Would you elect the president via text message? 61 percent say 'Y'
Filed under: Cellphones
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Brent @ Apr 21st 2008 4:00PM
Secret option 3????
Synthaxx @ Apr 21st 2008 4:45PM
Option 3 is Robot Nixon. You don't want that, BELIEVE ME.
Ignatius @ Apr 21st 2008 5:50PM
What, for the President of Earth?
Sporkinum @ Apr 21st 2008 5:52PM
Inanimate Carbon Rod..
Jeff @ Apr 21st 2008 4:00PM
I vote 1...it'll be a nice change of pace.
Johan S @ Apr 21st 2008 5:42PM
omg i vt 4 prz!!
w?
1
omg fsct!!
sry :(
Bender123 @ Apr 21st 2008 4:04PM
Q: What will the brain slugs do to help the working man?
A: Implant more brain slugs.
I love futurama...
mac @ Apr 21st 2008 6:03PM
Sure, you say that now....
bigdoggie @ Apr 21st 2008 4:06PM
*presses 1*
OHSHI-
BowserUSC @ Apr 21st 2008 4:10PM
Ridiculous. What a bunch of lazy Americans we are that we can't even show up to vote and decide the direction our country would take. I really find this disgusting.
OneLove @ Apr 21st 2008 4:12PM
...and how do we verify the integrity of our text votes?
Jeff @ Apr 21st 2008 4:17PM
Manual recount.
Zak @ Apr 21st 2008 4:20PM
But what if the end result was that more people voted than ever before? Wouldn't that be a good thing? Or is that disgusting too?
BowserUSC @ Apr 21st 2008 4:24PM
Yes that's exactly what makes it disgusting. People don't care enough to get up and go vote but if someone gives them a way to do it that doesn't require any effort, then they have no problem. It's disgusting that people will only vote if they don't have to exert any effort.
Mark @ Apr 21st 2008 4:31PM
I actually remember reading somewhere that it was economically disadvantageous for a person to vote. He would be better off, microeconomically, to just not vote.
Zak @ Apr 21st 2008 6:00PM
Bowser, that doesn't make any sense. The point is for people to vote, and you're saying you would prefer that less people vote. You're way too concerned with the method by which people vote. You need to be more concerned with the number of people that are voting, because that's what's important. Not whether they get out of their chair to do it.
Rusty @ Apr 21st 2008 9:34PM
Amen on the lazy Americans. Personally, I'd prefer an IQ test or some other test before someone was allowed to vote. Some people are completely clueless.
Plus, I'd love to see ANYONE show me in the constitution where you have a
"right" to vote in a FEDERAL election.
bondsbw @ Apr 21st 2008 9:38PM
I don't really care if people don't vote.
Scratch that; I seriously HATE this whole movement that urges uninformed people to go out and vote.
I encourage people to get informed and make a decision that truly matters to them, but voting for the sake of saying you voted is an abomination.
paul34 @ Apr 21st 2008 9:55PM
Right, because the citizens of the United States *really* have a say in what their country does, right?
If you honestly believe that I have some swamp land on the moon with Elvis' summer cottage with him still in it watching TV for sale.
Wwhat @ Apr 21st 2008 10:39PM
I like the present system where only intelligent americans vote.. bush in... twice....
ogvor @ Apr 21st 2008 11:05PM
I'd have to agree that I wouldn't vote via text message for that reason. To vote is to make an incredibly important, nuacned, and personal decision, one that requires more than a simple "dmcrt" or "rplcn" (though it seems many mindlessly vote that way anyway). I do however, believe that the ridiculously high voter turnouts for these past Democrat (and even the Republican) primaries and caucuses shows a renewed interest in the elections unlike we have ever scene: Where we lazy idiots in 2004? Yeah. 2000? Since Gore technically got the popular vote, no, but still sorta...
OneLove @ Apr 22nd 2008 11:14AM
look what happened when dumb people vote. We got bush for 4 more years! I would what these people are saying now? lol.
Ghen @ Apr 23rd 2008 10:05AM
Nobody's read freakonomics here? Text voting would make people vote -LESS- because there's no social aspect of being seen at the polls doing your civic duty.
Making things easier is not always the solution, you have to also look at why people -DO- vote and build on that.
Lane @ Apr 21st 2008 4:11PM
I'd be really nervous if this ever happened.
I.E @ Apr 21st 2008 4:38PM
It will never happen. Funny though how people wonder why americans are so fat. it's not the food. we're just too damn lazy as a whole!
Blaktornado @ Apr 21st 2008 4:13PM
Oh ho ho isn't it fun mocking people?
teej @ Apr 21st 2008 5:24PM
yeah, welcome to the internet.
av8or @ Apr 21st 2008 9:14PM
There's nothing more exhilarating than pointing out the shortcomings of others, is there?
LordJohnWhorfin @ Apr 21st 2008 4:14PM
Just in case you didn't think this country was doomed...
Cronick @ Apr 21st 2008 4:21PM
In a true democracy, every citizen votes on every issue. If it weren't for hackers mucking up the process, I would just as soon do away with all the politicians who, much like hackers, muck up the process.
Josh L @ Apr 21st 2008 5:07PM
@ Cronick
I'm not sure what the hell you're going on about. America isn't a "true Democracy", we're a Representative Republic. Hackers have nothing to do with anything.
BowserUSC @ Apr 21st 2008 5:11PM
That's why anyone who says we live in a democracy is an ignorant fool. If you knew anything about the US then you would know we live in a democratic republic, where you elect representatives.
ethana2 @ Apr 21st 2008 5:22PM
Cronick: I am an advocate of IT based meritocratic omniarchy. ...not quite the same thing as democracy, you know, but I think it's what you meant.
MeAtyPi @ Apr 21st 2008 4:17PM
OMG!!! I is wanting to elect da prez thru my fone bcuz its easy.
Ray @ Apr 21st 2008 6:24PM
how do i reach these kids?
Moo2 @ Apr 21st 2008 9:56PM
txts
ja$on @ Apr 21st 2008 4:21PM
Idk, my bff Hill?
makishima @ Apr 21st 2008 4:27PM
I'm really not sure if I hate you for reminding me those commercials existed or if that was funny
Ian @ Apr 21st 2008 4:47PM
lol its because it was funny and you know it... not the fact that people are actually saying things like idk and lol and brb in real life. because that would just be depressing........... my god my friends are the sign of the apocalypse.
teej @ Apr 21st 2008 5:26PM
MY BFF JILL****
RTFC
Anthony H. @ Apr 21st 2008 6:51PM
Umm teej, he said Hill on purpose referring to Hillary Clinton.
Idiot.
Colin @ Apr 21st 2008 4:21PM
Is there a reason you have to be so sarcastic about it? Certainly doesn't help make you look like a legitimate news-gathering organization.
Raptor007 @ Apr 21st 2008 5:21PM
Because it's such a stupid idea maybe?
Kurtis @ Apr 21st 2008 6:44PM
or because engadget isn't "a legitimate news-gathering organization", it's a blog.
interlard @ Apr 21st 2008 4:23PM
I'm not sure it's bad thing to make it easier to vote. I don't agree with the article or the other commenters that just because it's easy, the vote will be swayed by morons who don't know what they're doing.
This used to be the justification for making hard for blacks to vote. And we all know what a crappy idea that turned out to be.
We do all know, right?
Nate @ Apr 21st 2008 4:24PM
If you can't drag your ass out to the polls, you have no business voting.
Josh L @ Apr 21st 2008 5:03PM
Yeah, screw those Armed Forces jackasses! What the hell are they doing in some other country instead of being here to vote?
And those goddamn disabled people... THOSE lazy slugs should have no say in the democratic process if they can't even move their legs!
Let's just do away with Absentee Ballots altogether, since Nate considers everyone who uses one a second-class citizen!
pito189 @ Apr 21st 2008 5:05PM
Because I can't miss class and work, stand in line for hours and then vote, I am lazy?
Nate @ Apr 21st 2008 5:08PM
The polls are open very early, and late into the evening. If you can't make it, that's your problem.
Nate @ Apr 21st 2008 5:11PM
Josh, you are the perfect example for why text voting shouldn't happen.
You're too much of a moron to realize why it's a bad idea.