If you aren't totally outraged...
(NOTE: THESE COMMENTS DO NOT, IN ANY WAY, REFLECT THOSE OF THE SPECTRUM & DAILY NEWS EDITORIAL BOARD, ITS MEMBERS OR THE NEWSPAPER.)
If you aren't totally outraged, then you're not paying attention.
If you aren't ticked off beyond belief, then you either are one of the hapless sheep or so disgusted you really don't care about the future of this country.
And that, my friends, is at the local, state and federal levels.
The verdict and sentencing in the Saddam Hussein trial has been pushed back to two days before the mid-term election. Why? So the GOP can say, "Look, we found this guy, we gave him a trial and now we're gonna kill him."
There's a candidate for the U.S. House of Representatives stumping this state and every other word out of his mouth is how he is a Reagan Republican. Never mind that he talks about how wrong illegal immigration is (even though Reagan had a different solution to the problem than rounding them up and shipping them home.) He talks about the economy, even though his plans are not clearly stated. But, he surely takes great pains to talk up his family values, as if his opponent has none.
There's a guy running for the state senate who did a back-door deal with the guy he hopes to replace, waiting until the final moment for his friend to drop out or the race so he could be the sole Republican on the primary ballot. It's the same guy who stiffed SUU for a meet and greet for candidates. The same guy who frequently tries to shelve delicate county commission issues because he's afraid to make a decision.
There's a candidate for a county sheriff position who is being smacked all over the place because of the party he represents.
And, there are signs with a big, fat elephant on them telling voters that there is a "reason" to vote Republican on Nov. 7.
There's a "reason" to consider ALL candidates.
Why? Because this country is on a downward spiral. We are no longer the leaders in technology, freedom of the press, personal freedoms, the care and support of those with health problems, humanity (i.e., Persian Gulf War II, the desire to create new nuclear weapons, the rejection of all opposing views.)
What are we the best at?
The demonization of those who question authority, the rejection of old-time American values, the tradition of hard-but-fair political discourse, the tolerance of religious and ethnic differences.
Fight for freedom, fight for your beliefs, fight for your rights.
Just don't do it with guns, vitriol or prejudice.
RSS feed
Comments
We need a drug court in Cedar City. John Martineau is ahead of the pack on that one.
I'd like to do away with the party system altogether.
But, consider this crazy idea. If we elect Democrats to a majority in Congress, we can elect a Republican president and preserve the balance of power. I like that idea.
Posted by: Arlene Ball | October 29, 2006 06:24 PM
I have to agree, Arlene. Things work best when the morons from both parties cancel eachother out. Both parties have now proven that absolute power corrupts absolutely. Time to balance them out so none of them can get their crackpot ideas far enough along to do any more damage.
Posted by: Damien | October 30, 2006 09:22 AM
Ed,
Did you happen to hear Jack Cafferty's comment on CNN's Broken Government series? Paraphrased, he said "Go to the polls and vote out every incumbent. Sure, we'll get a few unqualified people, but how much worse than the current government could it possibly be? Then, in two years, make them explain exactly why any of them deserves another term."
Here's a youtube link to his comments:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sg6Vevt4uGc
One thing that absolutely floors me about Utah elections is the 'straight party line' vote option. Exactly what is the purpose of this? I mean, I'd understand it in Chicago - it's a simpler way for dead people to vote. But seriously, is it really a good idea to simplify things for people too uninvolved to want to take time to put marks by FIVE names? If we believe that voters should consider and learn about all candidates, that 'lazy man's option' is the first thing that should go.
Posted by: Barry Short | October 31, 2006 03:00 PM
Barry,
I am a fan of Cafferty's. Since I took advantage of the early voting, I can and will only say two things.
First, I did not vote a straight ticket. Second, I voted for only one incumbent and his name rhymes with Jim Matheson.
I am still furious that we do not have better representation in both parties. It's embarassing to see who is running for office. I saw the ballot in Iron County and feel the same about the slate up there.
But, you, sometimes, have to play the cards you are dealt.
I just wish there was a new dealer and a new deck of cards.
The ones we've got, for the most part, are old and worn.
Posted by: Ed Kociela | October 31, 2006 04:30 PM