(no subject)

[adrianem]

Reading everyone's posts about the elections, and many are bringing me near to tears and/or sending shivers up and down my spine. This has been an amazing event in the history of our country, on several levels.

However, there is one thing eating at me. We do not have a democracy, folks.

Comments

[cindymarelene.livejournal.com]

You're absolutely right. But we just elected an African-American to the Presidency; one mind-blowing step forward at a time. But let's definitely eliminate the electoral college; the need for it (if it ever really existed) is long gone.

[silverkun.livejournal.com]

I'd agree. Though I will say that it gives an accepted (for now) metric that allows us to say that Obama beat McCain twice over...;)

-R

That wouldn't be prudent

[red6count.livejournal.com]

Elimination of the Electorial College won't happen, it would render about 40 states and about 90% of the American counties completely meaningless. So those 40 states won't vote to be dis-enfranchised. Candidates would run in California, Texas, Florida, New York, and maybe Ohio, PA, and Illinois and Michican, the middle west, and the south would probably never see a presidental candidate, because it would be population that matters. Ironically Hillary ran a "popular vote" campaign and got her butt handed to her by the "grass roots" program of Obama. Just in case you think the majority is always rights, look at the results of Prop 8. Just saying,

[cindymarelene.livejournal.com]

Good point!

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

No, we have a republic, and thank God for it. A republic has the opportunity to overcome the tyranny of the majority, which holds sway in a democracy.

Re: That wouldn't be prudent

[silverkun.livejournal.com]

I'd actually suggest that the elimination of the Electoral College might happen, and might even be a good thing, depending on what it was replaced with.

Heh. This conversation could go one of three ways.

a) The Electoral College is a good idea, but needs some revision, to the point that it might not be recognizable as the Electoral College (an option I'm more comfortable speaking on)

or

b) The popular vote really should be the deciding factor and State politics can be State politics while the President focuses on the country as a whole. (Normally, I'd hold a torch for the second option. But I can respect your point about Prop 8. Given that most of the outlying areas (see also: areas outside of the Bay Area region) voted "yes"...

or

c) In this day and age of hyperconnectivity, perhaps the campaign trail isn't what should work. I really really like this last option, but I think that's the geek in me peeking out. I just think that each person's vote should have the same weight. This, however, assumes that most people won't be shepherded into ignorant choices...

Those are the directions I can see this going. Am I missing anything?

[featherquill.livejournal.com]

I know this is going to seem inflammatory, so Shutterg33k, if you find reason to delete this comment, I get it.

But for those of you who believe that a republic somehow defeats majority rule - what planet are you living on? Seriously? Did you NOT notice that last night, when Obama was declared the winner, there were like 5 or 6 states who hadn't even BEGUN reporting yet?

That's ten percent of our nation state-wise. Who didn't matter. At all.

Yeah, right. Yay republic. It's SO much fairer than individuals having a voice. Cuz republics totally stop the 51% over 49% majority rule. *rolling my eyes*

[sharon-masters.livejournal.com]

We have a country that is split down the middle in the total vote, clustered around their fears of God not letting them into heaven unless they kill the heathens and convert the bastards.
We have a country that has thousands of people who are so uneducated on how to evaluate a debate issue that they believe it's possible to have a man run for president without his birth certificate being checked.
We have people who believe witches are sending spells.
We have people who think that palin had the creds to be VP.
We have people who are so uninterested and we never ARGUE with them when they look us in the eye and say "i don't do politics".

EVERYTHING in their fucking lives is politics, from the price of gas to the ability to have a toy in a happy meal from China.
We have to smarten America up.

Dumb is not working.

[featherquill.livejournal.com]

I'm curious - and not because I believe that Palin had the "creds" to be anything (I wasn't a fan of Palin at *all*). And you don't believe that Palin has the creds to be VP.

But with that in mind, do you believe that Obama has the "creds" to be President? If so, I'm curious what it is, objectively, that you find more worthy about Obama than you do about Palin.

[sharon-masters.livejournal.com]

i understand, but life is just to busy for me to go through so much variance...
suffice to say that the new President is statemanlike, has four years as the Jr. Senator from Illinois without any possible scandals involving either having inlaws fired nor does he make stupid statements about how he can see a foreign country from his state so that gives him foreign policy (in which case the entire city of San Diego should be appointed ambassador to Mexico and most of central America).
i found her to be a lightweight airhead with nothing more to say than BS, and all the smarts of wheat toast.
Even her predecessor- a man that is now guilty of several counts of racketeering and taking bribes- while i may have been disgusted with his handling of the state, he had the crediblity to BE the governor.
i doubt Ms. Palin can NAME all 50 states let alone govern them. i KNOW for a fact that she cannot name ANY Supreme Court decisions other than Roe V. wade. THAT alone labels her an extremist and a narrow minded bigot in my book...
Like i said, if i wanted to go back starting with her Mayor post and go day by day comparing the 2 people, it would be a slam dunk...

Mr Obama has a keen understanding of what this country is founded on, reads, has written books on his philosophy, has stated what he wants to do and has demonstrated both the smarts to listen to good advisors and to know how to go find something out for himself. He has held his temper when god knows the rest of us would have pulled out the Uzi, and has consistently voted in ways i believe in and that have been consistent with his campaign stances.
He has less experience in a elected office than many others that have been in this campaign... but considering that he also has, in the last 4 years of public scrutiny, shown nothing but leadership and integrity, i am willing to bet that his leadership now will continue to reflect that.
He can SPEAK in whole sentences (paragraphs!) and uses the language of America well. he understands ALL the words in the dictionary.
He deflects criticisim with digntiy rather than scorn or disdain.
He displays compassion, and can juggle priorities well (the door knocker that was punched? When she got home from the hospital there waas a call for her- not from his staff-- but HIM. THAT shows a class that you can't buy (but his opponents, even dear Mccain, actually violated their OWN laws to buy some class for Palin--- $15,000 worth.. and the lie she blew off on how they were LOANED??? Bitch! Gimme a break... and keep an eye on her in the next year-- i GUARANTEE we will see those suits on her again....)

but that kind of time i don't have.
Newsweek and Time however did a pretty good job, and each was biased towards one candidate or the other...

ALL in all, i am still so disgusted with Californias for allowing the bigots to get Prop 8 on the ballot and then PASS that piece of trash that i could spit bullets.

[featherquill.livejournal.com]

i found her to be a lightweight airhead with nothing more to say than BS, and all the smarts of wheat toast.

I completely agree. However...

i KNOW for a fact that she cannot name ANY Supreme Court decisions other than Roe V. wade. THAT alone labels her an extremist and a narrow minded bigot in my book...

You know that for a fact??? That's awesome! Where did you find that out?

Mr Obama has ... written books on his philosophy

So has the Marquee De Sade. Oh, and President Bush too. Also - I'm fairly sure that Mao Zedong wrote books about his philosophy... *thoughtful* I'm not sure what that has to do with being qualified for executive office, though.

...He has held his temper when god knows the rest of us would have pulled out the Uzi...

I disagree with that.

...and has consistently voted in ways i believe in...

Agreement with you is what makes a person solidly prepared to be a holder of the executive office, then?

...but considering that he also has, in the last 4 years of public scrutiny, shown nothing but leadership and integrity...

What's your definition of integrity? I'm really not trying to be a smartass, I promise. The thing is, though, Che Guevara had integrity, and he also happened to be a communist murderer. But, hey, viva la revolucion, right?

...but his opponents, even dear Mccain, actually violated their OWN laws to buy some class for Palin--- $15,000 worth...

So, buying clothes is now against the law? And it makes for an unfit politician? You'll have to explain that one as well.

ALL in all, i am still so disgusted with Californias for allowing the bigots to get Prop 8 on the ballot and then PASS that piece of trash that i could spit bullets.

Well then maybe you didn't do enough to get it passed. Everybody I know voted against it. But those who voted for it, voted for it for a reason. Their voices are the majority in this state, and maybe a demonstration of the respect and open mindedness that you are so upset that they aren't showing wouldn't kill you.