Generally I follow the simple rule that you should avoid discussions about politics and religion at a bar at all costs. It usually leads to nothing and both parties always keep claiming their points are more valid - so there is no intellectual gain to speak of.

Man, you are damn right. I follow the same principle, but I have even enlarged its sphere of influence to "at any place and any time". :-)

Not voting is stupid, although voting doesn't make a difference. So I go voting anyway without expecting to really change anything by putting a cross in a predefined block every four years.