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I would agree with you Mike.

It seems that everyone's upset based on the results rather than a particular issue with the process. But they blame the process as "rigged".


Mikes starts with a principled and truly American stand that American citizens and only American citizens should determine their future by casting legal and proper ballots. He doesn't pay attention to the specifics about how the principle actually works out in the real world and doesn't want to think critically about the policies.

Over the course of US history... we have patched the constitution up to reflect this principled ideal.... the patches are reactions to the power politics of each era. At any moment in US History... on the ground.... the American principle is just a fig leaf to mask power politics that gain you power. The patches come about when those politics are defeated.

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It seems that everyone's upset based on the results

No!
the voting ID thing has been going on for 10+ years as part of a deliberate republican strategy of voter suppression to maximize their results. Many of the photo ID court cases predate the supreme courts decision on voting rights title 9? (pre clearance). The southern states were held back from these campaigns because of (pre clearance rules) ergo... North Carolina's situation.

Same as it every was.... take the American principle and use it to mask your power politics game.

If you had not noticed the attack on voting rights aka voter suppression... ... you simply were not the target... and had the luxury of being ignorant about the power politics at work. (remember... it's not a zero sum game here)

The basic idea is the same ol same ol.... Group X is taking the goodies from god fearing true American patriots. So, by god... vote for us and we will stop it... This is human nature...... You can disguise this motivation by attempting to wrap it up in the american ideal of voting and democracy... but its just a racket. Power politics wrapped up language that allows you to pretend that you are indeed principled and truly american.

There is nothing principled about voter photo ID.. it is just the latest strategy in voter suppression to win and hold power. What is needed is critical thinking by each voter if you want to go back to taking a principled American stand....

Step one in the critical thinking process is... what is the data... How good are the measurements and what is the weakness of the data. Jake nicely sums up the available data.

You can question the data collection, statistical analysis, relevance etc etc.. to sort out the actual reality... but you need to have much more then..
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But they blame the process as "rigged"
or as my friend uses... anecdotal opinions about illegal Mexicans voting in So Cal. This is critical thinking!

AND... nothing says that you have to take an AMERICAN principled stand on these issues.. It is the USA. you can stand up an say... I am a Zionist... uber Israel... I am a White Nationalist (uber David Duke and the KKK) ... i am a black nationalist (uber the black muslims and Farrakhan)...or I am a Bernie supporter... uber Democratic Socialism... or simply HEY, get real.... its about winning... I want mine! do what ever it takes.

Finally,
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It seems that everyone's upset based on the results


Negative campaigning works, (as old as the country) Voter suppression works as well (an equal ugly record), moreover, the degree to which voter suppression and negative campaigning drive voter disgust with the entire process is a major factor in the embarrassing (for the supposed premier democracy on the planet) voter participation rates. ("It's rigged"... is just more bs that lets the voter off the hook by blaming "others" or... the whine... "we just need better candidates" Nope... its the voters responsibility...)

I premised my stand on "American citizens and only American citizens should determine their future by casting legal and proper ballots" and the standard... the will of the people will carry the day. Sadly, this is JUST NOT REALTY. What we are upset about is how disinformation and propaganda marshaled by the international right wing AND coupled with negative campaigning, character assassination, and voter suppression are able to impact a minority of the voters in a quirky system to take power.

All I can do.. is point out the fuzzy thinking at play that led to 48% of the country calling the shots for the 51% of the country of voters ... not to mention the enormous number of citizen non voters.


Last edited by Mark Schneider; 01/10/17 12:50 PM.

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