BS: How can 55 million people be so dumb?

Subject: RE: BS: How can 55 million people be so dumb?
From: GUEST,Jule
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 10:31 AM

This map shows a more accurate picture of the kinds and degrees of belief in the election:

http://www.princeton.edu/~rvdb/JAVA/election2004/purple_america_2004b.gif

J

Subject: RE: BS: How can 55 million people be so dumb?
From: GUEST,Patrick Henry
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 10:26 AM

Follw the money:

"The report shows that of the 32 states (and the District of Columbia) that are "winners" -- receiving more in federal spending than they pay in federal taxes -- 76% are Red States that voted for George Bush in 2000. Indeed, 17 of the 20 (85%) states receiving the most federal spending per dollar of federal taxes paid are Red States. Here are the Top 10 states that feed at the federal trough (with Red States highlighted in bold):



States Receiving Most in Federal Spending Per Dollar of Federal Taxes Paid:
1. D.C. ($6.17)
2. North Dakota ($2.03)
3. New Mexico ($1.89) (flipped Red in 2004)
4. Mississippi ($1.84)
5. Alaska ($1.82)
6. West Virginia ($1.74)
7. Montana ($1.64)
8. Alabama ($1.61)
9. South Dakota ($1.59)
10. Arkansas ($1.53)


In contrast, of the 16 states that are "losers" -- receiving less in federal spending than they pay in federal taxes -- 69% are Blue States that voted for Al Gore in 2000. Indeed, 11 of the 14 (79%) of the states receiving the least federal spending per dollar of federal taxes paid are Blue States. Here are the Top 10 states that supply feed for the federal trough (with Blue States highlighted in bold):


States Receiving Least in Federal Spending Per Dollar of Federal Taxes Paid:
1. New Jersey ($0.62)
2. Connecticut ($0.64)
3. New Hampshire ($0.68) (flipped Blue in 2004)
4. Nevada ($0.73)
5. Illinois ($0.77)
6. Minnesota ($0.77)
7. Colorado ($0.79)
8. Massachusetts ($0.79)
9. California ($0.81)
10. New York ($0.81)
Note that Florida, which had previously received exactly $1.00 in federal spending for each $1.00 in federal taxes paid, has since seen a windfall; Federal largesse was dramatically boosted in the post-Hurricaine, pre-election."

Subject: RE: BS: How can 55 million people be so dumb?
From: GUEST,Dumbo
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 08:34 AM

Bobert:

De "Man" wants me off of welfare and carryin' my weight.

De Democrats wants de rich folks to suppote me on wellfare so I will vote Democratic.

Dumbo

Subject: RE: BS: How can 55 million people be so dumb?
From: George Papavgeris
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 05:10 AM

Quite straightforward and a reasonable system, I think. Many countries would benefit from that.

Subject: RE: BS: How can 55 million people be so dumb?
From: freda underhill
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 04:06 AM

thats a good article and we are facing the same tensions here in australia.

Many people vote based on how their family has always voted. In australia, the Liberal party (in the old sense of liberal) is our equiv of the Republicans. Labor is our Democrats. The Greens are our Ralph Nader.   In each of the main parties here, you get people with a spectrum of beliefs from left to right. The right wingers in both Liberal and Labor have not only manipulated their way to the top, but worked through factionalism on disempowering the left in each group. consequently values for each major party have become so similar that there is no real competition or debate any more, there is no functioning opposition. too many of the past Labor generation sent their kids to private schools, now the next generation are into economy, not society.

yet there are still some people in each party worth talking to, and politicians in power often end up doing just what the other side would do. I think the words left and right just serve to institutionalise distrust and division, there are too many policies, issues and ways for everyone to be split into two camps on every issue.

it also makes the emerging Greens much more powerful here - they are a voice in the wilderness. we would not be able to have their input if we didnt have a preferential system of voting here, it is much more democratic than the first past the post that americans are lumbered with.

here is an explanation of that system:

preferential voting in Australia

Subject: RE: BS: How can 55 million people be so dumb?
From: dianavan
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 03:36 AM

I agree Carol and I think Americans (regardless of political party) could find common ground.

If there is doubt about a democratic election, there is no democracy.

Excellent link, by the way.

Gone are the days when you could say, "Let the best man win." If you want to be really fair about it, they should also look at limiting campaign contributions.

d

Subject: RE: BS: How can 55 million people be so dumb?
From: CarolC
Date: 07 Nov 04 - 01:56 AM

So while I am not associated with any group for Bush, I am for any group willing to cross party lines to begin a necessary dialogue.

I agree completely with this statement. It's time for all of us to reach across party lines and do whatever is necessary to get the dishonest and unverifiable voting practices eliminated, and a create a system of voting that is honest, verifiable, and transparent, in every voting district of every county (or parish) of every state.

Subject: RE: BS: How can 55 million people be so dumb?
From: Bobert
Date: 06 Nov 04 - 11:21 PM

Yo, Unc... The man wants yer black ass back in the cotten field and yer sayin' "Bring it on, Massa..."

Give me a break and...

... beam me up.

Bobert

Subject: RE: BS: How can 55 million people be so dumb?
From: Ebbie
Date: 06 Nov 04 - 11:20 PM

Here Ya Go

Subject: BS: How can 55 million people be so dumb?
From: GUEST,Dumbo
Date: 06 Nov 04 - 11:10 PM

It's time to pop the liberal bubble

http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/jamieson/198304_robert05.html