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Is Voting Rational? Yes, Scientists Say.

If your vote is decisive, it will make a difference for tens of millions of people. If you think your preferred candidate could bring the equivalent of a $100 improvement in the quality of life to the average person in your country—not an implausible hope, given the size of national budgets and the impact of decisions in foreign policy, health, the environment, and other areas—you’re now buying a billion-dollar lottery ticket. With this payoff, a 1 in 10 million chance of being decisive isn't bad odds. picked by maxriter 7 months ago

tags vote chance science

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19	buddha

7 months ago

Sorry, voting is only ratoinal if you don't have a electoral college making all your decisions for you. Generally speaking, your vote only counts if you vote with the majority of your state, and even then it's no guarentee. If the electoral college does not feel that the choice the state made is valid, rational, or correct, they may vote however they please, though this has never happened. The chances of a thrid party winning are nill, because even if they actually won a state, it is extremely doubtfull if they could win the country, maybe if G.W. Bush ran against Jimmy Carter and Nader showed up, then Nader might have a fighting chance, but even with presidencies as weak as Carter and Bush's, it's still doubtfull. Don't fool yourself, your vote only matters if we get rid of the Electoral College.

Here is a link to the information from the 2000 presidential election. Tell me voting is rational and your vote counted now.

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17	chinook

7 months ago

"Landslide Annie" won her riding in my city by 7 votes. I always vote, because I do believe my little 'x' in the box can make a difference.

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8	1thirtee...

7 months ago

« buddha : Sorry, voting is only ratoinal if you don't have a electoral college making all your decisions for you. Generally speaking, your vote only counts if you vote with the majority of your state, and even then it's no guarentee. If the electoral college does not feel that the choice the state made is valid, rational, or correct, they may vote however they please, though this has never happened. The chances of a thrid party winning are nill, because even if they actually won a state, it is extremely doubtfull if they could win the country, maybe if G.W. Bush ran against Jimmy Carter and Nader showed up, then Nader might have a fighting chance, but even with presidencies as weak as Carter and Bush's, it's still doubtfull. Don't fool yourself, your vote only matters if we get rid of the Electoral College.

Here is a link to the information from the 2000 presidential election. Tell me voting is rational and your vote counted now.

Not even addressing the Electoral College, that's how all elections work. Your argument is ridiculous. Unless you vote with the majority, your vote doesn't really matter...in all elections.

In my opinion, voting for someone who can win is ridiculous too, because it's a wasted vote. The only time your vote doesn't matter is if you vote for something you don't believe in.

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10	ieldanth

7 months ago

Guess what majorities are made of?

Individual voters.

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