Can you leave a space on a ballot unmarked? Because my US Rep options are a tool and kind of incompetent, respectively, and I don't want either of them in office.

(Kevin Yoder is the tool, BTW. HELL. NO.)

I vote against "MY" interest because I strongly believe that I am not the center of the fucking universe.

Exactly!

As for your cousins' opinions, well, there's also the tribalism thing. Tribal associations outweigh logic nearly every time. It's not that they think their vote will hurt anyone, it's that "their people" know that the world is better off if those people on welfare are forced to go back to work.

So that's the way they vote, in order to keep in good standing with "their people". And if you show them a blind study prepared by a non-partisan group refuting that assertion, they'll claim it's just the biased liberal media making up facts again.

Takes a lot to deny what all the people in your social unit are telling you is true, especially when we can now tailor our media experiences to match just what we want to hear.

So, what I am saying is that I often vote for thing thing that is going to require more money from me. Because it's the fucking right thing to do as a member of this country that I do love.

I just had to put this there because yes, exactly.

Which is why I read through all the propositions, and sometimes vote for stupid ones, because I think they are best for the human race.

If I thought voting was all about me the world would be very different. As in more, pie, more kitties, less pollen and possibly a dimmer on the sun some mornings. and no talking before 10am . Less complaining.

Beth, I love your last paragraph. :-)

this is what I'll be watching instead of the election

[link]

It looks like my friend's pie business will get a chance to grow

I will be talking pie

I think Marine One just flew over. That was LOUD.

I make my crust by hand, using a dough cutter, which IMNSHO is the way to go. I was baking at mom's house last year, she doesn't have a dough cutter, so I used the food processor instead. Crust was fine, but a hand crust is better. Mine is flour, butter, salt, sugar, and water. I can do it in my sleep.

Pie crust is simple, but mine is often inconsistant. I don't always pay attention. I need to rember 1) cold and 2) rest and let it hydrate.

Pie is good to think about when you aren't sleeping

GRONK. AWAKE AT 4 AM. WHYYYY? (KHHHHHAAANNNN!)

Need all the coffee. But can vote at 6! Upside?

On voting for the good of the country: A very conservative professor at my uni told me the other day that his/her vote would be for Obama because his positions on social justice issues . Clearly s/he has issues with abortion and same sex marriage, but s/he couldn't throw the poor under the bus to get there. It was a jaw dropping admission.