TheSkudDestroyer

This would only give more power to the electoral college. It's the responsibility of schools to educate us NOW so that we are able to make good decisions about politics and form our own opinions other than what we read or see.

EDIT: I say it's the responsibility of the education system because people my age don't take the time to read or learn on thier own. Other 17 year olds don't even read fiction outside of school work.

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|TG-6th|Skud, NA Deputy Lead Tester

MagnaCentipede

"Since when in Huckabee liberal?"

He's not too bad, but I'd much rather see him step out, direct his supporters to Mitt so McCain can be overwhelmed, and then run a Romney Huckabee ticket.

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Rincewind

For the lolz

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~~ Veritas simplex oratio est ~~
No matter how far a wizard goes, he will always come back for his hat. --T. Pratchett

<---- You know you're getting old when you rely on your forum meta-data to remind you how old you are.

Required Reading for all TG sandboxers

tHa_KhAn

Wait wait....the best ticket possible is McCain/Huckabee.....because that means Rambo and Chuck Norris are in the white house

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TheFeniX

No Child Left Behind FTL.

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Birdman1011395

Back to the topic (can that even happen in the sandbox? ). Naa. I like it mostly the way it is. Although I'd prefer something a little less drastic than the Winner-take-all method (and STRONGLY opposed to Nation Popular Vote Interstate Compact).

I'd prefer that each region of the House vote for their own elector (canididate), with the two Senate electors going to the state-wide popular vote winner(Wikipedia calls this the "Direct Method"). This should help stimulate the third parties in America.

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Let's put the badges here...

mentholated

Why is it the responsibility of the education system for how often YOU read? If you aren't interested in gathering knowledge on your own, why should the education system take responsibility. Ultimately it is up to you to learn what is truth and what is untruth or only part of the picture.

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It's said the road to hell is paved with good intentions. It is with the same good intentions that we blindly place our trust in those with power, the architects of our future and all to often, the manipulators of our ultimate fate.

tHa_KhAn

Not often I get to agree with mentholated, so I will take advantage of it. It's not up to the schools to do more than show the way. I think one of the larger problems in this country is people putting responsibility on the government(which is another rant entirely). Yes schools should teach people to read, yes schools should show people the value of reading, but to go as far as blame a government entity for lack of enthusiasm is wrong IMHO. Every education system I have seen has reading programs and required reading for classes. Adding more required reading isn't going to solve the problem. There is always going to be a large segment that relies on the Daily Show/Colbert Report for current/past events over finding it out for themselves. Not everyone can have a stay at home mom or super involved parents, but somewhere a long the lines the person who chose to keep a child instead of put them up for adoption needs to take responsibility.

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ScratchMonkey

First, why is a dynastic or career politician a bad thing? If it's someone you agree with, why do you care how long he's been in office?

The number of people involved need not be more than what we have now. The problem isn't the numbers, but the fact that most don't have a clue who represents them down the street at city hall, let alone a thousand miles away at the national level.

What I do know is that the vast majority of politicians think they're job is to run your life, for their benefit and the benefit of their constituents (who isn't me and probably isn't you). The more they do, the more they interfere, the "better" a job they're doing (in the eyes of their constituents), and the more likely they'll get reelected. Very few politicians think in terms of doing less meddling in individuals' lives. It doesn't get votes. So the size of government is going to ratchet ever upwards, with more and more micromanagement of how you live.

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Sig

TheSkudDestroyer

Where menth was going was agreeable.

I think adding novels and books that kids actually enjoy might start helping. "Classics" need to be read but god damn, why did we have to read "A Separate Peace"? Of course, I didn't, I used sparkk notes and easily rode through the whole book. 80% of the required reading is terribly EASY and lacks DEPTH.

And I wasn't saying that the school system should form our opinions or anything like that. But they need to actually educate kids on the constitution. Did we cover it in US History? Yes. Did any of the kids actually LEARN it? Few.

I guess I'm derailing this thread. It's not a problem with a real answer I guess, as you have each stated above.

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|TG-6th|Skud, NA Deputy Lead Tester

BigGaayAl

I feel it's best not to vote for a president at all, just for a party like we do.

In Belgium some want the Prime minister to be elected directly. As I see it all this does is allow the media to focus on the persons more then the party program. That said maybe that is what those same people want; so they can do whatever they want as long as they get their mascotte elected.

Human nature makes most of us vote for persons rather then policy, direct election takes advantage of that flaw in all of us.

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This is my "depressed stance." When you're depressed, it makes a lot of difference how you stand. The worst thing you can do is straighten up and hold your head high because then you'll start to feel better. If you're going to get any joy out of being depressed, you've got to stand like this. ~Charlie Brown

Buck Fush

My concern would be that there is already enough corruption in politics and this would just be another opportunity for more of the same.

On the other hand, I've seen how some people (my wife included) think that they have a right to vote, but not a responsibility to actually know anything more about a candidate than what a 30 second ad will tell them. At least with this method it would be more localized and hopefully there would be less to retain.

ScratchMonkey

There are no TV ads for my local candidates. I doubt many people know who they are or feel compelled to vote for them. We know about the same amount about the national candidates, but because we've seen them on TV, they become celebrities and many think they're qualified to choose among them as a result. Not unlike voting for an American Idol winner.

If we voted by proxy or by local representative, there'd be far less incentive for the media to pander to the central leaders, due to the diffuse way in which people would influence their selection. Only those with some familiarity with the selection would vote. Which pretty much means those who have an interest in getting more benefits from the government.

But that's not really different from the way things work now. Businesses that stand to benefit from a candidate provide the backing for his campaign. For example, candidates who favor huge public school bureaucracies will appeal to construction companies (who build the facilities) and other large institutional suppliers.

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Sig