Brief Plea by Kip Hansen
”It has been said that democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time.” — Winston Churchill, on the floor of Parliament in November 1947.
“The system won’t work if you don’t vote”. — Jim Hanson
“Those who do not exercise their right and duty to vote in each and every election get the government they deserve. Today, most US citizens have another chance to make a difference.
If you want a better world, VOTE. If you want some law to be changed, VOTE. If you want different local, State or National policy, VOTE. If you like the way things are going, VOTE. If you don’t like the way things are going, VOTE. But, PLEASE VOTE.”
— Kip Hansen
I’ve often heard some people say “Why vote? The outcome is pre-determined anyway”, or “My one vote doesn’t really count, why bother?”
In 2016, the election of President Donald Trump, against all odds, defying pundits, pollsters, and popular wisdom, proved that in fact, every vote does count, and outcomes are not pre-determined. – Anthony Watts
# # # # #
To All Those who Voted:
# # # # #
As I’m in the UK and not American I can’t vote, but I would damn well cast my vote for Trump if I could.
And that’s saying something because I thought he was the village idiot pre election – and then I watched him, from afar, actually start to deliver his campaign promises. Never seen that done before.
He may still be the village idiot (which I no longer believe) but at least the man has integrity, more than I can say for any of our British politicians.
come over an vote, plenty of non-citizens vote now for the democrats at least you be balancing some of that out.
Yeah, and vote often, get in Q’z from the cemeteries voting D for dead.
Hot Scot,
Right on.
I think that the average US voter does not realize how the results of the current elections will effect the rest of the world.
Currently Donald Trump and his government are the only bastion against communism the world has currently.
A devastating loss for Trump’s government will signal to the rest of the world, including my country, that communism and the demise of democracy is OK.
I wish I could vote for Donald Trump and his government as well. We could sure use a leader like him around here.
Cheers
Roger
https://thedemiseofchristchurch.wordpress.com/2014/03/13/a-quick-essay-on-new-zealand-today/
Roger
At the risk of backslapping, I couldn’t agree with you more.
Trump could be pivotal in where the world heads, communism or democracy. Or even worse, progressives undermining democracy.
The world has emerged from free trade (look up Matt Ridley’s book, ‘The Rational Optimist’ where he describes from almost the first page, man’s emergence as a force of nature through his ability to specialise and trade.
From the guy who can’t fish, but who makes brilliant bone fishooks, teaming up with a guy who can fish but can’t make hooks; to the guy who can’t drive but can build roads teaming up with the taxi driver.
Socialism (and I use that in the broadest terms to include communism) is a political, ideological, unnatural construct which barely existed before Marx.
Free trade is the natural order of peaceful society. It’s not perfect but almost everything meaningful produced by mankind has emerged from it.
Capitalism is also a political construct, but not nearly as harmful as socialism as it allies itself with free trade.
I would argue that despite their oppressive regimes, China and Russia are becoming more capitalistic than the west, but they are understandably fumbling with the concept of change; as the west is badly fumbling the same concept, when it shouldn’t.
“Currently Donald Trump and his government are the only bastion against communism the world has currently.”
Keep an eye on Europe. Things are fundamentally changing here.
I know how you feel as I am also in the UK and have watched as our politicians do their best to give everything to the EU for nothing but promises the previous referendum proved they will not honour.
Personally I will no longer vote as I no longer have any confidence in the integrity of the voting system when foreign money men like Soros and wealthy women like Gina Miller can openly buy our judiciary and politicians in favour of remaining in the EU.
Until we get someone like Trump I will no longer bother as we like the US were before Trump were dominated by a political class regardless of label. One who despised workers as what they call chavs.
Remember Florida in the 2000 Presidential election. It can matter very much, as the thought of ManbearPig as president is a thing of nightmares.
I recall that as the first election where defeating the worse candidates replaced electing the better ones.
+100
That near miss ranks right up there with close call brushes with major asteroids, German super weapons timetable in WWII, and the Battle of Midway.
The universe will continue to expand but the locals are grateful for these localized outcomes in the arrow of time.
Tom Halla
Strangely, I suspect manbearpig as US president might not have been as bad as his influence has been since his failure.
He would have been muzzled as POTUS, his climate campaign probably wouldn’t exist and his movie never made.
He would probably have been satisfied with the fame and fortune, and had his time occupied following it by matters more important than climate change.
I read an interview with him (as painful as it was) where he said he wouldn’t give up his tobacco farming business until he found something else to profit from. That might have been a simple presidency.
Enter stage left, carbon credits.
I guess sometimes we do the right thing but still end up with a pig in a poke. [a ‘poke’ is a Scottish term for a sack or bag].
The Dems may re-take control of the House, and they are chomping at the bit to try to overturn what Trump has been doing, particularly vis-a-vis climate and energy policy. That alone is enough reason, besides doing one’s civic duty. Yep, we’ve already been.
If the Dem’s win the House, Russian Meddling would not be suspected this time around, for that I am sure. The Mueller investigation would be wrapped-up quickly, just in case something is found.
Well go and vote again!
Democrats do!
Leo,
During my years working in a support job of higher Ed, I was assigned to manage mechanicals for a satellite campus in East St. Louis, IL, which consisted of an 8 storey hotel (The Broadview) and was built by the mob during prohibition to house a speakeasy for the elite.
One day I was lunching with my control and instrument tech (at the local caucasian-safe pub) when an old man and three big guys came in. The old fellow introduced himself as Paul Sauget, mayor (and pretty much owner) of Sauget, IL. With him were the Fire Chief, Police Chief, and his driver (bodyguard).
He proceeded to tell us all about when he was a boy and Buster Workman ran the “323 club” which took up most of the third floor and how the hotel later became a nursing home in the ’50s where those who were unable to vote automatically cast a Democratic ballot, even after death many times.
The urban zones in Illinois are controlled by the Dem machine of the Madagins, while the vast rural regions are mostly moderate Republicans and fence-sitters.
Pop Piasa
It just boggles my mind as a Brit that they got away with this, and still seem to.
I have been watching the results of elections for decades so I don’t vote. The result of voting is that no matter who you vote for, everything governmental gets worse. Choosing the lesser of evils results in more evil.
I am told that since I don’t vote, I have no right to complain. Quite silly: imagine that I gave you a choice of being horse-whipped or water-boarded and announced that if you choose neither, you have no right to complain.
It is those of you who choose from among these gas-bag power-lusters who have no right to complain. No matter which you choose, I will be complaining enthusiastically about them and you.
Donald The Billionaire Blond keeps asking me for donations. I told him he’d get my money and my vote after he appoints Ron Paul as his chief advisor. Still waiting…
RE: “imagine that I gave you a choice of being horse-whipped or water-boarded and announced that if you choose neither, you have no right to complain.”
I would write in vote, “Steak dinner and red wine, please.” Then complain loudly if I got horse-whipped. Write-ins do work out sometimes. Ask Senator Lisa Murkowski.
I can get horse-whipped and can complain about it without bothering to write in the nice dinner. I’m saving the planet by not wasting energy. Perhaps I could wear a little button: “I saved energy by not voting!”
A better option is to find a candidate that you really do support and vote for that candidate.
If third parties start getting a substantial number of vote, the big two will notice.
Just what do you think Trump was?? Trump IS the Third Party.
Trump was/is definitely NOT a Republican. The Conservative vote gave up years ago voting for a GOP Politician that would actually do what they said they would do. I’ve been hearing about “Energy Independence “ for over two decades. Not until Trump has it actually happened. Add on top of that, he is the first politician to actually do many things he promised, … and you get your Third Party.
Dr. Deanster ==> You bring up a valid point. I am not generally politically involved, other than as a citizen, and think that 2-Party politics is THE PROBLEM here in the US.
Trump was not a Republican — they didn’t want him — I couldn’t figure out how he managed to get nominated in their name and for their party, and he doesn’t co-operate with them now that he is in office.
His election is one of the oddest mysteries of my lifetime.
Kip
Two party politics is the scourge of the western world, Conservative or socialist, almost no middle, or even extreme ground.
Except, I’m an extreme right winger in that I support the UK Libertarian Party. An entirely peaceful political organisation that promotes the role of a small government whose job is to defend our shores and ensure civic law, ensure low taxation, freedom of speech and freedom of trade.
I have no choice. Since Maggie Thatcher was kicked out there has been no one to defend those principles. Her Conservative party has progressively moved left until the left is confident enough to go full blown communist.
I mean, our left wing labour party is now being investigated for evidence of anti Semitism, fairly evident from their party conference where party issued Palestinian flags were being waved by conference attendees.
Doesn’t this remind anyone but me of anything?
It’s vital we all vote for freedom of trade, freedom of expression, freedom to work, freedom from government intervention; before we all slide down the hole of oppression, by whatever name.
Donald Trump is the man. He may be brash, he may be abrasive but he has the honesty and integrity to implement his pre election manifesto from day one. Not perfect, but a damn site better than any country leader I can recall in the past 60 years other than Churchill or Thatcher.
Yep, he’s that good.
Hot ==> I would be happier with no political parties — or many more parties, with coalition governments formed around agreement on issues.
Government is hard — complex — complicted and the dynamics of the one-person/one-vote systrem are CHAOTIC.
Kip
Coalition parties are another pig in a poke. We had one here recently the Liberals and the Conservatives. Dreadful just doesn’t begin to describe the distraction from genuine politics by internal infighting, scheming and betrayal.
Nothing is achieved because of the political compromise required to form a two party government.
It’s your worst nightmare.
“Nothing is achieved because of the political compromise required to form a two party government.”
Most of the time, the best thing government can do is… nothing.
The problem is that this isn’t that time. We need governments that will act to save their countries from destruction, but they’re utterly unable or unwilling to take the actions that are required.
Looks like the Democrats probably took the house, so the US now faces gridlock until 2020. Then they either get Trump plus a large Republican majority after the Democrats wreck everything he’s done, or they get civil war.
Choosing the lesser of evils results in more evil.
Don’t you contradict yourself?
Choosing not to vote for the lesser of two evils who can win results in an affirmative choice (via omission) for the greater of those evils does it not?
“If you choose not to decide, you still have made a choice.” – Neil Peart
Choosing the lesser of evils results in more evil than not choosing evil.
No John.
It necessarily follows that choosing the lesser of two evils, one of whom WILL WIN, results in less evil if that choice wins. Not choosing the lesser of those evils results in the choice by omission of the greater evil by default.
sycomputing
I don’t understand how anyone can think of Trump now as the lesser of two evils. Sure, pre POTUS election I would have agreed, but the guy has declared the Paris accord null and void, faced down N. Korea and Iran, improved employment and productivity in the US, opposed illegal immigration (a huge problem in the EU, hence Brexit) and is robust in ticking off the pre election manifesto he promised, a first as far as I can see.
So far, with considerable provocation the guy has not engaged in yet another war, has promoted the care of veterans (I have no idea how that’s going) and the worst he’s been accused of is saying he grabbed a tarts pussy………seriously? Kennedy a womaniser; Nixon a crook; Ford pardoned Nixon; Carter….well backbone, the lack of, might be the worst he could be accused of; the the Bush and Blair alliance and then the Clintons…….The Clintons! We can smell that pair from over the pond.
And I’ll make an observation of Hilary here, not for the usual reasons, but just that I find their relationship particularly perverse. He’s known, even to her as a serial sexual predator, the Lewinsky ‘cigar’ event was just the tip of the iceberg.
What upsets me about Hilary is that by her acceptance of his reprehensible behaviour. She not only condoned it, which is just so perverse it’s incredible, but that she profited from Bill by using his influence to run for POTUS.
I mean, seriously, Hilary and Bill remind me of the creepy sexual collusion of Fred and Rose West, indeed, I believe there have been accusations of politically motivated murders perpetrated by the Clinton’s, although I’m certain they are unfounded. It’s the chemistry between the respective couples that revolts me.
Trump may be a financial predator, he may be a sexual predator (but would he need to be with all his fame and fortune?) but he has a large devoted family, he doesn’t drink or smoke and he employs thousands of people.
As for his ‘crimes’?………let those without sin cast the first stone.
I don’t understand how anyone can think of Trump now as the lesser of two evils.
HS:
The American Libertarian pretty much finds all things government evil, except for Ron Paul. Think gnomish or Honest Liberty, with all due respect to both.
Unfortunately, as surely you’ll recall, the irrationality of common sense becomes for the rest of us the bane of their belief system.
The Libertarian Party usually helps elect Democrats, as just happened again in Montana, same as in 2012.
Choosing the lesser of evils results in more evil than not choosing evil.
If the choice is between Evil level 500 and Evil level 10, choosing the lesser of the two results in *less* evil than letting the more evil of the two into power. It only results in “more evil” when there is a “not-evil” option. So yes if you have the choice of Evil level 500, Evil level 10 and “not-evil” then choosing the lesser evil is more evil than choosing “not-evil”. However, in a two-party system, there almost always is no valid “not-evil” option to choose and thus by “not choosing” you are tacitly supporting the more evil option by not opposing it. It is not choosing that results in more evil than choosing the least evil option.
If the results of voting are that ‘everything gets worse’ and so you don’t vote — does that mean everything gets better, or less worse, or more worse, or any of the preceding happens faster? If any of that is true exactly how does not voting help? You get to complain either way!
I VOTED — have you?
Polling Location Hours by state: State Poll Opening and Closing Times (2018)
I voted in Florida for Ron DeSantis for governor (running against the leftist Marxist, open-borders, abolish ICE, Andrew Gillam) and our soon to be ex-governor, Rick Scott over the fossilized Bill Nelson for Senate, for Republican Chip LaMarca for state senate. No Republican filed to run against Alcee Hastings for the 20th Congressional district in which I live. I voted for myself as a write-in. Next year, I might just throw my hat in the ring and run a zero dollar campaign just to give the local Republicans someone to vote for instead of one of the most lock-step Democrats in Congress
I fervently hope the Marxist loses in the governors race. He is such a radical. Not only does he want open borders and to abolish ICE, he wants to give away the store with free college tuition for all free health care for everyone, every Puerto Rican still on the island moving to Florida, and illegal immigrants included in these and all other Federal benefits. More taxes on the “big corporations” and “the wealthy” of course will allegedly pay for it all, while being completely oblivious as to WHY we are currently enjoying Trump era economic growth. He wants to send us back to Obama-era economic malaise, including higher energy prices and carbon dioxide insanity. God but Democrats are predictable.
Oh my, sorry for your representative. To think someone can get impeached as a federal judge for taking bribes to fix cases and then get elected over and over in some district.
I just voted (Red) in the Blue state of NJ where offshore wind is suppose to save the planet. Without our 3 nuclear reactors, I would not be able to access the Internet.
Going today myself (I always do it on Election Day, as I do not trust that certain people aren’t tracking to see how many ballots they have to “find” for their side).
I would add, that even if you are NOT a US citizen, VOTE. Whenever you have your elections, wherever you are eligible to vote, do so. My attitude is that if you don’t vote, you are completely ineligible to whine afterwards.
Remember that you can at least vote for people that won’t follow whatever idiocy happens in the US. Remember that Brexit came about even while Obama was in office – and the “smart” prediction was that he would be followed by Hillary.
“I would add, that even if you are NOT a US citizen, VOTE. ” In your own country, please.
I and my naturalized-citizen wife will be voting later this morning, as we always do, at the polling place. And one of the sillier measures on todays ballot would give the California Legislature the authority to change daylight savings time.
Eliminating daylight savings time would be a good idea.
Or staying on it. In which case, it would simply become Standard Time. I don’t care which. The issue is the switching back and forth which is disruptive, and a huge butt-pain for everyone.
It’s a butt pain but reminds you to change the batteries in your smoke detector and wall clock. Gives you an excuse to be late to work at least one day per year! 😉
Wrong. Because I do not vote, I get to whine about what all of you voters are doing to the world with your lessor evil thingy.
Oh really? There is no one on the ballot you wish to vote against? That is usually more distinct a choice than who one wants to vote for.
JH,
So you prefer to be horse-whipped AND water-boarded. Enjoy your choice.
One party in the USA will support your freedom to resist that choice if you were to take it literally. On the other hand if you are in the UK or AUS you have given that freedom up many years ago and you will NEVER get it back. You are now and forever a subject of the state. You WILL do as the current state of the state says. You WILL succumb to mob rule. You got what you deserve and voted for OR didn’t vote for.
Anyway, at least you can still bitch because maybe you don’t like being horse-whipped and water-boarded. That too is changing in many ways and many places. Soon you may not even be able to whine about it. There are freedoms worth fighting for and those like you who will always ride in the wake of those actively supporting freedom and liberty.
NOT voting and saying why often IS actively supporting freedom. Voting for the lesser of two monsters isn’t.
I strongly recommend that you DO NOT vote. Maybe a better option would be to run for Congress. Be the ‘wild card’ and you just might get elected. Tell Washington and the whole country what you think. If I agree you will have my support. The USA needs more like Trump. Twisted panties and snowflakes open the doors for real leadership. Are you up for it or just a whiner? Display a set of balls today (your name is John, right).
I generally don’t vote;
1) The time I spend voting prevents me from doing other things that benefit me or the people I care about (eg my morning workout, my visiting the nursing home to help feed my father), and
2) The chance my vote will change the outcome of a race is miniscule, and frankly no election I’ve ever been elligible to vote in would have been altered by my participation/non-participation, and
3) Universally, there is nobody I want to vote for. Just horrible human beings that want to enslave their fellow humans, albeit to different degrees and in different areas of their lives.
So I take care of myself and my family and don’t waste time doing something that makes no difference.
Occasionally I get emotional. I voted in a gubernatorial race against one candidate who had, as district attorney, tried to keep an inmate jailed despite evidence that completely exonerated him, because the candidate wanted to look ‘tough on child abusers’. The end result was that another horrible human being (who would have won if I hadn’t gotten emotional) took office and has proceeded to do all sorts of horrible things.
Occasionally I show up and vote against citizen referenda that invariably try to increase the degree of oppression we live under. Sometimes I’m part of the winning mob. Usually, I’m not.
But, these are lapses where my emotions override my reason. Because logically speaking, when I waste time casting a vote, I am wasting time that could be spent on worthy and productive tasks.
tarran ==> You are the second person so far who has used this kind of utterly self-centered selfish nonsense to justify your failure to fulfill your responsibility as a citizen.
I hope you are grateful to the others citizens that are carrying your share of the load by informing themselves of the issues of the day, studying the candidates, voting and running for offices at all levels.
You mean the people participating in a process that puts monsters like Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump in a position to ruin our lives? Bluntly if that’s what we get from them ‘carrying their load’, perhaps it’s time for them to stop?
In my opinion, the selfish people are the ones casting ballots in hopes of putting someone in office that will plunder their fellow citizens and direct some of the lucre in their pockets.
But, if you want to declare me taking care of my ailing father a selfish act, you are welcome to it. All it will do is diminish my respect for your judgement. I will continue to take care of myself, my family, my friends, and the people I do business with. And that will make real improvements in not only their lives, but for society as a whole. Unlike the time I spend going into a voting booth and casting a ballot for some monster whom I hope will displace and even worse monster.
Agree 100%. Perhaps we could hand out buttons: I voted for the lesser of two monsters!
tarran ==> Every life has pressures, duties, burdens, and blessings. If you are a US Citizen, you have been born with a blessing and a responsibility of that citizenship.
If you wish to intentional fail to fulfill that responsibility, that is, of course, one of the rights of the people — the right to not take responsibility.
You have made it perfectly clear that you have no desire to be responsible, but seem willing to blame all other citizens for the elected officials and representatives that are currently serving. By failing your duty, you get the government you deserve — one you apparently don’t like — and it is YOUR FAULT.
I could post a huge wall text explaining why I don’t vote, but I think its easier to post this:
The first video explains my views and the problems of democracy very well but also what could be done to improve things:
http://jasonfbrennan.com/videos/brennan
I do say that it’s weird that it’s irresponsible if you don’t vote at all, because you either don’t care or don’t know, but somehow it’s responsible to vote for Obama because he just sounded so nice. So even if you vote for Donald Duck, you still did good?
And besides in two party US, if you don’t like either side, then too bad you are still stuck with them. It doesn’t really matter what you do with your vote in that case. You could vote well, or wipe your a** and it still wouldn’t make a difference.
IMO Your duty is not to vote, your duty is to vote WELL. If you don’t know or don’t care, then don’t vote. Governments job is not to increase your self-confidence and say “Good job kid.”
You need a driver’s licence in order to drive, but you can just vote immediatly when you become adult. Because people in the government only decide insignificant things like war and peace, economy and prosperity.
Or like Socrates put it: “So it’s wrong if anyone can decide who should steer this ship, but it’s ok for anyone to decide who should steer an entire country?” Or something like that.
There is no citizen responsibility to choose evil because it is less than some other evil.
Of course there is such a responsibility, John. The responsibility of Citizenship is encompassed within the responsibility of Morality. The responsibility to choose the lesser evil is a moral responsibility.
As a disciple of Rand, surely you know your duty to your neighbor is to avoid moral choices only when that avoidance does not affect your neighbor. Your choice to avoid choosing the lesser of the two evils who can win detrimentally affects your neighbor.
Kip, well said.
(Oh, and tarran, you could always just send in an absentee ballot.)
(Oh, and John Howard, face it. Unless your name on the ballot, you will never find a candidate that agrees with everything you want to happen.)
PS I voted.
Gunga ==> Thanks for Voting! Atta boy!
I strongly recommend that you DO NOT vote. Maybe a better option would be to run for Congress. Be the ‘wild card’ and you just might get elected. Tell Washington and the whole country what you think. If I agree you will have my support. The USA needs more like Trump. Twisted panties and snowflakes open the doors for real leadership. Are you up for it or just a whiner? Display a set of balls today (your name is John, right).
>>
I generally don’t vote;
<<
One of the reasons I went into the military was to defend the right of people to stupidly decide not to vote. While on active duty, I voted in every major election and a few minor ones. This whining about not having time to vote is just that–whining, and I don’t have any sympathy for you. Every citizen has a privilege and a responsibility to vote.
>>
The time I spend voting prevents me from doing other things . . . .
<<
Some of us were smart enough to discover absentee ballots. They don’t tend to interfere with things that are apparently more important than those annoying duties of a citizen.
I do appreciate you removing yourself from the ranks of voters who consider voting a privilege and not an ordeal.
Jim
Thank you from, me, my wife and my kids.
Thanks Gunga Din. I was only a Navy P-3 pilot. Many guys in the military are real heroes–I don’t compare to them–especially those that paid the ultimate price.
Jim
Jim ==> “prevents me from doing other things . . . .” Is that a good thing in your case? 🙂
>>
Is that a good thing in your case?
<<
I was quoting tarran. Washington State has mail-in ballots. We have lots of time to do others things, because I mailed my ballot in early.
Jim
tarran,
“But, these are lapses where my emotions override my reason. Because logically speaking, when I waste time casting a vote, I am wasting time that could be spent on worthy and productive tasks.”
———–
Why did you spend the time writing a somewhat long comment? Are you emotional today? Was your time well spent? Do you not have better things to do today? Are you a ‘victim’ of yourself? What is the oppression and the mob you’re a part of? Are you confused? I think so.
Do you think that advertising that it is a waste of time will influence me to not vote? Are you a Russian, Chinese, Islamic, registered Democrat, socialist? I have already cast my vote so no influence on me. Thank you for not voting as we need informed and logical reasoning in the process.
tarran
I also get emotional sometimes, in fact regularly, as clockwork, on the 11th day of the 11th month, Armistice day.
I wear my Poppy proudly ‘lest we forget’ everyone involved in the great war of 1914 – 1918, and every fallen hero in every war since.
People died to protect my right to cast my vote in a democratic election. I hope in a small way I can make the same difference they did.
Voted. In fact, got talking incognito to a socialist/commie/lib and found out how to vote multiple times!
Vote early ….. and vote often.
“…found out how to vote multiple times!” Do share.
Another — just kidding, tho there’s no doubt it occurs on the commie-lib side….
“The system won’t work if you don’t vote”.
Not only will the system not work if you don’t vote, but it won’t work if the losing side isn’t willing to accept the results!
Clyde ==> When more people vote the results seem somehow fairer to all….when the results are determined by 30% of eligible voters, the citizenry has cheated itself.
When results are determined by close to 100% of eligible voters, I suspect that government coercion is involved and the election is likely not fair. I think it’s perfectly fair for elections to be decided only by those who care enough to vote.
We have compulsory voting (actually compulsory attendance, you are not forced to vote) in Australia. We still get a bunch of maroons running the show.
Zig Zag ==> It is possible that there are only maroons in Oz – – – – I spent six months there in 2000 — and was quite impressed.
The system will work whether or not I vote because the system is to make sure that elections don’t change anything important.
Not true at all. Elections have consequences and those of the election 2 years ago has been significant economic growth, very low unemployment, increased respect from international partners and wildly misplaced angst among those who lost significant power in that consequential election.
If the House moves into Democratic hands, government will most likely grind to a halt. Interestingly, the Democrats who have gained the most traction are those who claim they will cooperate with Trump. This is either a bate and switch technique to get elected or the signal of an upcoming civil war among the Democrats as their current leadership has not signaled anything other than to continue the current course of oppose and obstruct.
JH,
And readers here will vote even though you continue to bitch and whine and tell us all that voting is not going to matter. You should take your crying to Huff-po of Salon and maybe you’ll find another soggy shoulder to cry on. You’ve made your point.
Ah, a victim. You have no control over your life. Victimhood excuses one for a life of failure.
I choose not to be a victim – and do something about my life and my community.
I make a difference. One of the ways is by voting.
Mr. Howard, Mr. Hansen is wrong in your case. You should not vote.
A good thing he does not vote – and a bad thing, too.
Those who study real history can tell you that in 1932 Germany, the Nazis received barely over a quarter of the eligible voters. They improved that in 1933, of course – they got all of a THIRD of the eligible voters. They came to power ONLY because they managed to become the largest (not majority) party in the Reichstag. This was with turnout numbers that the US has almost never achieved (80% in 1932 and 85% in 1933) – but they would have LOST if that “don’t care” 15% had only voted against them.
There wasn’t actually a good choice in that election, either. The regime that the Nazis defeated were helpless in opposing the rape of the Rhineland by the French (yes, that was a REAL issue that the Nazis capitalized on), and the only secure jobs seemed to be in the printing plants that churned out Reichsmarks by the trainload.
There is a saying – “soap box” (places like WUWT); “jury box” (where you can get rid of the REAL monsters, if you participate – by the way, try telling ANY judge that you are “too busy with important things” to serve); “ballot box” (which you refuse to use); and, as the last thing, “ammunition box.”
The last thing is where we are headed – when knuckleheads are “too busy” to bother with any of the other boxes.
What an insight!!!
I guess that must be the why the MSM , “The Left” and the rest of the Swamp love Trump so much!!!!
Thanks!
(I can never find that sarc thingy when I need it.)
In past I voted in both quasi-communist/socialist and democratic/capitalist systems.
For a healthy capitalist system to thrive the democratic bit should be abondoned and just have a ‘capitalist’ tax weighted vote, e.g.
for no income tax – 1 vote
for basic rate tax – 2 votes
for higher rate tax – 3 votes
It may be outrageous view of someone brought up and educated in a country on the other side of iron curtain, but if the aim of the capitalist system is to promote self reliance and advancement, the tax weighted voting system would be one more way to do that.
Nature is not particularly democratic creature and it is only humans who insist on it.
Good luck to all, hope you choice wins, whoever he/she is.
vukcevic ==> The original system in the United States used to be much closer to that….only landowners and substantial male citizens could vote in most places. Often there were requirements that one was able to read, assuming that this would mean the ability to understand the issues. Representation in Congress was intended to be based on electing persons well-known locally to be honest and knowledgeable.
There are far worst systems, as you well know.
Back then, most taxes were land based, so restricting the voting to landowners was effectively restricting the vote to those who paid taxes.
Finance bills still are supposed to originate in The House of Representatives.
Originally, the voters were the ones that paid the taxes. The thinking being that those who paid the taxes should be the ones who decided what those taxes were and how they were spent.
The Senate was composed of those who represented the State GOVERMENTS. (That’s why the Senate, and not the House, must ratify treaties. The States must abide by treaties.)
Now we have voters who don’t pay the bill$ voting for both the House and the Senate.
Often they vote for those who promise to give them someone else’s money.
No one should be deprived of a vote, but it seems to me it would be more fair that those who contribute more to the common purse should have more say who should look after it. Any public company voting shareholder is well familiar with acurately weighted voting ‘democracy’.
Remember the Irish saying “Vote early, vote often”.
Just voted at 1:00 in the new PA-18 Congressional District. No line at all, but poll workers say today has been busier than the 2016 Presidential election! Unfortunately, no Republican is on the ballot for House in PA-18. However, there is a Republican woman named Kim Mack who is running a write-in campaign for whom I voted. Pass the word if you know anyone in PA-18.
Yes, exercise your privilege. Bear in mind that 97% of those who are in prison would vote for a Democrat if they could.
Bring out your dead….from Chicago.
I couldn’t agree more; VOTE! With that stated, the United States of America was not founded as a democracy. The Founding Fathers abhored democracy and understood that democracy was nothing more than mob rule. Rather, America was founded as a Constitutional Republic where the law applied equally to all and govt was permitted limited authority. A bit more care in proclaiming democracy would be wise.
And Churchill was a monster beloved of militarists and promoted by governments as a saint.
Beloved by militarists? Promoted as a saint? Compared to his enemies, namely the Conservative Party establishment, the Labor Party in it’s socialist phase, and Adolph, among others, Churchill was definitely preferable.
Depends what you mean by preferable. Churchill was a strong supporter of Eugenics and supported the 1912 feeble minded persons act (Google that little often forgotten nugget), which thankfully, never passed in to law.
Patrick ==> While is it fashionable today to automatically denigrate “eugenics” — and such things as “the 1912 feeble minded persons act” — we have many of the positions from that movement still prevalent in society. Planned Parenthood still exists to prevent the world from being overrun by over-breeding poor people. The mentally-ill are prevented in institutions from procreating. Now that we understand which conditions are genetic, doctors advise some couples to adopt.
I have several friends who have genetic mental/emotional problems who know they should not procreate as they would pass their problems on to their innocent children.
Human genetics now allow people to make informed choices about such issues — which was not possible in the 1930s.
There is an unfortunate tendency with history to engage in “presentism”, of judging historical figures by standards that exist now, and did not in the era the historic figure lived. Even if one engages in that exercise, one should compare the person to their contemporaries, not people in the present.
Churchill lost the Empire, bankrupt the country, and gave half of Europe to Stalin.
It’s hard to see how anyone else could have been worse.
I am not so sure Tom as many people who refused to join the military would have fallen victim to the act and would have been forced in to the forces, or worse.
I can report some foreign interference in the election, from the BBC World Service, the naked views of the BBC, unconstrained by impartiality rules. They don’t bother to hide which side they are promoting.
If Americans don’t listen to NPR for guidance, they sure don’t know what the BBC is.
Done.
One of the things I hope gets overturned here in CA is the gas tax. Tired of dems making the middle class pay for things rich people want.
I’m not sure democracy is necessarily well-served by encourage everyone to vote even if they haven’t studied the issues involved. I’d like to encourage all those who support different causes and candidates than I do to stay home.
That kind of thinking has led me to advocate homosexuality for men only. This leaves more women for me.
Kip.
My wife and I have voted in every primary/general election over the past 25 years.
We’re not always happy campers after the polls close and the votes are totaled, but
we’ve never given up the ghost of participatory democracy.
The ballot in our part of Ohio was uninspiring, but the rhetoric over the past couple
of weeks (including the junk mail and robo-calls) was really entertaining.
Voting was actually painless…
R.S. Brown ==> Representative democratic government is complicated and hard to predict — but it is so far, short of a true Theocracy (rule by an all-knowing, all-caring benevolent God — not currently one of the ballot choices :-), the best type of government so far developed.
Thank you for voting.
There is a counter argument to “True Theocracy” – I cannot imagine how an “all knowing” God can possibly be “all caring and benevolent.”
This is one place where I think that Judaic theology is somewhat more rational than Christian. There are just some people that should be whacked upside the head by a Godly two-by-four.
Wife and I voted this mid morning.
Rainy, cold and windy in our decidedly “red” small rural mid-Michigan township. The poll worker ladies commented that turn-out has been greater than 2016.
Nothing would make me happier than to have a Senator John James instead of that “Sab-you-now” creature.
I always vote. When only a third of people vote, my vote counts for 3. 😛
Vote Today, but do not vote for the Insane Ones and the Krazycats.
I encourage all males who want to fight toxic masculinity to NOT vote, in order to amplify the effect of women voting.
This is not a game – the issue here is war. Vote Trump to prevent the very last war – just look how they sleepwalked into WW1.
Fittingly the WW1 armistice meeting on Nov.11 will include a meeting with Putin.
The Brits would love again a jolly little war with the Dems herding all to 100 million degrees warming, but only for a short time.
So vote against another world war, for good relations with Russia and China!
I as a UK born, now Austraalan,. I think that our system is about as good as democrancy can b be.
The proportaional reppresentation system does give one multiple choices in selecting a cantigate , and compulsary voting, i.e. getting your name crossed out, at least brings you to the voting station. You do not have to cast a vote, but most do.
Sometimes its a 49.5 versus a a 50.5 result. If you are on the losing side well you shudder then just put up with the result.
We do have the advantage of not having a President, instead we have a kind of referee in the form of the Queens so called representative, Ie the Governer General. It works so why change it.
I as a UK born, now Austraalan,. I think that our system is about as good as democrancy can b be.
The proportaional reppresentation system does give one multiple choices in selecting a cantigate , and compulsary voting, i.e. getting your name crossed out, at least brings you to the voting station. You do not have to cast a vote, but most do.
Sometimes its a 49.5 versus a a 50.5 result. If you are on the losing side well you shudder then just put up with the result.
We do have the advantage of not having a President, instead we have a kind of referee in the form of the Queens so called representative, Ie the Governer General. It works so why change it.
MJE
Doesn’t look good for Trump from reports here in Aus.
https://www.smh.com.au/world/north-america/us-midterm-election-unprecedented-turnout-marks-start-of-voting-20181107-p50ef1.html
At 22, Porter Nelson considers himself an independent and says he is a regular voter, but a ballot measure in Washington state creating a carbon tax motivated him even more this year.
“It seems kind of like the world’s ending and if we don’t do something pretty quick, you know, I would like to have kids that have a planet. I would like to have a planet. So anything on any ballot anywhere that I see as being for the environment … I’m all for that.”
Nelson thinks Congress, too, needs to take climate change more seriously. “I would love to see our political body finally get it through their heads that the gerrymandering, the politicking, the races, the runoffs don’t matter if in 20 years the whole West Coast is on fire.”
*sigh*
It has NEVER looked good for Trump (or for any sane person) on the coast of Washington State (or much of anywhere south of there, either).
Looking at only the “fly to” States as an indicator for the mood of the United States is about as useful as, say, looking to Michael Mann as an indicator for the state of science.
Trump always receives bad press here is Aus and most Aussies just lap it up as fact. Trump doesn’t care as he knows bad press is just as good and good press in popularity contests.
The good news as far as I can see it, Trump will retain power in the Senate, so what the Democrats do in the House is largely wasted air IMO.
Of the two house, the Senate is the more important for the simple reason of getting judges appointed, especially the Supreme Court. If another vacancy in the Supreme court should occur in the next two years, be thankful that the Republicans still control the Senate.
That said, the Dems in the house will do all they can to make life difficult for the White house with investigation after investigation, subpoenas up the wazoo, and attempts at impeachment (depending on how many moderate Dems with integrity remain in that chamber will determine if they manage to pass any of their laughable articles of impeachment, which will then fail in the Republican controlled senate).
They’ll also pass bill after bill filled with their agenda that will die in the Senate or (if by some miracle they pass the senate) by vetoed by the President. as well as block any attempt at legislation that Trump wants. Meaning Trump will have to go entirely with the Obama playbook of executive orders to get anything done (and which can easily be undone by the next Democrat president)
Speaking of which. RBG is back in the hospital having fallen and fractured 3 ribs (this is the second time she’s fractured some ribs from a fall). If her health issues end up forcing her out in the near future, be very, very glad the Republican control of the Senate has been strengthen this election.
Drain the swamp.
ABC here in OZ is having a field day pointing out all the Democrat gains ,seems to be a few Aussies on here that like me would vote Republican if we could .
Colbert said the Dems got half of one of the three branches of government.
If Russia and China had their way with these US mid-term elections, this is probably the best they could have hoped for, short of the Dems also taking the Senate. The US government has been effectively hamstrung.
The House does not have to accomplish anything for the next two years, other than continually demonizing the President, and conservatives in general. The goal is to have the House and the Senate in the 2020 elections, with a socialist President moving into the White House. History will likely acknowledge 2020 as the year Western Civilization ended.
Perhaps Don McLean will right another song.
Maybe even “write” one 🙂
I find it puzzling how people say that it’s a “responsibility” to vote, even if you don’t know anything about the issues and just voted for a candidate who promised most free stuff. And of course these are the same people complaing about the “idiots, who voted for evil democrats/republicans”. Depending on which side you are on.
Vote well, or don’t vote at all. That’s what I always say. If you don’t know, then do the rest of us a service and don’t vote. If you are going to vote, then atleast put even a tiny effort into it, because writing a name on a paper is just too easy. And whole point of the thing is not to make yourself feel good. Government is not there to increase your self-confidence.
IMO one of the problems is that we are not treating democracy as just a tool for better future. We treating it as the better future, like democracy should be the end goal, instead of a way to the end goal. I think this is dangerous and could easily lead to stagnation. Because maybe Churchill was wrong and we haven’t tried all forms of government. Some people are suggesting that democracy could be improved by making right to vote something that you need to earn first, instead of it being just freely given. Like it could be treated just like any other job. Afterall I can’t just become a police or doctor. I have to earn it first. There also many other suggestions. Maybe these could work, maybe not. We don’t know until we try. But that won’t happen if we keep treating democracy as a religion.