Certainly plenty of lively discussion on this board lately concerning politics, NEA, liberal/conservative etc.
I find the discussions enlightening and for the most part enjoyable. I did notice that "labels" get to be tossed around pretty quickly. Some folks label others and some folks proudly label themselves. This may not be such a good thing.
As an example: Two years ago in New Hampshire we elected a state representative named Tom Alcieres. He won a republican seat in Nashua NH. For a little back ground - NH has the largest state governing body in the USA. We have 400 representatives and 24 state senators. Wow - I am always amazed that they get anything accomplished in the statehouse with those numbers. Now all 424 candidates are not on your particular ballot. But the disrticts can be large and the bollot can have quite a slew of candidates names.
Tom Alciere ran for this state seat 3 other times. Once as a Libertarian and twice as a Democrat. Fourth and victorious time he was a Republican. Alciere was in a multi-candidate race ie 5 candidates but only 3 seats (not exactly sure of numbers on that but you get the idea). State Republican party donated a token $125 to Alcieres campaign.
Alcires is elected thanks to straight party ticket voters. Some one who feels any and all Republicans(or Dems) are always better than any Democrats(or Repubs). So they check off one box on the ballot and all the Republican (or Dem) candidates get a vote. Nice quick and simple. And you're out of the polling place in record time.
After Alcieres win a little history emerges. Alcieres is well known in Nashua. He wrote copious amounts of "letters to the editor". Thanks largely to these Alcieres is on record as saying that killing cops is often acceptable. In two incidents were police officers were murdered he wrote letters siding with the murderer. His views were extreme to say the least. He felt the police abused their power and killing them was a good thing.
Of course this made national news and NH was the butt of jokes and derision. Tom Alcieres did resign after a short while. I did like one quote of his - paraphased he said "I tried to change the system for years(letters to editor, council meetings as a citizen, etc) and failed so I ran figuring I could change it from with-in" Can't blame him for that.
Point of all this?? Maybe the labels we assign or take on aren't good. Alcieres won thanks to people who felt that their party's candidates are ALWAYS better than the other party's candidates. No thought neccassary. No need to study any issues or candidates. And for that mindless belief that your party is always right NH elected Tom Alcire.
Phil
I find the discussions enlightening and for the most part enjoyable. I did notice that "labels" get to be tossed around pretty quickly. Some folks label others and some folks proudly label themselves. This may not be such a good thing.
As an example: Two years ago in New Hampshire we elected a state representative named Tom Alcieres. He won a republican seat in Nashua NH. For a little back ground - NH has the largest state governing body in the USA. We have 400 representatives and 24 state senators. Wow - I am always amazed that they get anything accomplished in the statehouse with those numbers. Now all 424 candidates are not on your particular ballot. But the disrticts can be large and the bollot can have quite a slew of candidates names.
Tom Alciere ran for this state seat 3 other times. Once as a Libertarian and twice as a Democrat. Fourth and victorious time he was a Republican. Alciere was in a multi-candidate race ie 5 candidates but only 3 seats (not exactly sure of numbers on that but you get the idea). State Republican party donated a token $125 to Alcieres campaign.
Alcires is elected thanks to straight party ticket voters. Some one who feels any and all Republicans(or Dems) are always better than any Democrats(or Repubs). So they check off one box on the ballot and all the Republican (or Dem) candidates get a vote. Nice quick and simple. And you're out of the polling place in record time.
After Alcieres win a little history emerges. Alcieres is well known in Nashua. He wrote copious amounts of "letters to the editor". Thanks largely to these Alcieres is on record as saying that killing cops is often acceptable. In two incidents were police officers were murdered he wrote letters siding with the murderer. His views were extreme to say the least. He felt the police abused their power and killing them was a good thing.
Of course this made national news and NH was the butt of jokes and derision. Tom Alcieres did resign after a short while. I did like one quote of his - paraphased he said "I tried to change the system for years(letters to editor, council meetings as a citizen, etc) and failed so I ran figuring I could change it from with-in" Can't blame him for that.
Point of all this?? Maybe the labels we assign or take on aren't good. Alcieres won thanks to people who felt that their party's candidates are ALWAYS better than the other party's candidates. No thought neccassary. No need to study any issues or candidates. And for that mindless belief that your party is always right NH elected Tom Alcire.
Phil