Why the heck would I vote?

[Brother_Karl]

Originally Posted by merrylander

With a generation raised on Family Guy, or the Simpsons, or American Idol, or Dancing with the Stars, or Survivour to expect miracles is a bit much. There are exceptions

You really think that the majority of the 'grown up' public know what they're doing when they vote? Because, if so, you may be the first person I've ever met who thinks that.

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by Brother_Karl

You really think that the majority of the 'grown up' public know what they're doing when they vote? Because, if so, you may be the first person I've ever met who thinks that.

No I do not, but given the sad state of the media here it would be unfair to expect them all to know what in hell is going on.

Recent political ads have (to be kind) bent the truth a wee bit, if not outright lied, but no one confronts the lies. Frex, Ethanol Grassley and Bishop Hatch both spread lies about the British and Canadian healthcare systems in the recent Congress with little confrontation. I expect it from Grassley, but the Bishop - for shame.

[Kamakiri]

Originally Posted by merrylander

Recent political ads have (to be kind) bent the truth a wee bit, if not outright lied, but no one confronts the lies. Frex, Ethanol Grassley and Bishop Hatch both spread lies about the British and Canadian healthcare systems in the recent Congress with little confrontation. I expect it from Grassley, but the Bishop - for shame.

I didn't have to wait long, did I?

[merrylander]

Originally Posted by Kamakiri

I didn't have to wait long, did I?

My we are touchy. You will note that I said they lied and that I did not make any comparisons between the three systems. Though I will note that to the best of my knowledge no one in Canada ever had to file bankruptcy due to medical expenses.

If someone can come up with a valid argument for the Electoral College I would be happy to hear it. In some states the electoral votes are apportioned according to the popular vote, reasonably fair within the margin of rounding error. In other states it is first past the post; if a candidate gets 50.1% of the popular vote he/she gets all the electoral votes. In effect the other 49.9% of the voters were just dis-enfranchized. This is fair?

If someone has a copy of the naturalization oath please post it. It has been more than 18 years and my memory is a little vague on the part where naturalized citizens swear they will never criticize the system.

[d-ray657]

At the time the constitutional amendment lowering the voting age to 18 passed, we still had a draft. A point often made was that individuals were old enough to fight and die for their country, but not old enough to have a say in who sent them there. Some fair logic there, if you ask me.

Nowadays, 18 is old enough to make a personal decision to join the military. That is a decision that will seriously impact the life of the individual and people around him or her.

I think the largest participation in voting by young people is among college students. I know that Obama energized the college-aged voters in a big way. The past two years of obstruction has likely caused dis-interest among many of those idealistic voters. I hope that doesn't have a lasting effect, because I still have hope that more members of my sons' generation will go forward with an idea that they need to think beyond their own needs and wants to the needs of the country their neighbors and their world. Mine know that they will be subjected to more excruciating lectures if they forget that principle.

Regards,

D-Ray

[finnbow]

Originally Posted by d-ray657

I think the largest participation in voting by young people is among college students. I know that Obama energized the college-aged voters in a big way. The past two years of obstruction has likely caused dis-interest among many of those idealistic voters. I hope that doesn't have a lasting effect, because I still have hope that more members of my sons' generation will go forward with an idea that they need to think beyond their own needs and wants to the needs of the country their neighbors and their world. Mine know that they will be subjected to more excruciating lectures if they forget that principle.

Regards,

D-Ray

In a way, I have a problem with this. In effect, college kids (who are already dependent on Mom and Dad) further get to vote on how the government will spend Mom & Dad's money.

OTOH, the money that's being spent is actually being borrowed from the Chinese for repayment by future generations. What goes around comes around.

[d-ray657]

Originally Posted by finnbow

In a way, I have a problem with this. In effect, college kids (who are already dependent on Mom and Dad) further get to vote on how the government will spend Mom & Dad's money.

OTOH, the money that's being spent is actually being borrowed from the Chinese for repayment by future generations. What goes around comes around.

I dunno. My kids work 20 hours per week during the school year, and full time in the summer, so they are taxpayers too. They are likely to be paying interest on the deficit for the remainder of their working lives as well. I am just grateful that they didn't spend their blood for the benefit of Haliburton.

OK, I'll show one of my biases here. Your comments have much more credence with respect to most of the frat boys and sorority girls - unless they are members of Phi Zappa Krappa.

Regards,

D-Ray