Voting Question
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Although I've been living here close to two decades, I've only started getting interested in politics. My question is for US citizens, but also applies to other nations. When was the last time that you felt there were two strong candidates and you had a hard time choosing between them? That's assuming you're not always for one political party. It seems to me that most people in the middle are always saying that they'd rather choose the lesser of two evils.
Bassam Abdul-Baki wrote:
Although I've been living here close to two decades, I've only started getting interested in politics. My question is for US citizens, but also applies to other nations. When was the last time that you felt there were two strong candidates and you had a hard time choosing between them?
Never. At least not in my recollection.
Bassam Abdul-Baki wrote:
That's assuming you're not always for one political party.
Nope, registered as an independent.
Bassam Abdul-Baki wrote:
It seems to me that most people in the middle are always saying that they'd rather choose the lesser of two evils.
I choose none of the above.
Sovereign ingredient for a happy marriage: Pay cash or do without. Interest charges not only eat up a household budget; awareness of debt eats up domestic felicity. --Lazarus Long
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Although I've been living here close to two decades, I've only started getting interested in politics. My question is for US citizens, but also applies to other nations. When was the last time that you felt there were two strong candidates and you had a hard time choosing between them? That's assuming you're not always for one political party. It seems to me that most people in the middle are always saying that they'd rather choose the lesser of two evils.
Bassam Abdul-Baki wrote:
When was the last time that you felt there were two strong candidates and you had a hard time choosing between them?
That would be High School homecoming queen election my senior year. Or maybe never... :~
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Are you looking at the Presidential candidates in a "beauty contest" sort of way or are you looking at their intended policies ? IMO, if you look at them in a beauty contest manner, then pick the one that wears unisex polka-dot pyjamas that has with pink, blue and yellow stripes. Otherwise pick according to the intended policies that will benefit you and your family the greatest. Either them or disenfranchise yourself but don't then complain afterwards.
Last modified: 5mins after originally posted --
Richard A. Abbott wrote:
according to the intended policies that will benefit you and your family the greatest
To me this is a little misleading. Based on campaign promises, that would lead to Obama for a whole lot of people. And if we lived in Obama's fantasy world where a 'tax cut' for 95% were possible, that would seem to be most beneficial for most people. But personally, I think his socialist programs will hurt the country in the long run, and likely most inhabitants as well. Personally, I don't evaluate their policies looking for what I get out of it, but what will be best for the country (which in the long run should probably benefit me personally). I have to weigh justice, national security, jobs, economy and law for a balance I think is best for all. I'm not suggesting that you are voting selfishly, I just think that that statement taken as-is could be misconstrued to mean that. And I know plenty of people who unapologetically vote based soley on "what's in it for me". I just think it's short sighted and irresponsible to do so. Of course it's their perogative, but I wish more thought went into every vote.
Visit BoneSoft.com for code generation tools (XML & XSD -> C#, VB, etc...) and some free developer tools as well.
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Although I've been living here close to two decades, I've only started getting interested in politics. My question is for US citizens, but also applies to other nations. When was the last time that you felt there were two strong candidates and you had a hard time choosing between them? That's assuming you're not always for one political party. It seems to me that most people in the middle are always saying that they'd rather choose the lesser of two evils.
Bassam Abdul-Baki wrote:
When was the last time that you felt there were two strong candidates
India has a parliamentary system; the Prime Minister is the real ruler while the President's powers are largely ceremonial. Which means you effectively end up voting for the party, not for the individual. That said, the answer is that I find myself choosing the lesser evil.
Cheers, Vıkram.
"You idiot British surprise me that your generators which grew up after Mid 50s had no brain at all." - Adnan Siddiqi.
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Are you looking at the Presidential candidates in a "beauty contest" sort of way or are you looking at their intended policies ? IMO, if you look at them in a beauty contest manner, then pick the one that wears unisex polka-dot pyjamas that has with pink, blue and yellow stripes. Otherwise pick according to the intended policies that will benefit you and your family the greatest. Either them or disenfranchise yourself but don't then complain afterwards.
Last modified: 5mins after originally posted --
Richard A. Abbott wrote:
Otherwise pick according to the intended policies that will benefit you and your family the greatest.
"Once a state extends the franchise to every warm body, be he producer or parasite, that day marks the beginning of the end of the state. For when the plebs discover that they can vote themselves bread and circuses without limit and that the productive members of the body politic cannot stop them, they will do so, until the state bleeds to death, or in its weakened condition the state succumbs to an invader — the barbarians enter Rome." Robert A. Heinlein
I'm pretty sure I would not like to live in a world in which I would never be offended. I am absolutely certain I don't want to live in a world in which you would never be offended. Dave
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Are you looking at the Presidential candidates in a "beauty contest" sort of way or are you looking at their intended policies ? IMO, if you look at them in a beauty contest manner, then pick the one that wears unisex polka-dot pyjamas that has with pink, blue and yellow stripes. Otherwise pick according to the intended policies that will benefit you and your family the greatest. Either them or disenfranchise yourself but don't then complain afterwards.
Last modified: 5mins after originally posted --
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Richard A. Abbott wrote:
according to the intended policies that will benefit you and your family the greatest
To me this is a little misleading. Based on campaign promises, that would lead to Obama for a whole lot of people. And if we lived in Obama's fantasy world where a 'tax cut' for 95% were possible, that would seem to be most beneficial for most people. But personally, I think his socialist programs will hurt the country in the long run, and likely most inhabitants as well. Personally, I don't evaluate their policies looking for what I get out of it, but what will be best for the country (which in the long run should probably benefit me personally). I have to weigh justice, national security, jobs, economy and law for a balance I think is best for all. I'm not suggesting that you are voting selfishly, I just think that that statement taken as-is could be misconstrued to mean that. And I know plenty of people who unapologetically vote based soley on "what's in it for me". I just think it's short sighted and irresponsible to do so. Of course it's their perogative, but I wish more thought went into every vote.
Visit BoneSoft.com for code generation tools (XML & XSD -> C#, VB, etc...) and some free developer tools as well.
BoneSoft wrote:
I have to weigh justice, national security, jobs, economy and law for a balance I think is best for all.
Taking ALL issues into account, if candidate "A" offers better than candidate "B" as far as you and your family benefits then that is what I mean. Tax is just one issue amongst many that each and every American needs to evaluate to arrive at that required decision. I could have worded better my previous comment, for that omission, I apologise, even though I did used the plural of policy (indicating more than a single issue).
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Although I've been living here close to two decades, I've only started getting interested in politics. My question is for US citizens, but also applies to other nations. When was the last time that you felt there were two strong candidates and you had a hard time choosing between them? That's assuming you're not always for one political party. It seems to me that most people in the middle are always saying that they'd rather choose the lesser of two evils.
If you are considering all levels of government. Just last week, there was a municipal election and I felt two of the candidates for mayor were good choices and had to choose the better candidate. Otherwise never always the lesser of two evils. Jim
this thing looks like it was written by an epileptic ferret Dave Kreskowiak
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BoneSoft wrote:
I have to weigh justice, national security, jobs, economy and law for a balance I think is best for all.
Taking ALL issues into account, if candidate "A" offers better than candidate "B" as far as you and your family benefits then that is what I mean. Tax is just one issue amongst many that each and every American needs to evaluate to arrive at that required decision. I could have worded better my previous comment, for that omission, I apologise, even though I did used the plural of policy (indicating more than a single issue).
No apology necessary, and I didn't mean that as a critism of your post. That comment just reminded me of many people I know who vote for 'what do I get right now'.
Visit BoneSoft.com for code generation tools (XML & XSD -> C#, VB, etc...) and some free developer tools as well.
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No apology necessary, and I didn't mean that as a critism of your post. That comment just reminded me of many people I know who vote for 'what do I get right now'.
Visit BoneSoft.com for code generation tools (XML & XSD -> C#, VB, etc...) and some free developer tools as well.
My comments above always pre-supposes that people don't vote in a particular way just because their parents and grandparents voted in a particular way. Blind loyalty in other words. This blind loyalty is also a huge problem here in Britain, and it does have the effect of distortion.
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Richard A. Abbott wrote:
Otherwise pick according to the intended policies that will benefit you and your family the greatest.
"Once a state extends the franchise to every warm body, be he producer or parasite, that day marks the beginning of the end of the state. For when the plebs discover that they can vote themselves bread and circuses without limit and that the productive members of the body politic cannot stop them, they will do so, until the state bleeds to death, or in its weakened condition the state succumbs to an invader — the barbarians enter Rome." Robert A. Heinlein
I'm pretty sure I would not like to live in a world in which I would never be offended. I am absolutely certain I don't want to live in a world in which you would never be offended. Dave
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My comments above always pre-supposes that people don't vote in a particular way just because their parents and grandparents voted in a particular way. Blind loyalty in other words. This blind loyalty is also a huge problem here in Britain, and it does have the effect of distortion.
A lot of people are hard of thinking. It takes too much effort. Luckily for them, there are plenty of people ready and willing to give them opinions to use as their own. Most of us get our initial view of the world from our parents, but a lot of us, while experienceing the world, do so with our brains engaged and form some questions of our own. The answers to which are unique creations of our own thought process. Sadly, I don't think that's a majority of us, and I don't think the proportions will change much over time. But maybe that's the way it's supposed to be. Maybe that's nature doing what it does. But it sure can be frustrating durring election season.
Visit BoneSoft.com for code generation tools (XML & XSD -> C#, VB, etc...) and some free developer tools as well.
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Although I've been living here close to two decades, I've only started getting interested in politics. My question is for US citizens, but also applies to other nations. When was the last time that you felt there were two strong candidates and you had a hard time choosing between them? That's assuming you're not always for one political party. It seems to me that most people in the middle are always saying that they'd rather choose the lesser of two evils.
Adams and Jefferson. -- Always vote for the one you think will perserve liberty (yours).
MrPlankton
(bad guy)"Fear is a hammer, and when the people are beaten finally to the conviction that their existence hangs by a frayed thread, they will be led where they need to go."
(good guy)"Which is where?"
(bad guy)"To a responsible future in a properly managed world."
Dean Koontz, The Good Guy -
A lot of people are hard of thinking. It takes too much effort. Luckily for them, there are plenty of people ready and willing to give them opinions to use as their own. Most of us get our initial view of the world from our parents, but a lot of us, while experienceing the world, do so with our brains engaged and form some questions of our own. The answers to which are unique creations of our own thought process. Sadly, I don't think that's a majority of us, and I don't think the proportions will change much over time. But maybe that's the way it's supposed to be. Maybe that's nature doing what it does. But it sure can be frustrating durring election season.
Visit BoneSoft.com for code generation tools (XML & XSD -> C#, VB, etc...) and some free developer tools as well.
BoneSoft wrote:
But it sure can be frustrating during election season.
That's the problem with democracy. It is dedicated to the proposition that 2 idiot votes are worth twice as much as 1 well-informed genius vote.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface
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Adams and Jefferson. -- Always vote for the one you think will perserve liberty (yours).
MrPlankton
(bad guy)"Fear is a hammer, and when the people are beaten finally to the conviction that their existence hangs by a frayed thread, they will be led where they need to go."
(good guy)"Which is where?"
(bad guy)"To a responsible future in a properly managed world."
Dean Koontz, The Good Guy -
BoneSoft wrote:
But it sure can be frustrating during election season.
That's the problem with democracy. It is dedicated to the proposition that 2 idiot votes are worth twice as much as 1 well-informed genius vote.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface
Amen. I'm all for a free country, but I sometimes entertain the idea of requiring an IQ test before allowing people to procreate. And at least multiplying your vote by a factor related to your IQ, or some other indicator of intelligence.
Visit BoneSoft.com for code generation tools (XML & XSD -> C#, VB, etc...) and some free developer tools as well.
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Amen. I'm all for a free country, but I sometimes entertain the idea of requiring an IQ test before allowing people to procreate. And at least multiplying your vote by a factor related to your IQ, or some other indicator of intelligence.
Visit BoneSoft.com for code generation tools (XML & XSD -> C#, VB, etc...) and some free developer tools as well.
BoneSoft wrote:
And at least multiplying your vote by a factor related to your IQ, or some other indicator of intelligence
One extra vote for every ten points above 110 on Stamford-Binet. No votes for below 100. Test to be given only in standard American English and have a current affairs section equal in difficulty to the citizenship for folks applying for naturalization. And additional vote for every year of service in either the Peace Corps, Police Force, Fire Department or active duty in the Armed Forces (There is something to be said for people smart enough to be willing to put their lives on the line for their community.) 1 extra vote for every $100,000 in net worth - minus the value of your inheritance. And "None of the Above" on every ballot.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface
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BoneSoft wrote:
And at least multiplying your vote by a factor related to your IQ, or some other indicator of intelligence
One extra vote for every ten points above 110 on Stamford-Binet. No votes for below 100. Test to be given only in standard American English and have a current affairs section equal in difficulty to the citizenship for folks applying for naturalization. And additional vote for every year of service in either the Peace Corps, Police Force, Fire Department or active duty in the Armed Forces (There is something to be said for people smart enough to be willing to put their lives on the line for their community.) 1 extra vote for every $100,000 in net worth - minus the value of your inheritance. And "None of the Above" on every ballot.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface
Agree with everything but the net worth. Sounds great. Then we'll institude a flat tax of 15%. And shoot any congressman that goes over budget for treason. And we can also pass a law that requires every thing that passes congress to be voted on its own merits. No line item veto, no ear marks, no pork to get signers, no filibusters. It's worth passing or its not. I'm thinking you and I can make us a decent country.
Visit BoneSoft.com for code generation tools (XML & XSD -> C#, VB, etc...) and some free developer tools as well.
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BoneSoft wrote:
And at least multiplying your vote by a factor related to your IQ, or some other indicator of intelligence
One extra vote for every ten points above 110 on Stamford-Binet. No votes for below 100. Test to be given only in standard American English and have a current affairs section equal in difficulty to the citizenship for folks applying for naturalization. And additional vote for every year of service in either the Peace Corps, Police Force, Fire Department or active duty in the Armed Forces (There is something to be said for people smart enough to be willing to put their lives on the line for their community.) 1 extra vote for every $100,000 in net worth - minus the value of your inheritance. And "None of the Above" on every ballot.
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface
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MrPlankton wrote:
Adams and Jefferson.
You had trouble choosing between them, too?
Jon Smith & Wesson: The original point and click interface
Oakman wrote:
You had trouble choosing between them, too?
Damn, you're old.
Mike - typical white guy. The USA does have universal healthcare, but you have to pay for it. D'oh. Thomas Mann - "Tolerance becomes a crime when applied to evil." The NYT - my leftist brochure. Calling an illegal alien an “undocumented immigrant” is like calling a drug dealer an “unlicensed pharmacist”. God doesn't believe in atheists, therefore they don't exist.