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| Do people in your municipalities/boroughs/towns/cities act as fickle as college students? |
| Yeah. |
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41% |
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| No. People are pretty reasonable here. |
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5% |
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| I am not from the USA / I obstain. |
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53% |
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| Total Votes : 39 |
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Clete2
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 Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:43 pm Post subject: On the Ignorance of People (USA Elections) |
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The USA’s 2008 election is the first governmental election of any kind that I will have an opportunity to vote in. This is a very important election for everyone. We face major decisions about the war in Iraq and on many major issues. A lot is at stake in this year’s general election. I have followed this election more than any other. I have been involved in a lot of conversations with people who come from very different cultures and backgrounds. Many of these people support my viewpoints, many of them disagree, and many of them could not care less about politics.
I have been appalled at how little it takes for a certain candidate to obtain an undecided and unopinionated person’s vote. Those of us who are strong conservatives or liberals will not be swayed to vote the opposite way for anything in the world (although this is debatable). However, undecided people are swayed way too easily. I have heard at least ten people tell me that they will vote for Obama because he is “young” and relates to “the younger generation” more than any of the “old” people such as Clinton and McCain. I have had one person tell me that, although they are a liberal, they would not vote for McCain if they were conservative because he is “old” and that he will probably “die in office.”
People disregard the candidate’s actual views and opinions and focus in on the unimportant things. They decide to vote for candidates because they “seem like nice people.” I am not sure if it is the college students’ way or if the entire population is this way, but it’s atrocious. If I wanted to, I could run for President, take all of the “correct” views on all of the issues; that is, the ones that would get me elected. I could completely disagree with all of these views, but I could stand up there, smile, act friendly, cry when I hear a sad story, etc. I could be a complete phony and get some of these idiots to follow me just because I am a down-to-earth and likable character.
What has our country come to? Elect someone because they are honest and they agree with your issues. Elect them because they will lead our country in the right (or should I say correct?) direction. But do NOT elect them because they are nice people and they seem friendly. This is ridiculous. Does anyone want someone in office who is nice but leads our country to demise? I don’t think so.
NOTE:
1) This was my blog post, so..
2) Please do not use this thread for political debate. Try to stay on topic please. I really want to know what others think.
Do people in your municipalities/boroughs/towns/cities act as fickle as college students?
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dmitchell
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 5:59 pm Post subject: |
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Universal suffrage is a lousy idea. Voting is too important to let any ignorant jackass do it; you ought to demonstrate competence first.
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Hopeless
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:21 pm Post subject: |
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| dmitchell wrote: | | Universal suffrage is a lousy idea. Voting is too important to let any ignorant jackass do it; you ought to demonstrate competence first. |
Sure, and who determines who is and is not competent?
Yes, I would agree that a lot of people are ignorant (and I use this word in the literal and not the insulting sense) on such issues, however there really isn't any way to "educate" them/us, largely because no one can be trusted to provide such education in an equal and unbiased manner.
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LD
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:23 pm Post subject: |
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I'd say go back to the way it was pre-Vietnam.
18 old enough to be drafted but not old enough to vote.
And then draft everyone 18 and under and MAKE THEM give something back to the country they will leech off of for the rest of heir lives. Manditory service for providing for their worthless hides.
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Hopeless
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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| LD wrote: | I'd say go back to the way it was pre-Vietnam.
18 old enough to be drafted but not old enough to vote.
And then draft everyone 18 and under and MAKE THEM give something back to the country they will leech off of for the rest of heir lives. Manditory service for providing for their worthless hides. |
I would respond to this, but I've gotten rather bored with feeding the trolls...
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barophobia
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:36 pm Post subject: |
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Lets go back further only male property owners are allowed to vote! And add that you have to hold a graduate degree from an top 50 ranked university.
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Clete2
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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I find it sad that I ask a serious question and people sabotage my thread with trolling and unreasonable propositions. All I wanted was serious answers and if people were fickle where they live.
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poly_poly-man
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:38 pm Post subject: |
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| LD wrote: | I'd say go back to the way it was pre-Vietnam.
18 old enough to be drafted but not old enough to vote.
And then draft everyone 18 and under and MAKE THEM give something back to the country they will leech off of for the rest of heir lives. Manditory service for providing for their worthless hides. |
Yeah - i agree that it's probably only a small percentage that are voting for actual issues - otherwise, it's either a popularity contest, or "well he's in my party so he's good"......
It's as bad as American Idol..... except that your vote actually does matter in a few states...
poly-p man
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barophobia
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Clete2 wrote: | | I find it sad that I ask a serious question and people sabotage my thread with trolling and unreasonable propositions. All I wanted was serious answers and if people were fickle where they live. |
Just be happy that a late state like yours has a say in this primary, at least for one side. The other side thinks that your voice doesn't matter.
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Hopeless
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:40 pm Post subject: |
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| Clete2 wrote: | | I find it sad that I ask a serious question and people sabotage my thread with trolling and unreasonable propositions. All I wanted was serious answers and if people were fickle where they live. |
Oh come on, what the hell did you expect?
Honestly?
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Clete2
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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| barophobia wrote: | | Clete2 wrote: | | I find it sad that I ask a serious question and people sabotage my thread with trolling and unreasonable propositions. All I wanted was serious answers and if people were fickle where they live. |
Just be happy that a late state like yours has a say in this primary, at least for one side. The other side thinks that your voice doesn't matter. |
Not in the primary that I am adamant about and one that I can do anything about. I'm registered Republican.  Note that I am not saying that I don't care; I'm saying that I can't vote in it.
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Last edited by Clete2 on Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:44 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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barophobia
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:42 pm Post subject: |
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| Clete2 wrote: | | barophobia wrote: | | Clete2 wrote: | | I find it sad that I ask a serious question and people sabotage my thread with trolling and unreasonable propositions. All I wanted was serious answers and if people were fickle where they live. |
Just be happy that a late state like yours has a say in this primary, at least for one side. The other side thinks that your voice doesn't matter. |
Not in the primary that I am adamant about and one that I can do anything about. I'm registered Republican. :P |
Your vote doesn't matter.
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LD
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Joined: 22 Dec 2003
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Location: Exiled to Nashville, Tn
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Hopeless wrote: | | LD wrote: | I'd say go back to the way it was pre-Vietnam.
18 old enough to be drafted but not old enough to vote.
And then draft everyone 18 and under and MAKE THEM give something back to the country they will leech off of for the rest of heir lives. Manditory service for providing for their worthless hides. |
I would respond to this, but I've gotten rather bored with feeding the trolls... |
You mean you dislike the idea of people who leech off others beind held accountable.
The only trolls around here are the lot that push the idea of not holding anyone except those who disagree accountable for their actions. Or their own selves.
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dmitchell
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Location: Austin, Texas
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:49 pm Post subject: |
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| Hopeless wrote: | | Sure, and who determines who is and is not competent? |
The same agency that registers voters. The exam shouldn't be very difficult, just something to weed out the utterly clueless. I've mentioned before that I think the test at dontvote.org would be perfectly adequate.
| Quote: | | Yes, I would agree that a lot of people are ignorant (and I use this word in the literal and not the insulting sense) on such issues, however there really isn't any way to "educate" them/us, largely because no one can be trusted to provide such education in an equal and unbiased manner. |
It isn't so difficult to self-educate, is it? Just read a newspaper or watch a few minutes of CNN every day.
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dmitchell
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:52 pm Post subject: |
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| Clete2 wrote: | | I find it sad that I ask a serious question and people sabotage my thread with trolling and unreasonable propositions. All I wanted was serious answers and if people were fickle where they live. |
For my part I was completely serious. Citizenship requires passing a test, what is unreasonable about voting requiring the same?
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Hopeless
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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| LD wrote: | | Hopeless wrote: | | LD wrote: | I'd say go back to the way it was pre-Vietnam.
18 old enough to be drafted but not old enough to vote.
And then draft everyone 18 and under and MAKE THEM give something back to the country they will leech off of for the rest of heir lives. Manditory service for providing for their worthless hides. |
I would respond to this, but I've gotten rather bored with feeding the trolls... |
You mean you dislike the idea of people who leech off others beind held accountable. |
"And then draft everyone 18 and under..."
The only people someone 18 or younger "leech" off is their parents or legal gaurdians, and largely because thay are not yet capable of fending for themselves.
"and MAKE THEM give something back to the country they will leech off of for the rest of heir lives."
So you want to hold them accountable for something they have not yet done, and may never do?
And could you kindly define exactly what you mean by "leech"?
...
Damnit, enjoy your meal you crafty bugger.
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doubleagent
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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| Hopeless wrote: | | dmitchell wrote: | | Universal suffrage is a lousy idea. Voting is too important to let any ignorant jackass do it; you ought to demonstrate competence first. |
Sure, and who determines who is and is not competent? |
A heartless, objective, changing, PASS/FAIL test written by local authorities. Just like driver's license tests are written by local authorities. Just the test would expire, say...every 365 days - another reason locality is of importance. (speed, if that wasn't obvious)
Who knows - Florida may stop voting altogether (joking). It's important that a quota of some sort is met though, so that each state is represented (more or less than others makes no difference - we should have got rid of the electoral college a long time ago.).
Anyway, that's just my opinion.
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Last edited by doubleagent on Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:58 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Zepp
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 6:58 pm Post subject: |
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| People are just like this in general, and it goes beyond politics and voting. Just go talk to some of the people who have been on jury duty about some the retarded completely illogical reasoning people use to decide things. People are emotional and illogical, this is nothing new, and it does not change with age really. |
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barophobia
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:03 pm Post subject: |
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a break from sarcasm:
How is it that you are just noticing this now? It was clear back in the Lewinsky thing. If that didn't tell you then events in the Bush's should have convinced you. Bush got elected because he was the guy you rather have a beer with. Hell who wants to have a beer with Gore?
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Clete2
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:04 pm Post subject: |
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| dmitchell wrote: | | Hopeless wrote: | | Sure, and who determines who is and is not competent? |
The same agency that registers voters. The exam shouldn't be very difficult, just something to weed out the utterly clueless. I've mentioned before that I think the test at dontvote.org would be perfectly adequate. |
Tell me that you would not base it off of knowledge of all of the current leaders? And tell me that you would include actors and actresses?
I'm against the idea in the first place, but still, can you try a bit harder?
Edit: However, I agree with their mission statement:
| Quote: | | DontVote.org's mission is to combat the "Get out the Vote" movement that is pushed by organizations that would like to increase the number of uneducated voters to help their cause. DontVote.org encourages people to Vote, but only AFTER they have educated themselves on the policies and individuals for which they are voting. Voting should be considered a privilege and exercised with responsibility and discretion. Just like a final exam, responsible voting requires self-education and thought. When the time comes to cast your ballot, if you don't know for what or whom you're voting, then DON'T VOTE. |
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Zepp
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:07 pm Post subject: Re: On the Ignorance of People (USA Elections) |
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| Clete2 wrote: | | If I wanted to, I could run for President, take all of the “correct” views on all of the issues; that is, the ones that would get me elected. I could completely disagree with all of these views, but I could stand up there, smile, act friendly, cry when I hear a sad story, etc. I could be a complete phony and get some of these idiots to follow me just because I am a down-to-earth and likable character. |
what do you think politicians do now  |
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Clete2
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:10 pm Post subject: Re: On the Ignorance of People (USA Elections) |
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| Zepp wrote: | | Clete2 wrote: | | If I wanted to, I could run for President, take all of the “correct” views on all of the issues; that is, the ones that would get me elected. I could completely disagree with all of these views, but I could stand up there, smile, act friendly, cry when I hear a sad story, etc. I could be a complete phony and get some of these idiots to follow me just because I am a down-to-earth and likable character. |
what do you think politicians do now |
That was part of my point. People shouldn't choose someone because they are nice. I sure as heck don't.
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barophobia
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:10 pm Post subject: Re: On the Ignorance of People (USA Elections) |
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| Zepp wrote: | | Clete2 wrote: | | If I wanted to, I could run for President, take all of the “correct” views on all of the issues; that is, the ones that would get me elected. I could completely disagree with all of these views, but I could stand up there, smile, act friendly, cry when I hear a sad story, etc. I could be a complete phony and get some of these idiots to follow me just because I am a down-to-earth and likable character. |
what do you think politicians do now :lol: |
Don't forget to kiss a baby!
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old school
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 7:47 pm Post subject: |
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As Ronald Reagan (PBUH) said:
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It has been said that politics is the second oldest profession. I have learned that it bears a striking resemblance to the first. |
It's always been that way, always will be. One must always factor the human equation.
The good thing is that the less informed, and interested, are less likely to vote.
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kicker69101
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| Posted: Tue Apr 22, 2008 8:10 pm Post subject: |
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| dmitchell wrote: | | I've mentioned before that I think the test at dontvote.org would be perfectly adequate. |
I find this test deeply flawed. I get the majority of my news from npr, other news radio, and the web. However, I rarely watch tv news. This test only verifies that you have seen them, not that you know what they do. People can pick out Mr. Bush and that he is the president, the fuck wits out there would think that he can make his own laws as he goes.
Before you ask I did pass, it wasn't pretty though.
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