D
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i didn't have the strength to get it all the way off
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(Originally posted on: 08-03-12 01:59:42 PM)
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Since we're talking politics, why not talk about the election.
Personally I passionately hate the idea of voting based on the 'lesser of two evils' principle. I've yet to hear an argument from anyone supporting that method of voting who had any point based in anything other than fear and pessimism.
Most reasonable people tend to agree that the two party system is bad, and they would be the first two vote for a third party if there were any chance that they could win. Their big "BUT" statement is, there is no way they could ever win because we all know personally how many stubborn people are out there who just vote with their party line no matter what. While that is true, they somehow miss the irony of their stance. I recently got into a discussion about this with someone who kept saying something to the effect of "I pray the younger generation will see the chains of the two-party system and make an effort to stop it, but for now we're locked into it and i'm not going to throw my vote away to try and make a point." I hope the hypocrisy in that statement is as obvious to everyone as it is to me... He recognizes the problem, he sees the possibility and necessity for change - and yet passes it down to the next generation instead of doing anything about it. If people started taking that responsibility for themselves, I think they would find those stubborn old farts who vote down party lines aren't as numerous or as stubborn as we think. I think there is a huge amount of people who are all sitting on their hands because they're all too chickenshit to do anything but strengthen the institutions that they are hoping their children will be able to fight. The problem has gotten progressively worse thanks to the defeatists, and will continue to do so if we continue this lazy pessimism.
Anyway i'll end my rant here because i've been distracted by a visitor. That said, everyone go to www.isidewith.com and see who you side most with politically. Personally it's not a great quiz in my opinion because most of the issues seem to be predictable and not always that important ones, but that's probably because that's all the big candidates ever talk about.
Here's what I got.
Jill Stein
on domestic policy, science, healthcare, immigration, social, and foreign policy issues.
81%
Gary Johnson
on domestic policy, environmental, social, immigration, and economic issues.
75%
Barack Obama
on environmental, social, immigration, and foreign policy issues.
63%
Ron Paul
on domestic policy, environmental, economic, and foreign policy issues.
55%
Stewart Alexander
on healthcare, social, and immigration issues.
46%
Mitt Romney
on environmental issues.
33%
Jimmy McMillan
on domestic policy and social issues.
15%
Virgil Goode
on domestic policy issues.
edit: An interesting point I wanted to bring up is for those democrats who say it's not worth taking away a vote from the democratic party for some symbolic gesture. It's a point i've stolen from someone else - Dan Carlin, to be specific - but an interesting one that I wouldn't mind hearing you guys chime in about. Basically he says that Democrats are more dangerous for human rights/civil liberties than Republicans, and the reason is because while they both do shady things, the people who would ordinarily protest and cause a big stink keep their mouths shut when it's their own guy. Basically the point is - if George Bush does something bad, every liberal leaning person in the country is up in arms saying how bad it is. If Obama does the same thing, the reaction is much quieter and sounds a lot quieter and apologetic of it, many people making excuses ("he's doing the best he can while still making necessary appeasements to the republican opposition"). He (Carlin) cites several examples of this effect going back to Carter I believe. I can dig up his version of this argument if anyone is interested in hearing more than just my crappily relayed version.
This reply was last edited on 08-03-12 06:19:35 PM by D.
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