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Re: Election betting thread... [message #344586 is a reply to message #344401] Sat, 02 August 2008 23:00 Go to previous messageGo to previous message
NukeIt15 is currently offline  NukeIt15
Messages: 987
Registered: February 2003
Location: Out to lunch
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Colonel
Parties help people avoid having to think and form their own opinions. Most of the people I've talked politics with (IRL) loudly proclaimed their preference for one party or the other but on closer examination they disagreed with more than half of their party's platform and in the end either changed the subject or admitted that they only support that party either because of the issue du jour or because somebody told them they should. Republican, Democrat, I haven't seen any difference. The only people I've talked to who have their views in any sort of order are the ones who openly state that they do not support any specific party, because they are the people who actually took the time to develop a point of view from which to make informed political decisions. I'm not saying that you can't be a Dem/Rep and still have your own position, because I'm sure plenty do, but both parties depend on the ignorance of most of their supporters in order to remain in power.

You only need to have a few good conversations to realize just how deeply ingrained that ignorance is in our system; it is not only omnipresent but also expected. Hence the reason why politicians get called "flip-floppers" for simply changing their mind about something (and I don't mean when they do it just to get votes from both sides of the fence). Candidates who switch parties or go independent get only the briefest of media attention and are subsequently and systematically ignored. Independent presidential candidates only get recognition when they achieve a significant enough percentage of the vote to swing an election one way or the other- which brings up an interesting paradox: you can't get funds without recognition, and you can't get recognition without funds (especially not in the mainstream media). The only people who have both to begin with are either independently super-wealthy or already affiliated with one of the major parties.

Yes, it is that bad.

Parties allow candidates to attach their name to a platform without actually telling anyone what that platform is- which is why we get races where the entire thing is decided based on who does better PR. When you vote for a Republican or a Democrat, you are voting for the organization, not the individual... and you really should know what you're getting into before you tick the ballot. If you do know and still want to cast your vote for one or the other, good for you. Just realize that you are in the minority.

"The best argument against democracy is a five minute conversation with the average voter." -Winston Churchill


"Arms discourage and keep the invader and plunderer in awe, and preserve order in the world as well as property. Horrid mischief would ensue were (the law-abiding) deprived of the use of them." - Thomas Paine

Remember, kids: illiteracy is cool. If you took the time to read this, you are clearly a loser who will never get laid. You've been warned.

[Updated on: Sat, 02 August 2008 23:02]

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