For American Citizens

[iLDuce]

Originally posted by Taciturn Bob
My opinion: Bring back Fascism.

Truer words have never been spoken.

[Liquid Blue]

Originally posted by sTuPiD-gErBiL
none of us will be voting for president anyways. good old electorial college will make sure that we have no voice.

[Ephemeral]

Back in the 1970's, I was young, idealistic, and a flag of piracy flew from my mask. I thought that becoming educated with all the players in politics was a good thing, allowing me to make the most educated choice possible. Although I had (have?) fairly liberal ideals, my wallet leaned towards the Republicans. I was an ambivalent voter, determined to sort through the candidates and make the country a better place for everyone.
After spending huge amounts of time trying to understand what each politician believed, it became more and more difficult to choose. When you looked at their voting records, you really had to look beyond the surface. Many times someone will vote against a bill and people make judgments on this, failing to realize that there really was ‘pork-barrel’ stuff hung on the end of the bill. This forces many politicians to vote bills down that normally they would support. But that isn’t what you hear in the 30 second sound bites in the news. After trying for 15-20 years to educate myself on the various candidates and parties, I have basically given up trying since I have not ever found a candidate (at any level) that mirrored my perspective. Trying to pick the ‘least worse’ sucked too.
Almost by definition, politicians are ‘middle of the road’. Most are also lawyers.

I would also point out that because someone does not vote, they don’t lose the ‘right’ to bitch and complain. There are many other things to being a ‘good’ citizen, like paying taxes. It is possible to be very politically proactive and not ever vote. In fact, I would say that writing emails to your representatives is much more effective for ‘being heard’ and making a political difference.

So vote if you like, but understand it takes a large amount of work to make an educated selection chosen from a group of people who have specific agendas that rarely are the same as yours. Frankly, in today’s society, no one seems to want to spend more than 30 seconds watching some half-baked MTV sound bite (wow, I think I have become my father). If this is the limit of the ‘work’ that someone has done (or anything less than 40 hours or so), then do we really want people’s vote to count THAT much?

[sTuPiD-gErBiL]

Originally posted by Ephemeral
Frankly, in today’s society, no one seems to want to spend more than 30 seconds watching some half-baked MTV sound bite (wow, I think I have become my father). If this is the limit of the ‘work’ that someone has done (or anything less than 40 hours or so), then do we really want people’s vote to count THAT much?

quite bluntly, yes. i'd rather have the uneducated, unenthusiastic, and unintelligent voice of america choose its leader (even if it means we're choosing an uneducated/unenthusiastic/unintelligent leader to drive this country into the ground) than to have a conglomerate of screwball politicians and wealthy business owners choose for us.

[Twinkie <><]

im not 18 but i took that poll and it said 100% wesley clark but i dont like him but i was 97 kerry who i want

[ÆNIMA]

It's just a guide, after taking that poll, I suggest you look into the higher-ranking candidates more thoroughly, so you can base a better opinion of them.

Face, no one said you can't speak out in support of the Democratic party.

[Verthanthi]

My candidate isn't even on there. Carol whatsherface. I dunno, even she doesn't seem that great. I'll probably vote for Dean because I heard thats what the cool kids do these days

[Vantage]

No offence, i dont like bush as much as the next normal person but it doesnt look like there will be a democratic president any time soon.

THERE IS NO GOD!

The democrats have no decent candidate that poses any sort of threat to bush. During the past few months, the battle between the democrats have left a bad taste in America's mouth. Instead of helping democrats, they have torn each other down. Independents will think twice before they vote for democrats.

[Hoju]

Just as I suspected.

BTW: I don't give a shit if you don't like him, so don't waste your time trying to tell me how much of an 'idiot' he is or how much of a 'tool' I am for being part of the 'system'.

[Bigwig]

"served in the military: Yes"

hah

[ÆNIMA]

He is the Commander in Chief, I guess that counts...