What do you base your political decisions on?

[Giselle]

I'm a little discouraged. Every day, I hear of folks who keep switching who they plan to vote for or decide to abstain from voting altogether ---- all based on info interpreted by the media.


And, honestly, I find this incredibly upsetting. The media rarely presents the full story. They often take the most trivial details and sensationalize it to the point of an exaggerated rumor. I know the media is having a field day with McCain's recent admission that he doesn't know how many houses he has. Umm...who actually listened to the rest of the sentence? Who actually paid attention to the context of the question and the answer? And who immediately disliked McCain due to this small trivial detail?

Sometimes, I wonder: Exactly WHAT do people base their political decisions on? Are they ever rational?

(I'm almost afraid to ask... Has anybody ever even read Obama's and McCain's books?)

[IRescue452]

This election is age and how much of a religious nutcase you are.

Age because I'm so sick of hearing solutions for FAMILIES that are struggling, and old people. What about the young adults who don't have a family yet? Lately, with all the economic solutions they've been trying, I feel that the welfare myth is true. The myth being that if you have a dozen kids and drop out of high school and don't even try to get a job, you'll get a free ride. People like me who did not marry and have kids at age 16, instead tried going to college and find they still can't get a good job, we're screwed. There is not a program in the world to help us. And its not just me whining about me, there are thousands like me. I worked this summer with several college graduates who can't yet find a career. I figure the younger candidate is closer to the age of todays young adults who are struggling, and maybe more likely to help better.

Religious nutcase speaks for itself. I could see one of the candidates (guess which one) in a KKK uniform chanting "Christians and Whites! Christians and Whites!". He scares me. He's like the jesus camp people.

Honestly, I don't like any of them. I think we need a whole new set to choose from.

[Pam]

This election is age and how much of a religious nutcase you are.

Age because I'm so sick of hearing solutions for FAMILIES that are struggling, and old people. What about the young adults who don't have a family yet? Lately, with all the economic solutions they've been trying, I feel that the welfare myth is true. The myth being that if you have a dozen kids and drop out of high school and don't even try to get a job, you'll get a free ride. People like me who did not marry and have kids at age 16, instead tried going to college and find they still can't get a good job, we're screwed. There is not a program in the world to help us. And its not just me whining about me, there are thousands like me. I worked this summer with several college graduates who can't yet find a career. I figure the younger candidate is closer to the age of todays young adults who are struggling, and maybe more likely to help better.

Religious nutcase speaks for itself. I could see one of the candidates (guess which one) in a KKK uniform chanting "Christians and Whites! Christians and Whites!". He scares me. He's like the jesus camp people.

WOW! There's a lot of venom in your post, not to mention the face that it is totally offensive to those of us who are Christians.

[IRescue452]

This shouldn't offend normal Christians, it should only offend those people who believe in killing in the name of their religion and oppression in the name of their religion. If you are one of those people I'm sorry you have to be, but if you are a Christian who is not like that, than you've got nothing to be offended by. As I said, he makes me think of the crazy nutcase Christians that don't believe I have a right to live.

[Pam]

This shouldn't offend normal Christians, it should only offend those people who believe in killing in the name of their religion and oppression in the name of their religion. If you are one of those people I'm sorry you have to be, but if you are a Christian who is not like that, than you've got nothing to be offended by. As I said, he makes me think of the crazy nutcase Christians that don't believe I have a right to live.

You'd better do a little more research on Christianity. I have no idea what you are talking about. I am sorry but you are really "out there!"

[pomtzu]

This election is age and how much of a religious nutcase you are.

Age because I'm so sick of hearing solutions for FAMILIES that are struggling, and old people.

You need to wake up and smell the coffee!!! Someday you just might have a family, and you definitely will get old!!!
You need to try living on Social Security for a while. Believe me - it's not easy street. I had to retire on disability at 62 and could not get Medicare for 2 years after that. And out of my big (ha-ha) Social Security check I had to pay my own medical insurance for those 2 years to the tune of almost $500 per month - not to mention the car payment, insurance, mortgage, utilities - and oh yes - food - and any other expenses that might crop up. The expenses far outweighed the income and fortunately I had a small nestegg (very small) to draw from. Some seniors don't even have that!!! I should have been an illegal alien in this country since they fare far much better. Be thankful for what you have and pray that when you have a family and when you are old, things will be rosy for you!

[rosethecopycat]

Ahh, back to the question.

Q: What do you base your political decisions on?

A: The candidate that best represents the tenets of the Constitution.
A candidate the supports: freedom, liberty and security.

A: A candidate the supports the Free Market economy, and does not support Socialist causes.

A: A candidate that supports Free Enterprise, and does not condone Nationalization

I listen to what comes out of candidates own mouths- Note to candidate Obama: a windfall profit tax (on oil) IS a seizure.
What right does government have to seize funds from private companies? Even it is "Big Oil" (computer companies realize higher profit rates, why not them too) Jimmy Carter did this, and what good became of it?

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


Note Maxine Waters (D-CA)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PUaY3LhJ-IQ

A: I base my political decisions on the belief that I will oppose that which is furthest from my viewpoint. Liberalism is closer to Socialism, Communism and Marxism than Conservatism or Libertarianism is. My viewpoint is Libertarian.

A: I do not base my political decisions on social issues such as:
abortion, gay marriage, stem cell research, global warming, death penalty, or how many houses a candidate owns, etc.

A: I base my political decisions on who will best stand for a small national government, that will get out of the way and let the people thrive.

[caseysmom]

Okay sorry to go off track again but IRRESCUE I am a democrat but I find some of your statements pretty offensive, you are implying you could picture McCain in a KKK robe???? What is that based on?

I actually think McCain is a decent human being, he adopted an orphan from bangladesh and he has a ton of pets he can't be all bad, was that just because he is white or what?

What I base my vote on, well yes I did read Obama's book, to be honest I didn't know McCain had a book, I think its time for a change basically and I am against the war and hope a democrat will be also.

[Grace]

My decisions this time around will be based on, and not necessarily in this specific order -

1. the disaster in Iraq
2. the economy
3. the Supreme Court
4. The Constitution of the United States

[RockyRoad]

(I'm almost afraid to ask... Has anybody ever even read Obama's and McCain's books?)

I have read two of John McCain`s books, which were both quite excellent. He is a stand up character, and I would never, ever even dare to picture him in a KKK outfit. I have not read any of Senator Obama`s books, although I intend to. Regardless of political views, I like to educate myself on the candidates. After all, there is always the chance that the one you do not support is elected, and it is nice to know about them and how they stand as well.

I echo everything that rosethecopycat mentioned; well said. This is the first time I will be voting, and have been tracking this race since day one. I have made my decision already, but I have made it based upon my beliefs. My main reasons for my decision were the Iraq war and economical issues, not social issues. I do have my views on those issues, but I think the former two fronts are more important right now than the latter.

I quite agree with you, that sometimes people base their opinions on such trivial things such as the thing with Senator McCain`s houses. The media is definitely a large part of it; highlighting rumors and small mistakes about the candidates that override what they stand for. The media rarely ever presents one hundred percent of anything to the public, regardless of political view ("conservative" station, "liberal" station, whatever).

[RICHARD]

I have to go large on this because of the OIL COMPANIES


I am up night late-insomnia and the radio-talk shows mostly.

Recently I got caught up in a talk show and the two guys that host it are the straightest shooting pair I have ever heard.

(It's called the Midnight Radio Network or MRN)

They broke down exactly how much money that the oil companies make per gallon.....8 cents.

Out of 4-3.50 dollars a gallon they make a nickel and three pennies! Why?
Go to the pump and look at the breakdown of state, local and government taxes per gallon.

Then think of the exploration, studies, drilling, pumping, transport of a barrel of oil, then look at what the company needs to do with keeping up the platforms, derricks and delivery systems as far as preventive mainanence goes.

----

I don't really care for either candidate, but do not put more of an economic burden on the companies. It comes down to our lazy effing arses. We have been talking about ecology and the earth since Rachel Carson in the late 70's,
And what have we done?

Nothing. Those stupid commercials were the parents are on a TV screen telling their children about some legacy to clean up the earth....what a crock of crap.

No one cares.

And it brings me to the war effort in the 40's. We had people growing gardens, recycling, rationing to fight a war. It didn't kill us, it gave us the power to believe in ourselves and win the war.

THese days we could do the same thing - really ration, recycle and get over our 'oil addiction'. But we have too many bleeding hearts and morons that believe a few oil rigs will kill the polar bears, whales, seals.


We didn't do anything before -ten years ago, so ten years from today we'll be in the same s hole that we are in now, except worse.

---------

So, How do I make my political decisions?

I go for the candidate that doesn't make that many mid course corrections to win a vote.

The first idiot that uses the line about having to wait ten years for drilling in the U.S. to be productive has no vision for the future or desire to help us out now.

We can only prepare for the future by starting to do something today.

-------

Oh and talk about racists!

Maxine Waters is nothing but a hack, race baiter and moron.


I know because I live in Cah Lee Fuh Nee ah!

[rosethecopycat]

I have to go large on this because of the OIL COMPANIES


They broke down exactly how much money that the oil companies make per gallon.....8 cents.

Out of 4-3.50 dollars a gallon they make a nickel and three pennies! Why?
Go to the pump and look at the breakdown of state, local and government taxes per gallon.

Then think of the exploration, studies, drilling, pumping, transport of a barrel of oil, then look at what the company needs to do with keeping up the platforms, derricks and delivery systems as far as preventive mainanence goes.

----
We have been talking about ecology and the earth since Rachel Carson in the late 70's,
And what have we done?

Nothing. Those stupid commercials were the parents are on a TV screen telling their children about some legacy to clean up the earth....what a crock of crap.

No one cares.

Right on.

I grew up in the "crying Indian" commercial generation. NOT LITTERING was the major focus back then. Do you think we all could cooperate on that one?
Seems rather simple, throw your trash in the basket.
But no, get out of your car in any parking lot and you'll see cups, wrappers, and people who think the world is their ashtray, literally.
As a kid, and even as an adult, I used to go out picking up litter. Now it's pretty apparent that nobody cares, some 40 years later.

People are always wanting a new 'cause'. In the 80's it was "feed the world" "we are the children", in the 90's it was homelessness. Now it is "Global warming", "current climate crisis"
I tell you that no one will be talking about this in 10-15 years.

The real crisis is our dependance on foreign oil.

[Pam]

I'm not going to comment on IRescue's posts any more. If I didn't see that she had almost 4,000 posts I would think that this was a troll posting.

Back to the original question. I have not decided yet who I will vote for. I want to closely analyze their answers to questions in the coming weeks and watch the debates. Neither candidate thrills me but I will give Obama credit for selecting Joe Biden. I guess he can make a good decision now and then. Personally I would prefer that Biden be at the top of the ticket.

[RICHARD]

The crying Indian was Chief Iron Eyes Cody.

---------------

I just want to say something about the issues of age and politics.

One of the most wonderful things about this government is the fact that you can make a statement as to what your beliefs are. We fall short when we are challenged for what we think, we take things much to personally but need to remember and look at someone else and why, how and what they think.


This is not an endorsement of one side or another, standing by one opinion or challenging what is being said.

When I was young I had my peace sign stickers, cloth emblems sewn on my jeans. I still flash a peace sign when I drive and someone let's me into their lane.

I thought the ACLU was a just endeavour and the "Man" really sucked because he was spending my money on 300 dollar toilet seats and hammers.

As I get more worldly, wise-maybe not-and smarter about my world and the politicians that will do anything to try and run it. I've figured out that I was played for a dummy a few times.

My bumper sticker, "One nuclear bomb can rule your whole day." went the way of my World Wildlife Federation and Greenpeace ideas.

Why?

Greenpeace was sinking fishing ships in harbors to keep the fish alive.
What happens to all the oils and solvents that leak out of the ship into the harbor?

The Earth Liberation Front set fire to cars at a dealership here in CA a few years ago-what happened to the water, full of contaminants, that was used to put out the fires? It went into the sewers and into the ocean.

Same thing with the Animal Lib Front. They break into labs, set free the animals and burn the building down.

Same results. More trash to clean and water to pollute.

I do not advocate the use of animals for testing but I hate the fact that people with such good ideas and hearts can be so stupid.

I would love to younger again - only if I could be smarter.
It's great that young people will speak out in a calm, intelligent, informed manner.

We can sometimes excuse them for how they think, then take a look at why us experienced folks are set in our ways.

Of course, we are smarter than any 'whippersnappers'. We struggled with 13 channels of TV, had to read newspapers or listen to radio to get our news and eating at a drive thru eatery was a treat, not an everyday meal.

My only consolation is the fact that one day they will get close to where we are and they will ask themselves the very same question-

"What was I thinking when I said/did that?"

In the end we all talk a great game and the problems we have with our politicians are the same, just dressed up in techno flash and non guilty sounding terms.

Lying or changing your mind is reassessing your position.
Getting misquoted means you were caught speaking what you really think..
An affair with a child as the by product is a dalliance with a love child.
Racism replaces human stupidity.
Illegal aliens that pick crops are now non-citizen migrant workers.

What were we thinking?

[Marigold2]

I try to find someone who seperates church and state. That is the most important thing for me.
America became a country because people wanted and needed to pray and live freely.
Too many people don't understand that church and state have to be seperate for all to have freedom.
Abortion might be against your religon but it's not against everyone's.
Same with the death penelty.
Perhaps in 10 or 20 years we will have a Jewish president. Should our beliefs, holidays, way of life be changed because of that? No.
America is a free country and even though we don't all agree at least we have the right to disagree and raise our children with or without prayer in the home.
We can celebrate Christmas or not.
We can use birth control or not.
We can marry or not.
We can have same sex relationships or not.
We can dance, wear jewelry, listen to rock music, have sex before marriage or we can decide none of those are right for us.
If any leader tries to control us through his or her religous beliefs our freedom is lost.