Letter: Concerned citizens should vote Democrat
The Republicans' theft of the American Dream will actually come full circle to bite them in the rear if things are not changed as soon as possible.
Monday, May 5th, 2008
In light of recent events such as the troubled economy and the continuing struggle in Iraq, there has been renewed interest among the general populous in politics.
It’s a shame that this interest had not been there all along, but it is never a bad time to start having a critical eye on those running the country and ultimately our everyday lives.
Perhaps the most interesting thing about elections is that when people are really pressed to make a decision and actually go out and vote, incredible leaders can emerge.
In the past four years, our country has been run by nothing more than a band of buffoons whose only interests lie in raping the pockets of the general American citizen.
Unfortunately for them, though, is that their theft of the American Dream will actually come full circle to bite them in the rear if things are not changed as soon as possible.
Just this past week, President Bush said that government subsidies for farmers are “luxuries,” when subsidies for farmers actually benefit the general population by ensuring farmers are not forced to plant profitable crops that destroy the food market for years to come.
When asked by local governments of border towns what Bush was going to do about the strain that illegal immigrants are putting on the governments of these towns, Bush responded by saying that it is not the federal government’s responsibility.
The argument for going into Iraq was that American lives would be saved as a result, but more than 4,000 Americans have been killed in the fighting, and the whole world is ticked off at us now.
I have a lot of friends I know are good people but align themselves as Republicans.
The Republican Party’s stance on issues like family values is incredibly attractive and even overriding to many people who would otherwise vote for Democratic candidates.
But if we continue to prance around the world like a bully, injecting ourselves in business that is not ours, we can expect a prison-style gang-up with WMDs instead of shanks being used against us.
If our government continues to implement stupid, reverse-logic domestic policy that undermines the whole purpose of our democracy, then we can be sure our political infrastructure will collapse like a house made of cards.
So please — now more than ever — put aside petty differences. We need to think about the survival of the greatest nation in the world and all who encompass it.
When the clock rolls around to the second Tuesday in November, make sure you get up and vote for a candidate who believes the American government should be both for and by the people. Please vote Democrat.
Love,
America
—Ryan Shaffer, Omaha, Neb. senior
Discussion
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Let the flaming begin...
FLAME ON!
Some great rhetoric Ryan, unfortunately you neglect to point out the Democratic Congress was elected to bring this war to a screeching halt and has merely pussy footed around the situation. The very Democrats you encourage us to elect continue to vote to fund the war with billions upon billions of tax payers dollars. When given the choice of a true anti-war candidate like Kucinich, Paul, or Gravel, leaders who have voting records to back up their claims. Again, the Democrats followed status quo and voted for people who want to "obliterate Iran" or not take off the table a preemptive nuclear strike. I really wish you would have put that in your article but of course you are more concerned with rhetoric.
No Ryan, I cannot help you support a not so mixed bag of candidates who will only continue to undermine the America of the people in support of more and more centralized governance. Instead I will vote for a third party candidate, you know those other guys that don't get the time of day because they actually offer some real solutions to our problems. They could easily be the only hope for us at this present time but unfortunately those that are misinformed about the history of war and suffering from both sides of the aisle will continue to support our puppet government here and abroad. They will continue to pretend there is really a significant difference between the representatives we see in the Republican and Democratic parties and listen to the pundits talk about issues of race and religion to divide us and take the focus off important matters.
BaneMaier,
It is certainly understandable wanting a third party candidate over one from the major parties. They offer fresh ideas and are very attractive to those who feel disillusioned about the current state of affairs.
The fact of the matter is, though, that voting for a third party candidate has no other effect than deciding which major party candidate will win in the general election. You scoff at politics as being sludge in the system, but the truth is that no policy, however good, will get passed without the proper political support. A major problem the Democratic party has faced for the past four years is a wrench in the cogs in the form of President Bush. Remember, too, that votes for the war were based on false information provided by Republicans.
As for wanting a small federal government, this is pie-in-the-sky speak that has no basis in reality. If government is effectively regulated as powerless, the you will see new powers emerge in the form of corporations or the like. What we need, rather, is a strong central government elected by the general populous.
What the Democratic party offers is more responsibility both in international relations and in domestic policy. Democrats also support individual rights much more so than the Republican party. The state of affairs in Iraq and the middle east is, unfortunately, much more complicated than just pulling out. Though it may not be possible to leave in a way that is positive on the whole, we will still need to put forth an effort to ensure some stability in the country.
BaneMaier, you are well-versed, so I hope you can apply your intelligence to the implications of voting for a third party candidate in the general election. One of the greatest rights we have in this country is freedom of speech, and I think you have a valuable opinion. I also support the spirit behind much of what you say, but the reality of the situation drives me to see the Democratic party as the best option for ensuring the health of the country in which we live. I hope that by the time the general election rolls around, you will find that the likely Democratic candidate, Barack Obama, provides the best option for President of the United States of America.
Aerohawk, I can tell you 100% that I will not stray from my current state of mind. I've voted in 2 elections for the lesser of two evils and I was never satisfied with that result. Many Americans continue to file into the polling booths with this in the back of their minds. In my opinion it is no way to vote. Start voting for who you want and not who you think is going to win. This isn't a horse race, this is the future of our country. It is also no way to support the democratic process. In my eyes the Republican and Democratic frontrunners are much of the same failed policy that we've gotten from Bush because they both promote a failed government system and want nothing but to support the status quo. This means my friends supporting Obama will not get that change they think they are voting for.
The Democrats are much to do with the debacle in Iraq as the Republicans. They vote for bills to support the "war" and send more money. They gave the decision to the President from the beginning to go to war instead of upholding their Constitutional responsibility. If the Democrats were duped then it is their own fault. There was plenty of argument and resistance to the contrary from not only the American people but Democrat AND Republican members of Congress. In 4-8 years we'll find ourselves in this same scenario once again of Americans jumping ship to vote for the opposition.
Voting 3rd party is a protest vote for many people but, like in my case, it is a vote for real change. To think that a 3rd party doesn't have a chance means you've not only fallen for the MSM mantra of "You're throwing your vote away!" but also that you've given up on choice and democracy. I'm not supporting the Democratic or Republican party by voting for a 3rd Party because I would never vote for these candidates, ever. In fact, if there wasn't a third party I would simply write in a candidate. The truth is that you do have a choice. If you're tired of more of the same then vote for neither of the above.
1. A majority in Congress is worthless unless you can override a veto or break a filibuster. You can complain all you want to about how Democrats were elected and did nothing, but if you don't understand how overriding a veto and breaking a filibuster work, then you're betraying your ignorance of basic civics. 51 to 49 in the Senate is not enough. It takes 60 senators to stop a filibuster, and two-thirds in both houses to override a veto. This is something that the Democrats don't have. They could pass all the laws they wanted in the world, but what pray tell are they supposed to do when Bush sends the bills back?
2. Any idiot will tell you that it's political suicide to financially cut off troops in the field. No one in their right mind would do it, and they shouldn't. As terrible and stupid as the Iraq War is, it's not right to deprive troops when they're already under-supplied as it is. The treatment of returning troops in this county -- see Walter Reed -- is disgusting, however you feel about the war.
Everyone seems to forget that individual vote for President does not matter. The President is decided by the majority vote of the electoral college. Yes, they are supposed to vote with their states majority but they do not have to. What is more important when voting is who vote for to represent your state. Please remember this and also remember that our Declaration of Independence states that if the 'people are not satisfied with their government, they have the right to form a new one'. Time to get back to the basics of what and why our goverment was formed. Our founding fathers may not have been perfect but at least they really stood for something. Comments?
For those who believe that our troops are undersupplied, this simply is not true. I grew up in a military family and live in a military community. My husband was an officer for 30 years and I have many friends as well as family members in all branches. These troops are well taken care of, they will admit it. They will also tell you what goes on behind the scenes. The amount of waste and misappropriation of funds is unbelievable. They believe in what they fight for but are dismayed by the way funds are handled and feel guilty. Ask someone you know who is higher up in any branch; ask about the budgets they HAVE to use in order to keep getting more money; ask about the top dollar they are asked to spend on trivial things, ask about they amount that is NOT given where more money should be spent. Our military has turned into a kid in the candy store with out tax dollars. These soldiers will agree that there is very little accountability as to what and where money is spent and placed.
Tabethal, you've got it down pack. I'm surely not worried about this country with people like you around. The problem is not funding the war that will cut the soldier off at the knees but rather the idea that this will be the result. If there is no money then you must come home or at the very least attempt to declare the war officially. On top of that you are foolish to believe the military will continue to operate in Iraq with no war funding. The war funding is for war operations not for the general budget of the department of defense. That is where the Walter Reed money comes from and the reason why the military has the largest budget in decades and yet we have Walter Reeds falling apart is because that money has been diverted from the troops and to private contracts. Our money is wasted!
The democrats with their majority squandered a good opportunity just like Bush did after the 9/11 attacks. Speak of the devil now we have 35 articles of impeachment on the President and again this status quo, business as usual, fake liberal/conservative divide, won't follow through with the legislation. Instead they would rather see it languish like the crimes presented against Cheney a year ago. Where is the press? I sure remember a lot of it back when Clinton was put on trial. Maybe that was just distraction from all the bombing he was doing in IRAQ. You people who think you're getting change are brainwashed. Your hero's are mythical creatures that never existed.
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