NFB survey:

[TrAnS Am 98]

im not old enough to vote yet but i will be for the next election, ill probably vote for the candidate which has the most to say about issues in my generation

[markd79ta]

Originally posted by TraceZ
That is an interesting perspective. I see some logic in it, so ... what is the answer then?

If you think about it, the country is comprised of opinions and interests. The groups you see in Washington or even at the state legislatures are representative groups of the people in this nation. The problem rests not in opinions or interest groups, but interest groups pushing for their piece of the pie in a federal government with no limits. If the government can do anything it wants based on relative interpretation of the constitution, then interest groups can push their cause with no limits. This makes it a war of special interests all pushing for their cause. Look at what SEMA has done for us (the people who mod their cars)...basically in retaliation of what the environmentalists put in the Clean Air Act and the EPAs interpretation of the 1990 amendments. I can think of a lot of groups who push my interests and the things I believe in, but there are a lot of counter interest groups pushing the thoughts and feelings of others who are directly opposed to me. My take is...that this should not be done in the Federal Government...Period!

The answer rests with public education so that people understand that we need limits that not everything is a federal issue...(Communities of Interest) should carry weight! We need to resurrect the limits imposed on the federal government and bring the programs and social legislation to the state and local level where the citizens of these communities have more say in what happens. Newt Gingrich tried this to some extent with the '94 Contract with America and subsequent '95-'96 Congress. There was a lot of out; and the plans to place policy in the hands of the states was decried as extreme. Policy is made by those who scream the loudest and longest! It is crazy...I don't know if we will ever get there. The last 70 years were about growing more tomorrow socialism, leveling off, growing even more towards socialism, leveling off, etc. Goodness...JFK, by todays standards, would be considered a right wing Republican. The Federal Government is now a steam roller with nobody at the wheel. Party politics is not about what is best for the citizens of this country but POWER...simply, it is about POWER...nothing else. After being a high up party official, I really grew to hate it. I don't care about power...I care about what is right, liberties, freedoms, self determination, the core values that built this nation. Although, I am forced to vote the lesser of two evils...which party will erode my freedoms the least...it is a bummer of a place to be.

[TraceZ]

Originally posted by markd79ta
Party politics is not about what is best for the citizens of this country but POWER...simply, it is about POWER...nothing else. After being a high up party official, I really grew to hate it. I don't care about power...I care about what is right, liberties, freedoms, self determination, the core values that built this nation. Although, I am forced to vote the lesser of two evils...which party will erode my freedoms the least...it is a bummer of a place to be.

I totally agree. I'm not interested in power either (except in my Z). All I want is freedom, opportunity and health for my loved ones. These politicians (and judges) on "power trips" have got to go. Voting is a hard thing to do whan you dislike all the candidates. Vote for the one that sucks the least I guess.

[Jeff_in_Atl]

My wife has an interesting perspective on voting. She says she likes to vote for the party opposite of the other branch of government. Example, if the congress is republican, she votes for a democrat for president. She figures that if the two braches are not of the same party, nothing will get done, therefore they won't do any harm.

[markd79ta]

Originally posted by Kevin - Blown 95 TA
This is my answer also. Getting more screwed up by the minute, but still the best country on Earth. Veterans will continue to fight and die on foreign soil for others who stay safe at home and exercise their 1st ammendment rights to criticize our nation.

You are absolutely right that this is the best nation...darn right!!!! I don't think anybody is criticizing the nation...that is certainly not my intention. I just don't condone the political machines that pick apart the fabric of this nation, and I think that it is every citizens duty to identify it, and speak out against it. Jefferson warned future generations about it, and we need to heed his warning


"Veterans will continue to fight and die on foreign soil for others who stay safe at home and exercise their 1st amendment rights to criticize our nation."
I know and I am eternally grateful, I felt pretty darn pathetic the last few years since Sep. 11th. My father fought for this country in WWII, lost most of his friends, came home and built a life. I feel as though I need to do something...politics was not the answer. I am not sure what, I am looking at the reserves, but I am not sure what to do being a single parent. My contribution might be education. I am going to get my History Doctorate, and teach someday...I don't want anyone to forget that these freedoms were paid for with a price!

[markd79ta]

Originally posted by TraceZ
I totally agree. I'm not interested in power either (except in my Z). All I want is freedom, opportunity and health for my loved ones. These politicians (and judges) on "power trips" have got to go. Voting is a hard thing to do whan you dislike all the candidates. Vote for the one that sucks the least I guess.

It is not necessarily personal power, but party power and control. Both Democrats and Republicans are doing a tit for tat routine to gain favor and power. It is kinda ridiculous ...remember, we need limitations. The problem is...what do you do? If you send out a protest vote, you will likely get the party that really goes against your ideals...remember majority rules. I vote one way because, frankly, the other party's interest group (public opinion) backing scares the **** out of me!

Voting is great, but honestly...the only positive changes can come from public opinion and awareness. Only when the citizens believe there is a problem, will that problem be solved (...he who screams the loudest gets heard.) Elected officials can't change it...the Federal Government is a Steam Roller with no driver...the elected official is just a simple cod in the machine. I can only think of two elected officials who had absolute power to shape the size and scope of government across the division of powers...Washington and FDR. We would have to be in pretty dire straights to see that again, and I doubt the outcome would be for the better.