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If only we'd listen, instead of obsessing about American Idol, Britney Spears, and flag pins.

I know several people who still voted for him Tuesday. I wish he had a chance :(

Well, he did get 16% Tuesday.

I'll probably be writing (typing) him in come November.

His face is blurred out. Is this an episode of COPS where he didn't give consent?

He would never win as a Republican sadly. Fox not allowing him in the debates even though he had a sizable percentage and generally sweeping him to the side was just the tip of the iceberg here. The base, their fund raisers, and so forth just don't like him because of all the shit he'd stir up if he won. And that's ashame, because he's definitely one of the few who would make the changes necessary and close to the position to do so.

He would never win as a Republican sadly. Fox not allowing him in the debates even though he had a sizable percentage and generally sweeping him to the side was just the tip of the iceberg here. The base, their fund raisers, and so forth just don't like him because of all the shit he'd stir up if he won. And that's ashame, because he's definitely one of the few who would make the changes necessary and close to the position to do so.


Agreed, Paul's candidacy is the perfect example of the party leaders and media controlling our nominee options. (I just mentioned this same thing in the thread Nydia started)

I think it would be interesting to see how things worked if all of the primaries were on the same day, there were no polls or predictions allowed, and no results reported until the voting closed. If people actually made up their own minds, without being influenced by social proof, I bet the results would be drastically different.

I think it would be interesting to see how things worked if all of the primaries were on the same day, there were no polls or predictions allowed, and no results reported until the voting closed. If people actually made up their own minds, without being influenced by social proof, I bet the results would be drastically different.

Which is exactly why the existing political machine is so resistant to direct democracy. Our entire voting system has been shown to be one of the least efficient possible ways of getting citizen decisions translated to offices, and this has been well known as far back as the 1960s. Any book, even the 5th grade reading level ones, that covers voting theory or decision making can explain in simple terms that if people are given more options to express, (hold your breath here, big shocker) they are more expressive. Why can't I key in that I want Paul, Obama, McCain, Bozo the Clown, Mister T, William Shatner, Mickey Mouse, or Hillary Clinton, in that order?

The real fear, though, is that the impetus to fix what made sense as a compromise in the long-distance communication model of 1770 will be taken up by people who will only put more effective distance between the electorate and the elected.

We are to my knowledge the only democracy that has a forced dichotomy on everything. Most other western nations have a plurality of parties in various amounts of power at any given time. We have two faces of the same one, and they're going to keep it that way.

His face is blurred out. Is this an episode of COPS where he didn't give consent?

He would never win as a Republican sadly. Fox not allowing him in the debates even though he had a sizable percentage and generally sweeping him to the side was just the tip of the iceberg here. The base, their fund raisers, and so forth just don't like him because of all the shit he'd stir up if he won. And that's ashame, because he's definitely one of the few who would make the changes necessary and close to the position to do so.

I fully agree with this post. I have yet to vote, and I will be 30 this year - so I cant really complain about the way things are because I didn't even put my voice out there - however if I were to vote this year, RP would definitely have my vote.

This is the first time in my life I have even showed a remote interest in politics and actually researched the candidates. Because of the way mainstream media outlets refused to allow RP time to project his views to the masses, it just shows me how we truly are NOT a free nation by any means; we do not elect our leaders - the media does and who controls the media does. That pretty much sickens me...

Does anyone have any job contacts up in Vancouver? :devil

I think it would be interesting to see how things worked if all of the primaries were on the same day, there were no polls or predictions allowed, and no results reported until the voting closed. If people actually made up their own minds, without being influenced by social proof, I bet the results would be drastically different.

You have it nailed with omitting the polls and predictions. Way too many people rely on "popular opinion" to make their decisions.

And, if what I am thinking Malse was saying is correct, I like the idea of being able to list in order your preferences for office, rather than just choosing one; like, 1st choice, 2nd choice and 3rd. More than three would probably get too unwieldy, tho'. So, here are 11 candidates for the office; choose three in the order you most prefer them. Something like that, without polling and media hype, all voting on one day, would be an effective way I think.







[And, why are they not making national voting day a holiday? It seems to me that everyone being able to go vote is more important than remembering Columbus "discovered" America. And why November, when you often have inclement weather hampering get out the vote drives? August has no holidays. so it would be a great candidate for election day.
Primary day can be in the spring, with all primaries the same day, and then campaign through Spring/Summer, with the final election late August. These ae just some random thoughts I have had from time to time about the voting process.]

And, if what I am thinking Malse was saying is correct, I like the idea of being able to list in order your preferences for office, rather than just choosing one; like, 1st choice, 2nd choice and 3rd. More than three would probably get too unwieldy, tho'. So, here are 11 candidates for the office; choose three in the order you most prefer them. Something like that, without polling and media hype, all voting on one day, would be an effective way I think.


Precisely. There are about 10 "types" of voting mechanisms, the one we use it about the least suited for its purpose. Comically you will often find more modern and sensical voting processes in the smaller, more local elections, but not the winner-take-all stupidity we have for major offices.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Single_Transferable_Vote

Is a decent starting place for reading on the subject.

I highly approve of a) a vastly shortened primary season; b) Election Day being a national holiday.

I would definitely be in favor of no polls and all primaries on the same day. This election season was ridiculously long I feel like they've been campaigning for years. =\

"No polls" would violate the 1st Amendment. Better to just compact the primary season so that we're not drenched in statistics over a year.

Well, the thing you need remember is this year isn't typical.

For one, this is the first time in a very long time that neither a sitting President or Vice President ran in the primaries. This left both sides wide open.
Second, Bush's approval rating is just abysmal. People want change.
Third, the number of voters in the primaries this year actually rivaled in many cases the number of voters in general elections in the past.

The interest in this election is astronomically greater than any before. It probably won't be like that in 2012. Thus there'll be less donations, smaller races, and a shorter primary season.

Well, the thing you need remember is this year isn't typical.

For one, this is the first time in a very long time that neither a sitting President or Vice President ran in the primaries. This left both sides wide open.
Second, Bush's approval rating is just abysmal. People want change.
Third, the number of voters in the primaries this year actually rivaled in many cases the number of voters in general elections in the past.

The interest in this election is astronomically greater than any before. It probably won't be like that in 2012. Thus there'll be less donations, smaller races, and a shorter primary season.

Think back to the election Jimmy Carter won.

Nixon, and by extension the Republican Party, was in disgrace. The war that so many were against had been ended in a very disturbing manner. The nation was screaming for a change in direction.

If the Democrats do not take the White House, it will not be because McCain runs a better campaign.

b) Election Day being a national holiday. In France every other election (being local mayors, referendums, or of course presidentials) happens on sunday.

Now you all mention it, it's kind of *unproductive* to put election days during working days, and then some complain attendency is low.

And about the speaking time on mainstream, the main rule here is that once you are *qualified* (having at least 500 mayors backing you up) for presidential run, every canditates must have the same time allowed on TV.

Of course 2 of 3 main channels are state owned, it helps regulating and verifying everybody plays fair.

I should try and read more about US voting system, but it's like learning Bridge cardgame, you read the 1st pages and then you give up. :o

Bah! I'd put Bridge in the "easy to learn, difficult to master" category. The basic rules are moderately simple; the set of conventions that players agree to use within the confines of the rules is the main thing that makes Bridge a complex game. :P

His book is #1 on Amazon now.

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0446537519?ie=UTF8&tag=wwwviolentkicom&linkCode=as2&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=0446537519

Most other western nations have a plurality of parties in various amounts of power at any given time. We have two faces of the same one, and they're going to keep it that way.

You bet they have the same face..and they will keep it that way. Nothing we can do about it really. I will be writing in my vote for what it is worth. :(