posted by:
toztee (
reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (5:11 pm)
Oh..My goodness. That is a "loaded" question....I'm having to restrain from saying, "Sure, but that's beside the point." I thought I didn't know a thing about politics and choosing how I should vote....but your described my voting method to a "T".
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (5:21 pm)
you're not crazy.
posted by:
fractalmom (
reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (5:48 pm)
now Dave. that's kind of funny. of course you are crazy, but at least you voted. not that your method is um.....mainline. oh wait. maybe it IS mainline, because you put as much thought in it as most people seem to do.
the alternative, which does require thought and planning, is to actually be informed on the issues, and come on...shame on you for being lazy.
we ALL get disgusted, but that is the proverbial 'catch 22' the more we get disgusted, the less we know about the issues, the less we know about the issues, the more we vote randomly, the more we vote randomly, the less of a leaned, thoughtful impact we make on our legislative system, the less of an impact we make, the more disgusted we get..the more we get disgusted.....
but, at least you aren't a one issue voter. i really hate one issue voters. now on a personal level, i am totally against abortion. but, if there is a polotician running for office, who, on every other issue is making alot of sense to me, but we DISAGREE on the ONE issue of abortion, well, dagnabit, i will VOTE that sucker into office, because, well, you know, ONE ISSUE does not make or break ANYONE or ANYTHING.
now, think about what your right is as a citizen. you certainly have the RIGHT to vote with no investigation into the person, the candidate or the issues, but is it WISE to do so?
is that what our forefather's wanted us to do? i think not probably. they, in fact, were very informed and acted upon their personal belief structure and the canons of their personal faith. they believed that having the RIGHT to make and INFORMED choice was tatamount to acheiving democracy, and THEN they went and founded a country based upon that tenet. how crazy is THAT?
thank you for at least voting. I live in Ohio, so will not be impacted by your vote. but realistically, if you are going to take the time and effort to vote, then do it as you do everything else in your life, with thought, wisdom and passion.
to do less is cheating.
again and always
just my opinion.
fondly, dawn
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (5:50 pm)
Reply to: toztee
I've decided that the right/responsibility to vote is too precious to allow my disappointment with the hypocrisy of politicians to keep me from going to the polls. I believe my vote counts, even if it is mainly a symbolic protest vote.
Now it is your turn. Go, vote!
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (5:51 pm)
Reply to: surrogate
Thanks. And I grant to you the right to change your mind when commenting on future posts.
posted by:
surrogate (
reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (5:54 pm)
Reply to: PastorDave
Whew! (wipes forehead in relief...)
posted by:
PastorDave (
reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (6:02 pm)
Reply to: fractalmom
Yes, mom, you are right!
I have, maybe, exaggerated a bit about my grasp of the issues. My frustration, and resultant protest in voting, comes with what I perceive as corruption of my own Republican representatives. They are in the manipulation business. My current governor was elected because he stated support of the current Georgia state flag, which prominently displayed to Confederate stars-and-bars. Of course such a flag would be offensive to blacks. But he manipulated the racial tension. And, when he got into office, he proceeded to change the flag. What a hypocrite! And Ralph Reed is running for Lt. Governor- I'll not go into the Abrahamoff scandal, except to say it reveals a man who manipulate Christians for political gain. So, since I know I cannot support the Democrat agenda, what am I to do when I go to the polls? I've decided to vote against every incumbent, no matter what he/she may say. And to oppose all "professional" politicians- we need citizen representatives in the state house and in Washington.
You know for yourself, with the recent presidential elections in Ohio, how the politicians craftily manipulated the "gay issue" for the benefit of George Bush. And hey, religiously I agree with much of what was being said. But, in the last two years, I'll bet nothing was passed to forward the so-called agenda of these politicians.
So I'm frustrated. And, I'll express myself with my vote!
posted by:
seochris (
reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (6:35 pm)
I voting is agreat thing to do since people with brains can together put an incapable candidate a run for his money.
But how many like to vote? Fraction??
Whatever I would like to vote next time.
posted by:
JT (
reply)
post date:
07.18.06 (6:37 pm)
Well, if you are crazy, I'll sign up to be your kind of crazy (even if I am a liberal, which I guess you might say qualifies me right there). Frankly, my own approach isn't that much different.
Before an election, I try to get on the web and read as much as I can about the different candidates and their posts/potential posts. It's rare when I feel really strongly about any candidate (Barack Obama was one of those rare examples).
Once I've read up, I might even make a list of my candidates. But when I get to the polls, my method (especially for stuff like long lists of judgeships) is basically to look for females, minorities, etc. To be really honest, I also look for Jewish surnames. *ducking*
I have a very mixed opinion where politics is concerned. I do think there are some people who really start out with the right ideas. But power corrupts, and I think the combination of that political power and the inevitable red tape wears out even the most dogged optimists.
Isn't that a shame?
posted by:
fractalmom (
reply)
post date:
07.19.06 (3:35 am)
Reply to: PastorDave
well yeah. i vote republican as well usually, and i also tend to vote more for women, of course, there are always exceptions. i didn't vote for bush, cannot STAND him, don't trust him etc. i actually voted for alan keys, he was the only candidate that made sense so i wrote him in.
my vote then became a non vote since he wasn't on the ballot of the primary winners..
i never said voting was easy, responsibility is. and i didn't mean to dog you too much, you are generally one of the more responsible people i communicate with.
this whole voting thingy is great, but does require that we actually participate actively in at least some degree. i think that sometimes the matter of degree can be limited by how chaotic our life is.
there have been times...when i have had little time to devote to the issues/candidates. it saddens me.
my grandmother told me once...and it sounds horrid but is kind of a by word in our family
90% of the population are certifiably morons, - don't be in that 90% if you can help it.
it doesn't really mean what it says outright. she meant, don't ACT like you are a moron. i try not to do that, but alas, fail miserably some days. LOL
anyway, kudo's for voting. gotta go to work
posted by:
ottomanprang (
reply)
post date:
07.19.06 (4:58 am)
Crazy? No. My only problem with voting Libertarian (which I don't very often even though in many ways I am one) is that democrats skate in. So I tend to do the hold my nose bit....
posted by:
babe4jesus55 (
reply)
post date:
07.19.06 (8:58 am)
Haha. I like your "method". I can't really think of any politician that I know a little bit of something about and say that I'm not currently mad at them and the choices they've made for their constituants. Something's got to change; they need to get the boot!
