Full Version: Ah....POLITICS
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#19]
5 Nov 2006
To: Ward (STENSONENG) [#12] 7 Nov 2006
Ward,
I have a theory about that.
Personally *I* believe that my vote COUNTS, however I also believe that my vote does not MATTER.
It counts because it will affect the outcome of a political election, however it does not MATTER because "We the People" have allowed by our apathy, the machine to become so huge that it is totally unmanagable. When the elected official gets in, he/she usually as the new kid on the block does not have the network or support to change anything. Especially when we have party members saying the Republicans this and the Democrats that...... NO ONE talks about what is best for "We the People." As an example, when our Governor Linda Lingle, was FIRST elected to office, the speaker IMMEDIATELY came out and said, "it doesn't matter what she tries to do, we'll block it" It didn't matter whether it was good for the state or not. We have an "US" against "THEM" mentality in this state and country and THAT is a major part of the problem. Lingle by the way is the first republican governor in 50 years in a democrat controlled state. Until we get away from a two party system I suspect little will change.
The last President that was able to effect change was Harry Truman, since then unions and special interests control the country not "US, We the People".
Sadly, today most folks are too busy just making ends meet to be able to take the time to get involved. Lots of folks working two jobs, or running a business JUST to make a living. Whereas special interest groups and unions have the time and money to get involved...
While I know that it is law ( at least here) to let employees off to vote, ( which can sometimes take hours) employers do not have to pay the employee. Unions on the other had DO pay their memeber to get out and vote.... so when an employee is working and stuggling to make ends meet, it is not so much that they don't WANT to vote, it is that they don't want to lose the money they would otherwise earn.
Could they vote before or after work? I suppose they could if they do not have to pick up their kids from sports...or do something for the family...
The problem is, as *I* see it, that beauracracy has simply gotten too big, special interests and unions too powerful....... the voice of "We the People" are drowned out...
Oh yes I DO vote....have even taken time to be an election official and have been asked to run for office more than once.......unfortunately that would mean putting down my tools.....
Just my two cents. Want change?
EDITED: 5 Nov 2006 by C_BURKE
From: Cathy (METIME417) [#20]
5 Nov 2006
To: ALL
I still think that my vote counts...and I will be voting. I'm wondering how many of you have gotten "recorded message" phone calls this weekend. Rudy Guilianie (sp wrong) has "called" at least three times this weekend! I'm on the do not call list for solicitors I have to wonder what the law is for campaigns. My son picked up a call from Barbara Bush. I wonder if we are getting these because I'm unaffilated or as I like to say Independent?!?!
Cathy
From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#21]
5 Nov 2006
To: Cathy (METIME417) [#20] 5 Nov 2006
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#22]
5 Nov 2006
To: Cathy (METIME417) [#20] 5 Nov 2006
I agree that it counts....it just doesn't matter......politicians will do what they want and what the people that finance their campaigns want.....they seldom do what is best for us......."We the People".....
Just my two cents. Want change?
From: UncleSteve [#23]
5 Nov 2006
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#18] 5 Nov 2006
From: LG (WAIIB) [#24]
5 Nov 2006
To: UncleSteve [#23] 5 Nov 2006
From: UncleSteve [#25]
5 Nov 2006
To: LG (WAIIB) [#24] 6 Nov 2006
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#26]
5 Nov 2006
To: UncleSteve [#23] 5 Nov 2006
Steve,
If the politicians LISTENED, we would not be having this discussion
;-)
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#27]
5 Nov 2006
To: LG (WAIIB) [#24] 6 Nov 2006
Starting over is good. One way to do THAT is to NOT vote for the incumbent. PERIOD. Term limits will work also, but the downside is that once you learn how to do your job, it is over. An alternative would be 8 year terms. PERIOD. That way the folks in office won't spend a full HALF of their term campaigning......
Personally, I think that we should all ( all 300,000,000 ) of us just stop paying taxes until we have reform...and then we could also have campaign reform that says NO Opponent BASHING. Anything that is REMOTELY considered derogatory, inflamatory or negative about ones opponent would result in IMMEDIATE disqualification. This would force folks to campaign on ISSUES and the problems facing us, instead of party bashing.....
The last and most difficult way to fix it is for MORE of US "We the People" involved....but as I mentioned in a previous post, when putting food on the table is a struggle.....who has time to get involved? Hence we have "in *my* opinion" become a county not of "We the People" but one governed by
The Rich FOR the RICH! :-(
Just my two cents. Want change?
From: Zonas [#28]
6 Nov 2006
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#19] 6 Nov 2006
"Could they vote before or after work? I suppose they could if they do not have to pick up their kids from sports...or do something for the family..."
This is something we could all do, demand that our schools do not schedule 'after school' activities on Election Day. Teachers should make their assignments centered around the elections (i.e. math teachers could use the local vote totals at a certain time during the evening, geography/history could use national elections, etc.) WE all need to help educate, so that perhaps we can turn things around. To late for this year, but schools are already working on future years calendars.....
How about business owners offering a discount (one day only) when you show that you voted. (coupons could be provided at voting sites) This way people can at least feel their vote counted in their pocket book, if no where else ;-)
It still amazes me how many people do not understand the election procedure. I've had grown people think that once you register for one party - you have to vote that party. They say they just look for the D, R, I after a name and vote - never looking at the name or office. So sad.
Zona
From: BratDawg [#29]
6 Nov 2006
To: Zonas [#28] 6 Nov 2006
Funny you mentioning the discount...we have a restaurant here that is doing just that. If you show up wearing your little "I voted" sticker, you do indeed get a little off the bill. We made sure we saved ours so we can dine out tomorrow night instead of standing in line at the polls! :-)
By the way, like many places the two main parties (I've always been registered as an independent) have terrible choices for Governor, to the point that I'm not sure there is a "lessor of two evils". While many would say that my vote, which went to one of the independent candidates, is a wasted vote, I prefer to think of it as sending a message that a two party system is very much lacking as well as the folks they picked to run. I have no problem voting for one of the other parties, but only when I feel they're qualified, which for some reason doesn't seem to happen often!
Despite the fact my pick won't win and we'll be stuck with one of the frontrunners, I can at least feel good about the fact that I did get out and express my opinion.....and retain my right to complain! :-)
From: Zonas [#30]
6 Nov 2006
To: BratDawg [#29] 6 Nov 2006
I think I'll be even voting for some Independents just to show the Republican and Democrats that I'm not happy with their selection of candidates. Like you I know they won't win, but if they get good numbers I know for a fact the 'parties' will see it. (I use to be the bookkeeper for State Republican Party - so I know how much is 'watched' B-)
Is it a chain restaurant or local giving the discount? I think it is great and I hope the place is packed for them tomorrow!
Zona
From: BratDawg [#31]
6 Nov 2006
To: Zonas [#30] 6 Nov 2006
When enough folks who are also fed up with the poor selections offered by the two parties begin to vote for them, the independents will start winning as some already have.
As for the restaurant, it is a small chain here of buffet style (called Home Town) and they do own others elsewhere. Not sure if they are offering it everywhere but I agree with you that it would be nice to see more do something to get folks out to vote!
It's usually a rather dismal turnout here, even for the presidential races. Must be that winter weather in the 70's and 80's that keeps them away! :-)
From: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#32]
6 Nov 2006
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#27] 6 Nov 2006
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#33]
6 Nov 2006
To: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#32] 6 Nov 2006
Just ANOTHER reason that voter apathy runs rampant in America....I submit we contract China to build a space ship. Then we go in search of another planet....we could name it Engraverion.
From: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#34]
6 Nov 2006
To: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#33] 6 Nov 2006
From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#35]
6 Nov 2006
To: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#34] 6 Nov 2006
Haven't heard of the "Reinstate the Hawaiian Nation" movement eh?
From: rich (SPYDER62) [#36]
6 Nov 2006
To: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#32] 7 Nov 2006
From: bobkat [#37]
6 Nov 2006
To: rich (SPYDER62) [#36] 6 Nov 2006
From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#38]
7 Nov 2006
To: ALL
9 booths, in a phone-booth-sized room, with people becoming so exasperated with the long wait, they left, without voting.
When asked, why so few booths, (you'll like this, or not) the person said, "Because we were expecting a low turnout."
How about this for a solution?
Set up for a large turnout; nobody has to wait, therefore, more people are encouraged to vote.
The federal "observers" didn't know what they were observing, in fact, my wife had to point out that many people weren't getting ballot receipts. Of course, they were prohibited by law, to make suggestions to the people running the circus inside, to have things run more efficiently.
We heard that the ballot scanner had gone down, more than once. The federal observers got on the phone with the support people, who basically said they're swamped and our polling site is on its own.
The electronic ballot scanners left much to be desired. As ballots were inserted, a string of paper ran out the back of the machine, like tickets, from a Skee Ball game, at an arcade.
Words such as, "Defective Ballot", "Please Resubmit" "Overmarked Ballots" didn't do anything to bolster my confidence.
How do you resubmit a ballot that's inside of a locked box?
To say the volunteers were poorly trained, would be too generous a compliment. Untrained, was was I witnessed, first-hand, when a lady came in, asked what she was supposed to do, then apparently couldn't absorb the task at hand.
That didn't prevent her from being assigned to the ballot scanner and misinforming people as to if they should tear their ballot receipt off of the ballot, before inserting.
As it turned out, she had torn ballot receipts off, in advance, which she was handing out like raffle tickets at a Kiwanis fund raising dinner, that had no bearing on which receipts, went with which ballot.
I'd call this a joke, but there's absolutely no humorous punch line, to something so important, being mishandled in such expert fashion.
Good luck for a valid election!
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