The thread on second class citizenship got me to thinking about our system, especially the system this country has of chosing our leaders. Sheepish was talking about her ancestors and voting and I got to thinking about some of mine. My great-great grandmother on my mother's side was a leader in the movement to get the woman's vote in Michigan. Another strand of my geneology were people who believed that the voting system as it is promotes greed for power and the selection of not so wonderful leaders. I have always wondered if the selection of public servants was by "lot" if the better good of all might be had. What do you think??

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2001

Answers

Dianne, What does that mean to selected by "Lot"?

You know alot of people will probably think it very unresponsible of me, but I don't vote for state or national stuff. I don't know any of these people running for anything, and if I watch TV to try to learn about them, I just see them all arguing between each other, and realize that I don't want to vote for any of them. And how do you know if what they tell you isn't all lies anyhow?

Now if something that I understand comes up locally , like a stream being endangered with gas lines, I will go vote for something like this. But alot of things I have no understanding of, so why would I vote.

-- Anonymous, August 16, 2001

Tren, selecting by lot is like a lottery. All qualified people are put into the lottery and a name is drawn. The name drawn is the person "drafted" for the job and it is their responsiblity to do the job until the next "draft".

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2001

My question is, how would anyone ever agree as to who is qualified enough to be put into the hat? I'm not even sure that I'd agree with some people being able to suggest a name to even be put into the hat as competent to select that person's name!

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2001

that would be a good point julie, never thought of that one........certainly have't found many competent ones among the ones who SAY they are :>)

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2001

Trennie thats exactly what I've asked myself over the years. Why vote when you can't believe what they say!! I have a new idea that I use now. I vote against a person rather than for one. Its easier for me to find the guy who I most disagree with. Then I vote for the candidate most likely to beat him. I can do this real early in the campaign then I try to just ignore the rest of the foul smelly process. Love your honesty....Kirk

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2001

I wouldn't mind if they ran for office, but I prefer citizen- legislators. In other words, they have the job a set time and then return to their work. No career politicians. Oh, and no hefty pension for them and the spouse unto eternity like they have now. And health care ends when the job ends and they have to revert to medicare/private coverage like everyone else. Right now our senators and congresspeople have their own health care system separate from the rest of the nation and they get big$ after 'retiring' from office.

-- Anonymous, August 17, 2001

KIrk....thats how I vote too!!..:)

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001

If I do not know (which I spend a great deal of time searching to find out) a politician, then I party vote. I used to be Republican as a young adult, but with the harsh stance on womens rights I had no choice, because of their lack of choice, to become a Democrate, though only on paper. I do vote green sometimes, and vote independant when given the choice, vote for a women in office when I can, and a person of ethnic/color given the choice, my last vote would be for the continuence of the white male, especially when voting locally. I want change and I don't see change happening without voting. And yes my voting style drives my husband insane! And yes my husband is a Republican :) a conservative, white, east Texas, republican. Vicki

-- Anonymous, August 20, 2001