Discuss Norah Vincent's Nov. 11 Op-Ed column

There were more than two presidential candidates. The media empires chose to focus only on two. There are more than two points of view in the USA, and it's terrible that our "winner takes all" system hasn't been improved. All other democracies in the world have several main parties, and they get a lot more done because no one party dominates.

Jesse @ 4:10 PM PST, Nov 11, 2008

Your choices weren't limited to Obama or McCain. With your libertarian ideals, you could have cast a vote for Bob Barr, or written in Ron Paul. Instead, your inaction helped perpetuate the media-fed forced-choice fallacy: Republican or Democrat. Considering that both Obama and McCain voted for that ridiculous bailout, the only difference between the two is not one of substance but of style.

JT @ 4:01 PM PST, Nov 11, 2008

This was a lovely opinion piece but it drives me nearly crazy. How on earth could you not vote? I waited for 20 years to vote and in late 2006 finally took the oath of citizenship. Voting was, for me, a monumental moment that I shared with my children. You're right to feel wistful about your decision and perhaps your regret will fuel your desire to be a part of the process hereafter. Please vote next time and every time for whomever you think will best lead us. Voting is the bit that makes this whole thing work!

Christopher Dael @ 3:59 PM PST, Nov 11, 2008

GREAT contribution to this forum. I didn't vote either, but for vastly different reasons (moral reason). Yet, I worked on the campaign for 6 weeks full time. I still understand you misgivings. I don't believe in the concept of government but I do see the educational value of campaigning.

Jim Freedom @ 3:45 PM PST, Nov 11, 2008

I do think you missed out but mostly on making history. I also didnt think we had it in us to make this happen but I'm so glad we did. I am also so proud to say that I was an actual part of history. I will carry that pride with me forever. I say just make sure you dont do that again because you never know what you might be missing!

Amber @ 3:43 PM PST, Nov 11, 2008

It isn't about "penalizing people who make more than $250,000 a year." It's about revoking the ruinous tax giveaway to that same group eight years ago.

EdC @ 3:42 PM PST, Nov 11, 2008

I am so disgusted with all the talk and blind faith in a president-elect that has yet to accomplish a single notable act in his short and unnotable political career. This goes to show how uneducated the american population truly is, voting with emotion is not going to solve our nation's current issues any more than repeating "Yes We Can" ad naseaum. I will be the first to say I am wrong but my instinct screams charlatan.

Jeff @ 3:40 PM PST, Nov 11, 2008

@ Timothy G. Mack tgsm56@yahoo.com I think this "intellectual curiosity" thing that you refer to is actually one's ability to think something through using logic and intellect and use the results to make decisions, rather than not using logic and intellect and making decisions based on dogma and ideology.

Jen @ 3:36 PM PST, Nov 11, 2008

Norah, you are not a libertarian. You are simply a fool.

Windfall @ 3:34 PM PST, Nov 11, 2008

I am a gen-x deep cynic "world has betrayed me blah blah" type as well. But I always voted. Sure most were write-ins, but when the chips were down in 2004, I voted democratic against Bush. This time felt different - I knew I was voting not for my views, but for all those kids I saw on tv, who truly believed they could challenge the system. And by god they did it. I was proud to help.

Sigh... @ 3:30 PM PST, Nov 11, 2008

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