Presidential Election

[DaveH]

I disagree with the sentiment on everyone getting out to vote. If people don't spend the time to learn the issues and the candidates positions then I'd rather they just stay home. Otherwise they will just be voting based on which candidate looks better, soundbites, etc.

I agree that the electoral college needs to go. There was a time when it was needed/useful, but that time is gone.

[Guest]

DaveH wrote:
I disagree with the sentiment on everyone getting out to vote. If people don't spend the time to learn the issues and the candidates positions then I'd rather they just stay home. Otherwise they will just be voting based on which candidate looks better, soundbites, etc.

I agree that the electoral college needs to go. There was a time when it was needed/useful, but that time is gone.

and yet on a recent survey, over 35% of the general public polled didn't even know each canidates policy on even 2/10 topics ranging from health care, social security, economy, war, etc. People are not educated, people are not well in form of the views, and therefore the general public should not be able to decide as a mass. This is not a democracy, this is a republic. The whole foundation was not for people to decide on a general popular vote or a mass decision, but to merely have representation. Which even in electoral form, they have that. Combined with the House/Senate rules of engagement, the represenation implementation is successfull.

BTW: Did you guys check out the new voting system in florida?

http://media.ebaumsworld.com/index.php?e=floridavoting.wmv

The electoral system won't go away, trust me on this. Too much time and money invested in it, if we take that away many other forms of consitutional rights may be under fire.

[DaveH]

Yes, we are a republic which means the popular vote elects representatives, and the representatives decide how to vote for actual legislature, bills, etc (since the people can't be on top of all the legislation, rules, decisions). But I believe popular vote should elect ALL officials (congressmen, governors, representatives, and President).

[pin]

I plan to vote for Michael Badnarik of the Libertarian party. I don't even know if he will be on the ND ballots, but I don't like how our country will likely be run under either Bush or Kerry. The Libertarian party is about personal freedoms, and we could certainly use someone in power who can give those back to us.

[Guest]

Maybe I should have been more clear, people should educate themselves (even spending an hour a week for 4 weeks leading up to the elections, studying both sides would be a good start) and then vote. Unfortunately, many people make elections into a one topic deal, meaning, for example, the only reason they vote for Bush is because he is pro-life or the only reason they vote for Kerry is because Bush can't complete an intelligent sentence.

[STiSchucky]

Well said, who saw Dick Cheney today..I saw his barricade of cars down the interestate going into Moorhead..like 4 motorcycle cops, a few black suvs, and like 4 white minivans followed by like 5 cops, and a copter in the air...Pretty cool site to see.

[Guest]

I saw the police/security, we were working on campus today. Got asked twice by SS what the hell I had in my hand (an extendable stick that we use for testing fire alarms w/ a heat generator on the end....was pretty sure I would have been shot if I would have been a smartass....)

[STiSchucky]

lol awesome. thatd be a sweet ass job. did they have snipers on the roofs of the buildings? i just saw the rolling barricade.

[Guest]

Don't know about the snipers, probably though, if not on the buildings in the chopper. As for the sweet ass job, which were you referring to? The Secret Service or working where I do? We are hiring.....

[Guest]

My job is tough though...carry a stick, set off smoke detectors, evacuate buildings (oops), and drive to next site. And get paid pretty well IMHO.

[STiSchucky]

i was just talking SS in general, travel around with a gun. KID WHAT YOU DOIN HERE..goin to class..GO ANOTHER WAY OR ILL SHOOT YOU. haha thatd be cool

damn, thatd be a sweet job. what do u do check smoke detecors and if their bad, jsut fix em?

[Guest]

yeah, thats my job in a nutshell....inspect, certify, identify (problems/wiring issues), fix/replace, repeat