Political Crossfire Forums

eetee07 · Joined: 11 Sep 2006 Posts: 6 Location: Atlanta

I think one of the major problems is the apathy of the general US populace. There are not enough people that are willing to stand up and protest for their beliefs. The political activism of the 1970s is long gone and the ignorance of my generation has taken over.

micfranklin · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 10:04 am Post subject:

If their television were taken away then I'm sure people would be up in arms in less than half an hour :?

Ryan Seacrest did once say that more people voted on American Idol than they did for any president in history.

LostSoul3412 · Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Posts: 7657

micfranklin wrote: Ryan Seacrest did once say that more people voted on American Idol than they did for any president in history.

A part of me just died inside...

swormer · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 11 Location: Missouri

That is the saddest fact I've ever heard. Either people really just don't care or they don't think they can make a difference. Perhaps they just don't feel threatened yet.

perdidochas · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 14747 Location: Florida

swormer wrote: That is the saddest fact I've ever heard. Either people really just don't care or they don't think they can make a difference. Perhaps they just don't feel threatened yet.

You don't have to get off your butt to vote for American Idol. In addition, you can vote for American Idol multiple times--once with your landline, once with your cell.

swormer · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 11 Location: Missouri

Its not like its that tough to go out and vote is it? It always ticks me off when I hear someone say they didn't go vote, it is the easiest part we can play when it comes to government.

perdidochas · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 14747 Location: Florida

swormer wrote: Its not like its that tough to go out and vote is it? It always ticks me off when I hear someone say they didn't go vote, it is the easiest part we can play when it comes to government.

I'm glad to hear some slacker didn't vote. It makes my vote worth more. If someone doesn't have the will to get up and vote, I don't want their opinion heard. Personally, I think we should make voting harder to do, not easier.

swormer · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 11 Location: Missouri

What do you mean harder to vote? If you mean something along the lines of an educated vote, I would agree.

perdidochas · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 14747 Location: Florida

swormer wrote: What do you mean harder to vote? If you mean something along the lines of an educated vote, I would agree.

I mean we should get rid of motor voter--make people go to another office to register to vote, don't just add it on to the driver's license process. Make voting happen from 9 to 5, etc. Heck, put in a voter's test. Ask voters to pass the same test that immigrants have to take in order to get naturalized.

swormer · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 11 Location: Missouri

[\quote]I mean we should get rid of motor voter--make people go to another office to register to vote, don't just add it on to the driver's license process.[\quote]
I agree, just because you can drive doesn't mean you have much of a brain.

[\quote]Make voting happen from 9 to 5, etc.[\quote]
What about work? I don't think many employers would like to let their employees out of work to go vote.

[\quote]Heck, put in a voter's test. Ask voters to pass the same test that immigrants have to take in order to get naturalized.[/quote]
That is a great idea as long as the information is easily accessable.

swormer · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 11 Location: Missouri

sorry about the quotes being messed up!

micfranklin · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 4:31 pm Post subject:

LostSoul3412 wrote: micfranklin wrote: Ryan Seacrest did once say that more people voted on American Idol than they did for any president in history.

A part of me just died inside...

That was just Pitiful with a capital "P" and its sad to think more people care about their next singer than they do for political rights.

LostSoul3412 · Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Posts: 7657

micfranklin wrote: LostSoul3412 wrote: micfranklin wrote: Ryan Seacrest did once say that more people voted on American Idol than they did for any president in history.

A part of me just died inside...

That was just Pitiful with a capital "P" and its sad to think more people care about their next singer than they do for political rights.

I have a great idea that'll attract voters!

1) Let them vote by phone.

2) Turn the debates into a singing contest.

3) Change the title from "President", to "American Idol".

That seems to be what's important anyway... singing ability and a cool new title....

Sometimes America disgusts me.

micfranklin · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 4:47 pm Post subject:

LostSoul3412 wrote: micfranklin wrote: LostSoul3412 wrote: micfranklin wrote: Ryan Seacrest did once say that more people voted on American Idol than they did for any president in history.

A part of me just died inside...

That was just Pitiful with a capital "P" and its sad to think more people care about their next singer than they do for political rights.

I have a great idea that'll attract voters!

1) Let them vote by phone.

2) Turn the debates into a singing contest.

3) Change the title from "President", to "American Idol".

That seems to be what's important anyway... singing ability and a cool new title....

Sometimes America disgusts me.

What's worse is that people can name every contestant on Americal Idol, every person who's ever walked the red carpet, but doesn't know their basic 1st Amendment rights or the 3 branches of gov't or what the first 10 amendments are referred to as...

BTW: Freedom of speech, the press, religion, right to assemble, petitioning for grievances.

3 branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judical

first 10 amendments: Bill of Rights.

LostSoul3412 · Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Posts: 7657

micfranklin wrote: LostSoul3412 wrote: micfranklin wrote: LostSoul3412 wrote: micfranklin wrote: Ryan Seacrest did once say that more people voted on American Idol than they did for any president in history.

A part of me just died inside...

That was just Pitiful with a capital "P" and its sad to think more people care about their next singer than they do for political rights.

I have a great idea that'll attract voters!

1) Let them vote by phone.

2) Turn the debates into a singing contest.

3) Change the title from "President", to "American Idol".

That seems to be what's important anyway... singing ability and a cool new title....

Sometimes America disgusts me.

What's worse is that people can name every contestant on Americal Idol, every person who's ever walked the red carpet, but doesn't know their basic 1st Amendment rights or the 3 branches of gov't or what the first 10 amendments are referred to as...

BTW: Freedom of speech, the press, religion, right to assemble, petitioning for grievances.

3 branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judical

first 10 amendments: Bill of Rights.

I've got an even better one. Ever see "Super Size Me" ?

People know the entire Big Mac theme song, but don't know the Pledge of Alligence...

I didn't even know there was a Big Mac theme song!

:wtf:

J. Reiner · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 39

perdidochas wrote: Heck, put in a voter's test. Ask voters to pass the same test that immigrants have to take in order to get naturalized.

I'm inclined to agree with this. I find it truly disgusting that someone with no knowledge of the world, much less their corner of it, have as much of a say as someone who grasps the intricacies of the modern political world.

By the same token however, these individuals loathe the ignorance of their representatives who are supposed to understand the "little man"'s world. Money is now( and always has been) a prerequisite to power. When those with power are called upon to represent the interests of those without power, how can they possibly have an understanding of their situation?

Maybe the solution is to simply eliminate both the lower and upper classes. I'm sure those of us in the middle would be more than happy to fill the void.

perdidochas · Joined: 06 Mar 2006 Posts: 14747 Location: Florida

swormer wrote: perdidochas wrote: I mean we should get rid of motor voter--make people go to another office to register to vote, don't just add it on to the driver's license process.
swormer wrote: I agree, just because you can drive doesn't mean you have much of a brain.

perdidochas wrote: Make voting happen from 9 to 5, etc.
What about work? I don't think many employers would like to let their employees out of work to go vote.

By current law they are required to.

swormer wrote: perdidochas wrote: Heck, put in a voter's test. Ask voters to pass the same test that immigrants have to take in order to get naturalized.
That is a great idea as long as the information is easily accessable.

www.uscis.gov/graphics/exec/natz/natztest.asp

micfranklin · Posted: Tue Sep 12, 2006 4:59 pm Post subject:

LostSoul3412 wrote: micfranklin wrote: LostSoul3412 wrote: micfranklin wrote: LostSoul3412 wrote: micfranklin wrote: Ryan Seacrest did once say that more people voted on American Idol than they did for any president in history.

A part of me just died inside...

That was just Pitiful with a capital "P" and its sad to think more people care about their next singer than they do for political rights.

I have a great idea that'll attract voters!

1) Let them vote by phone.

2) Turn the debates into a singing contest.

3) Change the title from "President", to "American Idol".

That seems to be what's important anyway... singing ability and a cool new title....

Sometimes America disgusts me.

What's worse is that people can name every contestant on Americal Idol, every person who's ever walked the red carpet, but doesn't know their basic 1st Amendment rights or the 3 branches of gov't or what the first 10 amendments are referred to as...

BTW: Freedom of speech, the press, religion, right to assemble, petitioning for grievances.

3 branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judical

first 10 amendments: Bill of Rights.

I've got an even better one. Ever see "Super Size Me" ?

People know the entire Big Mac theme song, but don't know the Pledge of Alligence...

I didn't even know there was a Big Mac theme song!

:wtf:

People actually don't know the pledge?

I didn't know Big Mac had a theme song, either, but I'll still eat one :wink:

LostSoul3412 · Joined: 11 Feb 2005 Posts: 7657

micfranklin wrote: People actually don't know the pledge?

Yes. There are people living in the United States of America who wouldn't be able to pass the tests that we give to immigrants to become American citizens. Sometimes I just want to... just want to....

:wtf:

swormer · Joined: 12 Sep 2006 Posts: 11 Location: Missouri

perdidochas wrote: swormer wrote: perdidochas wrote: I mean we should get rid of motor voter--make people go to another office to register to vote, don't just add it on to the driver's license process.
swormer wrote: I agree, just because you can drive doesn't mean you have much of a brain.

perdidochas wrote: Make voting happen from 9 to 5, etc.
What about work? I don't think many employers would like to let their employees out of work to go vote.

By current law they are required to.

swormer wrote: perdidochas wrote: Heck, put in a voter's test. Ask voters to pass the same test that immigrants have to take in order to get naturalized.
That is a great idea as long as the information is easily accessable.

www.uscis.gov/graphics/exec/natz/natztest.asp

Yes, I've been to this site before but I'm not talking about an internet link. I live in a small town in rural Missouri. I work for the local school district. You would be surprised at the amount of people still without a computer or an internet connection. I even have family members who don't use the internet. Doesn't mean they aren't informed enough to vote. It should start in our education system, something that in the public sector is too overly critized and no solutions are ever given.