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Commuting by bike to vote

Old 02-03-16, 09:16 PM
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I used to bike or walk to vote (5 min walk, but on the way to work and other places). About 5 years ago they moved the polling place to a school a mile and half away, so now I bike instead of walking.

Occasionally there are short lines; usually there is no wait.
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Old 02-03-16, 10:14 PM
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Originally Posted by AlTheKiller
I have ridden the past few years. I've never had to wait in line either, is that more common in big cities?
A few journalists have looked into this issue, including Greg Palast of the BBC. It appears that there is a definite correlation between the density of minority voters, who tend to vote Democratic, and a shortage of voting machines. There have also been documented programming issues in Florida, where majority-minority precincts' machines are set to accept ballots that have over-votes, which they then don't count, while majority-white precincts have the machines set to spit the ballot back at the voter to make them aware of their mistake.

These are just a few incomplete looks at the situation, so it can't be confused with complete data. However, it does fit with the fact that one party in America desires low participation rates while the other prefers high levels of voter participation.
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Old 02-04-16, 07:49 AM
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I vote by mail, so no need otherwise I probably would.
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Old 02-04-16, 08:42 AM
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Originally Posted by RubeRad
(Similarly for jury selection, I'm not convinced the average joe off the street is really qualified to make an objective decision, and able to see through the bluster and showmanship of an expensive criminal defense attorney, or a smooth-talking ambulance-chaser.)
The jury selection process itself is biased with the goal to select jurors that are most likely to favor the defense or prosecution, or give a big payout, or whatever else the goal is.

There have been rumors that the more knowledgeable jurors with respect to the field in question are often excluded.

HOWEVER,

At least in cases where one has the government vs an individual, one can't always get around a biased judge, but I'd much rather have community members choosing a verdict than it being based solely on government employees.

Oh, and I think I was excluded from a jury, in part because I was a bike commuter
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Old 02-04-16, 08:49 AM
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Originally Posted by CliffordK
Oh, and I think I was excluded from a jury, in part because I was a bike commuter
Let's take a break from the voting thing and you tell that story
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Old 02-04-16, 09:10 AM
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I remember voting in the 2004 Presidential election. I was living with my parents at the time, in a small town in the next county over from Memphis, and voting took place at the local middle school. The line was massive, and I think I waited THREE HOURS to cast my vote. It was pretty insane.

Since I moved to MS in 2005 I don't think I've ever waited more than a few minutes, and sometimes even not at all, for any election I've ever voted in.
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Old 02-04-16, 10:00 AM
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yes.

Short detour from my regular route, less than a mile roundtrip off of the usual path.
The ride isn't the issue. Parking/locking up is the issue in a southern suburban area.
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Old 02-04-16, 10:08 AM
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Originally Posted by CliffordK
Oh, and I think I was excluded from a jury, in part because I was a bike commuter
I remember a case where I was in the jury pool, somebody else was excused basically for not being car owner/driver, I guess because the case centered on injuries from a traffic accident. I was excused because I stated my (honest) opinion that 'pain&suffering' compensation is stupid. Compensate for lost wages, property, medical costs, etc, sure, let's calculate it out. But 'pain&suffering'? Life is pain&suffering. If my feelings are hurt, I can't sue over it. (or shouldn't be able to anyways, but the way this country's been going...
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Old 02-04-16, 10:49 AM
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Originally Posted by RubeRad
I remember a case where I was in the jury pool, somebody else was excused basically for not being car owner/driver, I guess because the case centered on injuries from a traffic accident. I was excused because I stated my (honest) opinion that 'pain&suffering' compensation is stupid. Compensate for lost wages, property, medical costs, etc, sure, let's calculate it out. But 'pain&suffering'? Life is pain&suffering. If my feelings are hurt, I can't sue over it. (or shouldn't be able to anyways, but the way this country's been going...


So... If through my own negligence, I run you over and you lose a leg, you really only want compensation for medical bills and lost wages? Really? You don't think I should have an additional penalty there? Just, "oops, my bad, I'll pay your bills."
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Old 02-04-16, 12:07 PM
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Originally Posted by Darth Lefty
Let's take a break from the voting thing and you tell that story
Originally Posted by RubeRad
I remember a case where I was in the jury pool, somebody else was excused basically for not being car owner/driver, I guess because the case centered on injuries from a traffic accident. I was excused because I stated my (honest) opinion that 'pain&suffering' compensation is stupid. Compensate for lost wages, property, medical costs, etc, sure, let's calculate it out. But 'pain&suffering'? Life is pain&suffering. If my feelings are hurt, I can't sue over it. (or shouldn't be able to anyways, but the way this country's been going...
And, the case was a similar kind of thing.
A woman had been in an auto accident.
She appeared "whole" in the court room.
Apparently she could not play tennis (at all? as well as before?).
No more details since I didn't see the case.

But, somehow bicycling came up and I stated that I hate Downtown Portland Traffic, and rode my bike to the courthouse.
I was singled out and asked "What would you do if you could no longer ride your bike (due to an accident)"?
And I replied that "I would adapt". Apparently the WRONG answer, at least I presume. No question about financial compensation came up.

I'm not getting any younger, and have a few aches and pains here and there Dad also got older, eventually had bilateral knee replacement, stopped hiking, and got horses. He did slow down a bit on the basketball court, but never stopped playing. He may not have been doing fast breaks, but one shouldn't ignore the old guy in the middle of the court. Pass him the ball and it goes in the hoop.

Anyway, life is about change. I'd have to be in pretty bad shape to be completely knocked off of my bike or a trike or a handcycle or a moped. Even so, maybe a new door would open in life.

I still don't have any opinion of the actual tennis case. I keep an open mind, and would need to hear the argument from both sides to really make a decision. No idea if she was an amateur or had pro aspirations.
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Old 02-04-16, 02:54 PM
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Originally Posted by lostarchitect
So... If through my own negligence, I run you over and you lose a leg, you really only want compensation for medical bills and lost wages? Really? You don't think I should have an additional penalty there? Just, "oops, my bad, I'll pay your bills."
Yup. You might also get penalized by losing your license or something, but that's nothing to me.
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Old 02-06-16, 07:34 AM
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Yes I do at the local public school which is 1 block away. I bring the bike right in to the smiles of the older folks working the polls and the police officer assigned there for the shift.
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Old 02-06-16, 09:01 PM
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If I didn't have to vote by absentee ballot I suppose I would.

To those that do: I think that riding your bike to vote is awesome. Two of the things that make 'freedom' come to mind are voting and cycling.
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Old 02-06-16, 09:13 PM
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Old 02-07-16, 07:44 AM
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Bicycling is my primary form of transportation; it takes me everywhere, even home to Maryland when visiting family.

BTW, my polling station doesn't have a bike rack, so it gets locked up to the handrail at the entrance
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Old 02-07-16, 07:59 AM
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I have for decades. Sometimes in the past, twice a year; local elections in May and state and federal elections in November.
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