Voting

[Spirithawk]

I know the importance of voting, though I wish folks would vote for a person's verified qualifications instead of just because they belong to one party or another. That being said though, I wonder what would happen if they held an election and every single registered voter absolutly refused to vote untill they put someone on the ballot worth voting for that has a proven record of what they've accomplished and stand for? Wouldn't that send a message that would rock the political world?  

[Pat/Rick]

Playing devils advocate here but, that may just send a message that we the people don't care and that they can set up whatever form of gooberment they want to. But yes, seems that the choices of late have been nobody running is qualified let alone deserving of office.

[Spirithawk]

Not if we refuse to let anyone else take office before being voted in by us. They start missing their paychecks they might just get the idea we mean buiseness. 

[billy_56081]

I'd like to see the names of political parties removed from the ballot.

[WylieKy]

Hey Spirit, seems to me that you are saying something along these lines,

"That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn, that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable, than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security."

If so, I agree, sir.

[Pat/Rick]

Wouldn't absolute refusal to let somebody take office be beyond the commitment of most americans? Many of us have sworn to defend the Constitution against.............well, some would say the domestic aggressors are already here.

[briarpatch]

Its not the politician that is the problem. Its not the party or parties.
ITS THE FINGER, THAT PUSHES THE BUTTON, ATTACHED TO THE MAN OR WOMAN THAT HAS NOT READ, ASKED, QUESTIONED, CAMPAINED FOR, GOT INVOLVED IN ANYWAY. That is the problem.
If anyone thinks they can lay on a couch and listen to sound bites on t.v. then go vote for the right person, only heaps distruction on their heads.
Good people start out in most all these races but we allow the media and left wings groups to weed them out before they have a chance to start.
Go down to your local precint and get involved. You may not win but you will feel like you did your part.
Join the local Tea Party in your town and learn about the candadates. GET INVOLVED.

[gypsyman]

It was said before, and I'll say it again. Politicians will, and can be changed. Laws can be changed. It's the people that voted this mentality into office that you have to worry about. You'll more than likely have to deal with that person on a one on one basis, than the one in office. gypsyman

[hornady]

I have to admit the media plays a large part in most people’s selection. The problem most do not have the free time to get involved, which leaves two camps, FOX news and everyone else. And I am not saying Fox is without fault for some of the political turmoil and confusion. Only those that have done extensive research know the bad treatment Ron Paul got from FOX.
I try to stay up on political events and politicians. I read and watch as much as possible, but you need to look at both sides to make an informed decision. Knowing up front 50% is BS on both sides,
All news outlets have agendas; at no other time in my life have I seen news become more propaganda than news.
Two truths I have come too, and it may just be me getting older and grumpy, But for the most part people are Lazy and stubborn.
I have read post on here as well as other forms that; the poster would not admit he was wrong, no matter how many facts were given, no one wants to admit he may be wrong.
Today if you don’t like the slant a news station is putting out, just change the channel, you will find one that is more agreeable to your thinking.
  

[Spirithawk]

It just seems to me that it's not the most qualified person that gets elected. It's the one with the most money to run the flashiest campaign and the media trips all over themselves to help. People seem to buy their way into office. I'm not saying don't ever vote but I think campaigns should be outlawed. Only a persons verified record be allowed to be publicized and if no one is worth an honest vote then refuse to vote till they put someone on the ballot that is. Of course that wouldn't work because some idiot would win by one vote that some idiot, like those that voted Obama in, would cast. But the doing away with party afiliations and sticking strictly to a persons verified credentials and record would sure be a huge step in the right direction! Who really cares what party a person belongs to as long as they have the Country and our best intrest at heart and makes the right decisions. When you go to work do they ask if you're a Republican or Democrat before hiring you? No, they are only interested in if you can do the job so why should being elected to office be any differant? I'd come sooner voting for someone because they aren't affiliated with any party than if they were. If you're quallified you are and if you're not you're not. Simple as that!

[hornady]

That might work in a perfect world, but politics have become more about Egos, power, and money. And without the party behind you, you have no chance.
Ron Paul was a good example of this, most of the people on the right you talked to said the same thing, I like him, but he doesn’t have party support and can never win.
So what did most do, I know there were some that wanted Mc Cain , but most lost interest when there party candidate fell out, or cast a vote for him in protest, another year of second best choice.
I had hope the TEA party would bring the country back to reason.
But turn on the TV and the left is putting on a million dollar smear campaign against the TEA party.
I believe the only way to bring sensibility back to politics, would be a true third party; both the Republican and Democratic parties are riddled with corruption. 

[magooch]

When you say "qualified", who gets to set the rules for qualification?  When you say "right" for the job", who gets to determine what constitutes being right for the job?

In most cases, all you can do is decide whether you are willing to allow a Dumbycrat (communist) to be elected, or vote for the candidate who might have a realistic chance of beating the communist.

[turk762]

It just seems to me it is like seeing a movie trailer or commercial on tv, they show all the good stuff that they know will make you want to see the movie (campaign commercials) and when you see it (vote for them), it is no where near as good as the trailer portrayed (Obama).

This is the way people are convinced to do thing these days. Many times I have seen one of these movies trailers and just had to see it and was severely disappointed, now I know the movies that advertise the most is more then likely a dud. Some of the best movies I ever saw were not advertised at all. Now, I tell the wife that they spend all there advertising and hype and the movie will suck, and 99% of the time I am right.

The current administration is just like the movie trailers, show all this hype and flash, get people on board, Get the commitment of the people, give them a lame duck, and leave them all seriously disappointed. When its time for a sequel, repeat, lets not go see the sequel, because it will be bad.  

[gypsyman]

Here's an idea. Lets go back to only land owners can vote. My $4,000+ dollars a year in property tax should give me the right to vote. How about the $2,800+ I send into the state of Ohio for sales tax. The couple thousand in state tax my wife and I send in every year for the privlidge of working. Real easy for people that don't have stakes in the matter to vote for whom ever or what ever. The reason we are in the predicament we are now. Only going to get worse. gypsyman

[Elijah Gunn]

I agree with you gypsyman.

[jlchucker]

I'd like to see the names of political parties removed from the ballot.

I'd like to see every incumbent on every ballot identified as such.  It would make it easy for everyone to vote the B**t**ds out!

[Brett]

I'd like to see the names of political parties removed from the ballot.

I'd like to see every incumbent on every ballot identified as such.  It would make it easy for everyone to vote the B**t**ds out!

+1

Voting every one of the current leaches out of office would send a clear message that we Americans want real change not just lip service.

[billy_56081]

In Minnesota the incumbents are identified on the ballot.

[Spirithawk]

Here's an idea. Lets go back to only land owners can vote. My $4,000+ dollars a year in property tax should give me the right to vote. How about the $2,800+ I send into the state of Ohio for sales tax. The couple thousand in state tax my wife and I send in every year for the privlidge of working. Real easy for people that don't have stakes in the matter to vote for whom ever or what ever. The reason we are in the predicament we are now. Only going to get worse. gypsyman

Personaly I'd like to see only Veterans , Active Service, and their imediate families have the right to vote. Who has earned a better right?

[Brett]

Here's an idea. Lets go back to only land owners can vote. My $4,000+ dollars a year in property tax should give me the right to vote. How about the $2,800+ I send into the state of Ohio for sales tax. The couple thousand in state tax my wife and I send in every year for the privlidge of working. Real easy for people that don't have stakes in the matter to vote for whom ever or what ever. The reason we are in the predicament we are now. Only going to get worse. gypsyman

Personaly I'd like to see only Veterans , Active Service, and their imediate families have the right to vote. Who has earned a better right?

I'm okay with that.

[Sourdough]

The problem is the voters who let their unions tell them how to vote.  The voter who does not have a clue who they are voting for they are just voting along party lines.  The voter who does not have the time to look at the issues or records of the people running and just vote for the guy with the most recoginized name.

I saw this back in Tennessee when Albert Gore Jr was running for President.  I went to Carthridge to visit old family friends.  They were all caught up in the Gore histeria.  Point out bad things about his voting record and they refused to hear it.

During the 2008 period leading up to the election, I was traveling in the South.  People saw my Sarah Palin tee shirt and asked me about her.  They all said she was a nice person and they liked her.  Many even admitted she was better qualified than Obama for the job, but their union had told them to vote for Obama and they had to vote that way.

I see this in our local elections, and this is a real big issue with me.  We have all these Military families living on Ft Wainwright and Eielson AFB.  They go down and vote by name recognition, the person who's name is most familure to them is the one they vote for, with out having a clue who that person is, or what the issue is.  And when asked before the election about issues they just blow it off, and are not interested.  They know they are only here for two to six years and it's not important to them.  We have boroughs instead of counties up here.  And the local bourough had deferred maintenance on two local elementry schools for so long that the bill to bring these building up to standards was going to be staggering.   So the school bord decided to replace the buildings with new ones.  After looking at the plans the public knew better, that is was a bad plan.  They wanted to replace two solid concrete buildings with wooden structures.  The voters had said no four times.  So the school board went to the bases and really pushed their issues with the military voters, saying, "It's for the children".  The borough kept a low profile while doing this.  The next election the bond issue passed, and it was the military vote that got the community saddled with a big bond to pay off while the people that voted for it have left and will not have to help pay for it.  Nor did their kids go to the two affected schools, those schools are off base in an area that is mostly populated by civilians.     

[Spirithawk]

I just worry that people have become so dissalusioned with our Country that they have either given up or are grasping at straws. Obama getting elected being a prime example. People have become lazy. Life is too easy. Everthing is done for you by either someone else or the latest state of the art gadget. There are so many problems no one has a clue where to begin in solving any of them. It's both scary and depressing to even turn on the news. But because some, such as myself, believe a return to a simpler life style, a return to family and religious values are the answer we are laughed at and, as proven by some here, we become the target for snyde remarks. Everyone agrees something needs to be done. Everyone agrees it needs to be done soon if not already too late. Everyone has an opinion on what they believe are the answers. But you know what? Very very few out of everyone wants to be the person to get up out of their comfy chair and actually do something, no matter how little, to try and make a differance. It's the attitudes, "It's someone elses job. My thoughts don't count. Why should I get involved? " Ect., Ect., Ect. that will be our downfall.

[beerbelly]

It just seems to me that it's not the most qualified person that gets elected. It's the one with the most money to run the flashiest campaign and the media trips all over themselves to help

You and I do agree on one thing!
                                        Beerbelly

[torpedoman]

Its not the politician that is the problem. Its not the party or parties.
ITS THE FINGER, THAT PUSHES THE BUTTON, ATTACHED TO THE MAN OR WOMAN THAT HAS NOT READ, ASKED, QUESTIONED, CAMPAINED FOR, GOT INVOLVED IN ANYWAY. That is the problem.
If anyone thinks they can lay on a couch and listen to sound bites on t.v. then go vote for the right person, only heaps distruction on their heads.
Good people start out in most all these races but we allow the media and left wings groups to weed them out before they have a chance to start.
Go down to your local precint and get involved. You may not win but you will feel like you did your part.
Join the local Tea Party in your town and learn about the candadates. GET INVOLVED.

Hey this person really understands the problem.

[steg]

I was talking to a cousin of mine, a dyed in the wool Democrat, and when I told him I was a conservative, and a Republican, his answer was "their the ones trying to take our guns away", even though he is that mis informed, he is still allowed to vote. I try and keep up with the liberal networks on TV, but I only last about 10 mins before I'm ready to scream, FOx news remains my mainstay, and Rush when I get a chance to listen.............steg

[Tommyt]

Personaly I'd like to see only Veterans , Active Service, and their imediate families have the right to vote. Who has earned a better right

I wouldn't go that far but I do think after bho that to become Commander and Chief you have to have at least 2 years of Military service or no Need Apply
 This clown as he was called doesn't understand the Great Armies of our country what so ever,and Yes I feel the Gen. should not have shown his anger within the white house,But I do understand his Frustrations


Tommyt

[WylieKy]

Personaly I'd like to see only Veterans , Active Service, and their imediate families have the right to vote. Who has earned a better right?

Read the book "Starship Troopers" by Robert A. Heinlein.  I don't know if you're into Sci-Fi or not, but most of his books deal with socio-political issues more than the sci-fi plot it is written around.  Basically in "Starship Troopers" the government is centered around being forced to earn your franchise by serving in the military.  No one is forced to serve, and the military is open to absolutely everyone despite physical ability (cooks, logistics, ect are ran by people with physical disabilities.)  You can't vote until you're out of the military, but serving in some capacity is required to hold office or any public job or vote.  I actually like the idea.

The book also deals with disciplining children, specifically corporal punishment and how the "time-out" culture nearly destroyed America, lol.  Over all he is one of the more entertaining writers.  Clearly some of his ideas are OUT THERE but most of it is solid.

[johnjohn]

I agree with the poster about only property owners voting at least in property tax elections. Property owners should not be saddled with additional taxes to benefit mostly non-taxpaying individuals.

[Sourdough]

johnjohn:  I will definately agree with that.  Back before Ft Wainwright had a large number of troops the voters of the Fairbanks North Star Borough had voted down an inative to tear down two perfectly good cement block school buildings, and build new smaller wooden structures.  This inative was for several millions of dollers.  Then Ft Wainwright had a big build up of personnel, along with wives and dependents.  The proponets of this inative quitely went about the post and convenced the military and their spouses that this would be good for the children.  The military and spouses did not really understand the inative.  Also they were not going to be on the hook to repay these bonds.  The inative passed, and now all the military that voted for it are gone.  And now we are saddled with repaying the bond and having to come up with money to upgrade building that are not designed for the artic.

I too have been a proponet of every one having to earn the right to vote.  I won't say serving in the military, but some type of government service with the military an option, for a minamum of two to four years.   This service should be performed following high school, and before college.  Then maybe everyone that voted would understand the issues.

Also by making this requirement a prerequisite for the right to work in this country, it would cut out the illegial aliens.  And the people coming to this country to become a citizen would earn the right to become a citizen by working for the government service.

[Spirithawk]

There's some good ideas here but what we really need to do is be telling them to our elected officials and insisting they listen. Otherwise they don't really amount to other than mere words.