How do I become an informed voter?

yktind

yktind

Well-Known Member
I'd really like to start voting on more than pick a president. I want to start getting involved locally, etc.
Every couple of months there a bill, proposition, etc. Even when voting for presidency there are tons of other things to vote on. I usually only vote yes or no on the ones that I have read about.

I consider myself for the most part an un-informed voter. Which why I only vote for presidents (which maybe I shouldn't even be doing that). Actually I think it is irresponsible to vote for something you know nothing about and I wish more people would do that.

How does one become an "informed" voter?

If they are all liars (Democrats and Republicans, including everything in between) how do you find the truth?
There is very rarely an agreement or topic that both/ all parties agree on.

Where do you find the truth? How do you pick a side?

This is not a perfect world, we all have the capacity to, lie, cheat, steal. How do I go about informing myself? or Arming myself with information?

Is there such a thing as reputable, reliable source?
 
AlecTheGardener

AlecTheGardener

Well-Known Member
yktind said:
I'd really like to start voting on more than pick a president. I want to start getting involved locally, etc.
Every couple of months there a bill, proposition, etc. Even when voting for presidency there are tons of other things to vote on. I usually only vote yes or no on the ones that I have read about.

I consider myself for the most part an un-informed voter. Which why I only vote for presidents (which maybe I shouldn't even be doing that). Actually I think it is irresponsible to vote for something you know nothing about and I wish more people would do that.

How does one become an "informed" voter?

If they are all liars (Democrats and Republicans, including everything in between) how do you find the truth?
There is very rarely an agreement or topic that both/ all parties agree on.

Where do you find the truth? How do you pick a side?

This is not a perfect world, we all have the capacity to, lie, cheat, steal. How do I go about informing myself? or Arming myself with information?

Is there such a thing as reputable, reliable source?
Click to expand...
CNN gives credit to arguments that have no basis. Fox News is all crazy Sarah Palinesque conservatives. MSNBC is corporatist leaning.

No major news sources exists that I find credible in the US. I often find myself reading BBC World pieces and trudging through online newspaper articles, I too am searching for a better way.

Unfortunately the very entities that are supposed to report news are tangled in them and used as tools. Frustrating.
 
abandonconflict

abandonconflict

Well-Known Member
If voting changed anything it would be illegal.

There is nothing worse than a measure which gains bipartisan support. If it appeals to both parties, it can only be pure trouble.

If you want to make a difference, commit random acts of kindness and forgive people when they slight or injure you. Chase bigots away.
 
yktind

yktind

Well-Known Member
AlecTheGardener said:
CNN gives credit to arguments that have no basis. Fox News is all crazy Sarah Palinesque conservatives. MSNBC is corporatist leaning.

No major news sources exists that I find credible in the US. I often find myself reading BBC World pieces and trudging through online newspaper articles, I too am searching for a better way.

Unfortunately the very entities that are supposed to report news are tangled in them and used as tools. Frustrating.
Click to expand...
I think the media is also one of the biggest unions out there, SAG or whatever it is. Maybe there is a different one for News broadcasters Association or something. I wonder if their "News" is influenced by that at all? You always hear about union leaders telling all the union members who and what to vote for. But that doesn't sounds legal and its always "They say."


abandonconflict said:
If voting changed anything it would be illegal.

There is nothing worse than a measure which gains bipartisan support. If it appeals to both parties, it can only be pure trouble.

If you want to make a difference, commit random acts of kindness and forgive people when they slight or injure you. Chase bigots away.
Click to expand...
Fuck that Shit!!! lol

I've often wondered how much of a difference it makes. On the federal scale I think it is hard to measure and easily have your voice filtered out. But when you bring things down to state level, city level and town level. Your vote counts a lot more.
 
AlecTheGardener

AlecTheGardener

Well-Known Member
DonAlejandroVega said:
oxymoron
Click to expand...
This book has some pretty interesting social commentary. During this story there are three types of people:
'In the year of America's tricentennial, all is placid. America has re-stratified itself into a three-tiered society. At the bottom are the "Livers," an under-educated but well-fed 80% of the population who enjoy a life of leisure. Above them (or below them) are the "donkeys," the genemod white-collar force who run the infrastructure and are elected into office by the Livers, earning votes via bread and circuses. Finally, the Sleepless are the source of just about all technological, genetic and scientific advances.'
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beggars_in_Spain
Wonderful read

Bread and circuses.
 
yktind

yktind

Well-Known Member
DonAlejandroVega said:
yes. if you are informed as to the true state of affairs, you will sit home on Election Day and watch lesbian porn, or do a jig-saw puzzle.
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Can I do a lesbian porn jig-saw puzzle? Then just jerk off in the secret ballot thing. I like to be efficient.
 
DonAlejandroVega

DonAlejandroVega

Well-Known Member
AlecTheGardener said:
This book has some pretty interesting social commentary. During this story there are three types of people:
'In the year of America's tricentennial, all is placid. America has re-stratified itself into a three-tiered society. At the bottom are the "Livers," an under-educated but well-fed 80% of the population who enjoy a life of leisure. Above them (or below them) are the "donkeys," the genemod white-collar force who run the infrastructure and are elected into office by the Livers, earning votes via bread and circuses. Finally, the Sleepless are the source of just about all technological, genetic and scientific advances.'
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Beggars_in_Spain
Wonderful read

Bread and circuses.
Click to expand...
SNAP card and NFL games.................
 
abandonconflict

abandonconflict

Well-Known Member
yktind said:
So are you saying that we should do nothing? What is the point of arguing about politics then?
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Oh I never said anything like that.

"Protest beyond the law is not a departure from democracy; it is absolutely essential to it.'" ~Howard Zinn
 
Red1966

Red1966

Well-Known Member
yktind said:
I think the media is also one of the biggest unions out there, SAG or whatever it is. Maybe there is a different one for News broadcasters Association or something. I wonder if their "News" is influenced by that at all? You always hear about union leaders telling all the union members who and what to vote for. But that doesn't sounds legal and its always "They say."




Fuck that Shit!!! lol

I've often wondered how much of a difference it makes. On the federal scale I think it is hard to measure and easily have your voice filtered out. But when you bring things down to state level, city level and town level. Your vote counts a lot more.
Click to expand...
Bush won Florida by only 500+ votes. Every vote counts.
 
greenlikemoney

greenlikemoney

Well-Known Member
You must choose the lesser of two evils IF you vote. Alot of people have cast their vote for the BIG evil lately. Get informed. You won't be informed by watching mass media.
 
B

BigNBushy

Well-Known Member
greenlikemoney said:
You must choose the lesser of two evils IF you vote. Alot of people have cast their vote for the BIG evil lately. Get informed. You won't be informed by watching mass media.
Click to expand...
You're completely discounting the primary process.

I also think the most fictitious myth out there is that a vote for a third party is a wasted vote.

A third party is really our only hope.
 
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