Aces High Bulletin Board
General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: xrtoronto on August 22, 2006, 04:35:45 PM
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Can you explain to me why you would vote exclusively along party lines as opposed to researching the platform(s) of front runners and basing your decision on what fits you best at that time?
My father is one who has voted a life-time on the Conservative ticket. He couldn't tell you anything about current issues or what is even going on in the news. But he still casts his vote each election.
I don't get it.
There are others out there who like me have some left-leaning characteristics and also have some right-leaning inclinations. In my life I have voted for all 3 Canadian parties. Not always in support but sometimes as a statement of dissatisfaction with the job a certain Party has done. The one time I voted for our socialist NDP was not a vote for them, but a vote against the Libs and Cons. I was not alone...the NDP got elected!
I know there is a much stronger polarity in the US about politcal alliances, but I don't get this vote a straight party ticket. Things change. People change. Does anyone agree that a person has to roll with the times and make an informed decision after getting familiar with all the issues of the day?
Is it the anti-abortion thing? If you are pro-life, does that portend you to be a GOP'er? Is there no dems who also believe in pro-life? Or how bout gay marriage? Is it only the Dems who back gay marriage? Is there no GOP'ers that back it?
I think my point is that there are people who "pick & choose" what they like/don't like. What they support and don't support. We are niether loyal to Dems or Cons. For me, I look at the issues. I look at the individual who will be representing me and after cross comparing all my options...I will eventually make a decision.
Why does anyone vote a straight party line?
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Originally posted by xrtoronto
Why does anyone vote a straight party line?
Because it requires a minimum of effort.
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Its their right to vote as they see fit.
Whether you, I or anyone else agrees with it.
And since its a secret ballot, no one, by design, really knows who votes for what.
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If you read up on any studies done (especially after the last 2 presidential) you'd find out that most people decided on a candidate based on a single issue.
Game, Set, Match: Lemant (Anti War) vs. Lieberman (Pro War). Both were damn near identical except for that issue.
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Originally posted by Sandman
Because it requires a minimum of effort.
political party induced labotomies
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I used to vote democrat because they used to be the party that supported the blue collar worker. Now, imo, there is no party for the blue collar worker
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Originally posted by xrtoronto
Why does anyone vote a straight party line?
easy - I want the party of ted the drunk kennedy, clinton(s), kerry, michael mooron, 99% of hollywood, pelosi, j.j., carter & goron (to name a few) to have as little power/influence as possible in the decisions of this countrys future, security & policies both domestic and abroad
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Originally posted by Eagler
easy - I want the party of ted the drunk kennedy, clinton(s), kerry, michael mooron, 99% of hollywood, pelosi, j.j., carter & goron (to name a few) to have as little power/influence as possible in the decisions of this countrys future, security & policies both domestic and abroad
In other words, you're not pro-GOP, you're anti-DNC. ;)
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The theory behind voting a party ticket is to put your team in power and to limit political infighting.
A executive who has opposite political party afilliation from the legislature, and / or a split legislature theoretically is less effective than a more party homogenous government.
Theory and practice are different however.
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Originally posted by Sandman
In other words, you're not pro-GOP, you're anti-DNC. ;)
Not really anti-DNC or Pro-GOP just anti-nutjob.
Both sides have them but the left seems to have more than their fair share.
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actually... it has nothing to do with lazy or uninformed or anything else..
You had better research the current ideals of the party because...
No matter what the individual candidate says he will do or what he believes.... he will, on a national level at least, vote right down party lines.
His money comes from his party and he will tow the line.
Say you are a gun owner and second amendment rights are important to you.... You may vote for a congressman or president who get's his picture taken with a shotgun and claims he believes in the second..
You will be betrayed. He will rubber stamp every anti gun bill that comes down the pike... only voteing agaisnt those bills when there is enough of a majority to make sure that they pass.
If you are gay... the republican may say he is all ok with that but... he will vote down gay marriage etc just like in the above example.
You have no choice but to do the same as the politicians.
They vote along party lines so.... you have to.
The republicans are walking toward socialism... the democrats are running toward it.
How much socialism do you want and how fast are the only questions.
You have to vote just like they do. vote along party lines unless your guy is a shoe in and then do some protest vote for a libertarian or peace and freedom or whatever guy you really like.
In the mean time.... you can vote down every new tax and every new law that comes up and.... you can join powerful organizations like the NRA or whatever and.... write.... postcards... email.
lazs
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for me I vote against abortion, i vote for gun rights, i vote against gays, i vote against welfare, i vote for prayer in schools... and a few other things.
if the candidate is on the opposite of any singe one of those they will never get my vote....
99.999999999999% of the time the liberal democrats (ESPECIALLY here in WI) are the exact opposite of those things.
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exactly... even if they say they don't care... they vote along party lines so you need to also.
I have found that the people who cry the most about people voting along party lines are the ones who have the worst agenda... the democrats.
So many of their programs and agendas are repugnant to Americans that they want to obscure the issue.
Find me a democrat that consistently votes the way I would and I will vote for him... take guns... they may vote my way once in a blue moon but they will allways let me down when push comes to shove.
And... once there are a lot of one party or another in power... it influences what TYPES of laws come up for vote. If the democrats are out.. they bring up a lot less socialistic programs and laws for a vote for instance.
If they are out of power... a lot more constitutionalist judges get appointed...
What would the supreme court look like right now if people had voted in a democrat? would John Bolton be in the UN?
Would we have the protection of fireams rights bills or.... more waco and ruby ridges and more "assault rifle" an High capacity magazines bans?
That my friends is the long and short of it.
Join the aclu or the NRA and read what they say about who to support.
Pick an issue that is important to you (or several) and it is pretty easy to see that you have no choice but to vote along party lines.
lazs
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I voted for Anderson in 1980... does that count?
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Originally posted by lazs2
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And... once there are a lot of one party or another in power... it influences what TYPES of laws come up for vote. If the democrats are out.. they bring up a lot less socialistic programs and laws for a vote for instance.
If they are out of power... a lot more constitutionalist judges get appointed...
What would the supreme court look like right now if people had voted in a democrat? would John Bolton be in the UN?
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most important I think. when I vote for a president, I Know I am also voting for any justices he appoints, and things like that. I'm not voting if he's a good public speaker, or if he looks like a horse, or if he is from here or there. so many people vote for who seems or is made to appear cool that the issues effecting their lives is never brought up.
ever see a used car salesman on a side lot in a terrible polyester suit talking up some car to some single woman in the 1970's? thats my eternal vision of the democrat party. "slick" hustlers trying to slime their way into getting you to buy something useless. they don't give a damn about you at all.
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Originally posted by xrtoronto
I don't get it.
I don't either. I can understand maybe with people that don't use the web, but how can anyone with access to the internet blindly vote along party lines without checking to see where the candidate stands on issues they care about and what their past voting history is?
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Originally posted by midnight Target
I voted for Anderson in 1980... does that count?
Wow, me too! That was the first election I was old enough to vote in.
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Originally posted by Mustaine
for me I vote against abortion, i vote for gun rights, i vote against gays, i vote against welfare, i vote for prayer in schools... and a few other things.
if the candidate is on the opposite of any singe one of those they will never get my vote....
99.999999999999% of the time the liberal democrats (ESPECIALLY here in WI) are the exact opposite of those things.
Along those lines of topics you picked out:
I'm split on abortion, I think early term abortion is okay, but anything beyond the 1st trimester is not okay (except in the case of medical or rape)
I for gun rights.
I don't vote against gay rights issues such as equal treatment in benefits but I am against using the term "Marriage" when two want to be legally together.
I'm for welfare, limited to 18 months, until the recipient gets their life together. After that, I think societal organizations can help out (churches, etc.)
I think prayer in school is okay for those who want to participate, and for those that don't, I don't think they should be forced to take part, find them another room for them for 30 seconds.
So, you see, I'm split on alot of issues, unfortunately they are painted on election day as black and white, and I'm somewhere in the grey area.
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Originally posted by Ripsnort
Along those lines of topics you picked out:
I'm split on abortion, I think early term abortion is okay, but anything beyond the 1st trimester is not okay (except in the case of medical or rape)
I for gun rights.
I don't vote against gay rights issues such as equal treatment in benefits but I am against using the term "Marriage" when two want to be legally together.
I'm for welfare, limited to 18 months, until the recipient gets their life together. After that, I think societal organizations can help out (churches, etc.)
I think prayer in school is okay for those who want to participate, and for those that don't, I don't think they should be forced to take part, find them another room for them for 30 seconds.
So, you see, I'm split on alot of issues, unfortunately they are painted on election day as black and white, and I'm somewhere in the grey area.
My god rip you're a right wing religous zelot.....!!!
:D
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well.... I don't see how anyone can vote for a person of a party and then be so stupid as to think the guy will be some kind of a maveric who will buck his party in any significant way.
If you vote for a democrat you are gonna get more social programs and taxes and continue the teachers unions stranglehold on education and you are gonna get a bunch of liberal judges appointed and have the second amendment attacked at every opportuninty.
Those are reasons enough for me to vote for a republican no matter how bad he may be.
lazs