Posted on 04/16/2012 11:42:06 AM PDT by Some Lib on the Wrong Forums
Hello freepers, I'm a registered Democrat, but I'd really rather not be. I would much rather sign myself onto some progressive party as I feel they would better represent me, my views and my country. However, if I were to do so in the current political environment I would be throwing my vote away and by not voting for the Democrat I'm helping the Republican candidate inch closer to a plurality. Similarly, I'm sure plenty of you guys would much rather have a strong Libertarian Party or some sort of Evangelical Party instead of being lumped in with the rest of the Republican Party. How do we remedy this problem? Well, that's the tricky part. In close elections if either of us put up an Independent candidate who supported reform, but otherwise held the same views as the candidate we'd normally vote for then we'd end up splitting the vote and guaranteeing that the guy we don't like wins the seat.
That leaves elections that are never close. The ones in the rural Midwest and South that will invariably go to the GOP and the ones in New England and the Northwest that will invariably go to the Dems. These are the incumbents that never have to worry about losing their seat in the general, they just have to win their primary. I honestly believe that by putting up an Independent in these races we can win enough seats to achieve reform. I don't want reform to favor one ideology or another, I don't want it to lessen the voices of conservatives or liberals and I certainly don't want to open up any possibilities of fraud. I just want the Senate and House of Representatives to actually REPRESENT the views Americans have. After that's done we can go back to disagreeing with eachother at every turn, but I believe in my heart that this is far too important of an issue to go unresolved just because I'm a liberal and you guys are conservatives.
Up to this point I haven't actually laid out any solutions, so I'll just list what I'd like to see in any reform.
-End Gerrymandering
-Replace First Past the Post with some sort of preferential system
That's it. That's the only groundwork I'd like in there. Those two simple steps are where I think we'll find common ground
iBTZ.
A 4 party system probably should be incubated at the state level. A state could reserve a portion of state seats for the top 4 vote getting parties, say each getting 10 seats for a total of 40, which would naturally attract 4 main parties. The portion could be expanded over time leading to a split up of the current Coke vs. Pepsi duopoly we have now. Most democracies have more than 2 viable parties, because having just 2 stinks. Political interests aren't that simple.
1st - Take all of the money away from Liberals and Conservatives.
....ok, now that we’ve established the imposibility of the task....
After the Romney haters have succeeded in helping Obama on his path to destroy America, some future generation would have to find the motivation and the means to reconstitute such a great nation.
No conservative wants an Evangelical party. That is entirely unconstitutional. IBTZ!
WELCOME TO FREE REPUBLIC!
Thank you for joining, AND for posting a thread right away.
Words of advice here at FR: Follow Jim Robinson’s rules, develop a thick skin quickly, (some of us are still trying to pass Manners 101), and enjoy FR!
Now down to business, you say/write/type “I just want the Senate and House of Representatives to actually REPRESENT the views Americans have.” which is EXACTLY what we here at FR having been trying to do since the inception of FR!
Congress is still a work in progress, I think - - - .
So, kick back, take a deep breath and prepare yourself for this one: WE ARE ALL AMERICANS.
Yep, shocking, but true. Dictator Baby-Doc Barack, ( I have many other names for him, but I thought that I would start with a tribute to a former Dictator of Haiti first), has spent a lot of his energy trying to divide and conquer us.
The Liberal Agenda Media, LAM for short, calls it “class warfare,” but since America does not have Classes of people like Merry Ol’ England does, the LAM spins itself into High Poo-Bah Obama’s well-painted Pinko corner.
Okay! You have joined us, by your own admission have at least one goal in common with us, and hopefully we, as Americans, can work on problems together that we agree that we have in common.
You mentioned “Gerrymandering,” which I agree is a problem that ANYBODY who is not a politician could easily solve.
The second part of your plan/solution “- - - -Replace First Past the Post with some sort of preferential system - - - “ is not at all specific enough to be, (in the infamous words of a former foreign student at Harvard, and now Illegal White House Occupier, Barack “You Lie” Obama), TRANSPARENT.
Please clarify, si vous plait.
BTW, reply often on our various threads, as you are about to have the most fun that is legally allowed in politics!
So you admit that you are a leftist, constitution busting treasonous azz, and then offer us a solution to our problem of the Republican party melding with the Democrat Party to work against the constitution. You suggest that we join your “progressive” (Marxist) pals in an independent party as a solution to our problem of the GOP joining the Marxists of the Democrat party?
You are “sure” we want a libertarian or evangelical party?
The libertarians already have an independent party and I am sure they will join you in your “progressive” efforts. You will find many of them at Occupy Wall Street. They have no clue when they are pushing forward your “progressive” agenda of socialism. Just wag gay marriage and State mandated atheism in front of them and they will putting in your slimey hands.
You are the party of slavery. Then and now.
The problem is that there are two types of people: Those that want to take from others, and those that don't want to be robbed, even under the color of law. Until we resolve that stealing from one person and giving it to another just because they need it is immoral and/or illegal, then the two sides will remain in opposition. There is no compromise on this position.
Also, you want this to happen so that your progressive wing would have a better chance to run the country. Thank you, but no, we have already had enough.
Bye!
You still kickin’ son! Say sumpin’ I say, say sumpin boy! What’s it all about boy, elucidate! That’s a joke, I say that’s a joke son. If you gonna play mum, I say go away boy, you bother me you creepin’ me out. I made a funny son and you’re not laughin.‘ Yer, I say, yer about as sharp as a bowling ball son. I keep pitchin’ ‘em and you keep missin’ ‘em. Yer as timid as a canary at a cat show. Nice mannered kid, just a little on the dumb side, about as sharp as a pound of wet liver, I say, as a sack of wet mice. I say, boy, pay attention when I’m talkin’ to ya, boy. Pay attention, boy, I’m cuttin’ but you ain’t bleedin’! Are you so dumb you think a Mexican border pays rent? Hmmm, bare, I say bare as a cooch dancers midriff. If you wants to sing the blues you gots to pay yer dues!
Ah gives, ah say, dang—ah gives up. We can’t bury you boy if you ain’t dead. But you just lyin’ there. Speak up, ah say, jus’ say sumpin’ you don’ have to scintillate us, can’t leave us hangin’ like this .....
Foghorn goes on for another several minutes pleading)
The US constitution limits what restrictions a state may place on its restrictions to qualify to vote. Thus, individual states could permit non citizens to vote.
I agree!
I agree!
I have a simpler solution:
1. Repeal the 17th amendment and let the States choose the senators the way they used to - that way the 30 or so red states will always outnumber the 20 or so blue states.
2. Never vote for an incumbent.
“However, if I were to do so in the current political environment I would be throwing my vote away and by not voting for the Democrat I’m helping the Republican candidate inch closer to a plurality”
The difference between cancelling out one Republican vote and “throwing away” your vote on somone who has no chance to win is only one vote. Since no important election I’m aware of has ever been decided by a single vote, who cares? Go ahead and throw your vote away. Everything you’ve heard your whole life about how it’s your duty to vote and every vote counting is propaganda intended to influence masses of votes. You, as an individual, are neither here nor there. You don’t matter any more than, as I’ve said, to cancel out one other person.
IB4TZ. Made it!
You are sofa king we todd did.
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