The Cellar  

Go Back   The Cellar > Main > Politics
FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search

Politics Where we learn not to think less of others who don't share our views

Reply
 
Thread Tools Display Modes
Old 11-20-2003, 06:21 AM   #16
Griff
still says videotape
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 26,813
Quote:
Originally posted by xoxoxoBruce
But your the one that ends up getting screwed by not getting the bastard out.
But if he helps with regime change he will get screwed by the new boss.
__________________
If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you.
- Louis D. Brandeis
Griff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-2003, 09:21 AM   #17
elSicomoro
Person who doesn't update the user title
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 12,486
I guess it's all in how you look at it...

I've been fortunate enough to be able to vote my conscience...to vote for the candidate that I think will do the best job. Third-party and independent candidates have yet to really sway me, so I can generally go with a Dem or Rep with ease.

But I do think situations arise where you have to go with the most "realistic" choice. I think 2000 was one of those years (though Bush won in the end), and 2004 is looking moreso. Basically in the end, which do you dislike more: the two-party system or the prospect of Dubya in office for 4 more years?

It's your vote, you have to decide how to use it...
elSicomoro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-2003, 09:41 AM   #18
Radar
Constitutional Scholar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Ocala, FL
Posts: 4,006
A vote for a Republican or a Democrat is a vote for larger, more expensive, and more intrusive government that attacks more of our rights and makes the world a more dangerous place.

I will never be able to vote for a Democrat or a Republican because I know it makes no sense and I'd be screwing other Americans.

That being said, if I were to vote for the lesser of two evils, I'd be forced to vote for a Democrat. The Democrats are clear in their intentions and do what they say, but Republicans lie to their own supporters and make government larger every chance they get. They outspend Democrats, start unprovoked wars, and attack our civil rights even more all while claiming they want to reduce the size, scope, cost, and intrusiveness of government.

I find it ironic that so many people say they would vote for a Libertarian if they thought a libertarian had a chance at winning. This isn't a horse race where you bet your vote on a winner. Saying you won't vote for someone unless they have a shot at winning is like saying you won't vote for them unless they don't need your vote.

Every vote for a Republican or Democrat (as if they two were really different parties) sends a message. It says you're happy with the way things are going in government and you want more of your hard-earned income to be taken from you at the point of a gun. It says you think you're far too free and should have your freedoms stripped from you. It means you think the government has more of a claim on you and the fruits of your labor than you do. It means you want more of the same and that's how they will take it. If you want something different, you must do something different and the message will be clear, even to Republicans and Democrats. Even they will start cleaning up their act if they see votes going the other way.

In recent years, the number of votes for third parties has been steadily increasing. More than 5% of voting Americans voted for third parties in the last presidental election, and I would be willing to bet it rises next year.

As I said, I will not compromise my principles even though I know GWB is more dangerous to America than Osama Bin Laden and Saddam Hussein combined.

Here's a nice picture of the two party system for you...


__________________
"I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death."
- George Carlin
Radar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-2003, 09:50 AM   #19
Griff
still says videotape
 
Join Date: Feb 2001
Posts: 26,813
Republican Deceit
__________________
If you would only recognize that life is hard, things would be so much easier for you.
- Louis D. Brandeis
Griff is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-2003, 09:54 AM   #20
dave
Guest
 
Posts: n/a
That was as pretty good one, Radar.

Lemme make a suggestion though when you present it to the mass audience: leave out the bit about GWB being more dangerous. You'll convince a lot more people to vote third party if you sound collected, cool and convincing. And you about had it nailed until that part, which will seem like an attack to normal people.

But otherwise, I essentially agree with you (except the part about Democrats doing what they say - ha! hahaha! Where do Democrats do that? Where do any politicians do that?).
  Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-2003, 10:05 AM   #21
Undertoad
Radical Centrist
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Cottage of Prussia
Posts: 31,423
Is it helpful to note that the Libertarian Party massively mismanaged and politicized its own financial and internal affairs and thus can't be trusted to be the judge of competence?

You should have seen some of the outrageous claims made in some of their fundraising letters. Holy crap. Talk about lying to your own supporters. They make the major parties look like amateurs at it.
Undertoad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-2003, 10:21 AM   #22
Happy Monkey
I think this line's mostly filler.
 
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: DC
Posts: 13,575
Quote:
Originally posted by dave
That was as pretty good one, Radar.

Lemme make a suggestion though when you present it to the mass audience: leave out the bit about GWB being more dangerous. You'll convince a lot more people to vote third party if you sound collected, cool and convincing. And you about had it nailed until that part, which will seem like an attack to normal people.

But otherwise, I essentially agree with you (except the part about Democrats doing what they say - ha! hahaha! Where do Democrats do that? Where do any politicians do that?).
Well, GWB has orders of magnitude more influence on the US than OBL and SH combined, so his danger is given that multiplier.

Also, if the issue is spending (and it was) then Democrats are much more up front about their willingness to spend what it takes. Of course, almost all politicians are liars, but recently the Republican party has been vastly more deceitful han the Democrats.

I voted Libertarian last election, but I'm afraid I absolutely must vote against Bush this time.
__________________
_________________
|...............| We live in the nick of times.
| Len 17, Wid 3 |
|_______________| [pics]
Happy Monkey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-2003, 10:39 AM   #23
Radar
Constitutional Scholar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Ocala, FL
Posts: 4,006
Quote:
But otherwise, I essentially agree with you (except the part about Democrats doing what they say - ha! hahaha! Where do Democrats do that? Where do any politicians do that?).
I only mean Democrats are very clear about thier intentions to tax and spend more money and make government larger and they follow through, they just don't spend quite as much as Republicans.

Quote:
Is it helpful to note that the Libertarian Party massively mismanaged and politicized its own financial and internal affairs and thus can't be trusted to be the judge of competence?

You should have seen some of the outrageous claims made in some of their fundraising letters. Holy crap. Talk about lying to your own supporters. They make the major parties look like amateurs at it.
Bullshit. There were no mismanaged financial or internal affairs. Just a few ignorant people making false claims kind of like what you're doing now.

And the distress in the fund raising letters wasn't false. The LP has removed all but a couple of its paid staff members. So once again, you're talking out of your ass which must not be too hard for you since your head is up there.
__________________
"I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death."
- George Carlin
Radar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-2003, 10:40 AM   #24
elSicomoro
Person who doesn't update the user title
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Posts: 12,486
I knew it wouldn't last...
elSicomoro is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-2003, 10:43 AM   #25
Radar
Constitutional Scholar
 
Join Date: Dec 2002
Location: Ocala, FL
Posts: 4,006
__________________
"I'm completely in favor of the separation of Church and State. My idea is that these two institutions screw us up enough on their own, so both of them together is certain death."
- George Carlin
Radar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-2003, 10:44 AM   #26
Undertoad
Radical Centrist
 
Join Date: Jan 2001
Location: Cottage of Prussia
Posts: 31,423
I'm talking about the fund-raising letters that preceded the batch you're talking about, in which the LP was a step away from breaking into the mainstream and membership was absolutely guaranteed to rise and etc.
Undertoad is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 11-20-2003, 03:53 PM   #27
warch
lurkin old school
 
Join Date: Oct 2001
Location: Minnesota
Posts: 2,796
What did the letters say?
warch is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump

All times are GMT -5. The time now is 07:20 AM.


Powered by: vBulletin Version 3.8.1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.