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| Author: Posted: Nov. 17, 2002 | This Page Viewed: 3,834,044 |
Question of the Week: 12 - 10/23/2000 Pagan Choice for the y2k US Election This week's Pagan Perspective question is a redux of one that we asked about at the beginning of August... And we apologize in advance to our non-United States readers that we have again brought up an issue that is rather exclusive to just one country, but feel free to comment on the shenanigans of the American political system as you see it.) Which political platform or candidate are you leaning towards? Have you made up your mind or changed your mind? Will you vote and who-if you don't mind telling the world-are you planning to vote for? Why have you made this particular choice? |
| Reponses: There are 129 responses posted to this question. | Reverse Sort |
| I'm Actually Having A Really Hard Time Deciding Who To Vote For... | Oct 24th. at 1:47:08 pm EDT |
| Richard Gant (Northern Kentucky University, Kentucky US) | Age: 27 - Email |
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I'm actually having a really hard time deciding who to vote for (or, more accuratly, vote against). I dislike the presidential candidates of both parties. George Bush seems like a little boy trying to follow in his father's footsteps (and failing - I voted for his father), and Al Gore feels like he was nominated by tradition rather than competence.The third party candidates don't seem any better. I dislike Ralph Nader and Pat Buchanan, and I don't even know who the *other* Reform Party candidate is.Perhaps the only element any presidential candidate I've heard about this year has in common with any other presidential candidate is the desire to get elected by telling us as little about their plans as possible while pandering to us as much as possible.Perhaps I'll vote Libertarian this year. I like most of that party's platform, if nothing else. |
| The Constitution Is At Stake In This Election! It Amazes Me That... | Oct 24th. at 1:01:27 pm EDT |
| Jennifer (Costa Mesa, California US) | Age: 28 - Email |
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The Constitution is at stake in this election! It amazes me that so many American citizens have no idea of the power of the Supreme Court in their own country. I live in Orange County, CA, a decidedly conservative, republican area. Sadly, everything I hear from the people around here is that they don't like that Gore sighed or walked close to Bush in a debate! Nothing about experience or diplomatic ability. My co-workers will vote the way the President of the company tells them to vote because they don't have the ambition to find out any facts on their own. They will believe what their boss tells them, because it's easier than reading about the issues on their own. The thing no one seems to be saying about this election is that the effects of your vote will not last a mere 4 years. This next President will likley appoint one Supreme Court Justice if not three or four to a Court that has been divided on every recent decision 5 to 4! A lifetime appointment of those that have the highest authority to interpret our Constitution! These people have the power over our reproductive rights, our privacy rights, affirmative action, and even our right to expression. This is a vital, vital election to the next thirty or forty years of America. The thought of Christian conservatives on the Supreme Court turning the "Land of the Free" into a theocracy is just too much. Al Gore is not the best man ever to run for President, but he's the best hope for Freedom right now. |
| I'm Voting For Gore Simply Because He's The Lesser Of Two Evils... | Oct 24th. at 12:54:02 pm EDT |
| xkalaber (Machias, Maine US) | Age: 41 - Email |
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I'm voting for Gore simply because he's the lesser of two evils. I'll admit that in the beginning I was pro Bush because as a future teacher I liked what he had to say about the education field. I'm still not thrilled with Gore's ideas and his mandatory teacher testing, however, there is some value to that but I won't get into that right now. The main reason Bush lost my vote and Gore is now going to get it is very simple, Bush made the comment that he does not believe that Wicca or any other type of Paganism is a religion, he does not support us in any fashion, he wants it banned from military bases (essentially denying any one in uniform on a military base from their religous practices), and with such an open display of religious bigotry, voting for Bush in my opinion poses a serious threat to this nation's religious freedom (in other words the 1st Amendment could be in real jeopardy). I think the 1st Amendment is just fine the way it is, and I honestly believe that if Bush gets into office, then you can kiss our religious freedom in this country goodbye. As for Nader, it's simply too little too late, this presidental race is about Bush or Gore and that's the sad truth of it. |
| I Can't Vote This Year. Missed It By A Month. I'm Really... | Oct 24th. at 12:36:13 pm EDT |
| Shayla Spolidoro (WindSong) (Los Alamos, New Mexico US) | Age: 17 - Email |
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I can't vote this year. Missed it by a month. I'm really upset about this, especially because Bush really scares me. As a woman, handicapped, and pagan about to enter the adult world, there are certain rights I want to ensure. I might not mind so much if the president wouldn't be electing Supreme Court justices. While a president only last four years, the justice he elects will last the majority of my adult life-time and it is something the next president can't fix. Sadly, this means that this is not a year to "vote your conscience", especially to a candidate who had money donated to his campaign by Republicans because he is taking so many votes from Gore. Liberalism and idealism are wonderful things, but they are very dangerous in politics. Nader may be a statement, but is that worth what we'll suffer during and after Bush's presidency. Remember that there are spots on the Supreme Court to fill. Please, consider those who can't vote who will be affected by your vote. Again, I am terrified by the thought of Bush as president. I may even move to another country if he wins. I wish you all a wonderful Samhain. |
| If I Had A Nickel For Every Time I Heard "i'm Voting... | Oct 24th. at 12:10:23 pm EDT |
| Daisy (Hamilton, Ohio US) | Age: 24 - Email |
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If I had a nickel for every time I heard "I'm voting for BushGore, because voting for Nader is essentially a vote for (Pick one), I would easily have enough for that new car I want. If you are going to vote, I say vote your consience and for who you believe would do the job well. Don't just choose the lesser of the two evils. The easy road is not what it is about; if Nader gets enough votes to show significance in the polls, that will send a very real message to the people running the show. Pagans by nature are a very opinionated lot, (I think) and it is beneath us to take the easy way and go against what we believe to be the right way. Let others do that. Nader is the man who sued General Motors for invasion of privacy... AND WON. That speaks of character, strength, and fortitude to me. Personally, I believe he's the man for the job, and I think Winona Laduke is the woman to back him up. Whoever you vote for, please vote for your first choice, not the last. Many Blessings to all, Daisy |
| This Is My First Presidential Election... And I'm Just Praying To Get... | Oct 24th. at 11:10:42 am EDT |
| SilverCat (Boston, Massachusetts US) | Age: 25 - Email |
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This is my first presidential election... and I'm just praying to get it over with so I don't have to hear anymore about these two candidates. I'll be honest-I'm not confident about any of the people running. However, I'm voting for Gore because a vote for Nader *is* essentially a vote for Bush, and between Bush's cluelessness and carelessness in his own state and Dick Cheney's total disregard for women's reproductive rights, it gives me little choice. Freedom of religion has honestly not even been an issue for me (which is sad). I'm much more terrified of the idea that my rights as a woman in regards to health care (selecting an OB/GYN as a primary care physician) and abortion rights (I don't like the idea... but I don't want the option eliminated) are in jeopardy right now. The reality of religious freedom will always be a fight--just look at the Middle East. The next president will elect several new members of the Supreme Court--I don't want Bush to be given that responsibility. Entirely too many aspects of my life are on the line to risk. Blessings, SilverCat |
| It Seems I Agree With Everyone About Voting The Lesser Of Two... | Oct 24th. at 10:41:19 am EDT |
| Conchita (New York, New York US) | Age: 24 |
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It seems I agree with everyone about voting the lesser of two evils (Gore or Bush). However, as much as I think Nader is a "stand-up guy", there are things I would worry about if he were to be in office. Sure he would be great for all the environmental, hunger, religious left wing stuff, but who out there can really see him being effective negotiating a peace treaty between Israel and the Palestinians or the like. I would love to be idealistic, too, but a huge part of the Presidency is Foreign Policy and Relations. I don't know if I have a lot of faith in Nader in that arena. So, I too will be voting for Gore, if just to keep a very scary George W. Bush out of office. And to reiterate what others have already said... a vote for Nader is, essentially, a vote for Bush. |
| As For The Presidential Election, I Will Be Voting For Al Gore... | Oct 24th. at 10:36:57 am EDT |
| Susan Reed (Falls Church, Virginia US) | Age: 44 - Email |
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As for the presidential election, I will be voting for Al Gore. I like Ralph Nader and what the Green Party stands for, but I have seen what havoc inexperienced, but well-meaning politicians can wreak in office and it is not pretty. Nader does not know how the political game is played at that level and he will not be effective in the job because of that. The Green Party needs to concentrate on getting people elected at the local level; the party will probably have a greater effect at the level and at the same time train future higher-office candidates that will be viable. I agree with the Democratic platform on enough issues that I donŐt have many qualms about voting for Gore, even if he is not the ideal candidate. He has the necessary experience, he does know how the game is played, and he can get things done. I would much rather have the things he can accomplish done than what Bush will do. I am concerned about the future constitution of the Supreme Court and I would much rather have Gore selecting the justices than Bush. Bush, ah, Bush. Even if he showed a modicum of intelligence and didnŐt uphold a party platform I strongly disagree with, I could not in good conscience vote for a person who belittle minority religions. That implies a gross disrespect of the rights of all Americans that should not be tolerated in a President. With all the hype about the presidential election, we should not forget that there are also state and local elections that we would be paying attention to. Your county commissioners, city councilors, your school board representative have a far greater influence on your day-to-day life than the President or your Congressional representatives. They are the ones who determine how land is used, what kinds of zoning regulations you will have, whether there will be restricted access to certain kinds of materials in the public libraries, what is taught at your childrenŐs schools, even how high your grass can be in the front yard. Even if you cannot make up your mind about who to vote for president, please take the time to learn about your local candidates and go to vote in those elections. If we are unhappy with the candidates we now have for higher office, we must remember that they got their starts in those local positions. By our apathy regarding local elections, we have allowed the politicians we now do not respect to attain the experience and credentials that allows them to stand for progressively higher offices. If we want a better grade of candidate for higher office in the future, we need to elect those people into the lower-level offices now. About "wasted" votes, the only "wasted" vote is a vote not cast. |
| The More I Hear About Nader, The More I Like Him, But... | Oct 24th. at 9:41:42 am EDT |
| Heather (Northern, Virginia US) | Age: 30 |
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The more I hear about Nader, the more I like him, but I also realize that a vote for him will essentially put Bush in office. I wish that ALL candidates had been given the opportunity to participate in the debates, as Perot was several years ago. So for all intents and purposes, we only have 2 candidates to choose from. I will be voting for Gore. Bush's views on just about everything scare me, plus I don't have any confidence in his intelligence(?) and diplomatic abilities, whereas Gore's have been proven. Bush panders too much to the special interest groups and the Religious Right and that frightens me. Religious rights, in the military or otherwise, are not the only issues with which I am concerned, but it's a biggie. I know that we should vote the way our conscience tells us to but I would politely urge those leaning toward Nader to please remember that a vote for Nader will equal a vote for Bush. Which is really too bad. Blessed Samhuinn to all. |
| I Must Say That It Does Look Like There Is Not Much... | Oct 24th. at 3:59:32 am EDT |
| Michael (Dublin, European Union, Ireland) | Age: 23 - Email |
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I must say that it does look like there is not much choice for our american friends, the result of a two party system is that you only have two candidates with a chance. Europe does not have this problem for two reasons: 1) about half of our nations have Kings or Queens, (no decision involved there) 2) the other half have presidents which only fulfill the role of a figure-head, a sort of a rubber stamp as it were, with no decision making power. The big decision makers in our systems are the Prime ministers and Chancellors, but even still we tend not to have the "one man" image in government, we have more emphasis on parties. Another difference is that coalitions are more common, so rarely can any party win an election without compromising with another party. My conclusion? I prefer the Parliamentarian system, it's what I'm used to and what I trust the most. Happy Samhain all!!! |
| Mm All:) To Be Honest, I Had Almost All But Made Up... | Oct 24th. at 12:26:26 am EDT |
| Tarah Johnson (St. Paul, Minnesota US) | Age: 25 - Email |
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MM All:) To be honest, I had almost all but made up my mind towards Gore, until I went to a Peace Concert in my town. I got some flyers about Nader and the Green Party in general. Bluntly, I was hooked! It said "Vote your conscience" among other things, and how important waking up the general public to the 3rd parties is to improving politics as a whole. Although I am terrified of someone as moronic, anti choice, and bigoted as Bush winning, I do know with some certainty that if all the things he said were actually impletmented, he wouldn't have a chance in hell of being re-elected, which might not be much of a comfort, but I must vote with my conscience, right or wrong. Also, I was listening to Jesse Ventura's speech at the Mall of America aboutthe 3rd parties as well. |
| I'm Terribly Split. I Like The Libertarian Platform Very Much, But I... | Oct 23rd. at 11:50:09 pm EDT |
| Brigit (Bozeman, Montana US) | Age: 30 |
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I'm terribly split. I like the Libertarian platform very much, but I just hate to do anything which might help the shrub. Even though Montana is a "non-state" with regards to it's importance to the final decision, I am thinking of voting defensively for Gore, in the hopes that at least he'll be a *little* better than W. As for local candidates, I'll be primarily for democrats, unless there is a third-party candidate of potential. |
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