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| Author: Posted: Nov. 17, 2002 | This Page Viewed: 3,888,915 |
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 Have Been Voting In Every Election Since 1984 When I Turned... | Aug 14th. at 2:16:49 pm EDT |
| Patrick McKinnion (Lakeside, California US) | Age: 35 - Email |
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I have been voting in every election since 1984 when I turned 18. And there are times trying to decide which person should get my vote is like trying to decide which cup of buzzard vomit to drink from. I used to be a Libertarian until an offical at a local party gathering bitched about "all those damm Witches in the party". I rather hope that's not the case anymore. That being said, there's a lot about that party I still agree with. And while there's some things about the Greens I support, I have a severe dislike for Ralph Nader, and see no reason to vote for him. The Reform party would have gotten my vote, except Perot ended up flakier than french pastry, and Bucannan is beyond right-wing. I would register as a Republican, because there are a lot of issues I agree with them on. However, as they have sold their soul to the Religious Right, I cannot in good faith register as a member of that party. I identify myself as a conservative Democrat on many issues. (Though I would have been very, very happy to vote for McCain - and hope he runs in 2004) For all those Pagans planning to vote for George W. Bush, may I remind you of what he said last year: "I don't think witchcraft is a religion and I wish the military would take another look at this and decide against it". (George W. Bush, on Good Morning America, 6/24/99). How can you vote for a man who has stated publically that he doesn't see your faith, religion, and beliefs as being valid ?? And if he wins, how badly does our fight for our rights to practice our faith freely and openly get pushed back if the president of the U.S. doesn't believe our faith is a religion worthy of the same protections that guard every other faith in the U.S. Besides, I have yet to hear anything good about him from any of the people I know in Texas. I'm going to hold my nose and vote for Gore, (though I have to admit I like his running mate). I would have rather voted for McCain, but I dislike Nader, the Libertarian party has alienated me, the Reform party has become a joke, and I will *not* vote for a man who doesn't believe my faith is a real religion. This leaves Gore as the lesser of the evils this year. And so I shall vote for him, and hope and pray for a better choice next time around. |
| With Bush Being So Right Wing, Wishing To Mix Church And State... | Aug 14th. at 2:06:03 pm EDT |
| Donald Beckman (Azle, Texas US) | Age: 22 - Email |
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With Bush being so right wing, wishing to mix church and state, and using the high court to press his views, I have to vote Gore. As a Texan, I have to say that his leadership of the state is bad. All the problems like child care, comos, pollution, ect got worse. I would vote Lib, but, with my NOT wanting bush to be prez in an extreme way, I am voting for Gore in hopes that my electoral zone will be mostly democratic and sway a Electoral vote AWAY from bush. Since I live in a rural-ish area, Our electoral vote will probly be Democratic. I plead for all of you to vote against Bush, or our freedom of religion may be at risk. Rember, your vote goes into a pool for your electoral zone and the Electoral Representive gets to make the vote that represents your district. If the Electoral votes are too close, CONGRESS gets to vote who will be the prez, and who do you think the Republican dominated Congress will vote for? Make your vote count! |
| I Am Still Not Sure Who I Am Going To Vote For... | Aug 14th. at 2:04:26 pm EDT |
| Brenda Smotherman (Yutan, Nebraska US) | Age: 27 - Email |
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I am still not sure who I am going to vote FOR this election. I can only say with certainty who and what I am voting against. On the issue of the presidency, I am against Bush. I mean, a Wiccan voting for Bush is like an African-American person supporting their local Klan. He has stated publicly that to him, Wicca is not a "real religion". This election, to me, the most important decision is at the state level. I am from Nebraska, and this year there is a proposed amendment to the state's constitution. They are calling the Defense of Marriage Amendment, this would deny ANY legal protection to same sex couples whatsoever. This includes hospital visitation, reciprocating wills, joint ownership of property, all of those things could be affected by this constitutional amendment. If this gets passed, Nebraska would be the only state in the union whose constitution would include a denial of rights to a specific group, so I am definitely voting against that as well. The thing that concerns me here is, if the Christian Right gets this one in the door, what will they go after next? So PAY ATTENTION NEBRASKA PAGANS/WICCANS!!! |
| I'm Pretty Sure I Am Voting Green Party This Election. This Will... | Aug 14th. at 3:49:33 am EDT |
| Christine (Santa Cruz, California US) | Age: 27 |
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I'm pretty sure I am voting Green party this election. This will be the first time I have voted for an independent, but Bush is scay and Gore is weird and I don't think at this time either of these parties have anything to offer our Country or our Earth. I believe it is very important as pagans, citizens, and, for me, as a woman, to vote. When I think of our sister suffregettes who fought so hard to win our right to vote, I feel it would be greatly disrespectful to thier memory to not utilize the rights they won for us. I am registered and will and always have voted because I believe it is my responsiblity. |
| I Just Turned 18 In April Of This Year, And Registered To... | Aug 14th. at 1:17:04 am EDT |
| Todd (Elk Point, South Dakota US) | Age: 18 |
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I just turned 18 in April of this year, and registered to vote not long after that... Eager to flex my new democratic muscles, I began following the races for party nominations.. Unfortunately I found a problem: none of these guys seemed special...there was no one I wanted to cast my vote for.. No real party platform to get behind or charismatic candidate to rally for.. Bush wants to open the door for people to stop me from practicing my religion, Gore seems like someone's forcing him to run..the dude doesn't seem to have any spark... both platforms are messed up (some good ideas on each side, but too much bickering). I haven't checked out the libertarian party yet... The green party has a lot going for it, but I can't decide how I feel on it's "legalize it" stance..I'm not sure if ending the war on drugs will solve problems or create more of them.. Will law-fearing people start neglecting their children to feed a now-legalized marijuana craving? At this point I'm REALLY close to deciding to just not vote..The way I figgure it, all politicians are liars, and being president is like being the head liar...so what's the point... But then again, not making a choice is worse than choosing wrong..so I don't know.. |
| Which Political Platform Or Candidate Are You Leaning Towards? Ralph Nader/green... | Aug 13th. at 2:53:02 pm EDT |
| Dana NiErin (Concord, New Hampshire US) | Age: 27 - Email |
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Which political platform or candidate are you leaning towards? Ralph Nader/Green Party Do you think that a level of political involvement is important to pagans? es we need to be part of the process if we arent then we allow others to make the rules we are forced to live by. Are you registered to vote? Yes will you vote and who -if you don't mind telling the world- are you planning to vote for (or against)? Yes I will Vote I cant vote for Bush there are just too many troubling issues for me about him....I know little about Gore and plan to watch the convention...Im leaning twards Nader he wont win this time anyway but I will have picked someone I think qualified for the job. In the green parites agenda it speaks about all faiths being accepted and they mean all faiths also all sexual preferences are accepted. they are very strong on caring for the earth. Things need to change its my hope this will be a start. |
| Well, I'm Not A Us Citizen, And Therefore Unable To Vote In... | Aug 13th. at 10:31:06 am EDT |
| Jinxster (London, England UK) | Age: 22 - Email |
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Well, I'm not a US citizen, and therefore unable to vote in this election, but if I was, I'd be voting Gore. Not because of any innate sympathy with him (he seems like your typical corporate politician type to me), but because Bush seems overwhelmingly worse. Even conservative minded pagans should avoid him - do you really think he'll increase your religious freedom? The only religious freedom Bush is interested in is the freedom of Christian fundies to make sure - forcibly if necessary - that only their own narrow world-view is allowed to prevail anywhere. Paganism is not a mainstream religion by any standards, and therefore doesn't have the level of support (or at least tolerance for) that Buddhism, Islam, Judaism, et al, currently enjoy. In fact, owing to Christian propaganda, the uninformed majority associate us with demon-worshipping, grave-desecrating maniacs, and won't disapprove if our spiritual paths are stripped of their constitutional status and gradually outlawed. Not to sound like I'm soapboxing or anything, but if you vote for Gore, it could happen. If we get more Supreme Court justices like Scalia and Rehnquist, it won't take long before Wicca loses it's official religion status, and then the way is clear for Bush to outlaw us. It'll be like Lincoln Park and the Columbine aftermath all over again, and the ACLU/WADL won't be able to save us this time.
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| I'm Voting For Nadar Because I Believe The Purpose Of Voting Is... | Aug 13th. at 8:31:12 am EDT |
| Maia BlackWolf (Milnesville, Pennsylvania US) | Age: 32 - Email |
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I'm voting for Nadar because I believe the purpose of voting is to cast my ballot for the MAN whom I believe to be the BEST candidate. I don't believe in voting for or against a PARTY. We all know the possibilities should Bush be elected. While everyone seems to be "flipping out" over what they think Bush would do to OUR religious rights, I think we have more to fear from the other everyday citizens around us. Those everyday "common men" are the people who daily, truly make my life as a Witch difficult. No matter the party in office, its primarily the ordinary citizens who still harass and ostracize US. Whats frightening to me is that I don't think we have any idea of the possibilities should it be Gore. I don't think the man knows himself. He has waffled and flip-flopped and played to the polls on so many issues I don't think the man has one shread of integrity left. And, does anyone else here remember Tipper and her PMRC? Do we really believe that she no longer espouses those ideas? After watching Hillary for eight years, could we possibly believe a wife does not influence her husband politically? The PMRC is all about sensorship. If they could take away our rights to free speech which right would be next? Plain and simple, I don't trust Gore. He's a hypocrite. As a practicing Witch for almost 17 years my religious views have a great deal to do with my choice. Nadar is advocating a "Deep Democracy" with less government interference in our lives. He is very concerned with ecological issues and has always looked out for the "common man". To my mind, he is the BEST candidate. |
| I Want To Start Out By Pointing Out To Everyone Here That... | Aug 13th. at 7:58:30 am EDT |
| Lady Sine (Houston, Texas US) | Age: 43 |
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I want to start out by pointing out to everyone here that less (federal) government does nothing for individual rights. When Republicans yell less government what they are really saying is less regulation of big business. That means less protection of our environment and our children. It has nothing to do with individual rights. The democrats are the only party really interested in the individual. You Libertarians think about what is going to happen if the regulatory agencies are dismantled. Say goodbye to clean air and water, and don't use any product you didn't personally make yourself. Now as to Gun laws i am of the "you will pry it from my cold dead fingers variety. So are a lot of other democrats. The gun control folks are loud, but they are not the only voice in the Democratic party. The democrats consequently have backed down from the get rid of all the guns stance, the party plank is more control, ...I really can't argue with that. I would rather it was a little harder for the bad guy to get the gun. And trigger controls would have saved at least 2 children I knew personally. My advice to everyone is don't just vote, go to your local primary meeting. Caucus will teach you a lot about what the party of your concious really means. I have and I am voting Democrat. |
| Religion And Politics Are Indeed Strange Bedfellows.unfortunately, With Such Vocal Involvment With... | Aug 13th. at 1:29:11 am EDT |
| Ariadne (Morro Bay, California US) | Age: 21 - Email |
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Religion and politics are indeed strange bedfellows.Unfortunately, with such vocal involvment with groups such as the Christian Coalition, I feel it is necessary for Pagans- and indeed members of all religions- to stand up and make themselves heard. I am registered to vote- as a Libertarian. I agree with the Democratic party on many issues- such as equal rights for all citezens, and pro-choice voting. However- I also agree very strongly with many Republican views- such as gun ownership and social security reform. Having seen the way the Democrats ran the country over the last few years, I would not support them again...however, George W.'s bias towards the Religious Right is indeed frightening. So....what's a Witch to do? I for one, am taking the only choice I can make with a clear conscience- I will vote Libertarian again. To many, this may be a 'throw away vote' however, it is the only choice I see available to me. Hopefully, enough people will get sick with the major parties and do the same- voting the 'big two' out of power. (Hey- hope springs eternal) B*B |
| I Am Leaning Towards Either The Libertarian Or The Green Party (still... | Aug 12th. at 11:30:39 pm EDT |
| Li Ferelwing (Houston, Texas US) | Age: 23 |
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I am leaning towards either the Libertarian or the Green Party (still learning their platforms) however if I dont like them then I will be voting democrat. I refuse to put anything behind the new Bush. He has proven that he is insensitive to other religions and therefore I dont want him in a position where he can nominate the next justices for the Supreme court. I will vote for ANYONE but him! Yes I am registered to vote and yes I will be voting. I have yet to determine who I will vote for yet. Mostly because I want to do more research on their actions rather than their words. |
| Yout American Politics Don't A Lot Of Sense To Me. I Am... | Aug 12th. at 8:14:33 pm EDT |
| Rathalyn Starwind (Sundre, Alberta CA) | Age: 31 - Email |
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Yout American politics don't a lot of sense to me. I AM CANADIAN and I much prefer our system, where you don't vote for a person but a party. There are five poarties sitting the House of Commons (they make the laws here). No leader can put forward a personal agenda unless he can convince his ENTIRE PARTY that it is a good idea. Of particular interest: One party whose leader somehow managed to sneak "Christian values" into the party platform had to BACK OFF to even get one member elected. I never heard a thing about it until a new leader (who is a little worse on that point) was recently chosen. His opponents where making a point of pointing out his religious views, so I think he too will have to tone it down. Those of you thinking of moving to Canada, welcome and rest assured that you will probably not have to worry too much anytime soon. |
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