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If You Don't Vote...Don't Complain

By
Real Estate Agent with Certified Realty Services BRE# 00572654

If You Don't Vote...Don't Complain.

That's what my sweet wife reminded me this morning.  Since I like to complain, I figured I better vote.

I already had my absentee ballot but I hadn't yet mailed it in.  So I marked my ballot at home and rode my bicycle about a 1.5 miles to Saratoga City Hall, the only polling place in Saratoga for this primary.

I was surprised no one was waiting in line to vote and just one person was in a voting booth.  That's the fewest people voting I've seen.  Perhaps there was just a lull while I was there, or perhaps people mailed absentee ballots, that was my original intention.

Since I had already filled-in my ballot all I needed to do was seal and sign the envelope, and put it in the brown box.  I think the brown box was for laggards like me--those who had unmailed absentee ballots.

I can even track my ballot with a new QR code.  Pretty high tech.

The multi-lingual population in Santa Clara County can be deduced from the 'Vote Here' sign.  Does anyone know what language "Bumoto Dito" is?  I like the rada tat tat sound. The other three are easy: Spanish, Vietnamese and Mandarin.

     

Lloyd Binen

Broker/Realtor/DRE 572654

Certified Residential Specialist (CRS); Graduate, Realtors Institute (GRI)

19200 Shubert Drive

Saratoga, CA 95070

408-373-4411; e-mail

Comments (12)

Cindy Jones
Integrity Real Estate Group - Woodbridge, VA
Pentagon, Fort Belvoir & Quantico Real Estate News

You are correct, if you don't participate in the process then don't complain about the outcome.  We often take for granted what millions of others wish they had the opportunity to do.

Jun 05, 2012 10:07 AM
Lloyd Binen
Certified Realty Services - Saratoga, CA
Silicon Valley Realtor since 1976; 408-373-4411

Yeah Cindy, like the Egyptians who just got to vote freely for the first time in 5000 years.  Long time to wait.  Thanks.

Jun 05, 2012 10:18 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

I agree.  If you don't vote you have no right to complain when the elected person doesn't do what you like.

Jun 05, 2012 10:36 AM
Lloyd Binen
Certified Realty Services - Saratoga, CA
Silicon Valley Realtor since 1976; 408-373-4411

Thanks William,  Seems like they don't do what I want whether I vote for them or not.  At least now I can complain.

Jun 05, 2012 10:42 AM
Kathy Sheehan
Bay Equity, LLC 770-634-4021 - Atlanta, GA
Senior Loan Officer

Those that are not willing to voice their opinion (through their vote) have no right to complain.

Jun 05, 2012 10:50 AM
Leslie G. Rojohn
MoonDancer Realty - Sylva, NC
GRI, ABR ~ MoonDancer Realty

I have voted in every election and primary since I was 21 years old.  It is only since 2000 that I have come to believe it doesn't matter anymore.

Jun 05, 2012 11:41 AM
Mark Loewenberg
KW of the Palm Beaches - Palm Beach Gardens, FL
KW 561-214-0370

yes if you vote you can speak, if not keep it inside your own mind, it is a priviledge. 

Jun 05, 2012 11:50 AM
Richard Weisser
Richard Weisser Realty - Newnan, GA
Richard Weisser Retired Real Estate Professional

Lloyd...

It's a privilege that we should take advantage of at every opportunity

Jun 05, 2012 11:55 AM
Lloyd Binen
Certified Realty Services - Saratoga, CA
Silicon Valley Realtor since 1976; 408-373-4411

Kathy,  that's exactly what my wife told me this morning.  So I voted.  Thanks.

Leslie, so you haven't voted since 2000?  You gotta vote.

Mark, thanks.  That's what I figure too.

Richard,  Agreed.  Did you see the pictures of the long voting lines in Egypt last week?

Jun 05, 2012 01:23 PM
Leslie G. Rojohn
MoonDancer Realty - Sylva, NC
GRI, ABR ~ MoonDancer Realty

Oh, I have voted.  Every election and primary.  But I just don't believe it matters, really.  I think our elections are as crooked as some third world countries we insist on monitoring.  The oligarchs own our congress and our supreme court, and half of the country is so filled with hate and selfishness that the thought of helping anyone but themselves is no longer even a possibility.

Jun 05, 2012 10:44 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

I have to agree with Leslie....crooked politicians have made it seem like it's hopeless.  I would love to believe that's not true.

Jun 06, 2012 01:48 AM
Lloyd Binen
Certified Realty Services - Saratoga, CA
Silicon Valley Realtor since 1976; 408-373-4411

Leslie and Sharon, yes, it's easy to become cynical, but you mustn't.

 

Jun 06, 2012 05:06 AM