voting
Postmortems of voting woes, disenfranchisement, and how countries around the world elect government officials.
We Are Living In Scary Times!!
Well, here we are. Well into the new millennium. Y2K didn't destroy us all and the second coming has been canceled due to invalidity. But if there is a good and evil it does not seem to discriminate on Party lines. But our incomprehensible Commander and Chief is so ridiculous, is such an awful person and compulsive liar. How is it that the most important job in our country is held by such a man AND we don't get to hold him accountable. All the PROVEN lies and the hate attacks to so many people. There should be a code of ethics and morality and decency that comes with that position. Donald J. Trump is making a mockery of this High Office and has no sympathy for his own people. The other countries are laughing at us because this buffoon was SELECTED into office (not elected). Americans spent a billion dollar on campaign contributions to two Clowns making a fool of themselves in front of the world. We are a laughing stock of the world for the RIDICULOUS display of politics that we have put on. I as an intelligent American am appalled by it and am ashamed for our country and the real heart of America, its people. The worst thing about it for me is that after all they money and the big disgusting circus we had to endure our vote didn't even count! Clinton won by over 3 million votes? What's the point of having an election if the "Electoral College" gets to choose who the President is??? I will bet there are some Americans who don't even know what the Electoral College is. Well here it is in a nutshell...
By Donald Morris9 years ago in The Swamp
On Why Democrats are the Greater Problem for Progressives
The virtually identical governance structures within our duopoly, i.e., the Democratic and Republican parties, pose virtually identical civic dangers. The results of their policies are virtually indistinguishable notwithstanding their differing rhetoric and propaganda which fools the gullible into thinking otherwise. That is especially true given the collusion of the mainstream “disinformation” media. Their main difference is that one is hypocritical and cynical while the other is just blatantly wrong; very, very wrong, at least from a progressive perspective. It brings to mind the defense of a politician accused of wrong doing arguing that she was not corrupt, merely inept; in either case, of course, that’s hardly a solace to the people affected (see, e.g., the campaigns and administrations of Bill and Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush, Barrack Obama and most recently, Donald J. Trump).wrong doing arguing that she was not corrupt, merely inept; in either case, of course, that’s hardly a solace to the people affected (see, e.g., the campaigns and administrations of Bill and Hillary Clinton, George W. Bush, Barrack Obama and most recently, Donald J. Trump).
By Guillermo Calvo9 years ago in The Swamp
Why Can Democrats Take Heart After Losing Four Special Congressional Elections in a Row?
Much has been made of the Democratic loss in the special House election held for Georgia's 6th District near Atlanta. It has been the most expensive campaign for a U.S. House seat in, like, forever; upwards of $50 million US. The reason so much was spent (most from sources outside of GA) is that Jon Ossoff, the Democratic candidate, was not supposed to have a chance of winning this district; no Democrat has for the last 40 years. Further, this district has produced two of the most conservative legislators that Congress has seen, former House Speaker Newt Gingrich and Rep. Tom Price (now charged with dismantling the Affordable Care Act a.k.a Obamacare) as Secretary of Health and Human Services in the Trump administration. Yet win it he almost did in the guerrilla primary in a field of 16+ candidates with 48.1% of the vote. (If he had received 50.001%, he would have won in the 1st round.) The closest runner-up, Karen Handel, a conservative out of the Price mold, received just 19.8%.
By Scott Belford9 years ago in The Swamp
What Would George Washington Think?
I had a dream. There I was on the set of my my own talk show, and in the guest chair was the original president. George Washington hit his peak when you could send a first-class letter using a three-cent stamp with his face on it. The polls show that Washington hasn't stood the test of time. Gone from the charts and from our hearts, in his time he was number one at everything. Real groundbreaking stuff. Washington, whose sales are slumping, is still one of only four Americans to make it onto the side of Mount Rushmore.
By Frank White9 years ago in The Swamp
The End of the US Constitution
Reading that title what first comes to mind? Do you think I am anti-American? Do you immediately assume I am a rebelling millennial? Do you assume I don't know any better? Or perhaps you are intrigued? You have come across something you have thought about, but never dreamed of speaking aloud?
By Brian Paredes9 years ago in The Swamp
Theresa May Cancels Queen's Speech
Following a tumultuous few months in British Politics, including Theresa May's deceitful reasoning for a snap election, her shambolic election campaign and the frankly concerning deal/no-deal dance with the DUP, May has announced that she is moving to cancel the 2018 Queen's Speech and in turn, removing the opportunity for the opposition to contest her leadership after a year in power.
By Jordan Catto9 years ago in The Swamp
Election Night 2017: Corbyn and the Robin of Hope
National voting has become a yearly endeavour in the United Kingdom. The election day rain filled the puddles that the democratic minded sploshed through on their way to the polling booths. The local church is being used to cast the votes for my part of Cardiff North. As you approach the building you can see the University Hospital of Wales just across the Motorway. I hope for every person who loves the NHS to be casting their ballot today, but I have as many doubts about this democratic process yielding a good outcome for the people. My polling station had an old gentleman greeting people in the doorway, making small talk with those locking up their bikes, which will soon help whisk them to a day of work. As always they can’t find my address straight away. The kind lady checks for me on the polling list repeating the name Vedmore verbally until her pen stops next to my details. As always I receive my ballot and I take it to the partitioned booth to stare at it intently. I know my choice like most folks, but I always take my time to read the ballot. I triple check where my pencil mark should go just incase I fuck it all up and vote for the Liberal Democrats. A mistake I had made two general election ago which led to the dreaded LibCon coalition less than a decade before.
By Johnny Vedmore9 years ago in The Swamp
Why Evangelicals Have No Relevant Message
On June 26, 2015, the Supreme Court of the United States ruled in favor of same-sex marriage in the landmark case: Obergefell v. Hodges. Same-sex couples and their supporters across the country celebrated what they considered to be a humane and just progression of domestic policy. However, a significant number of Americans protested the verdict and viewed it as an attack on accepted morality and even a suppression of religious liberty. Enter Kim Davis.
By Jesse Booker9 years ago in The Swamp
Strong And Stable, But At What Cost?
“Strong and stable” has been repeated over and over during the last two months, since UK Prime Minister Theresa May called a General Election on 18th April. But what does that mean? We have been asking the same question of “Brexit means Brexit” and we still don’t have an answer. But we can shed some light on the former by analysing her behaviour since the Brexit vote.
By Katy Preen9 years ago in The Swamp
Sup Pop?
When I came into this world, it was as an American, for which I am grateful. I was not associated with any particular political party. My knowledge of politics filtered into my life like most things I learned. I remember my father getting spiffy, every once in a while, and heading out early in the morning, to return later in the evening. Now I knew that on these occasions he was up to something different because my dad rarely got spiffy. He was an electrician and spiffy was not a job requirement.
By Carol Gatewood9 years ago in The Swamp
