Comments on: Have You Registered to Vote Yet?

By: Capillary Refill: Old Blood, New Perfusion » Blog Archive » Register To Vote: A Picture Is Worth…

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 12:17:27 +0000

[...] graphic from Flowing Data is… graphic. Democracy is like the New York State lottery (depressingly so [...]

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:45:48 +0000

@Nathan — Your vote will count for something: it will make you feel good. And that’s a fine (and the only rational) reason to vote as your ballot certainly will not influence the outcome of the election.

I should add that I enjoy your blog. I just get my knickers in a snit over most matters politics.

By: Nathan Yau

Nathan Yau — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:27:17 +0000

@Angel – excellent!

@Tim – noooo. surely my vote must count for something.

By: Tim

Tim — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 21:20:34 +0000

My single vote does not help determine federal research funding for National Defense, Health, etc. Imagine these scenarios:

a) I cast my ballot for McCain
b) I cast my ballot for Obama
c) I cast my ballot for a write-in candidate
d) I abstain from voting

Will federal funding be influenced by any of these actions? No. Funding has no relationship to what I do on November 4th.

Voting is a symbolic act that makes the voter feel good about himself.

By: Angel

Angel — Wed, 24 Sep 2008 19:29:14 +0000

Agreed. I’ve saved several over the years to be added into my random wallpaper program. My dept is pretty poor in comparison to my roomies (mech eng & geology), but this comic always makes me feel glad i’m not in a lab.
(Or does being in front of a computer 24/7 essentially the same thing?)

Btw.. Yes I’m registered!