Full Version: Ah....POLITICS

From: Dave Jones (DAVERJ) [#21]
 5 Nov 2006
To: Cathy (METIME417) [#20] 5 Nov 2006

Politicians wrote the do-not-call law. And of course, they made themselves exempt from it.

From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#22]
 5 Nov 2006
To: Cathy (METIME417) [#20] 5 Nov 2006

quote:
I still think that my vote counts...and I will be voting.


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

Of course everyone has the right to SAY something, but only those that vote have a right to expect the politicians to LISTEN....

From: LG (WAIIB) [#24]
 5 Nov 2006
To: UncleSteve [#23] 5 Nov 2006

It seems that we all agree that there is a problem but what can be done about it? Term limits? Campagin reform (not watered down)? Ban all lobbying and send it further under the table and behind closed doors? A third middle of the road party? Wait for the system to implode from all the corruption and then start over? What?!?!? :S 

From: UncleSteve [#25]
 5 Nov 2006
To: LG (WAIIB) [#24] 6 Nov 2006

Well, if we can get them all for "crimes against humanity" ....... We get 30 days to hang them and we can start all over! :D 

From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#26]
 5 Nov 2006
To: UncleSteve [#23] 5 Nov 2006

quote:
but only those that vote have a right to expect the politicians to LISTEN....



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

quote:
It seems that we all agree that there is a problem but what can be done about it? Term limits? Campagin reform (not watered down)? Ban all lobbying and send it further under the table and behind closed doors? A third middle of the road party? Wait for the system to implode from all the corruption and then start over? What?!?!? :S 


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

I'm extremely pleased to say that we managed to vote yesterday since Florida has "early voting". The crowds made us feel a little bit better about folks getting out to exercise their rights and there were several important issues at hand other than the usual races.

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

quote:
Like you I know they won't win


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

Ah, the infamous term limits! That went the way of the famous "Contract with America" that Newt invented. Oops, my bad, term limits was written into the "Contract with America". Gee. I wonder how many who signed the "Contract" kept their word; my guess is less than 10%

From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#33]
 6 Nov 2006
To: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#32] 6 Nov 2006

quote:
Gee. I wonder how many who signed the "Contract" kept their word; my guess is less than 10%



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

I like the name, but how about just springing Maui free from the US?

From: LaZerDude (C_BURKE) [#35]
 6 Nov 2006
To: Dave (MT_DAVE) [#34] 6 Nov 2006

quote:
I like the name, but how about just springing Maui free from the US?



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

Only problem with term limits is how they have their retirement set up. Serve one term and your set for life with a nice big fat check every month. So it's better to keep then in and pay for one fool then elect a newone every 8 years or so. Set a limit and make them pay for SS and heath care just like the rest of us and watch how fast things change.

From: bobkat [#37]
 6 Nov 2006
To: rich (SPYDER62) [#36] 6 Nov 2006

It is an internet myth that legislators don't pay SS; they do. I think term limits are a good idea.

From: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#38]
 7 Nov 2006
To: ALL

I hope your polling places have it more together than where I voted this morning.

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!

From: UncleSteve [#39]
 7 Nov 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#38] 7 Nov 2006

WHEN YOU VOTE
BE SURE TO NOTE:
"BETTER RED THAN DEAD!"

From: Carl (CSEWELL) [#40]
 7 Nov 2006
To: Stunt Engraver (DGL) [#38] 7 Nov 2006

Voted at 7:45 this morning. The polls opened at 7:00 am. No one in line, and one person at a table voting (manual ballots, no voting machines). One person checking IDs and crossing off names. One handing out ballots. And one putting "I Voted" stickers on.

I ran my ballot through the VERY old looking scanner which registered me as #38. I signed on line #39 and finished voting before the person in front of me. The whole process took about 10 minutes. And 5 of that was spend trying to find my drivers license!

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