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Yay! It’s FINALLY over.

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PitBull

NewBee
Registered Member
Nov 25, 2009
640
4
0
Pittsburgh, PA
I’m glad the election process is over for another four years. Well, more like three years, as both parties will be beating up themselves in their respective primaries next time.

I live in a battleground state and have had a continuous bombardment of political ads for the past month, both on TV and radio. Never have I been so grateful for a DVR, where I could start watching television 30 to 60 minutes late, then fast forwarding through the commercials.

[Please keep any comments politically unbiased, as we need civility to reign in these forums.]
 

mrperq

NewBee
Registered Member
Aug 27, 2012
62
1
0
Belgium, Europe
The price of democracy.
A small one considdering what
others have to pay for it.
(Think anywhere that is not
'the west')

We have elections for City level,
Province Level, Regional Level,
Federal Level, European level.

Sometimes I get sick of them too,
however the day people don't care
about politics anymore, no matter
who they support, the tyrants win.
 

fatbloke

good egg/snappy dresser.....
GotMead Patron
I was quite surprised to read of just how much online tracking technology was used by both sides during "the race".......

If that happened here, there'd be a complete uproar and I suspect whichever party was found using such invasive tech, would lose.
 

Khan

Worker Bee
Registered Member
Apr 11, 2012
93
2
8
South jersey
At least we can get back to our lives now, without all the petty bickering.

I think democracy is a great idea, too bad only 1/3 of our population voted. guess that goes to show how important it is to the majority of US citizens. I do know that 1 company in PA refused to let their employees have off to vote yesterday... I think that was very underhanded of them.. it was a shipping company that my brother drives for, he had been in his truck from 6am until 7.30pm and works 60minutes from his voting site. I'd be in an uproar. Makes me wonder how many others were either forced or coerced into not voting?

I'm not going to pick sides here, too volatile a topic IMO; but no matter who you voted for, I would like to personally thank all those who voted (or wanted to vote but couldn't). My father has a belief that I share: "It doesn't matter what you believe in, just believe in something and stand by your decisions". I believe.. I'll go back to mead making now ;)
 

Chevette Girl

All around BAD EXAMPLE
Moderator
Lifetime GotMead Patron
Apr 27, 2010
8,443
53
48
Ottawa, ON
Fatbloke, that doesn't surprise me... from a country whose reporters apologized if they interjected an actual opinion during the Olympic coverage...

And Mrperq, I agree, as much as the attack ads that happen over here make me want to strangle all three (or four, or five) sides.

Thanks from over here to all those who voted, your decisions affect us too.
 

MetalJulie

NewBee
Registered Member
I’m glad the election process is over for another four years. Well, more like three years, as both parties will be beating up themselves in their respective primaries next time.

Agreed. I'm so tired of it all.

I hear that in some countries, like Canada (I think), politicians can only campaign for 6 weeks. I think we should institute that policy in the US!

I do know that 1 company in PA refused to let their employees have off to vote yesterday

I thought it was a law that employers had to give their employees time off during the day to vote if they need to.
 

TheAlchemist

I am Meadlemania
GotMead Patron
Sep 9, 2010
2,464
8
0
near a lake
How awesome is it that we can vote!

How unfortunate is it that less than half of us who CAN vote DO vote.

How grateful am I that I don't watch TV and therefore am not exposed to that particular venom.

How glad am I that this cycle is over.

Very.
 

mrperq

NewBee
Registered Member
Aug 27, 2012
62
1
0
Belgium, Europe
I do know that 1 company in PA refused to let their employees have off to vote yesterday...

This is the verry reason in Belgium you are required to show up at your
voting site by law. You are not forced to actually vote, but you must
show up. If you are abroad you have to go to the embassy.
If you really can't show up (ill, work ...) you need a signed document from
your city hall in which you appoint someone else to go vote for you.
You ignore all above possibilities, you are brought to court and risk
a hefty fine. Its one of our silly laws I actually like. :)

Btw, a mighty big thank you to all who voted from me too!
 

Chevette Girl

All around BAD EXAMPLE
Moderator
Lifetime GotMead Patron
Apr 27, 2010
8,443
53
48
Ottawa, ON
Its one of our silly laws I actually like. :)

My husband and I keep wondering whether the stick or the carrot would be better if Canada adopted some form of law about voting being mandatory... he figures if we threaten to take away the right, maybe people will step to... or a fine if you don't vote... but right now if I recall the last election, we're lucky to get 45% turnout. And early voting is best, in my opinion... shorter lineups, often a more convenient location for me, several days you can do it and a wider range of times, and then you're done and don't have to worry about making sure you can get there after work on the day of...
 

goatee

NewBee
Registered Member
Oct 16, 2012
37
0
0
shelby twnp.
you follow the issues and campaigns, you watch the news and debates. you make a calculated and informed decision on a candidate based on issues that are important to you.
.....then you are at a party and politics come up. so you ask: "who did you vote for? them: blah blah. you: oh, why is that? them: because i liked his suit in the second debate." your vote has now been negated.

or something to that effect. a real answer i got was "because he is for the poor and the other is for the rich".

point number two:
in order to become a citizen of the U.S. you must pass a test.

hypothetical scenario, you walk into a voting booth and answer 5 random questions. 3 come straight from the candidates campaign, the other 2 are from a citizenship test.
your vote can now count for as much as 5. or zero correct? your vote counts for .01 or 1, 2,3,4,
now,, if you are one of those people who dont know what the first ten amendments to the constitution are? or cannot name the current vice president? im not too worried about my vote being cancelled out.

whats the worst that could happen? people might actually get educated on the issues? oh god forbid.
 

mrperq

NewBee
Registered Member
Aug 27, 2012
62
1
0
Belgium, Europe
.....then you are at a party and politics come up. so you ask: "who did you vote for? them: blah blah. you: oh, why is that? them: because i liked his suit in the second debate." your vote has now been negated.

Yeah I hear you there. Often when I ask people who they supported,
its usually because 'he's gonna restore the economy'. Find a politician
who doesn't claim restoring the economy :). Sometimes it feels
like talking to some sport fans. Naah their club is the best one, naah
they have no flaws. Them losing a match, thats because the other
team was lucky. Lots of luck involved there. I'm a socialist fascist
kapitalist anyway, so how should I know?

The main problem in a checlist however would be, who deceides on the
questions? Whoever does so could influence the results greatly.

Not the government, can't make them influence their own evaluation.
Maybe each candidate for his own program? Some could submit
some obscure program point only their die-hard fans know about.
That would most definatly change the outcome not the way intended.

Some candidates simply change their program to the people they speak to,
some simply lie, some stay vague to the point you don't know anything about
them.

How about non-serious candidates? For city elections we had a girl
who's main program point was 'I go nude if you elect me'. I dont
feel much urge to study her other idea's, that one point was enouph
to discard her.

How about their trackrecord? I hardly ever vote for the party I'm
aligned ideologically the most to, simply because I feel betrayed
by their actions years ago, when their words differed greatly from
their actions. Would it be unfair to devaluate my vote because I did
not study their present day program, while I study politics deeper
then most of my peers?
 

goatee

NewBee
Registered Member
Oct 16, 2012
37
0
0
shelby twnp.
questions would be random. and very basic too. just copy them from a citizenship test. 8th. grade U.S. history school book. it wont matter.

i took a poll and asked 100 people that came into my business;
"how many states are in the united states?" 51 got it right on the first guess.

FIFTY ONE people answered correct.

i look at it this way,,, when i vote, im taking away 5 morons vote.
instead of 1 moron taking away mine.


remember ms. teen south carolina? "such as"... remember the question she was asked? forget the brain fart she had, its not her,,, listen to the question.
you tube it, listen again, and prepare to have your mind blown!:eek:
 

PitBull

NewBee
Registered Member
Nov 25, 2009
640
4
0
Pittsburgh, PA
you follow the issues and campaigns, you watch the news and debates. you make a calculated and informed decision on a candidate based on issues that are important to you.
.....then you are at a party and politics come up. so you ask: "who did you vote for? them: blah blah. you: oh, why is that? them: because i liked his suit in the second debate." your vote has now been negated.

I agree, most people do not make an informed decision. I believe the overwhelming majority get their information (actually, misinformation) from the endless stream of political ads. Most of the ads are, at best, misleading. Others have the truth stretched so far that its unrecognizable. And finally there’s just the plain outright lies. It’s gotten to the point that ALL of the candidates do this… even the ones that I support. The independent fact check organizations confirm this. But in the USA we defend this hideous practice as “Freedom of Speech”.

I watch the debates which provides some good information, but for most of the debate… see the paragraph above. Constant interruptions, evading the question, or most often, changing the topic completely. I’d love to see a debate with utilizing a real debate format.

As for state and local elections, there is very little actual news coverage. Televised debates are practically non-existent.

Yet Americans will spend countless hours mindlessly gazing at tabloid TV and “reality” shows. I think more people could tell you all about the Kardashians, Honey Boo Boo, Snookie, Paris Hilton, and Teen Mom than any “real” people.
 
Last edited:

theEnvoy

Worker Bee
Registered Member
Oct 25, 2012
127
0
16
North East Georgia
It's scary, the ignorance of the general populous in this country. When "The View" becomes a legitimate political forum and Diane Sawyer covers the Election drunk (apparently), you know this country is on the decline.
 

Chevette Girl

All around BAD EXAMPLE
Moderator
Lifetime GotMead Patron
Apr 27, 2010
8,443
53
48
Ottawa, ON
I agree, most people do not make an informed decision. I believe the overwhelming majority get their information (actually, misinformation) from the endless stream of political ads. Most of the ads are, at best, misleading. Others have the truth stretched so far that its unrecognizable. And finally there’s just the plain outright lies. It’s gotten to the point that ALL of the candidates do this… even the ones that I support. The independent fact check organizations confirm this. But in the USA we defend this hideous practice as “Freedom of Speech”.

Yet Americans will spend countless hours mindlessly gazing at tabloid TV and “reality” shows. I think more people could tell you all about the Kardashians, Honey Boo Boo, Snookie, Paris Hilton, and Teen Mom than any “real” people.

I do admit to once having voted for the marijuana party in our provincial election because I was ticked off at my usual party and I knew they'd win anyway...

... and I always count it as a "win" if I make it through a supermarket checkout and can't recognize more than 2 people in the magazines...

My husband suggests that voting carry a fee. Waived or minimal if you're low-income, more expensive the higher your income... maybe then people would take it seriously.
 

Penguinetti

NewBee
Registered Member
Dec 20, 2011
375
3
0
Eliot, ME
I gotta tell you man, I'm totally turned off to Politics at this point. So its brewing and only Paula Dean on the TV for me.

Ahh, I see you as well like to pour melted butter on your buttered butter that you seared in butter before you baked it in a pan full of butter. ;D

...
How about non-serious candidates? For city elections we had a girl
who's main program point was 'I go nude if you elect me'. I dont
feel much urge to study her other idea's, that one point was enouph
to discard her...

Hey now, Italy had that porno star-turned-government official. And she offered to sleep with both Sadam Hussein and Osama Bin Laden should they turn to peace instead. It didn't work, but still. She got the position.

questions would be random. and very basic too. just copy them from a citizenship test. 8th. grade U.S. history school book. it wont matter.

i took a poll and asked 100 people that came into my business;
"how many states are in the united states?" 51 got it right on the first guess.

FIFTY ONE people answered correct.

i look at it this way,,, when i vote, im taking away 5 morons vote.
instead of 1 moron taking away mine.


remember ms. teen south carolina? "such as"... remember the question she was asked? forget the brain fart she had, its not her,,, listen to the question.
you tube it, listen again, and prepare to have your mind blown!:eek:

3 things:
1) I like this idea. A lot. You should have enough understanding of your country if you plan on voting.

2) What did the people who got it wrong say?

3) I don't get youtube at work. Could you tell me what happened with Ms. Teen South Carolina?


...My husband suggests that voting carry a fee. Waived or minimal if you're low-income, more expensive the higher your income... maybe then people would take it seriously.

The problem I see with that is this; you might actually decrease the number of voters, simply because people do not want to spend money on things they can't show off (generally speaking). Kind of why people don't mind spending 20-40 grand on a car, but they prefer to steal movies off the internets rather than pay the 5 or 10 bucks to see them.
 

Chevette Girl

All around BAD EXAMPLE
Moderator
Lifetime GotMead Patron
Apr 27, 2010
8,443
53
48
Ottawa, ON
The problem I see with that is this; you might actually decrease the number of voters, simply because people do not want to spend money on things they can't show off (generally speaking). Kind of why people don't mind spending 20-40 grand on a car, but they prefer to steal movies off the internets rather than pay the 5 or 10 bucks to see them.

Actually I read a study a few months ago that said the same people who pirate the most stuff from the internet are also the biggest spenders on netflix/itunes...

And would it really be so bad to only have determined (and hopefully informed) voters voting? You could wear an "I voted!" button like they give out "I gave blood!" stickers... ;D
 
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