president
Via Nerdwriter1
What does it take to get you to vote? Is it civic duty? A profound belief in a candidate? Fear of another candidate?
For almost half the American population, none of these things matter because they don’t vote. In fact, only about 56 percent of Americans voted in 2008. There are no numbers on this, but it’s entirely reasonable to think that maybe more people say “Thanks, Obama” than voted for him.
So what does it take? Money? Would you like money out of a candidate's pocket? Well, that’s not gonna happen, buddy! This is America! We don’t pay for votes here, so take it some place else.
But what about those celebrity videos? Can Stanley Tucci get you to vote?
Sorry, Tucc. No. Celebrity videos where they guilt you into voting don’t work because they depend on the old theory of “rational self-interest,” i.e. the idea that people will vote based on heavily-reinforced social norms. People don’t operate based on “rational self interest,” do they? People say that they’re going to vote but, in many cases, don’t actually do it.
Over on YouTube, The Nerdwriter found something that just might work: shame. That’s right, if shamed into it, people will vote. He offers some different methods for implementing the age-old practice of shame, like a thing on Facebook that says “I Voted” or, the Scarlett Letter of the digital age, “I Didn’t Vote.”
Check out the video for some more facts about voter turnout. You will sound so smart next time the topic comes up if you do.
Truly the significance of this spontaneous moment is given away in the headline. In such dark and troubling (at least for some folks) times, it lightens the heart to be able to fall back upon the comedic relief of an ex-prez waging war on a seemingly possessed poncho. Thankful for this.
Say what you will about the President, but there's no denying that his Twitter habits have given us hours of entertainment. His latest Twitter escapade was regarding Time Magazine's 'Person of the Year' issue. On Saturday President Trump tweeted "Time Magazine called to say that I was PROBABLY going to be named "Man (Person) of the Year," like last year, but I would have to agree to an interview and a major photo shoot. I said probably is no good and took a pass. Thanks anyway!" Parodies from comedians such as Julia Louis Dreyfuss and Billy Eichner began pouring in, along with riffs on New Yorker cartoons. Here are some of our favorites.
And on a side note, here are some of our favorite tremendous Trump memes that are nearly unbelievable.
You know it's a crazy presidential race when Donald Trump isn't the biggest troll running for office. No, that honor goes a 15-year-old boy from Iowa named Brady Olson. Or, at least, that was the name his parents gave him way back when. Now, he goes by a name that's larger than life (if you consider life to be sperm cell and egg). He is the hero we need. He will bring change to the Oval Office. Well... he would if he weren't 20 years too young to run for that office.
