Wed
Jan 2 2008
10:24:am
Good Government - oxymoronic?
By: Fairview Angel  shortURL

With the local GOP taking the role of tax and spend, and national GOP assuming the role of simply spending - maybe we can look to the state level to see if the governor is promoting fiscal responsibility; (link...)
Nevermind.

...Anybody got any hot leads on government jobs?

Kidding aside, are we in this shape because of ignorance, apathy, or complacency?

Topics:

All 3

Submitted by local_yokel on Wed, 01/02/2008 - 14:26.

Speaking strictly locally, I think it is all 3.

We're ignorant because local news outlets print pretty much what the local gov't wants us to hear. (There have been some exceptions recently.)

We're apathetic because we don't know how bad things are.

We are complacent because we don't know how bad things are, we put our suspicions aside because things are done how they have always been done and we have little hope of exacting positive change anyway, so why bother trying?

We are complacent because we

Submitted by ABlevins on Wed, 01/02/2008 - 14:56.

We are complacent because we don't know how bad things are, we put our suspicions aside because things are done how they have always been done and we have little hope of exacting positive change anyway, so why bother trying?

I asked someone today if they were registered to vote and they answered, "Nope, my vote won't make a difference" How do I convince people to VOTE! It's our only hope...

here ya go AB

Submitted by mello on Wed, 01/02/2008 - 15:23.

" Vote just because it will piss off the Good Old Boys"

Locally, here are a couple of stats that make you sit up and think.

The Blount County Mayor's Race 2006

Good Guy Joe Gallagher lost to mayor Jerry by only 3,117 votes. Today, it would be so easy to find those 3,117 voters!

And Howard Kerr lost the GOP primary to mayor Jerry by only 1,992 votes.

Out in Friendsville, LindaJo Dees lost to Hargis by only 244 votes.

Yes, their votes matter in Blount County!

Considering the difference...

Submitted by local_yokel on Wed, 01/02/2008 - 16:31.

Considering the money spent by the Cunningham campaign vs. the money spent in the Gallagher campaign, a 3,117 vote difference was a ringing endorsement for Joe!

Here's a link: ((link...))

Can never miss a chance to point out the kinds of folks Cunningham's most major supporters were: ((link...))

Voting can't make things worse

Submitted by Dumping Ground on Wed, 01/02/2008 - 16:16.

Local is spot on with the numbers. Last two presidential elections came down to hand counts in Fla and Ohio. Scare people with the reality that voting won't change anything for the better (at least for a term or two), it's about keeping government from getting any worse. Most people can get a handle on that before they would believe Hillary, Rudy and the gang are going to "save" them. The messes that have been made will take a long time to clean up - locally and nationally.

If numbers don't work, ask them "If you keep doing what you've always done, you'll keep getting what you've always got. How's that working for you?"

Alice

Submitted by local_yokel on Wed, 01/02/2008 - 16:49.

Tell your friend (as you hand him/her the Voter Registration form from RNeal's thread) that failing to vote is, in fact, CASTING a vote for someone. When you do not vote FOR someone, you are helping them be defeated by someone else. Better to make sure the one you deem best is the winner, than to permit someone else to win by default. Remind your friend of the issues that matter to him/her in particular that are at stake: immigration? taxes? patriot act? war?

I feel strongly that, upon reaching adulthood, we should no longer expect others to take care of these important decisions for us. We are in charge of this country collectively. The system only works if you work it.

It's so easy, in this day and time, to just google the candidates and see what they stand for. No excuse for not doing it.

Do I need another cup of coffee, or what?

Coffee

Submitted by BeyondLeft on Wed, 01/02/2008 - 17:15.

You need 12 more cups of coffee. Never let a fire dwindle. Keep feeding it fuel. Because when you know, in your own heart, that you are correct, and that you're looking out for future generations, then your deeds are of valor, and should be fueled to fever pitch.

viva Evo Morales

as you hand him/her the

Submitted by ABlevins on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 07:32.


as you hand him/her the Voter Registration form from RNeal's thread


Good idea Local! I think I will print him out a registration form to give him. I don't think he would vote as I will but still... I want these people whose voices are rarely heard to vote!
As for processing the registration, I recently had a change of address so I submitted this to the election board (or whoever)and had a new card within 10 days.

Location, location, location

Submitted by BeyondLeft on Wed, 01/02/2008 - 15:07.

"local news outlets print pretty much what the local gov't wants us to hear"

Locally: folks will picket, protest, and hoot-n-holler at a location where they hope the local news media will send vans, cameras, and recorders; instead of taking their presence TO the local news media outlets, and having them have to drive over the folks to get their cameras outta the parling lots. Typically, the local news media is gonna call some local official, and ask them what the protest is about, and the protest's significance is then bartered away.

viva Evo Morales

had we run more candidates

Submitted by mello on Wed, 01/02/2008 - 16:48.

had we run more candidates, we may well have won more contests. We can't win if we don't run candidates.

EVERY VOTE COUNTS

Submitted by Jolly Ox on Thu, 01/03/2008 - 00:09.

Especially at the local level!

If you go back to the 2002 County Commission election, I believe you'll find that Democrat Ernie Tallent won his seat by one vote, 301 to 300. For the next 4 years he was the only Democrat on the Commission.

It takes 11 votes to pass a resolution on the County Commission. For some issues, it takes 14.

A few more votes at the polling booth leads to better votes at the courthouse.

Votes matter at every level, but at the local level they are critical in shaping the very quality and nature of our every day lives.

Every 18 year old's birthday card should have a voter registration form in it.

And every first trip to the voting booth should be followed by a family celebration in honor of the democratic process at work.

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