Don't Vote Today

monster · 11-04-2014, 09:14 AM

Because it's not an election day in your country.

Just a little something for the non-Americans among us

I have to be serious in the politics forum? oh OK then. How about:

Do you think the electorate should vote on specific issues (e.g. locally today the big issue is should our school district annex a local, struggling one), or should we leave those decisions to the people we elect (locally, the board of Education -7 seats, 4 of which are up for grabs today).

So, in my example, should we leave the decision on annexation to the BOE and vote for board members who share our philosophies on that (and other) issues? Or should we decide the issue and hope that the people elected will be the right ones to implement the decision properly? (obviously that's more of an issue with a "yes" vote than a "no" but that wouldn't necessarily be true in other cases)

Do we not run the risk of having elected officials forced to implement changes with which they disagree? Or is that not a bad thing?

This only seems to happen locally, but if it's a good thing, why not nationally? the US president is elected and then has the power to declare war. Shouldn't the electorate be consulted on such a big decision?

xoxoxoBruce · 11-04-2014, 09:47 AM

No, the president will consult the 42 old white men who own the government.

glatt · 11-04-2014, 10:03 AM

Ideally, we are electing smart people who inform themselves on the issues and are in a position to make knowledgeable decisions for the good of the people. I don't have time to study the details of every issue so I can make an informed decision, and I think I'm smarter and more informed than most other voters. So I don't like the idea of the voters making those kids of decisions. They will only use their gut feelings.

But on the other hand, it's become apparent to me that my school board and county board are mostly idiots who really have no idea what they are doing. So I'm torn on the issue.

In Arlington, we made the news last year because the county built a bus stop that cost $1 million. And it doesn't even protect you well from the rain because the roof is small and the walls don't go up to the roof. It looks stylish, has a computer screen with arrival information, and a heated sidewalk to melt ice buildup. But you get wet waiting for the bus in the rain.

There are a handful of examples like this, with proposed controversial projects totaling almost a BILLION dollars, and I'd love for them to be itemized out as bond issues so the voters could slash the stupid ones.

DanaC · 11-04-2014, 10:16 AM

The trouble is, who decides which issues should be specifically put tothe vote? How easy would it be for a pressure group to force what they consider a pressing issue onto the ballot? How many issues will be covered?

classicman · 11-05-2014, 07:59 AM

^^They're called Lobbyists and they are well paid to tell us what to think.

11-04-2014, 09:14 AM	#1
monster I hear them call the tide Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Perpetual Chaos Posts: 30,852	Don't Vote Today Because it's not an election day in your country. Just a little something for the non-Americans among us I have to be serious in the politics forum? oh OK then. How about: Do you think the electorate should vote on specific issues (e.g. locally today the big issue is should our school district annex a local, struggling one), or should we leave those decisions to the people we elect (locally, the board of Education -7 seats, 4 of which are up for grabs today). So, in my example, should we leave the decision on annexation to the BOE and vote for board members who share our philosophies on that (and other) issues? Or should we decide the issue and hope that the people elected will be the right ones to implement the decision properly? (obviously that's more of an issue with a "yes" vote than a "no" but that wouldn't necessarily be true in other cases) Do we not run the risk of having elected officials forced to implement changes with which they disagree? Or is that not a bad thing? This only seems to happen locally, but if it's a good thing, why not nationally? the US president is elected and then has the power to declare war. Shouldn't the electorate be consulted on such a big decision? __________________ The most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity Amelia Earhart

11-04-2014, 09:47 AM	#2
xoxoxoBruce The future is unwritten Join Date: Oct 2002 Posts: 71,105	No, the president will consult the 42 old white men who own the government. __________________ The descent of man ~ Nixon, Friedman, Reagan, Trump.

11-05-2014, 07:59 AM	#5
classicman barely disguised asshole, keeper of all that is holy. Join Date: Nov 2007 Posts: 23,401	^^They're called Lobbyists and they are well paid to tell us what to think. __________________ "like strapping a pillow on a bull in a china shop" Bullitt

11-04-2014, 10:03 AM	#3
glatt ™ Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Arlington, VA Posts: 27,717	Ideally, we are electing smart people who inform themselves on the issues and are in a position to make knowledgeable decisions for the good of the people. I don't have time to study the details of every issue so I can make an informed decision, and I think I'm smarter and more informed than most other voters. So I don't like the idea of the voters making those kids of decisions. They will only use their gut feelings. But on the other hand, it's become apparent to me that my school board and county board are mostly idiots who really have no idea what they are doing. So I'm torn on the issue. In Arlington, we made the news last year because the county built a bus stop that cost $1 million. And it doesn't even protect you well from the rain because the roof is small and the walls don't go up to the roof. It looks stylish, has a computer screen with arrival information, and a heated sidewalk to melt ice buildup. But you get wet waiting for the bus in the rain. There are a handful of examples like this, with proposed controversial projects totaling almost a BILLION dollars, and I'd love for them to be itemized out as bond issues so the voters could slash the stupid ones.

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