On November 2nd, who are you going to vote for?

[2099net]

I'm not a fan of either Kerry or Bush

Which pretty much sums up the whole problem. Lots of people are saying the same thing, and there is no viable alternative.

I can't understand why most Western democracies mutated into competitions between just two parties - because by definition they have to try to appeal to most voters most of the time just to get elected.

So you end up with to parties and two candidates with limited differences.

I'll say one thing, America is so agitated about politics at the moment because for the first time in a while there are actually major differences between the two this time, and that can only be a good thing. But they're still all to similar in some respects.

In all honestly I don't really think the two party system can ever be truly viable. I don't really think a choice between 'A' or 'B' is much of a choice at all, be it items on a restaurant menu, video rentals or presidents/prime ministers.

[DisneyChris]

Well said, 2099net. I'm not a fan of any of them is because they both have their negatives and positives, so it makes me hard to choose.

Besides, I live in Hong Kong, pal.

[catNC]

About the "Bushisms" and Bush's ineloquent speeches... you can't judge a man stupid by how he talks. My husband says the dumbest things sometimes, but he's far from stupid, seeing as he graduated #2 in his class in Nuclear Engineering, and finished his degree in only 3 years, as opposed to the usual 4 or 5 years it takes most students in that field of study. I hope people select a candidate to vote for based more on where they stand on policy instead of how well they speak. A person's use of words may not be directly proportional to how intelligent they are.

[englishboy]

I said I wasn't attacking Aaron. And I meant it. It's clear we disagree. I can respect her opinion.

But I will offer this, in the past four years I've noticed that America is segregating itself into the "two americas" system, much like it was in the 1960s. Aaron's reasoning seems deeply flawed to me, as I'm sure mine does to her. Within such a biforcated society there is little hope for compromise and general understanding, which is a sad.

[Escapay]

I said I wasn't attacking Aaron. And I meant it. It's clear we disagree. I can respect her opinion.

But I will offer this, in the past four years I've noticed that America is segregating itself into the "two americas" system, much like it was in the 1960s. Aaron's reasoning seems deeply flawed to me, as I'm sure mine does to her. Within such a biforcated society there is little hope for compromise and general understanding, which is a sad.

Um...Aaron's not a girl, he's a guy.

Anyways, I don't know if I wanna get out and vote this year. I know I registered during my Senior Year, but I can't remember anything else. Am I supposed to re-register or something?

If I were to go and vote this November, it would be solely to spite Kram, who turns 18 the week AFTER Election day, lol. (BTW, he sends a message to everyone: "I miss you guys, I'll see you in December when I'm not swamped down with homework!")

Escapay

[Luke]

If I were to go and vote this November, it would be solely to spite Kram, who turns 18 the week AFTER Election day, lol. (BTW, he sends a message to everyone: "I miss you guys, I'll see you in December when I'm not swamped down with homework!")

Escapay

We miss you, Kram!

[deathie mouse]

I think in this election hangs the fate of the known universe. i'd hope everybody that votes considers that

maybe i should start learning mondlango

[AwallaceUNC]

Um...Aaron's not a girl, he's a guy.

Ya!!

Erin = Girl
Aaron = Guy



-Aaron

[Maerj]

Ya!!

Erin = Girl
Aaron = Guy



-Aaron

In his defense, I thought you were female at first too, due to the Amy Grant avatars. I couldn't look at your posts without thinking you were a pretty good looking woman. Maybe if we put a beard and mustache on Amy's pic?

[AwallaceUNC]

I know, I assumed that was it- I tend to associate people's appearances with their avatars. Funny how that works, huh? I tend to get it gender right after a while, though.

-Aaron

[Loomis]

I know, I assumed that was it- I tend to associate people's appearances with their avatars.

I am not now, nor have I ever been, a superhero.

[PixarFan]

Um...Aaron's not a girl, he's a guy.

Ya!!

Erin = Girl
Aaron = Guy



-Aaron

That's one of the things I don't like about the name Aaron (that's my name, too): everyone confuses me for a girl or spells my name E-R-I-N.

Anyway, I'm too young to vote in this election, but if I could, I would probably vote Bush.

[Escapay]

I know, I assumed that was it- I tend to associate people's appearances with their avatars.

I am not now, nor have I ever been, a superhero.

Look, up at that guy!

He's absurd!

He's insane!

He's...SuperLoomis!



The world can do with a couple SuperLoomis's running around.

Escapay

[jambo*rafiki]

Haha, and I suppose I'm a colorful monkey!
You never know . . . Rafiki's pretty smart, I'm sure he could learn how to type. But then again it's more than likely that he's happy in his tree.
If I could vote this year, I'd vote for Kerry. But, sadly, I'm too young. I fully support making a voter's test for people, say, between sixteen and eighteen, because we're underrepresented and it's our country too!

[AwallaceUNC]

I know, I assumed that was it- I tend to associate people's appearances with their avatars.

I am not now, nor have I ever been, a superhero.

You are to us, Loomis. You are to us.

-Aaron

[Isidour]

Hi!

So I´m an innocent child??

the relation between people and avatar might be true...that´s why I´ll channging mine

[Edge]

To defend a two party system to some extent I think we have to look at how lazy society is as a whole.

People can't even do the research on two candidates, I don't think adding more really solves anything.

You're never going to agree totally with someone, but i think a lot of people gotta stop waiting for perfection. They won't vote though they agree 75% with a particular candidate from either party. Voting, much like policies of the people you vote for, is about compromise.

That doesn't sound nearly as wonderful as our childhood lessons of "everyone decides everything" but such is life.

The one thing that does bother me on BOTH sides is the lack of knowledge of far too many people. Politics is becoming like religion in that people are born into a belief and follow it though they never even know why.

One of my best friends is a hard-core Republican and debating with him is one of the most enjoyable and mind expanding experiences ever. But there are so many people {again on BOTH sides} who just put the blinder up. They don't know what they believe they just know mommy and daddy said so. That {along with not voting} is probably the biggest shame.

If you can defend your view that's awesome and merits respect, but make sure you know what you believe. Don't hold politicians to a level that no one {yourself included} can live up to and at the same time try to understand that not EVERYTHING can happen the way you want it because for all their flaws, both sides do tend to balance each other on the whole.

[ThiagoPE]

I live in brazil, but the US electoral campain is show here all the time on the tv (really seems that the election is here, they just don't get the free time on the tv to show their campains, hehehehehe)

If live in US, I vote for Kerry

[karlsen]

I am not able to vote since I ain't American, but when that date comes I will be up all night following the election. This is not only an election that is important to America but this election is about how America is going to be acting in the rest of the world as well.

I can't belive why President Bush has gotten away with lying to the public.

* First he told Americans that Saddam was behind 9/11, something he now has admitted was false.

* Then he told the American people that Saddam had weapons of mass destructions, something he now has admitted was not true.

The weapon inspectors told the world that there was no sign of weapons of mass destruction but Bush told America that the weapon inspectors were not to trust. Now the leader of that group, Hans Blix, is nominated to the Nobel Peace Price and lots of people belive that he could get it.

Bush is not saying that Saddam was behind 9/11 anymore, and he is not saying that he had weapons of mass destruction. Why: Because it was wrong. Now he is saying that it was necesary to take Saddam away because he was a bad leader and he was bad to his people.

That is correct, and nobody is denying that Saddam was bad. But is it Americas right and duty to do whatever they belive is right all over the world?

Bush told America that almost all the world was on his side on this war but that was not correct as well. Most of Europe (wish is as much developed as America, and all the countries are democraties as well) was against the war. Say that Pakistan finds out that Bush is a bad leder for America and therefore decides to invade America? Not likely at all, but what is the real diffrence here. What makes it OK when America decides that another country should change their leader and then do it by war.

Bush is now telling the American people that the reason why people hate America is because America has freedom. That is not true at all, but why does people hate America?
They hate America because Americas leaders are acting like they are presidents of the world and not just America. George Bush belives that it is his God give duty to fix up in problems around the world (atleast if that problem once tried to kill his father), and that is just the reason to why many muslim countries hate America.

I don't know all about John Kerry, but I do know that Senator John McCain sead that Kerry would be a good president. If a senator from the oposite party seas something like that it gives me a good picture of what he can do.

But most importantly I belive that Kerry is the perfect man if America wants to fight the war on terrorism the best way there is. Kerry would be able to build up Americas good name in the rest of the world again, and that is the most important task now. The war on terror should not be fought in Iraq with weapons like now.

Nothing good will come out of this war for America. The "enemy" that was fought did not have anything tp do with 9/11 and the country were no threet to America since they did not have weapons. So why should America let their soldiers die in Iraq?`

What Americans now should do is to vote John Kerry and he will take the troups out of Iraq and let the UN take over the mess that Bush have made down there.

And the most important thing is that you DO VOTE. If you don't use your vote then you are in no position to make any coments on the goverment for the next 4 years.

And you should remember that every vote counts. Last time there was only a few hundred votes that made the diffrence in Florida. Had 600 more voted for Al Gore then America would never been in war with Iraq now, and there would be 1000 more people in America that could take care of their families instead of sacrefasing their lives in a war that had no real meaning. It is tragic that 1000 lives had to be lost in a war with no legitimity. I have the deapest sympehty with those that are left behind and lost a family member and a dear friend.

[Isidour]

Hi!

Maybe 1000 US marines and soldiers lives...

but how many more from really innocent Iraqui and afgan people?