But if the RW is offense to the majority...

Post #195,913

by mmoffitt

2/22/05 9:47:50 AM

how is it that so few people vote? Silence is (at least) tacit acceptance.

bcnu,
Mikem

Eine Leute. Eine Welt. Ein F\ufffdhrer.
God Bless America.

Post #195,920

by JayMehaffey

2/22/05 10:40:34 AM

Two main reasons

But if the RW is offense to the majority...
how is it that so few people vote? Silence is (at least) tacit acceptance.

I see two main reasons. The first is the belief that it won't make any difference. That the politicians will cave in to vocal special interests, be they left, right or corporate. This is somewhat true, but at the same time, the fewer that vote the easier it is for small special interest to manipulate the system.

The second is the mistaken belief that the RW posistions are normal, average or acceptable. The Right Wing has become very good at backing slogans and broad posistions without getting into the details of what they actually want to do.

This is why you get people voting for pro-life candidates even though they don't want to make all abortions illegal. The pro-life candidates talk about creating an environment of life, or being tolerant of religious beliefs. People don't understand that some pro-life candidates consider making all abortions illegal is just the first step in a program that intends to make divorce illegal, ban birth control, remove all sex education and so on.

Jay

Post #195,926

by mmoffitt

2/22/05 11:25:16 AM

2/22/05 11:27:26 AM

I used to think it was "a mistaken belief".

But I don't anymore. I believe Jimmy Carter was right, that the last Presidential election was about the soul of the nation. Further, every poll I've ever seen leads me to the conclusion that RW philosophy *is* the prevalent American philosophy. Certainly my own experience with the populace supports this view.

I've been looking around for a very long time for some, hell any, evidence that this conclusion I've only recently come to, that RW philosophy accurately represents what the majority is thinking, is not correct. But I'm on empty. If the majority of people, for whatever reason, don't care to the point that they won't even vote *against* Dubya, then I don't think there is any hope that "secretly, the silent majority really isn't the mean-spirited, ego-maniacal, uncaring bunch their elected representatives would lead you to believe they are."

[Edits: God, don't write and talk about two separate things simultaneously]

bcnu,
Mikem

Eine Leute. Eine Welt. Ein F\ufffdhrer.
God Bless America.

Edited by mmoffitt Feb. 22, 2005, 11:26:12 AM EST

Edited by mmoffitt Feb. 22, 2005, 11:27:26 AM EST

Expand All History

Post #195,935

by imric

2/22/05 11:47:55 AM

Forcrissakes.

The neocons won by 1%. After voting shennanigans. Without a positive candidate (most votes that Kerry got WERE 'against Bush').

What next? Are you going to start agreeing with the Neocons that this election was a 'mandate'?

[link|http://forfree.sytes.net|

]

Imric's Tips for Living

Paranoia Is a Survival Trait
Pessimists are never disappointed - but sometimes, if they are very lucky, they can be pleasantly surprised...
Even though everyone is out to get you, it doesn't matter unless you let them win.

Nothing is as simple as it seems in the beginning,
As hopeless as it seems in the middle,
Or as finished as it seems in the end.

Post #195,936

by inthane-chan

2/22/05 11:49:12 AM

Or that the election was about 'values'?

Post #195,938

by imric

2/22/05 11:53:59 AM

Hey - having the US government in your pocket

is very valuable.

Oh.

You didn't mean corporate values?

[link|http://forfree.sytes.net|

]

Imric's Tips for Living

Paranoia Is a Survival Trait
Pessimists are never disappointed - but sometimes, if they are very lucky, they can be pleasantly surprised...
Even though everyone is out to get you, it doesn't matter unless you let them win.

Nothing is as simple as it seems in the beginning,
As hopeless as it seems in the middle,
Or as finished as it seems in the end.

Post #195,951

by Simon_Jester

2/22/05 12:52:14 PM

I have to agree with imric...

beware reading too much into stuff.

Some people voted for Bush because he's a wartime President and changing horses mid-stream etc.

But I think we lost the election because Kerry is the Democratic Bob Dole. (War Veteran, no charisma, etc.) He's an upstanding guy and all, but he's NOT Presidental Leadership material.

That said, I agree with the Republicans on this one. I think there's some fundamental flaws in the Democratic Party Leadership. (Personally, I think Dean is the first step to fixing some of those flaws.)

Post #195,964

by mmoffitt

2/22/05 2:00:08 PM

Right. 1% of those who voted.

+ 45+% of those who "didn't care enough to vote".

bcnu,
Mikem

Eine Leute. Eine Welt. Ein F\ufffdhrer.
God Bless America.

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