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Thread: I'm so sick of political ads!!!!!

  1. #51
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    Our mute button has the letters worn off. We mute every ad, every sports commentator and i would mute more than that, but there are two of us watching TV.

  2. #52
    Williamsmith
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    Quote Originally Posted by catherine View Post
    Interesting article about why some people aren't voting.

    https://www.washingtonpost.com/opini...l_ideas&wpmm=1

    "I am a registered independent who hasn’t voted since 1992 because I refuse to support the corrupt bipartisan system. I will not give a mandate to the lesser of two evils. It is clear that politicians seek power as a steppingstone to corporate board positions and/or K Street lobbying jobs..."

    "Because my simple vote cannot adequately express the rage, fury and contempt I feel for those already in government, as well as those who seek to replace them. The system is carefully optimized to care for those who already have; the have-nots will always have to fend for themselves."

    "In the grand scheme of things in my life, the decisions that politicians make do not really affect my daily life. Every politician is the same, so what does it matter? They are going to make decisions on issues dependent on what their donors and what the party want — not on what the constituents want. We do not make any actual changes."

    "I don’t vote because the winners of most races I’m eligible to vote in are predetermined, due to gerrymandering, the electoral college and the overall heavy political imbalance of the state. (I tell people from elsewhere that Maryland leans so far to the left that even our crabs are blue.) In reality, I have no more say in who my congressional representative or my U.S. senators will be than my neighbors in D.C. have in choosing theirs. Voting in such a system is not only a waste of time; it also perpetuates a system of anti-democratic elections."
    I suppose you already have figured out that I have adopted every one of those reasons why I am not voting Tuesday.

  3. #53
    Williamsmith
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    Quote Originally Posted by LDAHL View Post
    I have no problem with someone glorying in the virtue of their principled irrelevance, so long as they are willing to abide by the decisions of those of us willing to sully ourselves with participation in an imperfect system.
    In our current political state of affairs , voting is to a democracy as a fork is to soup.

  4. #54
    Senior Member catherine's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Williamsmith View Post
    I suppose you already have figured out that I have adopted every one of those reasons why I am not voting Tuesday.
    Yeah, kinda.
    "Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it--every, every minute?" Emily Webb, Our Town
    www.silententry.wordpress.com

  5. #55
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    Quote Originally Posted by Williamsmith View Post
    In our current political state of affairs , voting is to a democracy as a fork is to soup.
    I think that if you are waiting for the perfect candidate representing the perfect party to fill your bowl for you, you will be waiting a very long time.

  6. #56
    Senior Member JaneV2.0's Avatar
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    There's always something to pique my civic interest--a voter-generated initiative, or perhaps stark fear. There are a lot of serious issues at stake. I can't imagine not voting; I signed up the minute I could.

    I don't for a minute believe in that "both sides do it" BS, but I do agree with Steve--we have to get big money out of the picture--talk about asking for corruption.

  7. #57
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    I'll vote but I get why people are sick of it. Initiatives put on by special interest. At this point billion dollar bond initiatives put on by special interests. Having to decide the whole of state bond financing (I don't fricking know - it's completely irrational as there seems no prioritization there and a state can't actually run infinite debt - the Feds maybe can - but not a state). Tax measures or less dishonest policy initiatives I don't mind voting about.

    And then candidates that aren't even bothering to show any interest in the job (they are the equivalent of falling asleep in the job interview) because they have no real competition. No I'm not going to vote for you just because you are there. Act like you actually want the job and care about the public, at least pretend if nothing else.
    Trees don't grow on money

  8. #58
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    It doesn’t take much effort to vote, that’s why people are so defensive of it. What’s it take to get that patriotic little sticker...drive to some local place, stand in line a little and make a choice for the lesser of two evils.
    Of course that's NOT what it takes, it takes at least some minimal research, at the very least seeing the measures on the ballot (where you have initiatives at least) those who one supports support (for example seeing who the paper has endorsed if one has any trust in it, or the league of women voters, or you want to see if sander's organization has weighed in or etc.) and voting that ticket if one is too lazy to do anything more. Or trying to figure out the ballot oneself by reading the guidebook, arguments and rebuttals, although that's harder as many iniatives are downright dishonest and it takes some guidance to see through it. That's minimum due diligence if one is too lazy to do anything else.

    It's often more effort than I want to put in. That's more effort that it takes to show up at some protest (which are largely though not entirely useless these days). True you probably have to drive further for the protest and that is annoying. Less than some things, ok yea going to prison for your political beliefs takes more effort, noone really argues otherwise. You can go to city council meetings, they will often be conveniently scheduled so you can not possibly make them and commute and earn a living, but ...
    Trees don't grow on money

  9. #59
    Senior Member Teacher Terry's Avatar
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    I spent a lot of time researching the candidates and all the other questions on the ballot.

  10. #60
    Senior Member catherine's Avatar
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    I'm fascinated with Trump's campaign strategy these past few days. Honestly--I think his strategy is stir up as much anger and hate as possible. He is even turning down opportunities to talk about the broader-reaching positives of his administration: the economy. He said that talking about the economy is "boring." This only means one thing: he truly is a genius marketer. He knows that fear is a more potent motivator than pleasure. And he is stirring the fear pot.

    Statistics about a low unemployment rate? Big deal. Increase in GDP? So what. Consumer confidence index? Meh.
    But talk about "those people" invading my space, my culture, and threatening my worldview--THAT'S a message that resonates.

    Now he's adding fuel to the fire and having a campaign rally with Rush Limbaugh. Ya gotta give him credit. He knows his base.

    He's broken every rule. We'll see tomorrow night if it paid off for him this time.
    "Do any human beings ever realize life while they live it--every, every minute?" Emily Webb, Our Town
    www.silententry.wordpress.com

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