tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250195226200160668.post1694455821971090352..comments2023-07-07T04:02:25.375-04:00Comments on Sane Political Discourse: There Is No Right To VotePatrick Mhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16377933168305160179noreply@blogger.comBlogger5125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250195226200160668.post-86663786617353336252008-05-06T09:18:00.000-04:002008-05-06T09:18:00.000-04:00Therefore, RWR and GWB were elected by the stupid....<I>Therefore, RWR and GWB were elected by the stupid.</I><BR/><BR/>I can't argue with you on this. The presidential races have become more beauty contests than serious discussions. And far too many people have no desire to learn any substance. I remember back in 2000, Lieberman and Cheney had a debate. The result? Most people said it was a serious and boring debate, as there were two people with deep and broad experiences having a serous discussion. Instead we were treated to sound bite debates between Bush and Gore that I can't remember. What I do remember is the Saturday night live skit where they summed up their candidacies in one word.<BR/>Bush: "strategery"<BR/>Gore: "lockbox"<BR/><BR/>Let's sigh some more.Patrick Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16377933168305160179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250195226200160668.post-56399290206454716052008-05-06T08:13:00.000-04:002008-05-06T08:13:00.000-04:00It is the vote of a willfully ignorant electorate ...<I>It is the vote of a willfully ignorant electorate that is the problem with voting in this country. And until people embrace the responsibility of voting, then it will continue to be a game of Brainwash the Voting Blocs.</I><BR/><BR/>The problem with your implication--that the "willfully ignorant" vote, and mine (that politics is 1/4 intelligence and 3/4 emotion) means that Democratic, AS WELL AS Republicans, say like Ronald W. Reagan, were voted into office by stupid people.<BR/><BR/>Therefore, RWR and GWB were elected by the stupid.<BR/><BR/>See? Doesn't sound so logical when I put it in those terms.<BR/><BR/>Yes, it is true that voters should educate themselves on issues and where their candidates stand on them. But that takes time and work.<BR/><BR/>It is so much easier for the electorate to swallow inane sound bites that are half truths, and outright lies.<BR/><BR/>And to believe the talking hair-dos on the teevee.<BR/><BR/>Inaccuraate and sensational info from the media keep the voters dumbed down--both Republican AND Democrats.<BR/><BR/>Sigh.Shaw Kenawehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08637273000409613497noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250195226200160668.post-16761630796082184462008-05-06T01:39:00.000-04:002008-05-06T01:39:00.000-04:00Shaw: I think I see why you vote the way you vote...Shaw: I think I see why you vote the way you vote:<BR/><BR/><I>It's insane. But politics is 1/4 intelligence and 3/4 emotion.</I><BR/><BR/>I can't say that everybody who votes is perfectly knowledgeable about every candidate and issue. However there are far too many people that pull the lever without even an attempt at thought. <BR/><BR/>Perhaps that's how we keep ending up with the idiots that we do.<BR/><BR/>But it's the ideal that I look for, and its by attempting to learn more (<I>God bless the Internet</I>) that we can hope to dig ourselves out of this hole.<BR/><BR/>The real problem though is that you and I are the exception. And as horribly and terribly wrong your choices for candidates may be, at least you have tried to learn something about them. I'd like to think there's some logic there.<BR/><BR/>Ok, better stop before more liberal jokes come.<BR/><BR/>Dee: My inspiration came from that story that lib on your site was spinning about her senile citizen grandmother who couldn't understand why she had to get an ID. That alone tells me she's pulling a lever with no understanding of why she's doing so.<BR/><BR/>Just think what would happen if only the people who could name the candidates before stepping into the voting booth were allowed to vote. I mean besides a Republican victory.<BR/><BR/>It is the vote of a <B>willfully ignorant</B> electorate that is the problem with voting in this country. And until people embrace the responsibility of voting, then it will continue to be a game of Brainwash the Voting Blocs.Patrick Mhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16377933168305160179noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250195226200160668.post-1089578172605296972008-05-05T23:21:00.000-04:002008-05-05T23:21:00.000-04:00I wish that only educated people voted but unfortu...I wish that only educated people voted but unfortunately thats not how it works.<BR/><BR/>My producer was shocked when I talked about this on the show today. He just assumed everyone had to have a photo id to vote. One would assume you would need at "least" that. But how do you think so many dead people get away with voting???Dionnehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05013166054883351020noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1250195226200160668.post-69511251164588183362008-05-05T20:23:00.000-04:002008-05-05T20:23:00.000-04:00When George W. Bush heralded the Iraqi elections, ...When George W. Bush heralded the Iraqi elections, purple thumbs and all, everyone here thought that was a great achievement for democracy in the Middle East. We brought them what George W. Bush said was God's gift to humanity-- Democracy and purple thumbs! <BR/><BR/>Do you think all of those voting Iraqis were fully aware of the positions of each of the candidates they voted for?<BR/><BR/>No. Neither do I.<BR/><BR/>But that election was celebrated here as a very, very great achievement.<BR/><BR/>You want to start deciding who can or cannot vote by what they know about the individual candidates and you'll have about a dozen people who qualify.<BR/><BR/>There will be no democracy.<BR/><BR/>Even people who know what his or her candidate stands for votes mainly on emotion.<BR/><BR/>Look at Hillary. Most Democrats see her more aligned with John McCain and the moderate Republicans, but those Democrats still remain loyal to her.<BR/><BR/>It's insane. But politics is 1/4 intelligence and 3/4 emotion.<BR/><BR/>Sounds like you'd like to return to the voting days of the early Republic when only elites (land owners) could vote.<BR/><BR/>Remember what Rummy said: "Democracy is messy."<BR/><BR/>:-)Shaw Kenawehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08637273000409613497noreply@blogger.com