What I believe and Why I believe that way

[Detroitdad]

Originally Posted by YOhio

It's better than nothing.

It is?

[Cali Coug]

Originally Posted by BarbaraGordon

right. This is what's got the husband all anti-democratic. He believes that if Homer Simpson can't be bothered to research the issues, then either Homer shouldn't be allowed to vote, or we shouldn't be voting at all.

I am sure he is just kidding, but obviously there can't be any kind of qualification based on knowledge of issues for voting. Who would decide if a person was qualified to vote? How could we eliminate bias from the process to ensure that people of certain political persuasions aren't being unfairly denied the right to vote? Couldn't Person A simply tell Person B they weren't allowed to vote until they came to the same conclusion on a given issue as Person A?

Then you have the issue of not voting at all. If nobody is allowed to vote, what kind of a government would you wind up with? More likely than not you wind up heading towards totalitarianism.

[Detroitdad]

Originally Posted by Cali Coug

I am sure he is just kidding, but obviously there can't be any kind of qualification based on knowledge of issues for voting. Who would decide if a person was qualified to vote? How could we eliminate bias from the process to ensure that people of certain political persuasions aren't being unfairly denied the right to vote? Couldn't Person A simply tell Person B they weren't allowed to vote until they came to the same conclusion on a given issue as Person A?

Then you have the issue of not voting at all. If nobody is allowed to vote, what kind of a government would you wind up with? More likely than not you wind up heading towards totalitarianism.

I think that I ought to get extra votes because of my girth.

[Archaea]

YOu do. Being a Democrat, you get half a vote times two. If you were a Republican in Florida your vote value would be increased.

[YOhio]

Originally Posted by Detroitdad

It is?

I think so. I'd say the same for other people who listen to Air America, read the DailyKos, and get their news from Jon Stewart (by the way, have you seen the one where he shows President Bush mispronouncing a word? It's soooo funny! And fresh!). Anything to spark an interest in the world around them is better than pure apathy.

[Detroitdad]

Originally Posted by YOhio

I think so. I'd say the same for other people who listen to Air America, read the DailyKos, and get their news from Jon Stewart (by the way, have you seen the one where he shows President Bush mispronouncing a word? It's soooo funny! And fresh!). Anything to spark an interest in the world around them is better than pure apathy.

Maybe. But I think all of these sources replace analysis with polemic. Furthermore, they are unreliable and frequently unconcerned with truth. I think that this type of information increases cynicism and drives down participation in the long run.

[RockyBalboa]

Originally Posted by Detroitdad

Maybe. But I think all of these sources replace analysis with polemic. Furthermore, they are unreliable and frequently unconcerned with truth. I think that this type of information increases cynicism and drives down participation in the long run.

Which begs the question, where do you get your information from then?

[Detroitdad]

Originally Posted by RockyBalboa

Which begs the question, where do you get your information from then?

From Cougarboard, of course. I just look at whatever Tex/Snipe are posting and think the opposite. JK.

But seriously I try to stay informed by reading a variety of newspapers and magazines and listening to the news. I know that all information is subject to manipulation by the writer, so I try to look at a wide selection. I know that I am not always as well informed as I ought to be, but it is something that I enjoy doing. Once I get out of lawschool I am hoping to catch up some.

[il Padrino Ute]

Originally Posted by Cali Coug

A solution so simple that 99% of incumbents won in the US House in 2004, despite public opinion polls that said that a majority of Americans thought Congress was doing a bad job.

In 2006, 94% of House incumbents won.

Here is an interesting article on the topic:

http://www.opensecrets.org/pressrele...ction.11.8.asp

Well, if voters weren't so lazy, things would change.

[RockyBalboa]

Originally Posted by Detroitdad

From Cougarboard, of course. I just look at whatever Tex/Snipe are posting and think the opposite. JK.

But seriously I try to stay informed by reading a variety of newspapers and magazines and listening to the news. I know that all information is subject to manipulation by the writer, so I try to look at a wide selection. I know that I am not always as well informed as I ought to be, but it is something that I enjoy doing. Once I get out of lawschool I am hoping to catch up some.

Sounds like we do the same thing and usually come to different conclusions, but there's nothing wrong with that. Though our opinions differe dramatically I like your posting style. Few liberals can make me laugh and while at the same respecting where they're coming from and you can do that.