouldn't want that, would we?
818633
No far from it....the fact that we are at war shows our involvement in world issues,as well as our own....The next Presidential election will reveal poll & Government involvement among the population of voters,& I believe it will bring those out to vote that maybe wouldnt otherwise..Some are saying the current situations are discouraging & influencing their desire to vote,little do they realize that this is the time to be heard & make a difference by doing so..\nSo many are quick to criticise men & women in office,yet they didn't even cast a vote,that is just wrong...Yep,I see us involved from here on out..USA rocks!
574128
I think it's stupid and it amounts to bribery. Let's take a Wednesday off, mid-week and go vote. Every absolutely non-essential business just shut down and go vote. If the mexicans can march in our streets chanting for their rights then we need a work-day, a prominent work-day, to get out and vote. People celebrate the 4th of july, people will get out and vote on Voting Day. If we have one. Business has to make some room for civics. If they'll let foreigners skip work to go protest then by golly they can bite their lip and let actual citizens go VOTE.
1161579
The most important benefactor to the voting process is the person doing the voting. There is a disconnect between those who don't vote and the society around themselves. It's a symptom of diminished self-image ..... ie., "My voice isn't important enough to count," vs. "Even if my voice isn't heard by the masses, I'll speak up." As for me, I hate politics, but I love our system. I don't believe in being a victim by default. Hey look, I spoke up. Does this count as a vote?
587238
Well it would depend on the Constitution of the particular country.  But as an example the United States and Great Britain both have bi-cameral legistative systems.
274254
Most americans who dont vote do so because they either dont care or dont think their vote counts. One thing that i feel would make a difference in the number of voters in this country would change the system to be a direct election and get rid of the electoral college. Another thing that could be done is what some countrys like Australia do and fine those people who do not vote, another possibility would be to make election day a national holiday like Italy does and surprising ly Italy has the highest percentage of the national poulation of voting age that vote.
574457
Of course government is politics!  They sort of go hand in hand.  And the answer to the original question is hypocrisy, and it has to do with money and power.  Unfortunately for the US citizens, the current administration is more focused on a personal agenda than what's good for the country or the world for that matter.  My hope is that all this will inspire people to get off their lazy butts and do something, like VOTE!  All the complaining in the world won't do a good if everybody is too lazy to take an active role in their civic duties.