Voting A Waste Of Time?

[spence]

Originally Posted by wheresmy50

Further, as a statement of fact, a higher percentage of the democrat vote in the primaries is out of the hands of the voters due to a high number of super delegates, i.e. those who do not need to vote with the people. If you like Spence feel this is some kind of accident, and the Party is not trying to take power from you, fine. But to Larry's original question - if you're a democrat, this is why your vote doesn't mean as much as it should in the primaries.

Accident?

The Democratic caucus requires 50% to win the nomination, without the system of super delegates there would be no way to ensure this would happen if you had three strong candidates.

They set their own rules just as the GOP does. If a Democratic voter doesn't like how the system is managed they are free to choose another party.

You appear to be basing assumptions on ideological talking points and not observation, regardless of how often you insert the word "fact".

-spence

[BigFish]

What if you think the choices all SUCK?!?!?! I can't vote for someone I do not believe in! It is, as many of you say a right to vote? I also have the right not to vote! This country is in severe need of reform......this system is way outdated and at this point in time is nothing more than a means for politicians to line their pockets! They do not act or cast their votes in "OUR" best interests!!! They do it according to their personal "BOTTOM LINE"! Fuel prices are skyrocketing and does the government do anything about it??? ANYTHING!!!! No.....they don't even concern themselves with the fact that these oil companies are turning record profits off our hard working a$$es!!! Talk about sheep being led to slaughter......you folks ought to take a good hard look at the folks in office......I have and I hate what I see! I do not expect miracles from these people, and not everyone is going to be happy at the same time, but given the situation with the price of crude oil and the obvious gouging that is going on......I believe they should be doing more than just turning a blind eye while they cash their dividend checks and we pay their fuel bills as they simply "expense" their fuel costs as a business expense! They have yet to remove the fuel tax....how much is that a gallon??? We pay exise tax......HELL the way it looks we are going to have to PAY FOR THE RIGHT TO FISH very soon! Like we already don't!!!

[GattaFish]

2000: Al Gore had over half a million votes more than George W. Bush, with 50,992,335 votes to Bush's 50,455,156.

Today, a candidate must receive 270 of the 538 votes to win the election, so George W. Bush won the 2000 election by one electoral vote.



Hell with the politics,,,, See you all at SWE tomorrow,,,,,

[BigFish]

Bingo Tom! MY point exactly! The people voted for Gore and Bush won due to the lopsided system!

[spence]

It's not lopsided really, it is our system that elected representatives have created. This doesn't mean it's perfect, but I only see a very small but vocal minority calling for change to a popular vote.

-spence

[chris L]

Originally Posted by GattaFish

As far as voting,,,, and people dying... My grandfather fought in WWII.. In April my dad is FINALLY going to receive his bronze star for his service... A service he says was to let everyone make their own choice....

its about time ! he deserves it !

[Fishpart]

Originally Posted by BigFish

What if you think the choices all SUCK?!?!?! I can't vote for someone I do not believe in! It is, as many of you say a right to vote? I also have the right not to vote! This country is in severe need of reform......this system is way outdated and at this point in time is nothing more than a means for politicians to line their pockets! They do not act or cast their votes in "OUR" best interests!!! They do it according to their personal "BOTTOM LINE"! Fuel prices are skyrocketing and does the government do anything about it??? ANYTHING!!!! No.....they don't even concern themselves with the fact that these oil companies are turning record profits off our hard working a$$es!!! Talk about sheep being led to slaughter......you folks ought to take a good hard look at the folks in office......I have and I hate what I see! I do not expect miracles from these people, and not everyone is going to be happy at the same time, but given the situation with the price of crude oil and the obvious gouging that is going on......I believe they should be doing more than just turning a blind eye while they cash their dividend checks and we pay their fuel bills as they simply "expense" their fuel costs as a business expense! They have yet to remove the fuel tax....how much is that a gallon??? We pay exise tax......HELL the way it looks we are going to have to PAY FOR THE RIGHT TO FISH very soon! Like we already don't!!!

PRECISELY why we all need to get out and vote. In RI there are enough conflicts of interest in the legislature that they all (or at least most) need to go, just can't get the people to vote out the incumbents because of the way they cater to the special interest groups (read State, County and Municipal Workers).

[wheresmy50]

Spence - hopefully you know that's not why the democrat party has super delegates.

They exist to prevent democrat voters from being able to elect a candidate who does not agree with the party line. The system was implimented after the George McGovern disaster when the democrat nominee had no chance of winning the national election. Let me repeat that - the system was created by the democrat leadership specifically to take the power away from the people.

40% of the delegate votes needed to win the primary are held by these super delegates. Also, if one of these super delegates steps out of line, or falls out of favor, they can have their status removed. This recently happened to Joe Lieberman.

The people have a much greater say in the Republican primaries.

I can't say I really disagree with Larry about the motivation of politicians. If you want to vote for who you like the most, vote for who you hate the least.