United States Presidential Election 2012

[cmgoodman1226]

I honestly won't be voting in the upcoming Presidential election. Frankly I don't want any of the candidates to win, including Obama. The fact of the matter is with the way our political system is, it's impossible for any true idealist to hold real power. I'm sure there are some great people in more local politics, but if you want to make real change, you need to basically forfeit your ideals, which basically negates your desire to make good change happen. I personally see no difference between obama and romney. I side more with Obama, but he's just as corrupt as anybody else.

[wormcode]

it seems like everyone on this thread is a supporter of obama, but there are a fair amount of votes for the others...I'd like to see one of those voters come on here and defend their opinion?

I don't think most are Obama supporters, rather just acknowledge him as the less horrible choice between the 2 sides of the same coin. There's always good people running in other parties, or as independents, but it's obvious it will be either a Democrat or Republican again who takes it.

[Sonika]

it seems like everyone on this thread is a supporter of obama, but there are a fair amount of votes for the others...I'd like to see one of those voters come on here and defend their opinion?

I don't think most are Obama supporters, rather just acknowledge him as the less horrible choice between the 2 sides of the same coin. There's always good people running in other parties, or as independents, but it's obvious it will be either a Democrat or Republican again who takes it.

fine fair point, but I think it would be interesting if one of the people who voted for the OTHER candidates on the poll came onto this thread and said why they did this

[SCope13]

it seems like everyone on this thread is a supporter of obama, but there are a fair amount of votes for the others...I'd like to see one of those voters come on here and defend their opinion?

I don't think most are Obama supporters, rather just acknowledge him as the less horrible choice between the 2 sides of the same coin. There's always good people running in other parties, or as independents, but it's obvious it will be either a Democrat or Republican again who takes it.

This so much. If you're set on voting Democrat or Republican, Obama is the only reasonable choice. For the rest of us, there's Stewart Alexander.

[Today]

The reaction was because there is a large chunk of paul supporters who like to make things up

i don't know who to believe anymore. It would help their credibility if they didn't act like saying his name on air were punishable by death. Every time i hear about him, someone's lying, someone's full of shit, and everyone in the media just wants to ignore it at all costs. Give fair coverage to everyone and actually report facts instead of pandering to corporate donors and lobbyists, then i'll believe the things they tell me

They always act like they've got something to hide concerning Paul, thats why i'm wary

[wormcode]

it seems like everyone on this thread is a supporter of obama, but there are a fair amount of votes for the others...I'd like to see one of those voters come on here and defend their opinion?

I don't think most are Obama supporters, rather just acknowledge him as the less horrible choice between the 2 sides of the same coin. There's always good people running in other parties, or as independents, but it's obvious it will be either a Democrat or Republican again who takes it.

This so much. If you're set on voting Democrat or Republican, Obama is the only reasonable choice. For the rest of us, there's Stewart Alexander.

I posted up his links earlier in the thread. Him and his running mate were gaining some big exposure, but not near the levels needed to make an impact. I doubt they'd even be invited to debates which is sad.
Personally I think they should have ran as Democrats to get the exposure and confidence. Similar to how Ron Paul used to run as a Libertarian, before deciding his values are the true definition of "Republican". "Socialist party" scares too many people ignorant of the ideals and stances, and they are Democratic Socialists anyway. My girlfriend also pointed out how using the red star is just political suicide in the US. People don't differentiate between communism/totalitarianism and socialism/democracy due to mass amounts of brainwashing from the Cold War era. Most refuse to even look into them, it's automatically "evil".

I have huge respect for them sticking to their ideals and not compromising or lightening up their image, but I can't help but think it's stubborn in a way, and they are missing out on being taken more seriously. Gotta play the game to win.

[Today]

i just heard someone on a show talking about how as the need for collective action rises, so does the need for authoritarian rule.. It was about the environment and water levels rising and how we're fucked unless we all decide were going to do a particular thing to fix it.

Free societies are great, but when we need all our resources directed at a single cause in order to fix it, it's impossible to get everyone to agree. Therefore, we need an elected authority who's really smart and well-informed, who can decide for us where our resources need to go most urgently. To achieve this without corruption could save our lives.. and the hope is to ultimately return to a free society once the major problems are sorted.
The question is, can we handle authoritarian gov't for even a decade? Can the authority avoid letting the power corrupt them? we need to re-think democracy and our term-limits and shit, and restructure everything IMO. I'm thinking the internet will be involved.. now that we can all share thoughts and ideas directly between one another without anyone's distortions or censorship, i think we can achieve stuff like this and save our countries/planet from certain demise

[wormcode]

No, not for a decade. Not even for 1 year.
It could work with an idealist type government, such as a functioning Technocracy, but all others - nope, and I wouldn't want it to be attempted. The things Palin/Bush and that side of the coin were gearing towards I think is akin to that. They say they want "smaller government", but what I think that means is less chance for actual people to become involved in the government and its programs, rather than political drones. It's already hard enough for people outside the elite millionaire circles to even become prominent politically, and by closing down more aspects of government they would secure the only available positions for the said elite. That mixed with their overly militaristic and religious mindsets is just bad news for everyone.

[Today]

well it def. wouldn't work with any Washington stnuc... but if somehow we could organize a big internet election to choose our People's Champion type dictator... someone who's smarter than most, and super noble.. to tell us all what to do when we can't agree, but need every last ounce of manpower/money/resources

there are a couple of situations i could see needing that kind of fixin'

but aside form that, the current bipartisan republic thing is a totally worthless finger-pointing circlejerking shithole that's done nothing but pay the most money for the worst work (IMHO)

[SCope13]

An internet election would be an awful idea. Think how easily those things could be rigged.

[wormcode]

well it def. wouldn't work with any Washington stnuc... but if somehow we could organize a big internet election to choose our People's Champion type dictator... someone who's smarter than most, and super noble.. to tell us all what to do when we can't agree, but need every last ounce of manpower/money/resources

there are a couple of situations i could see needing that kind of fixin'

but aside form that, the current bipartisan republic thing is a totally worthless finger-pointing circlejerking shithole that's done nothing but pay the most money for the worst work (IMHO)

What you're describing is essentially a technocracy which I think would be ideal. Actual doctors, scientists, and qualified people making decisions instead of being handed decisions made by businessmen and generals. The problem as you've mentioned is getting to that point. Internet voting is way too easily manipulated yes. That's not to say that current voting conditions aren't manipulated, just in different ways. I get your point though. I'm also one of the few who think the voting age should be raised and restricted more. There's some people who just vote for the wrong reasons and one vote doesn't matter, but when you get a few hundred thousand of them it can. It's a fine line though because it's also a right, but should it be a right for everyone, and how does one decide? They do restrict the ability for some people to vote already, such as some felons. They kind of lump them all into one category though. Not all felons are bad people, and some are just products of a fucked up judicial system.

The quote from conservatives (taken from Roger Clegg) that gets to me is: "If you aren't willing to follow the law, you can't claim the right to make the law for everyone else."
They use this to justify restricting voters, but the reality is a lot of people who are being voted on, and some of the people who are in power and making laws disregard even bigger laws (domestic and international) sometimes daily.

[sigbowls]

everyone should randomly pick someone to vote for

thats what i do

[magma]

#AskRomney gets a little too popular:

http://ludicdespair.blogspot.com.au/201 ... storm.html

Which disc off of Master P's album "MP Da Last Don" did you play more, the red one or the blue one?

AND I SAY HEYAYAYAYAY. HEYAYAYAY. I SAID HEY. WHAT'S GOING ON?

African or European swallow?

Why didn't you become Batman? You have enough money to be Batman. Are you afraid to be Batman?

Why did you think this would be a good idea?

[AllNightDayDream]

"Is it cool to see James Bond driving a car in a movie and then go out and buy that car afterwards? "

"how much did it cost to retrofit a human skin over your sore-ridden insectlike carapace"

"do u like movies about gladiators?"

[pkay]

the master P disc question is beyond genius

[deadly_habit]

yes the media is saying romney won, but paul has been still running and winning delegates like mad
so the peoples champ is still running and even if he loses he controls the republican speech and his delegates control the VP
do you know his ideas?

[Sonika]

I like him more than Romney tbh

They're both still psychopaths

[Electric_Head]

ignore me and my unfunny self

[Phigure]

I like him more than Romney tbh

They're both still psychopaths

atta boy

[kidshuffle]

If Ron Paul wins, you guys will have another civil war on your hands. Or just a lot more injustices in many states