News Clinton Vs Trump

[hodge]

Good point, @scout. If you live in a battleground state, a vote for a third-party candidate is a vote for Trump. Clinton is pretty much going to get enough votes in blue states, I think.

Ack, 40 more days!

 

[joeylittle]

Clinton is pretty much going to get enough votes in blue states, I think.

I don't think anything is guaranteed.

I also think on this one - people need to vote their conscience. It's clear that the American political structure/machine - the two party system - is disintegrating. It was bound to happen eventually.

So, except for there being the same old electoral college screwing up the whole 'every vote counts' concept - there's nothing about this election that is normal.

Therefore, people should vote for who they genuinely stand behind. Look at all of em, and make an informed decision: Who do you believe will do the best job running America for the next four years? What will their base permit them to do/not do?

The more I think about it, the more I think that's the best thing to do here. Maybe we need gridlock. Maybe real change can come about in the future, some election down the line, if people vote their conscience. I don't even know that the electoral college will do anything other than that.

This election is so strange.

The alternative is to actively protest the vote. I hope in a month and some days it's not come to 'voter turn-out at an all time record low'. Apathy would depress me most of all.

/rant

 

[hodge]

I hear what you're saying, Joey, and ordinarily I would agree with you, but this is an unprecedented election cycle. Trump has proven to be so volatile, so juvenile, so incapable and unwilling to learn basic things about running this country, so thin-skinned, and so trigger-happy on Twitter and other media, and has openly questioned why we have nuclear weapons if we don't use them. His lack of understanding of even the basic principles behind nuclear deterrence alone makes him a terrifying prospect in the Oval Office. Plus, he obviously does not listen to any of his advisors, so why would he listen to any advisors if he were president? A good president surrounds themselves with top people in their fields and listens to their input when making a decision. This guy can't even take simple advice for how to prepare for a debate. He thinks he knows better than anyone. Yeah, I'm really gonna believe that someone who has declared bankruptcy at least four times knows better than anyone.

In other words, if he somehow got elected, our country and the world would be in grave peril. With past candidates, I'd say, yeah, go for a third-party person if it makes you feel better. (I voted for Jerry Brown the year he ran.) But not this time. The risks are far too great. Hold your nose if you have to . But a vote for anyone other than Clinton is a vote for Trump, especially in swing states, and let's not take any of the other states for granted, either. We have to think of the future of our country and the world and cannot risk letting this guy anywhere near the nuclear codes.

 

[hodge]

Also, if you check out the scientific polls, there is abundant evidence that we still have a predominantly two-party system, and that's what we have to work with. I'll post links if you want. :). Winding down at the moment, but will do if you need to see them.

 

[scout86]

If anyone needs a comedic break from the true seriousness of the Trump v Clinton election, check out this:

I finally got a chance to watch this. It's GREAT! And, the movement sounds interesting too. I'm looking for more info. I always kind of wanted to help start a revolution. :ninja:

 

[hodge]

The problem with many modern-day revolutions is that they lead to horrendous dictatorships. Ours in the 18th century was one of the very few exceptions. Because it was led by exceptional people who were altruistic in enough ways to create this republic.They were also beneficiaries of the Enlightenment movement in Europe which included the principles of the rights of the individual, etc.

Our Declaration of Independence and Constitution inspired countless other countries around the world. Especially in the 1950s and 1960s when former colonies used our heritage to declare their independence and write their own constitutions.

Let's not squander that great heritage and gifts to the rest of the world. They are watching us now with terrified eyes.

 

[hodge]

Still, let's not forget the many, many victims of this invasion of this segment of beforehand unclaimed-by-Europeans North America land.

 

[joeylittle]

if you check out the scientific polls, there is abundant evidence that we still have a predominantly two-party system, and that's what we have to work with. I'll post links if you want. :).

Naw, I believe you. I'm theorizing, nothing more.

 

[hodge]

I do wish we could have a viable multi-party system here, but for some reason it just doesn't seem to work. I don't know enough to know why. I'm sure there are plenty of political papers out there examining this, but, eh, I have to reserve my slight attention span to pragmatic things :).

By the way, that is the only way in which I feel any empathy for Trump, that he also has a very short attention span. It sucks. But I know enough to never run for president with my short attention span. He should, too. It would be an obscene disservice to our nation, not to mention the world, to have a president who can't concentrate on anything for more than 10-15 minutes. And by some reports from his campaign staff, that's stretching it.

 

[hodge]

Holy cr@p!! Red alert? Hackers target election systems in 20 states

If you don't click on this link, just know it comes from NBC News.

 

[Blue Survivor]

During the debate, Trump said that he does not pay federal taxes because he is smart, and people were really put off by that.

I won't say if I'm pro one candidate or the other. But in regards to Trump's comment about not paying taxes... ...I have to admit - people are likely only mad because they themselves have not discovered the same loopholes as he has. Can most people honestly say they ENJOY paying taxes? Wouldn't most people like to get around that, legally? I say, good for him!

 

[hodge]

Of course no one likes paying taxes, but if all of us somehow got out of it, we'd be living in a less-than-third-world country . . . terrible water, schools, sewers, roads, bridges, you name it. No Social Security, no unemployment compensation, no workman's compensation for serious injuries on the job . . . there are tons of good things we wouldn't have if we didn't all chip in. I think it's disgraceful that someone who is supposedly so wealthy gloats -- in a presidential debate, no less -- about not paying taxes. I pay mine. Hillary pays hers. That's part of being a good citizen and a sensible grown-up.