Whether it's your first Bonnaroo or you’re a music festival veteran, we welcome you to Inforoo.
Here you'll find info about artists, rumors, camping tips, and the infamous Roo Clues. Have a look around then create an account and join in the fun. See you at Bonnaroo!!
John: We don't even understand our own music Spider: It doesn't, does it matter whether we understand it? At least it'll give us . . . strength John: I know but maybe we could get into it more if we understood it
Post by ☮ superbek ☮ on Jan 8, 2008 22:05:39 GMT -5
bos1969 said:
man that's great....
"You say you'll change the constitution Well, you know We all want to change your head You tell me it's the institution Well, you know You better free you mind instead "
Karma to the OP for pimping the Election 2008 thread I started.
I haven't voted, but I:
- gave $160 to my preferred candidate Bill Richardson (would've been more but I'm but a poor student) His campaign struggled, in part, because he refused to take interest group & PAC donations. He had a few times where backers offered to match funds, and I gave when I could then. - volunteered six days in Iowa leading up to the caucus, including being a precinct captain there - came to New Hampshire, made my own accomodations and volunteered four days leading up to the election - put at least 800 miles on my own car, flew 960 miles to Boston, and will easily have 500+ miles on my rental car by the time I take it back
All I got in return from the candidate/campaign tangibly was a handful of stickers, two signs, two buttons, three t-shirts (that were on their way to Goodwill), occasional pizza & beverages, and a photo op & autograph on my book. Oh, and a Staples "Easy button" that was going to get thrown out anyway - but the friend I'm staying with has an 18-month-old who's enjoying that gift. There's no way what I've just listed exceeds the price tag on what I spent to do so.
Fortunately, my benefits from this haven't been tangible. I had a blast - even though my candidate is dropping out tomorrow. I met plenty of good people from around the country. I engaged my fellow citizens. I gained experience I would never have gotten in the classroom. I volunteered and helped make democracy work. My guy may not have won, but I have the satisfaction of saying it wasn't for lack of trying on my part.
I once met Minneapolis mayor RT Rybak, a few years ago when my city hosted the U.S. Mayor's Association conference. We had a brief conversation - he was about the only mayor tolerant enough to come talk to the protestors outside - and as we parted I asked him for some advice. His words: "The couch potato is the enemy of the state." The more I've done this, the more I've realized just how right he is.
I knew a vast majority of the people who walked past me into the polls yesterday weren't going in to support my guy, but I still thanked them for coming out to vote as they left. The more people that participate in the democratic process, the more accurately elections reflect the will of the people (note: that doesn't mean I don't think that "the masses are asses" - but it helps in gauging just how much). It doesn't matter whether the media says someone's "electable" or doesn't stand a chance - it matters that you make your voice heard, and that you use it to speak up for whomever it is you think best. My gut tells me a lot of us will be disappointed in this big-money, accelerated, front-loaded primary season: Don't be discouraged. It's better to try and fail now than regret it later.
My own state doesn't vote until February 19th, so I had to travel hundreds of miles to someplace I could make a difference. I'm not asking you to go to the lengths I did. All I'm asking is that you take a look at the candidates and issues (no excuses - you're already online!) and get your asses to your local polls for one hour out of your year. Anything less undermines "We the People," which is exactly what Mr. Rybak was getting at.
Post by freedomofmusic on Jan 10, 2008 21:39:59 GMT -5
kdogg said:
Karma to the OP for pimping the Election 2008 thread I started.
I haven't voted, but I:
- gave $160 to my preferred candidate Bill Richardson (would've been more but I'm but a poor student) His campaign struggled, in part, because he refused to take interest group & PAC donations. He had a few times where backers offered to match funds, and I gave when I could then. - volunteered six days in Iowa leading up to the caucus, including being a precinct captain there - came to New Hampshire, made my own accomodations and volunteered four days leading up to the election - put at least 800 miles on my own car, flew 960 miles to Boston, and will easily have 500+ miles on my rental car by the time I take it back
All I got in return from the candidate/campaign tangibly was a handful of stickers, two signs, two buttons, three t-shirts (that were on their way to Goodwill), occasional pizza & beverages, and a photo op & autograph on my book. Oh, and a Staples "Easy button" that was going to get thrown out anyway - but the friend I'm staying with has an 18-month-old who's enjoying that gift. There's no way what I've just listed exceeds the price tag on what I spent to do so.
Fortunately, my benefits from this haven't been tangible. I had a blast - even though my candidate is dropping out tomorrow. I met plenty of good people from around the country. I engaged my fellow citizens. I gained experience I would never have gotten in the classroom. I volunteered and helped make democracy work. My guy may not have won, but I have the satisfaction of saying it wasn't for lack of trying on my part.
I once met Minneapolis mayor RT Rybak, a few years ago when my city hosted the U.S. Mayor's Association conference. We had a brief conversation - he was about the only mayor tolerant enough to come talk to the protestors outside - and as we parted I asked him for some advice. His words: "The couch potato is the enemy of the state." The more I've done this, the more I've realized just how right he is.
I knew a vast majority of the people who walked past me into the polls yesterday weren't going in to support my guy, but I still thanked them for coming out to vote as they left. The more people that participate in the democratic process, the more accurately elections reflect the will of the people (note: that doesn't mean I don't think that "the masses are asses" - but it helps in gauging just how much). It doesn't matter whether the media says someone's "electable" or doesn't stand a chance - it matters that you make your voice heard, and that you use it to speak up for whomever it is you think best. My gut tells me a lot of us will be disappointed in this big-money, accelerated, front-loaded primary season: Don't be discouraged. It's better to try and fail now than regret it later.
My own state doesn't vote until February 19th, so I had to travel hundreds of miles to someplace I could make a difference. I'm not asking you to go to the lengths I did. All I'm asking is that you take a look at the candidates and issues (no excuses - you're already online!) and get your asses to your local polls for one hour out of your year. Anything less undermines "We the People," which is exactly what Mr. Rybak was getting at.
Well that kind of effort deserves more than karma, but it's all I've got. Great work.
Post by ClarkGriswold on Jan 11, 2008 23:23:35 GMT -5
"You say you'll change the constitution Well, you know We all want to change your head You tell me it's the institution Well, you know You better free you mind instead "
I'm going to bite my tongue on responding to that here. I see this thread as more for advocating voting as civic duty, rather than partisan purposes. There is plenty of room for candidate discussion/advocacy in the Election 2008 thread, however, and I encourage you to take it there.
Get Out The Vote efforts have to be strictly non-partisan, and I get that vibe from the thread since OP didn't advocate for or against any particular candidate.
I'll probably be involved in the GOTV effort on my campus. Then again, I'll have myself a legislative internship which won't allow any partisan activities. Maybe I'm just being a bit too hardline about the whole deal since I spent two weeks immersed in campaigning.
Post by ClarkGriswold on Jan 15, 2008 3:37:39 GMT -5
The graduation of popular opinion maybe greatly influenced by these early primaries. The media buzz could possibly taint the Feb 5th primaries. As hollow as it seems I guess it's been reduced to camp strategy now and perhaps nothing greater than damage control. Let’s hope for better. But of course, what the hell do I know about the process, I’m simply a citizen.
