Op/Ed: VOTE.....VOTE......VOTE!!!

Of course, I see your point, very clearly. It is absolutely understood, but we can still dream, can't we. They havn't taken that much away from us....yet.....

"By choosing not to decide, you still have made a choice"
Rush

But was it the right one?

If you try and failed, at least you can say you tried.

I actually think it's fun to vote! Hah, DJ you really still have a lever machine with knobs?! Man, I hope they put those up for public sale eventually, one of those would be great to have sit up at the end of a basement bar someday! Before electronic voting we just had what looked like a metal compass that we had to slide out ballot between it and the table-top (and punch through with some kind of metal stylus on a chain.)

I actually enjoy talking to people whilst waiting in line to vote, it's a heck of a lot better than the standard "looks like it's gonna rain" or "see the Heat game last night?" type fare! Hope everyone voted, remember - if you don't vote, you don't count. (but if you're a dem, remember you guys vote tomorrow)... j/k...

Originally posted by MasterJedi
I can't believe that someone would actually vote for a woman based only on that fact. So you are saying that no matter her stance, you'd vote for her because she's a woman? What is this country coming to?

What is the difference in my voting for women and others voting a stright ticket for a particular party reguardless of the individuals stance on the issues.

Exactly, what is this country coming to?

[edit on 7-11-2006 by whaaa]

Originally posted by AlphaHumana
I actually think it's fun to vote! Hah, DJ you really still have a lever machine with knobs?! Man, I hope they put those up for public sale eventually, one of those would be great to have sit up at the end of a basement bar someday!

yeah, we still have these huge non-electronic voting machines probably from the 1950's here. You pull a lever, turn knobs, and pull the lever back

I just got back from voting and to my surprise I was given a choice, Paper or plastic. I was asked if I wanted to cast a paper ballot or use the touchscreen electronic machine.

I've never voted electronicly before so I couldn't resist.

Still, I was amazed at the number of people who wanted to use paper ballots. They were by far in the majority at the time I was a the polling site.

Originally posted by djohnsto77

yeah, we still have these huge non-electronic voting machines probably from the 1950's here. You pull a lever, turn knobs, and pull the lever back

Wow, a better piece of Americana memorabilia I cannot imagine! That's so classic, makes me envision the poll-workers as guys in pinstripes and fedoras and a looped recording of some old colonel from the Korean War speaking voting instructions I want one. Sorry, just had to get that out.

mrwupy, that's great you had the choice between paper or plastic! I wasn't given the choice, but I was in the Spanish-speakers line (though I don't speak Spanish, it was a much shorter line, and I already knew what I was in for - list of candidates and issues so "si" or "no" wasn't such a big obstacle.) Gotta love how easy that electronic voting is, though!

Well so far it looks good for the Democrats...generally speaking most reports have high, as in 65% in my city, voter turnout and that seems to be the trend nationally. As of 7:30 pm one local TV station is calling George Allen (R) the winner BUT that is locally Southwest Va. is far less populated than NOVA and that is leaning heavily towards Webb.

Well, I'm back from voting.
I have researched the cantidates, studied their records and/or platforms, even looked up news reports involving them.
I got in the booth, looked at everything, and voted on all the charters and ammendments.
However, I could not bring myself to vote for any of the idiots offered to me. I wanted to, but there are so many points with all of them that I strongly disagree with, I just couldn't.
This has just depressed the crap out of me. I remember when I used to look forward to election day, eager to cast my vote for some bright, well-informed young politico, thinking "Let's shake them bastards up, get something done, maybe even improve the country!"
Now I'm faced with a tired assortment of pathetic liars. They all either have a record of doing nothing, are in the pocket of big business, or are just plain idiots with nothing more then worn-out rhetoric for a platform. I'm not a drinking fella, but I'm seriously considering a fifth of scotch tonight.

I agree with those who say we need to re-vamp the system. I think the toughest challenge is simply choosing the candidates. To me, if recent history has shown us anything, it is the inherant truth in the old saw,"Anyone who wants the job probably shouldnt have it." Everyone involved just seems to be in it for the money and/or power, instead of being in it for the good of the people, and even the occasional exception, by the time they get into a position to make a difference they are beholden to the money men and other powers that helped them get there, and the "people" are all but fogotten.
Perhaps the candidates should be chosen by lot. Each party would choose a candidate(at random) from everyone in their party of the minimum age required and with at least a high-school education. Some offices, like the President, would by necessity be converted to a 3-5 person commitee, to keep from being prejudiced by any extreme-type views that might come to power.( you know, world domination, ethnic cleansing, that kind of thing ). I know this wouldn't be a perfect system, but I still believe that most average Americans, if called upon by their nation to serve in such a capacity, would do their level best at the job.

Another major hurdle is, I think, a vastly under-educated majority of voters. Probably not so much here at ATS, but be real. Look around you. How many people do you see in a given day that you would trust to make major decisions about your life? Not many, I'd bet. I think maybe in order to register to vote, one should have to pass a test on at least the basic workings of our government. This way, you know the voters at least know what the candidate is supposed to be doing if he/she wins. I've also always kinda liked Mr. Heinlein's idea of the right to vote being dependant on a hitch in the military. At least you would know that the voter gives a damn about the country, having been willing to defend it with his/her life, if necessary.

One thing we definately need to lose is the "politics as a family business" syndrome. When multiple members of a family hold office simultaneously or consecutively, there is way to much chance of an unfairly large power base, or several successive office holders pushing the same policies. You might have noticed this phenomenon in recent news.

One way or another, things need to change. I long for the still-remembered thrill of thinking I was actually doing something worthwhile by voting, that I was contributing in a meaningful way to the direction this once-great country was going, and not just going through the motions of what was once democracy in action, while only succeeding in propping up another parasite to continue the process of bleeding America dry while lining their pockets with tax dollars.

Sorry to write so much, but I needed to vent some of my disgust.
Props to everyone who managed to vote.

Democracy CAN be a beautiful thing.
It just needs refining.

Originally posted by ferretman2
I can't wait till I hear all the complaints from dems/libs when/if they do not gain the house and senate.

Ferret-
I can't wait til I hear all the complaints from republicans/neocons when/if they lose the house and senate

Originally posted by Stormrider
Ferret-
I can't wait til I hear all the complaints from republicans/neocons when/if they lose the house and senate

You mean like the complaints from the Democrats/liberals when they lost the House and Senate, along with the White House?

A very sensible, intelligent, and to the point article for those interested in a good read:

The Only Issue This Election Day


[edit on 7-11-2006 by Seekerof]

In Pa. Rick Sanitarium (R) has fallen and in Va. George Allen (R) leads Jim Webb (D) by 1% point with 60% of precincts reporting. I don't know about Maryland yet but the Demo's have held onto New Jersey.

according to CNN it breaks this way so far:

VIRGINIA
D: 52...this surprises me since local media has Allen leading by 1 point.
R: 47

RHODE ISLAND
D: 53
R: 46

PENNSYLVANIA
D: 57
R: 42

OHIO
D: 57
R: 43

NEW JERSEY
D: 52
R: 45

MONTANA
D: 53
R: 46

MISSOURI
D: 50
R: 48

MARYLAND
D: 53
R: 46

TENNESSEE
D: 48
R: 51

ARIZONA
D: 46
R: 50

[edit on 7-11-2006 by grover]

In Arkansas it seems we've changed the states constitution so that we can play bingo, we just can't have lotteries or casino's or any other kind of fun.

This state is hemmoraging (sp) money to every state around us cause every one of them have casino's and every citizen of this state is crossing the line to gamble in our bordering states.

But hey, atleast we can now play bingo

Originally posted by grover

VIRGINIA
D: 52...this surprises me since local media has Allen leading by 1 point.
R: 47

that's because the majority of returns have come from predominantly red counties. i dont think major northern va areas like alexandria and loudoun county have come in yet....or if they have, that the local media havent picked up on it yet.

Originally posted by grover
OHIO
D: 57
R: 43

Yep, we tossed out Dewine here in Ohio, and there will be many more republicans tossed before the night is out. They have also declared Strickland (D) the winner over Blackwell for governor.

If anyone remembers, Blackwell is the guy that rigged Ohio in 2004 for GW.

Pay back is a bitch.

Just heard that Joe Lieberman would hang on to his seat.

www.msnbc.msn.com...

Originally posted by snafu7700

Originally posted by grover

VIRGINIA
D: 52...this surprises me since local media has Allen leading by 1 point.
R: 47

that's because the majority of returns have come from predominantly red counties. i dont think major northern va areas like alexandria and loudoun county have come in yet....or if they have, that the local media havent picked up on it yet.

The last I heard before tonight was that Allen led in my part of the state...S.W. Va. but that Webb held a 10 point lead in more heavily populated NOVA. As of 5 minutes ago Webb was leading by the skin of my chinny chin chin. As it stands I personally am calling it a night...I don't want to bother with TV coverage and most of the major news services are clogged solid...I never could get onto AP. Regardless of how it goes, like it or not we will live with the results so I can wait until morning and either bitch or celebrate then.

Originally posted by Hal9000
If anyone remembers, Blackwell is the guy that rigged Ohio in 2004 for GW.

Pay back is a bitch.

im sorry, but i just have to ask......if youre so confident that he rigged the 2004 vote, then why in the hell couldnt he do it for himself?

it's funny how it's vote rigging when your candidate loses, but it's the system working properly when he wins.

and before you go slamming me as a neocon, i voted a straight democratic ticket.

Originally posted by grover
Regardless of how it goes, like it or not we will live with the results so I can wait until morning and either bitch or celebrate then.

probably a good call....after the 2004 debacle, the media wont be calling any close races until they are absolutely sure of themselves.

Originally posted by deltaboy
Just heard that Joe Lieberman would hang on to his seat.

www.msnbc.msn.com...

so it seems and while it is listed as a Democratic loss Lieberman says he will caucus with the Democrats so he and Bernie Saunders of Vermont will be the Senate independents...both allied with the Demos.