Bush or Gore

glennmac · Oct 1, 2000

Now that we have analyzed the candidates, it is customary to analyze the election results, which I find rather surprising.

The result so far has been one-sided. While most posters are not too excited by either candidate, the ovewhelming trend is for Bush on a lesser-of-evils approach. Gore seems to inspire outright hostility, based on his own actions/words and derivately from Clinton. I count only two posts that could be interpreted as leaning toward Gore.

I think it is interesting to discuss why Tractorbynetians, as a voting group, favor Bush. I can think of a few explanations:

1. The national polls are wrong (showing a close race), and our "poll" is closer to the national voting trend. I tend to doubt this.

2. There are Gore supporters here but they have not been posting, perhaps deterred by the swiftness and ferocity of the anti-Gore/Clinton posts. I think there may be some of that going on. Hey, if you're out there, speak up. This is all in fun.

3. Tractorbynetians are not members of those ethnic, gender, religious and occupational groups that traditionally and historically vote Democrat. Plus, tractorpeople are rural landowners.

4. Tractor ownership causes people to vote for Bush (or against Gore); or, vice versa, support for Bush (or opposition to Gore) causes tractor ownership. While this may sound as absurd to some as saying that Clinton caused the good economy, there may be something to this in a more indirect sense. Tractoring is a simple, honest, elemental thing. It requires hard work and patience. There is right and wrong. There are very visible rewards and punishments for jobs done well and poorly. We can't fundraise or rent our bedrooms to raise money to buy our equipment. You can't get a tractor task done by flapping your tongue. You can't bullsh*t your way around cowsh*t. You can't lie about whether you pulled the stump or moved the boulder. Successful tractoring involves disciplined adherence to codes, standards and principles--not relativism.

Perhaps tractorpeople tend to vote for the candidate who they see as better reflecting the principles embodied in tractoring.

Glenn

geneP · Oct 1, 2000

Glen, In my opinion, items three and four are the more accurate. Paraphrasing item four: dicipline, patience and work-in-the-dirt ethics give tractor owners that frequent this board the wherewithal to acquire rural property and tractors without government subsidies. I also acknowledge there are exceptions. I'm sure there are Goreites out there who have worked hard and long and achieved a degree of success, they just don't like tractors.

Anonymous Poster · Oct 1, 2000

Some food for thought (from the Early Years portion of Al Gore's website biography):

Al Gore's childhood is split between Carthage, Tennessee, where Gore spends his summers and vacations, and Washington, D.C. where his father works. While in Carthage, Gore works for his father on the family farm — getting up before dawn to help feed the livestock, cleaning out hog parlors, and helping to clear and plow fields.

Thomas · Oct 1, 2000

Robert,
Sorry I took so long to reply./w3tcompact/icons/frown.gif
You hadn't upset me by any means,and just be who you are. /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

Thomas..NH /w3tcompact/icons/wink.gif

ddl · Oct 2, 2000

One of the poster said the Gore spent time in Tenn. working
on the farm. If you beleive that, I am sure he has some china tea for you to buy. He will even throw in some X rated pictures from his supporters.

Dan

glennmac · Oct 2, 2000

H. Ross Nader,

Thanks for the biographical info on Al Gore. You know, that could explain a lot of things. About 6 months ago, Gore switched his campaign headquarters from Washington to Nashville and switched all his suits to earth tone colors. This could be interpreted as a sincere and principled return to his agrarian roots.

Hope all's well with your buddy Jesse Buchanan.

Glenn

jimmoore · Oct 2, 2000

Hey BIRD, Arkansas has had a POTUS. I am willing to give a TEXAN a chance now. Since every thing is bigger in TEXAS, LOOK OUT MONICA!! "GAG"

Alan L. · Oct 2, 2000

Bush's tax cuts cut all rates. That means that everybody shares in the cuts. Everytime there is an increase in taxes the "rich" are soaked, then when it comes time for a cut only the others benefit. Its not fair. At some point the "rich" are entitled to share in the tax cuts, and that time is now.

I'm no where near being rich, but I don't get to share in any of Gore's cuts. Gore considers many middle income families as "rich". He targets large numbers of low income taxpayers for his cuts because those are where most of his votes will come from.

Sorry for the epistle, but I just don't see why the middle class has to pay the bill every time it comes due, but when the refund comes the lower income people get the refund.

ERNIEB · Oct 2, 2000

Glenn,
While I basically agree with your analyzation of why we lean toward Bush, I would say it a little differently. Certainly the tractor is what draws us to this board, but as noted in 3 we are rural landowners. I would say that land is the tie that binds. Wether We bought it or recieved it through legacy, We feel a closeness to it and indeed a responsibility to it. It must be maintained, and our tractors are the tools we use to do this. We mow, clear, till, and do all sorts of other things in order to improve it. This becomes Our main goal. We are not fooled by the groups that advocate a "hands off" policy, but we are also able to see when land is being misused.
If one spends some time going thru the posts, you will find several instances where wildlife has benifited from land manipulation, and where grass, fruits, and vegetables grow where none grew before. I no doubt took some liberties in using the pronoun We, forgive me. But to me this says more about who We are than the color tractor we drive.
Ernie