John Rael Giving Away His Vote

[chrisis138]

GREASY PIG.

[JoeDeceiver]

I effing hate the stupid *tick, tick, tick* women that are always in lines! I'm ALWAYS getting *tick, tick, tick*-ed by them whenever I say or do anything. It sure is there right, but it's my right to wish they'd be killed, as well.

[CH3MIS7RY]

am i the only one who finds it odd the dude's name is john rael...john and rael are the two main characters from genesis' 1974 album "the lamb lies down on broadway"?

[JoeDeceiver]

If Phil Collins wasn't the anti-christ, it'd be odd.

[AlekNovy]

The polling inspector. She's hot.

[Burgley1]

penn really announced YouTube at the beginningh of the video it annoys me

[0thatdudewill0]

lol i dont think it was annoying...it was kinda funny but not in a make-fun-of way...more like, an older dude still having a knowledge of new things but still mispronouncing it

[pennsays]

@0thatdudewill0 I think it was just a mis-speak specific to that sentence.

[0thatdudewill0]

hmm, i commented so long ago this doesnt have any frame of reference anymore. but cool you answered appreciated sir

[pennsays]

@0thatdudewill0 I'm not Penn, actually, just helping out with the comments. Thanks for commenting back! :-)

[0thatdudewill0]

oh haha, still good to know my things are being read

[Paxadzor]

boring

[thewildbunny]

That was such a good cup of coffee. I didn't go to that Starbucks much before, but now I do all the time. I'm now "that girl" and the staff smile at me and remember my usual drink order. It brightens my day to go there.

[mrfrogdaddy]

ill happily sell my voting rights to the highest bidder. i only did it once, and realized i was wasting time

you rock penn

[SimonPeter168]

yeah i'm sure barr would have won if starbucks didn't give away the coffee.

[dollaresque]

Yes some lobbyists would qualify as good if they basically act in the same way as lawyers do for judges. Lawyers represent one side yet they do help the judge make the decision by helping with all the proper research, anticipating questions, and addressing what the other side has to say. So good lawyers help judges same way good lobbyists help congresspeople and the lawgivers decide on issues.

The problem is that many lobbyists aren't as good & employ questionable tactics to achieve their end!

[joeyvic]

My American politics professor used the same argument stating that special interest groups did research for our congressmen, thus justifying them as good and necessary. Although, this does not change the fact that special interests groups give money to *our* congress members in exchange for their vote and/or backing of their interest. Special interest groups do not represent the people they represent their interest. Special interests groups are an unnecessary evil.

[Dukems08]

Whatever you do, don't sell your vote. A man tried to sell his vote on Craig's list, and received over a year in jail. I'll have to re-check to see who it was, but I know it happened.

[J0llyR0ger]

Hey Penn, is that sled named "Rosebud" ??

[SimonPeter168]

hardy har har

[edward9145]

My thinking is that most Americans are conditioned by many generations that they are either Republican or Democrats. In other words my daddy's daddy was a Democrat so I am too.

Conditioning takes many years and to keep it interesting many think they are rooting for there favorite football team when confronted.

To me that type of thinking is a total waste of an educated vote.

Emotions become paramount.

[jugger99777]

Friends of mine accused me of giving away my vote when i cast a ballot for libertarian candidate Bob Barr. Without fault, they all agreed that voting with conviction was stupid and wasterful when your candidate was a garunteed loser.

[Verator]

Your friends are idiots. I guess this is how most idiots see things though.

[Clausfarre]

Give away their coat? Why would anyone want to give away their coat?

Oh, vote. He said vote. My mistake..

[Koujinkamu]

... what?

[aposynthesi]

time to pick a different camera angle penn.

[GraniteLarry1974]

We're listening Penn! You are an great person in my book! I still remember the death penalty paradox you uncovered on your bullsh*t episode. Great material really makes people think! Love ya keep up the great work trying to get your opinion out there and make a positive difference.

[pennsays]

Do you have questions for Penn or topics you would like to hear his opinion on? Please send a message! =)

[Seventhsqueal]

I was disappointed when I watched the original post and there was no UFO cult leader surrounded by naked nubiles dispensing pro-cloning literature and giving away his vote.

[makaisenki]

That guy must have misssed the one where Penn said "Don't listen to me i'm just a celebrity"

[previewreview]

I think I did miss that one :)

[BowmanGT]

Remember, the only to have wasted your vote, was to vote...

...for Bob Barr

;)

[CeraSeptem]

No.

[purplecharger88]

Try that again.

[DCStream]

Penn, do you think it is right that today decisions are made based on how much political capitol they hold, rather then appeal to technical experts and world needs? Isn't selling your vote basically the same principle?

In the idea of political capitol, the needs of the few outweigh the many. When selling your votes, the needs of the few (politicians, no I am not a hippie) outweigh the many. Of course the voters can net a nice profit, but at what cost? A vicious circle?

[pennsays]

What do you mean by political capitol?

[DCStream]

Political capitAl. Sorry, I use it often and spell it wrong often. Political Capital is a public figure's favorable image among the populace and other important public figures.

It's a theoretical term for what and how much the president can do. Sort of like a "happiness meter".

The problem with political capitol is that no decisions are made based on technical experts, or any expert in the field for that matter.

[pennsays]

I'm sorry if I seem dense but I want to understand your point. So you are stating that decisions are made in order to increase or maintain a politicians favorable image?

[DCStream]

Well, for the most part, yes. Now, when I say that, i'm not saying every politician is evil. Some actually are selfless. But to many politicians - too many today, it is a job. They need political capital to keep their job. Like I said, the decisions are based off of how much political capital they hold rather than if it is what the populace want, or if it is the best option we have.

And also on that note, I am not saying that ALL decisions are made for political capital.

Is this Robby or Penn?

[DrumWild]

If voting really, truly changed anything, it would have been made illegal decades ago.

[DCStream]

Good point... but voting does change things.

[purplecharger88]

Just my personal opinion but I see not voting as voting none of the above or not voting for that office.

[pennsays]

Actually I would disagree with you. Not voting and voting for none of the above are two distinctly different things. With not voting your vote is not being counted in any way. With voting for none of the above your vote is being counted in some form.

[ShortbusMooner]

I have the office numbers for all of my state reps, programmed into my phone. I call them & keep them in line at the drop of a hat! ;)

[badazz5001]

pepole your vote does not mean shit we live a country where electoral congriss members can vote for whoever they want meaning our vote means nothing

[pennsays]

Having representative vote on the laws is better than having everyone vote on the laws. A true democracy is very inefficient and too cumbersome to react to the environment.

[deanobeany]

its half 2 when im watching this right now, shhh robbie

[badazz5001]

no there is no law stopping an eletoral college memeber from voting formsomne the majoritey of an area did not vote for mening your vote menas nothing and is a sugiestion

[purplecharger88]

Wrong many states do have faithless elector laws that read along the lines of "if you don't vote how you are support to you lose your job." Also two states have laws where there vote can be changed to what it should be should the vote wrong. All this has been stated as constitutional by the Supreme Court so if your worried about faithless electors than maybe you should be talking to your state reps.

[darkreign16]

Already taking advantage of the wide screen? Nice. 5'd

[cinndave]

People love to hate lobbyists because they're so influential, and most of them are hired by greedy business interests. Lobbyists are good. Lobbyists are the most effective way to get through to congress. Instead of interacting with reps directly, interest groups hire professionals make their case. No matter what your interest, there's a PAC that specializes in it and lobbys for it.

[pennsays]

Like the movie Brewster's Millions? What would do if the None of the above actually won?

[Gardenghoul]

Did Penn give the ok for you to post comments? It seems very easy for someone to misinterpret your comments as his own, unless you're constantly reminding them.

[banoboman]

I took my 8 year old daughters in the booth with me and told them what buttons to press. No hassle except for the poll worker who objected to my children getting an "I voted" sticker (Value of stickers 1/6 of a penny) Next time if the poll worker says anything I will give her two cents and tell her she may keep the change.

[poorkinghaggard]

I do not vote in Primaries, period. The popular votes does not technically count, and almost never has. Our 12th Amendment does not mandate electors to vote a certain way.

[pennsays]

The constitutional theory behind the indirect election of both the President and Vice President of the United States is that while the Congress is popularly elected by the people,[16] the President and Vice President are elected to be executives of a federation of independent states. Should we do away with the electoral college?

[kyotova]

In the early days of America this was true but the Civil War proved that states were not in fact "Independent". Today they are just held as Districts of Governing. So what is the point of the electoral college when states are held questionable to the federal government? The system is contradictory in so many ways it's ridiculous to even fathom that they are as independent bodies held under their own legislature now that the federal government has obtained more power than it should have.

[tabooman]

If our vote really "mattered," than the electoral college would be obsolete. Some states could care less who you vote for. I voted for Ralph Nader, yet he wasn't on the Texas ballot. That to me says that our vote really doesn't matter, and that little piece of knowledge alone keeps people away from the booths. People like John Rael have a real courage in saying that he isn't voting. I wish others could be that frank.

[poorkinghaggard]

Yes. Either that, or we reform our current voting system.

There's already holes in it, because clearly Bush did not win his fist election by popular vote, so We did not get what we wanted.

I think it's easier to abuse the current system, by influencing electors to go a certain way. It's harder to change the minds of millions of people.

Am I wrong?

[poorkinghaggard]

I'm not crying conspiracy or anything like that, just be clear ;).

[Microwavish]

Congrats, you're too fucking retarded to understand how electoral votes work

[poorkinghaggard]

Go to Wikipeda, and look-up Electoral College. Then, go read the 12th Amendment in our Constitution. While you are at it, go look at the THREE other times, before Bush, where the popular vote did NOT determine the President, and tell me who is retarded.

Also, be sure to note that there is no mandate for electors to vote a certain way, other than they can not vote for someone from their state.

When you did that, then return and tell me that I am retarded for knowing my history.

[pennsays]

Are you suggesting that we base all of our elections on popular vote?

[poorkinghaggard]

I'm suggesting that we deserve actual representation. If that means amending the current system, or going by popular vote, then I would feel good about voting. We have the technology for it, and it's hard to say no one will be uninformed about their vote with that technology. So, why not allow it on a grander scale.

Seriously, I feel like voting for President is as useful as praying for one.

[rjwical]

We do not even have a Constitutional right to vote to begin with. Article 4 Section 4 of the Constitution states that we live in a Republic. Majority rule is a Democracy, (one in which 51% of the people can take away the rights of the other 49%). You may want to live in a place like that but I certainly would not and I am sure I am not alone in that. The people that have fought and died for our Republic will have died in vain if we continue to give up our freedoms to the majority.

[poorkinghaggard]

Oh, I am not saying everything be done that way. But, the majority has a right to choose their leader, and that does not always happen-- and I have been ridiculed by voters that seems to thin it does. We have a checks and balances system which prevents individuals from being abused, and I would not want to see that happen.

[pennsays]

Yes I find that many people say that we live in a democracy. I often correct them and state that we live in a representational democracy or a republic

[Seansafk]

So instead of the minority controlling our lives an even smaller minority with tie's controlling our lives? I am not the property of the minority or any politician. A free society could react to the enviroment far faster than any democracy(republic or not) for one core reason, insentive. Thanks Penn.

[Shredwizard90]

I think the entire system is so screwed up its not even funny. With the electoral college system, we clearly do not get what we want, for example Al Gore got more votes than George Bush and yet that jackass got elected. Also its pathetic that we have the 2 party system and the third party's cant debate. Penn, you are a Libertarion so im sure you know the frustration with this.

[previewreview]

That's me!!!!!

Yeah, I think I may have been careless when I talked about lobbyists. I was trying so hard to be balanced about the morality of selling votes that I let the lobbyist 'fish' go unfryed.

[pennsays]

Good work on your video John!!

[previewreview]

Thank you!

I'm just stoked that Penn even saw it, let alone responded!

[obambicom]

BULLSH*T is great show

[eirefrance]

I'm sure lobbyists are like pharmaceutical manufacturers; there are plenty of ones who are good nearly all the time, but the temptation to abuse is always there. The abuse, when it comes to light, is so damaging that people, given so little information by the complexity and secrecy of how they operate, imagine that things are worse than they are.

[pennsays]

Good point. From my understanding lobbyists serve a needed function in the govt at the moment. Is it worth it to condemn the entire system because of the abusive practices of a few individuals?

[IAbortionsTickleI]

Penn are you responding straight through your account now or is this the guy working at Crackle/Sony?

[pennsays]

My name is Alexandar. I help Penn through Crackle/Sony to make and distribute the Penn Says videos.

[eirefrance]

It isn't about abolishing the entire system, but increasing transparency. Maybe I'm just an overly egocentric archivist, but increased secrecy and increased corruption seem to often go hand in hand.

[pennsays]

Isn't it possible currently to see who your representatives are getting campaign financing from?

[purplecharger88]

It is but I can't exactly remember the site or place you can look it up at. I'm sure if you went to some government site and looked hard enough because I know we have it on the state level here in Kansas.

[kcolumbusgirl]

I believe ontheissues has campaign financing information if that's what you all are referring to. I could be wrong..

[purplecharger88]

Well what I was talking about was that when I was in my HS US Gov class my teacher had a sheet that she got for all of the little goodies that or state congressmen/women had gotten from special interest groups. Now this doesn't mean we can get inside there mind as accepting them doesn't mean the were weaseling a free dinner or plotting the end of society as we know it but it gives you something to look at. She said it was a state printout as required by law but I wouldn't know where to find it.

[eirefrance]

You have a point, and most of the blame is probably an American people who have no interest in actually doing the work needed to keep politicians in line and a media only to happy to satisfy them. I read something recently where the author suggested that any time a lobbyist met with a politician, a login would be required so that who is meeting with who is available in real-time. That way, we know not just where the money is but who is influencing who.

[pennsays]

Congrats to John Rael for exercising his rights!!

[previewreview]

Thanks Man!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[FateEternal]

Who did he choose for pres?

[CaptainFeigh]

Awesome video Penn!!

[VCMPBautista]

there is no link ---> out there :(

[CaptainFeigh]

Ah, nevermind.

[strylowskia90]

Ahh, Widescreen, awesome!

[CaptainFeigh]

First comment.

[whynostop]

hahahaha stupid person.

[ConalCochran]

A fucking masterpiece.