Elections In Washington State
Our most recent primary election is over, turnout was dismal.
I think that as Americans we need to look carefully at what is happening in Europe. Greece, Italy, and Spain have gone horribly wrong; those economies have collapsed or are on the verge of collapse. These failures are not the fault of politicians; they are the fault of the voters who elected poorly performing politicians over the last decades.
Bringing this discussion back home, we have to be alarmed at the amount of voter apathy shown by the horrible voter turnout this week. We each have a responsibility to become informed about the issues, and the candidates, then with that knowledge vote. Voting, and voting well is the only chance we have to stave off a Greek type of disaster here.
When we do vote, we must remember that money is a finite resource. This is what was forgotten in Greece. We can not elect politicians who will spend every dollar they can get their hands on, we must elect politicians who will be good stewards of our financial resources and system. If we want everything from the government, and if we elect those who promise everything we will ultimately collapse as Greece has done because there is not enough money in the word to provide everything to everyone.
Good financial stewardship is not a Republican or a Democrat issue anymore, Republicans are just as likely to be free spenders as Democrats, and there are plenty of fiscally realistic folks in the ranks of the Democratic Party. We need to get to know the candidates who seek our vote, and we need to elect those who are willing to say that they can't support everything we might want them to spend money on.
Only we can prevent a fiscal disaster.
Comments
Well said Mistress. Usually I would try to insert a joke here, but this is very serious business....
dd
Posted by: denverdude | August 12, 2012 9:38 PM
So true Mistress,that is why You are so VISE. dave
Posted by: Anonymous | August 12, 2012 9:45 PM
oops misspelled wise,sorry dave
Posted by: Anonymous | August 13, 2012 8:35 AM
dd,
Indeed it is.
M
Posted by: Milliscent | August 17, 2012 9:58 AM
dave,
Obviously some punishment is in order!
M
Posted by: Milliscent | August 17, 2012 9:58 AM
very soon Mistress,i hope dave
Posted by: Anonymous | August 17, 2012 12:01 PM
Ms Milliscent
Of course as always you are correct. However I do see some of the reason for voter apathy.
Just in this state alone hundreds of thousand or perhaps more of our voters are for all reasons virtually disenfrachised.
One only need look at the results over the last 30 years and it is painfully clear that for many their voices are never heard.
I know from talking with many freinds that this is happening all across the nation most noteably in the western states.
It can be fixed however but i do not think it will ever happen. When one considers the power at stake.
One would be the creation of new states, or perhaps failing that a repeal of the 17th and 14th amendments.
Fredrick
Posted by: Anonymous | August 17, 2012 12:24 PM
fredrick,
I am not sure that I can agree.
I do agree that a seemingly large majority of people feel that their voices are not heard, but I must imagine that it is the voters own fault.
In this country we do two things:
1. We virtually always elect a major party candidate. Why? Because we feel that if we vote for a minor candidate our vote will be wasted. The reality is that if everyone who was fed up with the major parties voted for minor candidates, the minor parties would gain a seat at the table.
2. We almost always vote for the incumbent. We hate the performance of Congress, but we seemingly love our Congressman. Can we not recognize that if Congress is doing a crappy job, our Congressman should be held to account for some of that?
M
Posted by: Milliscent | August 24, 2012 10:20 AM