McCain's Speech Tonight!

[tstew]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Well, like his Mama said, "Hold your nose and vote."

I think it's irresponsible not to vote, JMHO. Someone's going to get it. I'm sure not going to sit here and let Obama have it.

That's the beauty of partisanship. The majority does not get what they actually want in a democracy. Ain't it grand.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by tstew

That's the beauty of partisanship. The majority does not get what they actually want in a democracy. Ain't it grand.

Yes the majority does get what they want. They don't get it if they don't vote.

Democracy is grand. I agree.

[tstew]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Yes the majority does get what they want. They don't get it if they don't vote.

Democracy is grand. I agree.

PO, getting the party you want does not equal getting the things you want. The majority of Republicans want something substantial done about immigration, etc..., yet they will give their vote to a party without a concrete committment in these areas.
So yes it's a democracy in that the party that gets the most votes wins (most of the time )...but blind partisanship has defeated the true nature of democratic governing in my opinion. When the majority of Americans disagree with what is being done about major issues that affect us, our future, and the futures of our children...even when our party is in control, something is broken.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by tstew

PO, getting the party you want does not equal getting the things you want. The majority of Republicans want something substantial done about immigration, etc..., yet they will give their vote to a party without a concrete committment in these areas.
So yes it's a democracy in that the party that gets the most votes wins (most of the time )...but blind partisanship has defeated the true nature of democratic governing in my opinion. When the majority of Americans disagree with what is being done about major issues that affect us, our future, and the futures of our children...even when our party is in control, something is broken.

Immigration - Stew, you and I both know it's a hard deal to work with. My father was a rancher and a farmer and I know the importance of illegal immigration. He used to hide them under his irrigation pipes when "La Migra" drove by. lol

It's all about help and money. I don't even have that answer. All I want is for them to be tracked and taken out if they are criminals. Even that is a "greasy palmed" issue.

[tstew]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

Immigration - Stew, you and I both know it's a hard deal to work with. My father was a rancher and a farmer and I know the importance of illegal immigration. He used to hide them under his irrigation pipes when "La Migra" drove by. lol

It's all about help and money. I don't even have that answer. All I want is for them to be tracked and taken out if they are criminals. Even that is a "greasy palmed" issue.

I'm just using that as yet another example of where a serious issue that has real life ramifications and incaculable future repercussions is reduced to rhetoric and stances while the situation deteriorates. The only way things get done in these issues (especially if big business is benefitting), is for the American people to demand it when deciding who they will put into office at every level of government. Every election cycle that passes where we allow people to pay lip-service to the issues important to us places us in a position where the shifting realities make the situation even more irreversable.

[Pressing-On]

Originally Posted by tstew

I'm just using that as yet another example of where a serious issue that has real life ramifications and incaculable future repercussions is reduced to rhetoric and stances while the situation deteriorates. The only way things get done in these issues (especially if big business is benefitting), is for the American people to demand it when deciding who they will put into office at every level of government. Every election cycle that passes where we allow people to pay lip-service to the issues important to us places us in a position where the shifting realities make the situation even more irreversable.

I think that we vote who best represents us and then we work through all the other stuff. It's like voting in a pastor. Don't ya think?

[tstew]

Originally Posted by Pressing-On

I think that we vote who best represents us and then we work through all the other stuff. It's like voting in a pastor. Don't ya think?

I guess in some ways it is like voting in anyone for any position. My point is that if in your search for pastor you blindly lock into an option before you even find out who the individual is, you may be setting yourself up for trouble. In my search for a pastor I would want to be every clear about how that person was actually committed to lead and I would not accept someone who was not committed to governing in a way that lined up with all of my core values.

In my opinion, Immigration is one of the biggest issues facing our country. When I vote for anyone I want to know exactly what they are pledging to do and what I can hold them accountable to.

Abortion is another such issue. I'm afraid to hang my hat on the hope that they will appoint someone who may do something that I consider vital. We have rolled that dice before and have ended up with basically a Republican appointed Supreme Court that still doesn't rule in a way that is consistent with my convictions. We may still just hope and pray that things change, but the reality is that the GOP knows that they don't have to because they can still count on our vote either way.

I refuse to continue to send the message to any party that I am beholden to vote for them no matter what. If more people begin to think that way (and many younger people do), we may be able to reintroduce some accountability and force actual action.