Sunday, January 13, 2008

Its that time of Year again! or (Politics and Religion are dangerous subjects.)

Interesting! This year it was time to renew my driver's license. Fabulous to have the option of completing that task online. But, I was wondering if "checks" were in place to see if I were still alive and still really me. Also on the license were
"new, advanced, security features."
Ok!

I moved on to the government website to find out what "they" were doing now. It was ok by me, advancing security issues upon the recommendation of the 9/11 Commission. At least this one is being acted upon. There was no information that the database from the State might be connected into a national database for uniformity, but I think it indicated this was probably so.

During last voting season, I noticed that foreigners had driver's licenses issued in the U.S. No problem there, but there was no way to identify that they were U.S. citizens qualified to vote. Of course, we had the option of sending them home to gather up a birth certificate. Some appeared to not have returned when citizenship ID was insisted upon.

I often wondered what would prevent a person from voting several times from State to State or a group of persons? Sure, there are laws to prevent that, IF one were ever caught up with and the question came up AFTER the election.

Also the new voting machines, without a paper trail, seem to provide no method of verifying accuracy should a recount be needed. It seems odd to me that after one we shall not name got elected, or rather managed to take the election, that THEN the U.S. government decided to change long standing voting methods.

Notwithstanding, I admit to being kicked out of a voting booth the first time I tried to vote in Florida because I was "taking too long." The poll worker informed me I had five minutes in which to vote. I'm telling ya there is a huge ballot in any place in Florida and it takes a while to vote responsibly, and not purely by name recognition. (Now I have learned to do my research on voting records, etc. etc. and mark my choices on a sample ballot so I can complete my duties at the poll within a five minute time frame.) This year I got around that by requesting an absentee ballot. I can sit in front of my computer looking up candidates records for three days and nights if I have to.

At first I like what Obama had to say, but then realized that what he is saying now, is far different in some areas than what he was saying in an earlier book that he has written. He has very little experience compared with others. Next, my "gut" - (don't they say "vote your conscience") tells me he might be a bit deficient on foreign diplomacy skills. "Gut" and from listening to speeches while he was in Africa. I do think we will have either a black or a woman for president next. Which is far overdue. However, I would prefer a person that had less reputed ties to the radicals who have threatened to "take America down." Even a tiny hint of such associations is enough to scare many of us away. But then some of our presidents have had mafia ties. However the mafia never took down the World Trade Center and thousands of our citizens in one fell swoop.

I've had my fill of persons who claim to be Christian to get the conservative vote. A rock in an egg carton does not turn the rock into an egg just because it is in the egg carton. I believe morality extends far beyond the abortion issue.

We never really get a person we think will be 100% fitted for such an awesome "job" and our checks and balances system is supposed to pick up that failing. However it has become corrupt--filled with good old boys fond of "pork" politics. Still, our country remains, if not somewhat tattered, one of the more "free" countries about the world.

Sure, I have my worries - lots of them. Tons of them. Mostly because we don't live in a vacuum. Because its such a delicate balance of trade, war, and peace, and diminishing planetary resources.

God help us all.

10 comments:

FOUR DINNERS said...

Buddah might according to Jax. Or did she say her mates brother?

All politicians are corrupt. It goes with the territory.

**Ya Think** said...

This was a well thought out post. While I agree with Four Dinners, I believe the corruption has gone far beyond the scope of what it used to be. This regime has been so blatent about running a thuggish government. At very least they used to hide the appearance of evil in past administrations. This administration does not care about the evils they are carrying out. I am not certain who to vote for. I like Hillary, but fear she would be assassinated if she were to get in. I like Obama, but agree with you that he is too inexperienced. He too will probably get assassinated if he is elected. I am not about to vote for a republican ever again in my life. So where does this leave us? I guess that perhaps is the question. I believe America has now become a Third World Nation, as was stated by one of my professors in college.

tweetey30 said...

Either way of a new President they still have to clean up the mess Bush made over in Iraq unless we have that all cleaned up by Sept of 08.... Other than that if one makes a mess then the next has to clean it. I am far from being political here and never will be. I like learning but it just doesnt hold with me for some reason.

Wandering Coyote said...

Interesting post. Up here, we have to register before the vote and get put on a list in the riding in which you're registered. When you go in to vote, you're crossed off the list. We don't have the high tech ballots you do - and thank God! Stick an X next to the name and you're done! Mind you, we don't have ballots with 1000 names on them...

Candy Minx said...

Yep...all politicians are corrupt. I say and try to vote for theleast corrupt. I believe Obama is theleast corrupt and the strongest thinker and humna...

I find Clinton creepy. Uggghhh I just get a shiver she doesn't knowhow to feel emotions and has to practice in front of a mirror.

The Dems made a mistake I think...they should focus on John Edwards...but you see Dems love a Hollywood Candidate...and John Edwards is not Hollywood.

So...I believe that a Republican will be elected again...


but what do i know...? I am just guessing...I don't think either Obama or Clinton will be elected.

It continues to be an interesting race though...

good post about ballots and whatnot Gardenia, thanks!

tshsmom said...

Well said!

As for voter registration....
I vote in EVERY election, yet my name is NEVER in the registry! I have to re-register EVERY TIME I vote!
Fortunately, all the election judges know me. It's gotten to be a joke. When I walk through the door, the judges drop whatever they're doing and look in the book to see if I'm there. By the time I get to their table, they're shaking their heads and holding out a fresh voter registration form for me to fill out... AGAIN.

Gardenia said...

Ah, Candy, yikes! Yeh, Edwards was my man too...or my candidate I should say. You might be right about the outcome. I was listening to POTUS tonight and I think McCain is coming on as a very strong candidate.

TSH - That was happening to some when I was involved in the process too - I couldn't figure out why - either goof ups on the local level, or when the records get converted at the Secretary of State's office, they are dumped - again a small new regulations voting glich.....

d34FpUpPy said...

u cant sell me n e of m

Vicki said...

Ooooh, all this political stuff just makes me sick, mad, sad. There are rumors abound about Obama, turning his back and refusing to say the Pledge of Allegiance. Everyone says Hillary is devious and unemotional, Edwards..I am fearful about his strengths in foreign matters. The only thing that I do like is that if H wakes up the week after she is elected and says, "WTF do I do now?"...Bill will be there to help out. No one else has that ace in the hole. Bill's last term!
And just between us..I don't think the mess "over there" will ever be cleaned up. And what about Afghanistan, think we should get that mess cleaned up, too?
And if we DO get it cleaned up before the installation of the new prez...where in the world are all those troops going to go to work?? Are there enough doctors and hospitals to accommodate the soldiers coming home with Post Traumatic Syndrome?
Yup, good post..got me ranting...
Pup's right...I don't like any of them.

Gardenia said...

No, I don't think the middle east will ever be quiet now until the end.