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| Author: Posted: Sep. 8, 2002 | This Page Viewed: 7,011,784 |
Question of the Week: 1 - 8/7/2000 Who are you going to vote for and why? Which political platform or candidate are you leaning towards? Do you think that a level of political involvement is important to pagans? Are you registered to vote, will you vote and who -if you don't mind telling the world- are you planning to vote for (or against)? |
| Reponses: There are 233 responses posted to this question. | Reverse Sort |
| I Think The Best Candidate Currently Running Is John Hagelin, Formerly Of... | Aug 10th. at 5:29:25 pm EDT |
| Potter (Dallas, Texas US) | Age: 45 |
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I think the best candidate currently running is John Hagelin, formerly of the Natural Law party, and lately of the anti-Buchanan section of the Reform party. Unfortunately, with the Reform party fight, I don't think he has much of a chance, so I'm going with the Gore ticket, more as a vote against Shrub (as we call him here in Texas) than for Gore. |
| I Am Registered To Vote And I Will Be Voting For Bush... | Aug 10th. at 5:38:53 pm EDT |
| billie (pittsburg, Kansas US) | Age: 48 |
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I am registered to vote and I will be voting for Bush, as I feel truth is more important than political expediency....and it has always seemed to me that gore just tells 'em what they want hear! |
| Since Before The Campaigning Started I Knew I Was Voting For The... | Aug 10th. at 5:49:14 pm EDT |
| Jennifer Ventola (Peekskill, New York US) | Age: 29 - Email |
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Since before the campaigning started I knew I was voting for the democratic party.I feel voting and political involvment is very important and necessary. Voicing your opinion as a pagan, especially being women is something women have fought and died for for centuries. The one if the reasons I am voting for the Democratic party (AL Gore) is that the next President has 2 supreme court appointee's. If these two people are not chosen with women's issues in mind, a women's right to choose to have an abortion or not will be taken away, plus Al Gore's environmental stand is much more favorable than George Bush |
| Think Globally, Act Locally, The Rrr Has Learned To Twist To Abuse... | Aug 10th. at 6:01:07 pm EDT |
| Terry Smith (.., Connecticut US) | Age: 43 - Email |
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Think globally, act locally, the RRR has learned to twist to abuse civil rights rather than protect them, while trying to hide from the press as they try to pressure us all into their Procrustean bed. The importance of that concept applies at least as much to those of us interested in preventing discrimination via zoning ordinances, school boards, and local park regulations. That noted, it's a lot easier to discuss more distant national issues online. As a constituent of Joe Lieberman, I have a collection of position letters from him over some years. He's forthright enough to state his views more directly than Bush lite or AlGore, but skillful enough at political weasel games to claim to support rights enumerated in the 1st, 2nd, or other Constitutional Amendments, but then prove that he actually strongly opposes actually protecting civil rights in real practice. Make flag burning a Federal crime more serious than aggravated assault. Reclassify all firearms as Class III NFA items, and call that "reasonable" rather than a Constitutional end run. On local discussion forums, many Bush supporters think Lieberman is suited for their ticket, due to his pro-censorship conservative Judaic notions of imposed social order, even when he attempts to temper some of them with an awareness of the importance of tolerance for diversity from the other side of his mouth. Strange as it may sound, history suggests we might be better off with Bush Supreme Court nominations than Gore ones. Gore is no protector of the 1st Amendment, and has been an active advocate of the hate speech and discrimination against minority religionists embedded in censorship of art, religion, and politics. While Bush has failings with respect to the 2nd Am., Gore is onerous in that respect. Even though Bush gives a party line cowtowing to the Robertson RRR agenda, his family history rooted in ME, CT, and TX suggests ethical connections to judicial appointments like Souter, one of the more honest and aware of the present Justices, and not just hypocrites like Thomas. Too bad we can't elect NOTA (none of the above) if our only real choices are the different sects of the Republocrat Party. As minority religionists, regardless of our individual preferences, it helps to remember that trouncing any one civil right opens the door to treating all such rights as if mere arbitrary privileges open to regulation, including those most dear to us personally. Hagelin of the Natural Law Party (also in Reform) is an interesting character. He fronts Maharishi Mahesh Yogi's Americanized commercialized, secularized pseudo-Hindu-Buddhist Transcendental Meditation as a solution to most social ills. Their ideas might even work, if widely adopted voluntarily and without government involvement to corrupt them. Nader seems to be attracting the attention of a lot of pagans. The Green Party hasn't done the consistent work of party building to even ballot qualify for a potential 270 Electoral College votes in past elections. The party platform includes anti-civil rights planks alongside some attractive environmental stances. It includes some proposals for social meddling by government which are impossible to implement without at least de facto religious discrimination. If we can't advocate moving government the other way, out of social programs and their inherent and unavoidable biases, we don't accomplish respecting and protecting that precious commodity of liberty which is essential to be able to do as one will if it harms none. That leaves the one party which has accomplished ballot status in all 50 states in recent elections, plus lower offices with real candidates in hundreds of real offices, to an extent unseen since the early 1900's. That leaves the one party which recognizes that for any of us to have liberty to live out the Rede or equivalent ethics, it takes less invasive government to preserve more freedom for individuals. That points to the party which uses no tax funding of its convention, where it debates idealistic versus pragmatic compromise approaches to legal and societal issues with a common goal of government operating within Constitutional bounds, always. That's the Libertarian party, whose slates are headed by best selling author and financial consultant Harry Browne. www.lp.org The LP actually does have a strong pro-environment stance, though it may be confusing to people who don't study the quirks of civil law instead of invasive government regulation. The LP is the only party to broadly oppose malum prohibitums, victimless crime laws often used to badger social and religious values such as speech, nudity, sexuality, and our rights to our own bodies and minds. The LP is the only party to oppose the discrimination against solitary and small coven pagans via systems of taxes and bureaucracy that some pagans jump into, but which oppress anyone not willing or able to do the work of 6 paper pushers just to qualify. The LP supports pagans not by taking postures to make public spectacles of us and shoot photo op's, but by leaving us alone to choose and shape our own paths, at home, work, or around town. Election law is a complex subject, where the rules and not just the vote shape the winners. Depending on local demographics, state and Federal laws, some voters will have little to no likely influence if they vote for a Republocrat, on a state by state basis. On the other hand, voting for a third party can have substantial impact on future ease of ballot qualification, and on future media coverage. It takes work to learn those local quirks, but the rumor that third party votes are thrown away is false. In some states they have much more influence with an established party like the Libertarians, and somewhat more influence with the Greens or Natural Law, than they do with either Republocrat. As to those important lower offices, different rules apply within the same ballot and slate. It's probably pretty clear where my leanings fall. I won't suggest that all pagans are close to agreeing on political goals. I will suggest that to truly exercise our influence responsibly, it is important to go beyond the media and learn enough about election law to make considered choices, knowing that the same vote from 5 states for major or minor parties has different impact on current and future elections. Terry |
| I Am Leaning Towards The Gore/leiberman Ticket At This Point. Since... | Aug 10th. at 6:08:57 pm EDT |
| Thomas D. Van Hook - aka "Elf" (Lewisville, Texas US) | Age: 35 - Email |
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I am leaning towards the Gore/Leiberman ticket at this point. Since McCain did not get the nomination, the candidate I would have preferred is not available. However, being a resident of Texas - I've watched the inept nature of Gov. Bush's hand in governmental workings. Therefore, Gore gets my vote by default. It's truly a shame that a wonderful candidate such as McCain, who speaks directly to the American public rather than above it, cannot get past the political machinations that have been set forth by both the Republican and Democratic parties. However, if Gore fails to inspire me enough to vote for him....well, then'ts time to vote for the greater of two evils instead of the lesser...it will be time to cast my vote once again for Cthulu... |
| I Am Registered To Vote In Georgia, And I'm Planning To Vote... | Aug 10th. at 6:23:20 pm EDT |
| Megan (Athens, Georgia US) | Age: 28 |
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I am registered to vote in Georgia, and I'm planning to vote Green Party. I think Pagans should definitely get out there and vote, and vote from the heart. |
| Yes, I Think That Some Degree Of Political Involvement Is Important. Democracy... | Aug 10th. at 9:33:30 pm EDT |
| Pitch (Concord, California US) | Age: 50 |
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Yes, I think that some degree of political involvement is important. Democracy works things out a little better when citizens participate. Alternatively, if plenty of voters aren't turning out, then every pagan vote gets a multiplier. Every pagan vote counts for the X voters who didn't. I am registered to vote as a member of the California Greens. I always vote in every election for which I'm elegible. I never decide on how I'll vote until the election. |
| I Am Probably Going To Be Completely Lambasted For This, But I... | Aug 10th. at 9:39:41 pm EDT |
| StormDancer (Madison, Wisconsin US) | Age: 27 - Email |
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I am probably going to be completely lambasted for this, but I cannot for the life of me muster up ANY interest in this election. Gore is an idiot I KNOW that I need to care, that it's my life and my country, and my religious freedom at stake, but I just can't bring myself to watch more than 2 mintues on TV or read more than a few paragraphs. At least Clinton is interesting. On general principal, the lesser of two evils, I will probably vote for Gore. I like the idea of a religious "minority" as VP, and when all else fails, I usually go Democratic. But I feel like I have to choose between burned at the stake or being tied to a huge hill of fire ants--perhaps that's a bit too dramatic, but I really don't feel there IS a good choice here. Venting over, let the slinging of dung and rotten vegetable commence.... |
| As Both A Veteran And A Pagan I Feel That The Right... | Aug 10th. at 9:51:33 pm EDT |
| Chris Kadish (Raleigh, North Carolina US) | Age: 29 - Email |
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As both a Veteran and a Pagan I feel that the right to exercise ones choice by voting to be very important. I believe that being aware of the current political climate is important to pagans as it is to any citizen Involvement wether direct or indirect beyond voting is something that I feel has yet to be explored. I would like to see a Politician who openly admits to a pagan belief and then we'll see how truly free and open America is. If this country still stands for it's citizens then I feel this will be a positive change, if not.....well I don't like to think about the outcome. As both a Veteran and a Pagan I am registered to vote and have to look at candidates based on my concerns from both Vets and pagans. Politicians have been sadly lacking in adressing both groups needs and I think we all should get together and somehow remind them that there are more citizens than the moral majority out there. I have not settled on a candidate yet but I am still debating their points with others around me. I will intend on voting for whomever I think will serve the publics interests the best. |
| I Think That Voting For A Ticket That Has A Orthodox Jew... | Aug 10th. at 11:14:18 pm EDT |
| Oriole (Milford, Connecticut US) | Age: 44 |
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I think that voting for a ticket that has a Orthodox Jew on it greatly decreases the chances that your children will be forced to recite the" Lords Prayer", and otherwise made to bend to THIER religion, every day in school. |
| I Have Generally And Historically Voted For Those Running Under The Green... | Aug 10th. at 11:16:51 pm EDT |
| Nelli (Carmel, California US) | Age: 23 |
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I have generally and historically voted for those running under the Green platform, because the political philosophies of that party march most closely with my own. This year, however, I find myself in the position of truly voting *against* someone - Bush - which means that I will have to vote for Gore. It's not that I've got anything against Gore; he's just not what I'd have for president if I could help it. He is, first and foremost, a politician - he will promise, cajole, bribe, lie and ride the fence, just like his predecessor (hopefully with a little more personal discretion, if not morality) if he manages to get elected. Darling George W., on the other hand... the idea of him in office at the same time as the current congress makes me want to either scream in rage, weep in terror, or pack up and move to a remote and isolated island in the middle of nowhere that is far out of reach of any politics. The man is stupid - really. Don't you think that a World Leader ought to be able to name at least most of the countries in the world? Stupidity in itself, of course, is not a crime. Declaring Jesus Day should be, at least for a governor (that whole separation of church and state thing...). But he looks to be a figurehead and a mouthpiece for the religious right, for anti-abortion groups, and for far right conservatives in general. He has reinforced that position by his choice of Vice-president... and the less said about *that* gentleman, the better. Maybe it will all come to nothing, but I am deeply and sincerely afraid that if G.W. is elected, we will face severely restricted freedoms of speech and religion, increased and profound environmental destruction, the loss of public lands schools, and a much higher rate of execution. Perhaps he could not do that much with only two years working with a republican congress - I devoutly hope so, because at this point, I'm pretty sure he's going to win. But I will vote, not so much for Gore, but againt Bush. Now this is an interesting thought - what if we had the option on our ballots not only to vote for people, but against people. Each person could choose to vote for one person and against one person. So each final vote would be tallied by adding up the "for" votes, subtracting the "against" votes, and seeing who came out with the most points in the end. With a system like that, we might actually end up with a president like Nader... I do think that pagans in this time need to be politically active, not necessarily as pagan activists per se, but as defenders of religious freedom. For me personally, environmental issues and social justice issues are close to the heart of my morality and spirituality, and so I am an activist in those realms as well. It seems to me that most pagans pride themselves in being open-minded, environmentally conscious, compassionate and thoughtful people, and I believe that anyone who sees themselves as these should be politically active in some way, as a matter of course. Political activity, of course, has become as simple as pointing and clicking, in many cases. For instance, you can go to workingforchange.com and get updates on environmental and social justice issues, and have them send an email petition in your name to the various companies, individuals and groups who are participating in harmful, unethical or dubious activities. I am sure there are many similar sites out there, so it's not like you even have to sit down at a keyboard anymore, or use up stamps and envelopes, or make up your own letters. I encourage everyone to vote for someone, if only to excersise your rights - rights, like muscles, tend to weaken if not used. I am profoundly grateful that the pagan community has a resource like The Witches Voice, to remind us that we are part of a community, that we do matter, and that we are not alone in the world. |
| The Lesser Of Two Evils Places Me As A Republican. Only Other... | Aug 10th. at 11:28:03 pm EDT |
| Frank Scheubel (Artesia, New Mexico US) | Age: 49 - Email |
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The lesser of two evils places me as a Republican. Only other choice would be to abstain. Pagan involvement is essential, however due to the misconception by the general public I believe the most significan impact will have to occur under the disquise of religious neutality. Unfortunately, I live in the buckle of the 'bible-belt' and to openly profess ones pagan values no matter how similar to Christianity would bring on the rotten tomato. They just don't seem to understand diversilty here and would immediately reject something so foreign. I am a registered Rep. and I'm a tree hugging geologist who works in the oil patch. Believe me when I tell you that I don't know a geologist ( I worked for Exxon for 14 years, and and independent for 6) who likes to see mother earth plundered for her riches. The industry has had its fair share of screw-ups, and I believe that they should pay for their transgressions. However, we do have a capitalistic society, we all can't raise families and walk 50 miles to work. Sorry for the rant......I've been hitting your site for over 2 years and love it... Still a closet solitary.... keep up the good work |
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