2010 US "Midterm Elections"
By ParaTed2k
@ParaTed2k (22940)
Sheboygan, Wisconsin
October 23, 2009 2:09am CST
Next year American voters will once again have the opportunity to go to the polls and vote for or against the representatives of the people and the states in Congress.
We have another opportunity to tell these incumbents and challengers exactly how we feel about the job they are doing.
Insanity has been defined as doing the same thing over and over, expecting a different result. For much of our nation's history we have given control of our government to one of two parties... we did the same thing over and over, expecting each election to be the one that reaps different results.
So here is my suggestion for "hope" and "change", in three easy steps...
First of all, vote against the incumbent. I know they all seem to think that only they can do the job. However, guess what, if they died tomorrow they would be replaced by someone. The nation won't fall over and die. Massachusetts inflicted Ted Kennedy on us for decades. He died. The world didn't end.
Voting against the incumbent will simply tell him or her that it's time to leave the beltway and start living a "real" life again. It will also require that person to live the laws they spent their term passing. How can we expect our Senators and Representatives to give a flying fig about what they pass if they don't figure they'll have to live them anytime soon.
Next, if there is a 3rd party candidate, vote for them. Now, this is NOT a waste of a vote, this is a vote that makes a much stronger statement than simply hanging a chad for those whose names are followed by an R or a D.
Both the Rs and the Ds have had ample opportunity to get their stated goals passed into law. Guess what, niether of them bothered... so don't bother giving them any more chances.
Guess what, if enough people are willing to break out of the paRaDigm we've stuck ourselves with, there won't be a paRaDigm anymore.
1 person likes this
4 responses
@anniepa (27955)
• United States
23 Oct 09
This seems oddly familiar to me...THAT'S RIGHT, I hear it during every election cycle! Maybe this time around there are more vocal complaints than usual but there's always been the cry to "throw them all out". The problem has always been that while if you poll a large number of American voters the majority will probably say they're in favor of term limits and of getting rid of all incumbents. Their opinion of Congress in general is probably pretty low. However, this feeling often applies to all members of Congress but THEIR OWN! Somehow, to enough people to keep them from getting reelected over and over again, their own Congressman/woman isn't part of the problem!
I could be wrong, there's a first time for everything; out of curiosity, Ted, how do you feel about your Senators and Representatives? Are you going to vote against them?
You said, "Next, if there is a 3rd party candidate, vote for them." That's fine, but you didn't add "if you like what they stand for". I know many people are always accusing others of basing their votes purely on the "R" or "D" next to their name but wouldn't it be just as bad to base a vote solely on the absence of one of those letters?
Annie
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
23 Oct 09
Sadly, we don't vote for individuals any more, we vote for party representation. It doesn't matter who we vote for, since in the end all we are deciding is which party gets to control the seat. In other words, if I am voting for my Representative, Tom Petri, I'm not really supporting him or opposing his opponent as much as supporting the party he represents.
Actually, I think Rep Petri is ok, and have talked with him many times. I also know I won't vote for him.
It doesn't matter what a candidate says they stand for, since it isn't their voice or ours represented in Congress. It is the voice of the party.
It's time We the People took our representation back and put the parties on trial for their crimes.
@starsailover (7829)
• Mexico
24 Oct 09
But this takes a long time. We have to act TODAY, but at the same time don't expect to make a change now because, we're used to re-elect our representatives and to vote Red or Blue over and over again. I think this idea would make our democracy even richer
@Ima_C_Suvaya (431)
• United States
25 Oct 09
I am so with you. The two parties are hedging their bets, however. Take notice of how much harder it is for third party candidates to get on the ballots nowadays.
@laglen (19759)
• United States
23 Oct 09
I know alot of people don't think their vote counts. But it does. I agree we need to vote against incumbents this year. Let them know that we do not approve of the job they are doing. All of these people seem to think they are safe. Their heads get big while shoved up their a55 that they can't get it back out! They have been ignoring their constituents (town halls). I have been so disgusted with the way citizens have been treated.
@starsailover (7829)
• Mexico
24 Oct 09
Hi laglen: I think these are some very good wishes but at the same time we must admit that almost all voters don't consider the importance of their choice and that they really can change things with this power
@wlee9696 (595)
• United States
23 Oct 09
We need new representatives. Too many of the old guard - both parties - have forgotten who finances their paychecks. The whole system has gone crazy and they all have a hand in it. We need new blood so to speak. Every party needs to get rid of the folks who have been in office forever and have done nothing to truly represent the people. We need new energy, new ideas and new eyes. We need people who understand what it's like to live from paycheck to paycheck. We need people who believe in the constitution and will work to put our country back on track.
@ParaTed2k (22940)
• Sheboygan, Wisconsin
26 Oct 09
That's the thing, it is the two parties that finance their paychecks. Maybe not the little one that comes in the form of a payroll deposit, but the big ones that come in the form of their re-election war chest.
