Political Commentary of the Day

[JHResident]

Of the 20 most crime ridden cities in the USA all are governed by liberal democrats.

All are also governed by President Donald Trump.

[Beherenow]

I am devoting some time and energy to get-out-the-vote drives in swing states and making modest contributions to Biden and some Democratic Senators. The local races here are a very low priority for me and I frankly don't even know whether there is any important reason to vote, other than some abstract civic duty and my interest in adding to the popular vote majority for Biden.  I assume AOC is going to win. Are any of the local races contested or of vital importance? Are there ballot initiatives that are consequential? I can't find anything on line that gives people in JH a really good reason to vote, whereas if we lived in Georgia or South Carolina or Ohio, it would be obvious.

[dssjh]

not unless you live in NYC's Mississippi  backwater -- known as Staten Island.

[itsit]

  Is there a reason to vote? Yes, your voice matters to others here and sends a message that voting is worthwhile as a civic duty just in the numbers.We need to change how the votes are counted, the electoral college and a bunch of other aspects of the process. But if we recede in the idea of one person, one vote makes for a democratic society, that's worrisome.
  Am in favor of the Australian way which is a fairly substantial fine for non-voters. Aussies vote and are mightily involved which should happen without fines but hey, if you have to go that route, I'm all in.

[Beherenow]

  Is there a reason to vote? Yes, your voice matters to others here and sends a message that voting is worthwhile as a civic duty just in the numbers...But if we recede in the idea of one person, one vote makes for a democratic society, that's worrisome.
 

I plan to vote for those reasons, which I summed up as an "abstract" civic duty. But I am afraid they are not sufficiently compelling for many voters.  When it comes to local issues, is there nothing at all at stake?

[abcdefghijk]

  Is there a reason to vote? Yes, your voice matters to others here and sends a message that voting is worthwhile as a civic duty just in the numbers.We need to change how the votes are counted, the electoral college and a bunch of other aspects of the process. But if we recede in the idea of one person, one vote makes for a democratic society, that's worrisome.
  Am in favor of the Australian way which is a fairly substantial fine for non-voters. Aussies vote and are mightily involved which should happen without fines but hey, if you have to go that route, I'm all in.

I read that every Aussie is enrolled to vote automatically.  No purging of voters exists.

[petegart]

The US has 4% of the worlds population, and 21% of all Covid deaths.  The national response has been absent, and focusing on ways to denigrate and sublimate medical and epidemiology specialists has not helped. 

[dssjh]

I read that every Aussie is enrolled to vote automatically.  No purging of voters exists.

required to vote, actually. it's a small fine for not voting. $20 for first offense, $50 for subsequent offenses, but it's enough to keep most folks honest.

[Chingwa]

We need to change how the votes are counted, the electoral college and a bunch of other aspects of the process.

If you don't have the electoral college than whatever NY and CA want will go for everyone always.  It isn't an antiquated system, it's there for an important reason, to keep the 2 wolves from eating the sheep for dinner.  As far as other things that might be changed, such as Gerrymandering (or GASP ditching SuperDelegates!), well I agree with criticism of those for sure.

[dssjh]

We need to change how the votes are counted, the electoral college and a bunch of other aspects of the process.

If you don't have the electoral college than whatever NY and CA want will go for everyone always.  It isn't an antiquated system, it's there for an important reason, to keep the 2 wolves from eating the sheep for dinner.  As far as other things that might be changed, such as Gerrymandering (or GASP ditching SuperDelegates!), well I agree with criticism of those for sure.

.

you're living in the distant past. Texas has the second most electoral votes, with 38. Florida has the third most. both are red states. NY is losing one thanks to lost population and census shenanigans. the electoral college is no longer needed to ensure that my friend Angie in Montana's vote counts for seven times more than yours.

[abcdefghijk]

The problem, of course, is that the electoral college did vote in Obama in 2008 and 2012.

It is, unfortunately, a tad disingenuous to complain about the electoral college when it elects a Republican candidate but accept the process when a Democrat candidate is elected.

This is our democracy. Whichever side wins.

[lalochezia]

The problem, of course, is that the electoral college did vote in Obama in 2008 and 2012.

It is, unfortunately, a tad disingenuous to complain about the electoral college when it elects a Republican candidate but accept the electoral college when a Democrat candidate is elected.

Obama won the popular vote and the electoral college, in both 2008 and 2012, so nice try, bub.

This is our democracy. Whichever side wins.

"Nothing can ever change!" You.

Compared with a Californian a citizen in Wyoming gets over 3 times as much power voting for the President, over 1.5 times as much power voting for Congress, and over 30 times as much power voting for the Senate!

Why do you think our "democratic" laws should enshrine that some citizens votes are worth less than others? Why do you think a californian is worth 1/3 or 1/30th of a wyomingite by virtue of where they live?

Do you ever look at your premises or the real world and ask yourself, "is it so?" or  "should it be?"?

Because if you did I think you'd find that your ideas are completely inane.

[abcdefghijk]

The problem, of course, is that the electoral college did vote in Obama in 2008 and 2012.

It is, unfortunately, a tad disingenuous to complain about the electoral college when it elects a Republican candidate but accept the electoral college when a Democrat candidate is elected.

Obama won the popular vote and the electoral college, in both 2008 and 2012, so nice try, bub.

This is our democracy. Whichever side wins.

"Nothing can ever change!" You.

Compared with a Californian a citizen in Wyoming gets over 3 times as much power voting for the President, over 1.5 times as much power voting for Congress, and over 30 times as much power voting for the Senate!

Why do you think our "democratic" laws should enshrine that some citizens votes are worth less than others? Why do you think a californian is worth 1/3 or 1/30th of a wyomingite by virtue of where they live?

Do you ever look at your premises or the real world and ask yourself, "is it so?" or  "should it be?"?

Because if you did I think you'd find that your ideas are completely inane.

Yet again your ad hominem insults will be ignored. But please, in the future, control personal insults.

[lalochezia]

Ad hominem directed against a person rather than the position they are maintaining.

I am rebutting your inane ideas and positions. .

[lalochezia]

Ad hominem ="directed against a person rather than the position they are maintaining."

I am rebutting your inane ideas and positions. .