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| Author: Posted: Sep. 8, 2002 | This Page Viewed: 7,011,785 |
Question of the Week: 83 - 10/27/2002 Time to Talk Politics and Elections… Eek! It’s the silly season again. For U.S. Pagans/Heathens: The U.S. is holding mid-term elections Nov. 5th. Will you be voting? What are the issues that are most important to you? Do you vote by issue or by party? Do you have any thoughts on how it will turn out? Non-U.S. Pagans/Heathens: The U.S. is woefully ignorant about your political processes. Please enlighten us. How many parties do you have? What are the names of the parties and what platforms do they represent? Do you have 'liberals' and 'conservatives'? How often do you vote? Do you elect representatives? How do you contact these representatives about your issues? As always while talking politics, discussions can become heated. Please stay on the issues and do not resort to personal attacks. Further discussions should be taken to e-mail. |
| Reponses: There are 109 responses posted to this question. | Reverse Sort |
| Vote In The Wrong Direction? | Oct 27th. at 9:09:12 pm EST |
| Aqua (Massachusetts) | Age: 22 - Email |
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Hello! I live in Massachusetts, and we have five people running for govenor. I really want to vote for the Green party canidate, Jill Stein. She is the person I most agree with in this election. However, her chances of winning are very, very low. It's a concern of mine that the votes for her will only take away from the Democratic canidate, and help to elect the Republican one, and I REALLY don't want him to win. The polls show that the Democratic canidate and the Rebublican canidate are deck and neck among voters. I really can't stand either of them, but the winner of this election will certainly be one of them. I wonder if I sould vote for the Democratic canidate, only because she is the lesser of the the two evils. (lol) I'd really rather vote for the Green party canidate, but I don't know. Many people think that during the last presidential election the votes for Nader took away from Gore and won that stooge of ours the presidency. I really don't want a similar thing to happen in this election. |
| I Have To Admit I Need To Do Some Research | Oct 27th. at 10:12:47 pm EST |
| Stella (Pasadena, CA) | Age: 24 - Email |
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I have to admit I need to do some research. In the past year I moved about 2000 miles from my hometown, and I am not as familiar with the candidates as I was there. I usually tend to vote libertarian, except when there is no libertarian candidate, or the candidate is particularly bad. That is not a hard-and-fast rule or anything, it is just how it usually works out. I always vote, as I conisder it my duty. It is highly unusual for me to be as uninformed as I am this late in the year. This is a good reminder to get off my behind and get informed. Thanks! |
| War Is The Biggest Issue For Me. | Oct 28th. at 12:51:41 am EST |
| legolas (JC, NY) | Age: 30 - Email |
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I will be voting this election. Right now, my top concern is the pending war against the UN. Unfortunately neither NY senator is up for election. Schumer and Clinton (both Democrats) voted in favor of the recent Iraq resolution. I'd like to vote against them if that didn't mean putting a Bush drone (Republican) in office. Our House Representative, Maurice Hinchey(D), did vote against it and he is up for reelection. I'd hate to lose his seat to the Bush Drone. I'll give Hinchy my vote. George Pataki(R) is going to win the governorship again but I think the Green party canidates deserve my remaining votes. For the higher offices (President, Congress, Governor) I vote for the canidate. I will compare them all on numerous issues. The canidate is usually Reform (Haglin Reform but NOT Buchannan Reform) or Green unless the race is close between the lesser of two nin-com-poops (I have in the past voted for Republicans and will do it again if they are good canidates). I don't follow local politics as closely as I follow National politics. I will review the local canidates but they are usually very much the same. Therefore, I am not above voting for the parties I do usually agree with: Green and Reform. How will this election turn out? I am hoping for a Democrat House and a Democrat Senate. Regeime Change Begins At Home! |
| Canadian Politics? ARGH You Don't Want To Know... | Oct 28th. at 2:42:27 am EST |
| Jeanne Lisbet (Victoria, BC) | Age: 22 - Email |
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Greetings from the (somewhat) North! Up here, we have a Liberal Party which is anything but, a Progressive Conservative Party (yes, it's an oxymoron, maybe that's why their party is on life support), a freaky right wing party that used to be the Reform Party but then briefly changed it's name to the Canadian Reform Alliance Party (an acronym that's even WORSE than an oxymoron) and is now known simply as the Alliance, and the New Democrat Party ("left-wing") which is also on the Endangered Species list... oh yeah, then there's the Partie Quebecois, whose sole purpose is to have referendums on whether to seperate from the rest of Canada - which they keep losing. (There's been three in as many decades and after the last loss the party leader got up on NATIONAL TELEVISON and drunkenly blamed his party's loss on the Anglos and immigrants. He later resigned.) It's pretty discouraging, I honestly don't know what the point of voting is when no matter how I vote my concerns still aren't going to be represented, the backbenchers in our parliament who are the only ones with anything relevant to contribute keep getting repremanded for doing so, and we've have the same bloody-minded tyrant running our country to his tune for the past decade or so, because there was no reasonable alternative to vote for.. hey, we haven't been voting him in b/c of what he's been doing for our country, thats for sure. Other things about our gov't: um, what do I remember.. oh yeah, technically we're not a democracy, we're a "constitutional monarchy", or something to that effect. Not quite sure what that means, except we're supposed to have some sort of superficial ties to the British Monarchy, like she comes and visits every dozen years or so. Same system as Britain, with a Parliament, an appointed (read: UNELECTED) senate that vetoes any good bills that do struggle to get within their sights. Basically whoever gets to be Prime Minister invites all his cronies, who financially backed him into power, into cushy positions in office. Unless their caught misappropriating funds or abusing their authority, which is *ABSOLUTELY NOT TOLERATED*, in which case they're "severly reprimanded" and made Ambassador to Denmark or somewhere else out of public reach. What a system, EH? PS At least we have a Pot Party who never make any claims other than to legalize Cannabis. They might just be the most honest politicians around... Blessed Be! |
| Repubs? NO WAY! NOT Anymore. | Oct 28th. at 8:57:28 am EST |
| Tawny (Deleware) | Age: 52 - Email |
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Although I am a conservative, I will be voting AGAINST any republican candidate this election. They have done more in the past two years to distroy America, our freedom and the economy than I've ever seen. The thought of the Repubs controlling all three branches of the US Gov (as well as their little shadow gov.) is NOT an option. The democrats have been dissapointing in that they allowed Ashcroft to get nominated. but they are the only ones with a real chance. If you like what our current admin has done for/to you in the past two years then get psyched for them to really go for it. IT won't include you. |
| ARRRRGH!! Too Much Negativity | Oct 28th. at 10:35:04 am EST |
| Catdra (small town in Texas) | Age: 42 - Email |
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In Texas we have the governors race between Perry ( a Dubya appointee) & Sanchez. Both candidates have been running extremely negative ads. In fact all candidates have been running negative ads against their opponents. Going by the ads none of the candidates should be elected! So, am I going to vote? Yes. How will I vote? Very carefully! I have been doing research on the issues on my own and ignoring the campaign ads. Maybe one day the candidates will learn that we hate negative ads. |
| Tisk, Tisk, All This Negativity | Oct 28th. at 12:01:56 pm EST |
| The Sweeper (OK) | Age: 48 - Email |
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Here in the big OK negative campaigning is in full swing, which is nothing new for the smarmy politics of Oklahoma. So, although Catdra from a small town in Texas hopes for a miracle, I see little hope. I for one have opted for not voting for anyone that uses negative campaigning as there primary election tool. Tawny from Delaware I hope you don’t really think anyone believe you are a conservative. :> Sadly, I must conclude by noting that there seem to be a lot of name calling and disrespect these days aimed at folk who simply have a different political opinion and goals. This forum, usually fairly good in this area, has fallen on its face on this subject. Odd that a group of people so open about differing religions should be so closed about differing politics. The Sweeper |
| This May Be Our Last Chance To Stop The War Machine | Oct 28th. at 1:23:23 pm EST |
| Alison Harlow (Santa Cruz County, California (USA)) | Age: 68 - Email |
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It is crucial that Americans elect a majority in the Senate that will stop the Bush Administration's plans to attempt to impose American hegemony over the planet. This evil policy will result in polarizing the world's peoples, bankrupting many nations' economies, and devastating the planet. |
| An Ephiphany I Had | Oct 28th. at 2:49:28 pm EST |
| DolphinSmile (Austin, Texas) | Age: 21 - Email |
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Someone said something about not wanting to vote Green because it might divide the liberal vote and let the Republican win. I used to think that way, but this year I just started going to UT (That's the University of Texas at Austin for those of you who don't know). Austin has given me many opportunities for learning about what's really going on with all this political stuff. I have decided that Democrats are traitors and liars. Most of them anyway. The difference between them and Republicans is razor thin. I have found out that Republicans and Democrats actually do the SAME THINGS when in office, they just promise different things when campaining. Just go out there and do some research on what kind of stuff has gone on when members of different parties have been in office. I bet if you didn't know which were Democrats and which were Republicans you wouldn't be able to tell. I am voting Green this year. Screw the Democrats and their empty promises! The Green Party candidate for governor, Rahul Marjaran (I probably spelled his name wrong, sorry dude), has been attending anti-war rallies and teach-ins. Now that's impressive. In fact, he's the only candidate I have heard from so far that is totally against war, as opposed to these wishy-washy Democrats. I also agree with him on other issues, but the Iraq thing seems to be the one of most immediate importance. I know technically a governor isn't who gets to decide on these things, but wouldn't it be neat for the governor of Texas to be against the former governor of Texas on this war thing? Attacking him on his old turf, right here in Austin. Ah, what a nice dream. So what if my vote lets Perry win? Big deal. What I've gotten from this race (which people have been calling the most negative race in Texas history) is that all Perry says is that Sanchez sucks, and all Sanchez says is that Perry sucks, so okay, they BOTH SUCK! I don't want to have to try to figure out who sucks less than who. It doesn't really matter. I would rather vote for someone I actually like than vote for some guy that I don't like just because he has a better chance of winning. What if a bunch of us liberals quit voting for these fake liberals known as Democrats and start voting for the real liberals? Then maybe they WOULD have a chance of winning! Why does America have to have a two-party system anyway? Not all countries do. Why not have a bunch to choose from? At least let's have one party who is conservative and one who is liberal. The way it is now we have one party who is conservative, and another party who is conservative-but-maybe-not-quite-as-much. What kind of a choice is that? Ah, thanks for the opportunity to rant, Wren. I feel better now. |
| American Hegemony ???? I Believe It Is The Best Country In The World Because We Th | Oct 28th. at 3:12:16 pm EST |
| The Sweeper (OK) | Age: 48 - Email |
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I believe it is the best country in the world because we the people had a say in its creation. To be allowed to do that is the greatest wish of most of the of oppressed peoples world. As an American we are able to explore philosophical, political, and religious avenues that are not available for the majority of the planet. Alison Harlow of Santa Cruz County, California (USA); America does not have plans to impose an American hegemony over the planet, America does not create little Americas around the world like the British Empire in the past, nor does America eclipse small boarder country and absorb there wealth. What America Does do is; spread its wealth around the world, it encourages bad government to be good governments, and it promote democracy, self government, and self reliance. America does not force People to rule themselves it does however, under the right circumstances make it possible. I am a very proud American, I thank the goddess everyday that I have been blessed to live here. The Sweeper |
| A British Perspective | Oct 28th. at 3:27:57 pm EST |
| Bruce Fraser (Northumberland, north east England) | Age: 42 - Email |
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At least you get to vote on the make up of your second house! Come the revolution we might, just might get rid of our House of Lords (& Ladies) ;o) Our newspapers over on this side of the 'pond' reckon you're gonna kick off in Iraq on November 6th once the elections are done and dusted. What say you? Bruce |
| Vote Third Party! | Oct 28th. at 4:25:01 pm EST |
| Jason Pitzl-Waters (Urbana, IL) | Age: 29 - Email - Web |
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As someone else commented, the current two-party system is mostly a sham. The voting record differences between the Republicans and the Democrats grows less definitive every year as they all crowd for the center. What kind of a choice is slightly to the left or slightly to the right? But come every election the liberal and progressive elements are told to toe the line, hold your nose and vote Democrat...OR ELSE! Frankly, I don't respond to scare tactics that easily, and I'm tired of living in fear. Every truly reforming party in America's history started out as a third party underdog. What kind of democracy inpires apathy in half of the eligble voters and then tries to bully, intimidate and condescend to the other half? Until the Democrats start to actually embrace *my* core values I won't vote for them. The lesser of two evils is still evil! I want to see issues like ecological wisdom actually on the platform for a change, I want to see real reform of corporate power, I want to see a budget that makes sense for the real working class. It is obvious the Democrats have lost their way and can't provide leadership on these issues. I will be voting Green in the next election. |
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