The Birth of a Party

[Griff]

Originally Posted by Kitsune

Oh, oh, oh, I'm confused about selection #7 -- what happens if my Kommissar isn't in town?

You're in his eye
And you'll know why
The more you live
The faster you will die

Nice.

[Griff]

I'll second a corporation is not a person and add the end of the Imperial Presidency.

[Kitsune]

Now I have to ask: what is a Kommissar?

[wolf]

The Communist official whose job it is to make sure that you are correctly politically indoctrinated and not in need of reeducation or perhaps even relocation to a special camp or school where you will learn to express proper appreciation of the Worker's Paradise in which you live.

[Radar]

Now I have to ask: what is a Kommissar?

Der Kommisar is an 80's song originally by Falco but later made more popular by a group called "After the Fire".

[depmats]

Momma always said parties are from the debil.

[BrianR]

I think that a good idea would also be that in addition to your planks, to eliminate the congressional pension. I can see your party in about fifty years going bankrupt due to all those pensions draining tax dollars. One term should not entitle you to a salary for life.

No more TV or radio advertizing in National Elections. You want to know what a candidate stands for - you have to read about it in a paper or news magazine. This would serve two purposes, knock down the "billionaire factor" a couple of notches, and ensure that voters would be forced to make a somewhat more reasoned choice then that given by sound bites and media hype.

[Cyber Wolf]

Originally Posted by marichiko

ensure that voters would be forced to make a somewhat more reasoned choice then that given by sound bites and media hype.

But sound bites are so delicious...especially with powdered sugar and just a bit of honey.....oh. right.

Originally Posted by Brianna

I don't vote-- there are no Wiccan candidates.

Unfortunately, there's very little chance of this happening. Even if a Wiccan starts to make it through the candidate ranks, someone eventually is going to pull the God card in a smear campaign and at this point that's a very strong hand to beat.

I personally would like to see and would likely vote for a candidate with the following background: went to a public school from K-12, worked summers in fast food or retail or some other minimum wage job during high school, went to college on loans/worked way through college (parents paid for little to none), worked for a period of time with a temp agency that did not provide standard benefits (health, dental, vision, etc), gets into politics at the 'average person' level (not by family ties or wealth status expectations). THIS kind of person, I feel, would have a better idea of what the average American is going through. He (or she really) will know first hand how it is to not have regular healthcare because you can't afford it, not just hear about it. They'd know first hand how our public schools are. I don't care about the schools a candidate went to or the colleges he attended or other such frills. Really don't care about a war record either. Having been in the military and/or been a veteran doesn't make a candidate any more American, any more a leader or any more patriotic than someone who hasn't. I want a candidate who has BEEN there and doesn't just sympathize (publicly) from atop his pile of cash. I would identify better with a person like this. But...the way things work around here, that person will likely never get much higher than local or state level official. Their opinions and views on things might be too 'radical' or 'uncustomary' for the other rich people at the top.

[lookout123]

Originally Posted by Cyber Wolf

I personally would like to see and would likely vote for a candidate with the following background: went to a public school from K-12, worked summers in fast food or retail or some other minimum wage job during high school, went to college on loans/worked way through college (parents paid for little to none), worked for a period of time with a temp agency that did not provide standard benefits (health, dental, vision, etc), gets into politics at the 'average person' level (not by family ties or wealth status expectations)

so i can count on your vote then?

[wolf]

Originally Posted by Cyber Wolf

Unfortunately, there's very little chance of this happening. Even if a Wiccan starts to make it through the candidate ranks, someone eventually is going to pull the God card in a smear campaign and at this point that's a very strong hand to beat.

One of my friends from high school is pagan. Or I should say "was."

We re-met about 18-20 years after graduation because she was a poll worker (for the Dems) at my local polling place. She recognized me, and we spent a lot of time catching up before I went in to vote. Through some very unusual coincidences, she had also ended up being my best friend's divorce lawyer, largely because she was a pagan attorney.

So ... this past primary, I see her again (the polls are where we keep in touch) and instead of her usual gauzy skirt and hand-knit sweater from organically raised, gently harvested wool, she was wearing a sensible business suit ... as we started our hugs and greetings, she whispered in my ear "You gotta know this ... I'm a Republican now and don't let anybody know that I was pagan. I'm Catholic again."

She went on to explain that she has political aspirations, and such information would not serve her well.

[Griff]

Originally Posted by marichiko

No more TV or radio advertizing in National Elections. You want to know what a candidate stands for - you have to read about it in a paper or news magazine. This would serve two purposes, knock down the "billionaire factor" a couple of notches, and ensure that voters would be forced to make a somewhat more reasoned choice then that given by sound bites and media hype.

Not that it bothers McCain Feingold and company, but eliminating freedom of speech is the last thing I want to endorse.

[Trilby]

Originally Posted by lookout123

so i can count on your vote then?

You've got mine, lookout. And not just because I'm a totally ignorant voter, either!

[lookout123]

Originally Posted by Brianna

You've got mine, lookout. And not just because I'm a totally ignorant voter, either!

thanks... that's 2 votes for me. if only i can get my wife to change her mind, then i'll have 3.

[xoxoxoBruce]

worked for a period of time with a temp agency that did not provide standard benefits (health, dental, vision, etc)

He (or she really) will know first hand how it is to not have regular healthcare because you can't afford it, not just hear about it.

Trouble is, a person just out of college and single is probably pretty healthy and might not care about health Ins, at that point in their lives.