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nutjob
Gym climber
Berkeley, CA
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Topic Author's Original Post - May 10, 2012 - 03:40pm PT
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It seems to me that "family values," abortion/right-to-life, gay marriage, etc. are issues that are designed to polarize people on emotional topics just to distract from what REALLY matters in a federal and state government. This distraction allows us to not pin down elected officials and hold them accountable (whether dem or repub) for issues that benefit large corporations or financial special interests.
Here are the things I want to have be the main topics of discussion during debates, whenever journalists question politicians, etc:
1. Citizens United Supreme Court decision? Really? Why should "free speech" enable corporations to bias election outcomes through anonymous media advertisements? The shareholders in a corporation already can make campaign contributions, so why should their influence be doubled by giving them a role as a corporate entity on its own? The core issue here is campaign funding and related regulations, and the resultant conflicts of interests for elected officials. What is a more sensible and transparent way to manage this so elected officials can speak out on issues they believe (or at least that they believe people want to hear separate from what corporations want to train people to hear)?
2. Hydrofracking exempted from Federal Clean Water Act during Dick Cheney's tenure, when he was previously the CEO of Halliburton that makes big $$$ on hydrofracking. This itself should be impeachable, separate from the whole Iraq war and reconstruction and cost-plus contract stuff. Apparently governor of California Willie Brown fired officials who were supportive of environmental/safety concerns because it interfered with revenue opportunities.
3. Energy policy, serious belt-tightening national solidarity investment in renewable/clean energy. Seriously pull back on global military presence, but how to balance with pragmatic security needs in the wake of our aggressive foreign policy for the last 100 years?
4. Aging infrastructure - roads, bridges, power plants, water/septic systems, etc. Why not have a federal public works program to put people to work upgrading this stuff? Why outsource it to companies that can "do it cheaper" when it concentrates wealth in fewer hands and doesn't contribute to economic recovery?
5. Revolving door between FDA and pharmaceutical/food companies?
6. Revolving door between financial oversight institutions and private industry? Federal reserve, SEC, etc.
7. Monsanto, genetic engineering seeds that require farmers to buy seeds every year and not maintain their own seed stocks? Seems like a disaster to cause world starvation.
8. Building an economy that DEPENDS on continuous expansion and growth rather than a steady-state maintenance at a given carrying capacity?
Others?
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nutjob
Gym climber
Berkeley, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - May 10, 2012 - 03:41pm PT
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Oh gosh, if this thread gets really popular then I'm stuck with the legacy of being a grammatical idiot.
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couchmaster
climber
pdx
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May 10, 2012 - 03:51pm PT
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1) Reduce the Federal debt ...see http://www.usdebtclock.org/ this means increasing taxes and fees while reducing expenditures. Both.
2) Domestic policy: Follow the constitution.
3) Foreign policy: Like to see us walk softly and carry a big stick, instead of carrying a big stick and freely swinging it at anything and everything which moves or even slightly annoys us.
"Oh gosh, if this thread gets really popular then I'm stuck with the legacy of being a grammatical idiot."
You can re-read the intent of the title for a suggestion to that or maybe this will help?
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Bruce Morris
Social climber
Belmont, California
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May 10, 2012 - 04:43pm PT
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The political consultants call them divisive "wedge issues" designed to fragment a constituency over emotional and religious 'hot buttons' that have no real bearing on the economy or standard of living. I think they conform to Gaius Julius Caesar's prescription for world domination: 'Divide and conquer!' Good way to win an election, however!
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Seamstress
Trad climber
Yacolt, WA
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May 10, 2012 - 05:33pm PT
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Pollyana wants to see politicians campaign on what actions they will take and be accountable for that. I don't listen to what anyone says about anyone else...so there is a lot of silence in my world.
Tell me about your economic policy, how you will foster real, sustainable growth in the priovate sector, how the economy can be guided safely between the forces of deflation and inflation, how the equity in our homes and our savings will be affected by the policies, how can be eliminate the inefficiencies of 3rd party medical payer systems, tort reform, and all other forms of opportunists enriching themselves at the expense of the average Joe.
Tell me where you draw the line between freedom and keeping us secure.
Tell me what is necessary and why even if you think I won't like it one little bit. I can take the pain of a little surgery if I believe the pain is necessary for long term health.
Don't tell me what $s you will put in my pocket to buy my vote. Tell me what the price is for our country to move forward in a sustainable way, where we all have an opportunity to earn our way.
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zBrown
Ice climber
Chula Vista, CA
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May 10, 2012 - 05:35pm PT
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I hate to be the one to do this (not really), but isn't Da Brim™® the only real issue?
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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
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May 10, 2012 - 05:36pm PT
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I'd like a major issue to be taking corporate money out of the picture and letting the people speak for themselves, but that's obviously not going to happen.
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JEleazarian
Trad climber
Fresno CA
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May 10, 2012 - 05:42pm PT
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I'd like a major issue to be taking corporate money out of the picture and letting the people speak for themselves, but that's obviously not going to happen.
I hate to be picky, but I don't think the corporations are speaking as metaphysical entities. They're speaking as collections of people, as are unions and all other special interest groups like environmentalists, the ACLU, etc. etc.
The campaign against Citizens United's majority holding is simply one aspect of a coordinated effort by anti-business forces to try to silence pro-business forces, while allowing anti-business forces their full range of options to get their message out. It has nothing to do with leveling the playing field, and everything to do with tilting it far to the left.
John
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zBrown
Ice climber
Chula Vista, CA
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May 10, 2012 - 05:43pm PT
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Serioulsy though, is anything more important?
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Mtnmun
Trad climber
Top of the Mountain Mun
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May 10, 2012 - 05:44pm PT
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Issue: Which climb should we do next.
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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
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May 10, 2012 - 05:50pm PT
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John, I understand that. I'd like to see reform on both sides of the aisle.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
merced, california
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May 10, 2012 - 05:56pm PT
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"Seriously though" and "I hate to be the one," but--
ball-cupping is far more interesting than da Brim.
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Wade Icey
Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
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May 10, 2012 - 05:57pm PT
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get rid of the f*#king aisle.
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mouse from merced
Trad climber
merced, california
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May 10, 2012 - 06:00pm PT
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"but wear a mocking smile as you bridge the farging aisle"
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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
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May 10, 2012 - 06:01pm PT
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May 10, 2012 - 02:57pm PT
get rid of the f*#king aisle.
Well, that would just be anarchy. I mean, where would people stand? Is there still free coffee? What if i have to go to the bathroom? Who would you stand near? Your buddy? The hot chick you secretly want to bang? The rich looking dude? Jesus? Without the aisle nobody will know what to do.
Anarchy.
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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May 10, 2012 - 06:03pm PT
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EDUCATION, clean energy, renewable resorces and scientific research- the things needed to keep America competitive with emerging powers.
Wanting America to be better is true patriotism.
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michaeld
Sport climber
Sacramento
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May 10, 2012 - 06:03pm PT
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Do I have to be a voter to participate in this thread?
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Wade Icey
Trad climber
www.alohashirtrescue.com
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May 10, 2012 - 06:05pm PT
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no but you have to participate to vote...
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Brandon-
climber
The Granite State.
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May 10, 2012 - 06:07pm PT
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Do I have to be a voter to participate in this thread?
No, but if you bitch about things and don't vote, then STFU if things don't go your way.
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OR
Trad climber
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May 10, 2012 - 06:24pm PT
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I hate to be picky, but I don't think the corporations are speaking as metaphysical entities. They're speaking as collections of people, as are unions and all other special interest groups like environmentalists, the ACLU, etc. etc.
The campaign against Citizens United's majority holding is simply one aspect of a coordinated effort by anti-business forces to try to silence pro-business forces, while allowing anti-business forces their full range of options to get their message out. It has nothing to do with leveling the playing field, and everything to do with tilting it far to the left.
John
Very well said!
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Todd Gordon
Trad climber
Joshua Tree, Cal
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May 10, 2012 - 06:53pm PT
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Education, fixed anchors in wilderness areas.....that's about it for me...
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nutjob
Gym climber
Berkeley, CA
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Topic Author's Reply - Oct 25, 2012 - 03:43pm PT
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An interesting discussion about overcoming Citizens United supreme court ruling with a constitutional amendment:
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/10/24/amend-the-constitution-to-limit-political-spending/the-only-way-to-revive-real-democracy
The interesting part for me is how to curtail/limit paid political messages while not killing legitimate dissemination of information in the process. For me, this also triggers some scrutiny into the aggregation of media outlets and the resultant money/power/corporate influence on their agendas.
The age of blogging and micro-publishing via the Internet has certainly democratized the dissemination of information, but it is polluted with circular references and regurgitations of big-money media outlets.
I used to discredit the 1st Amendment issues related to Citizens United, but upon deeper inspection it really seems like a tricky issue. Everyone should have a right to share their viewpoint and disseminate it. Is there any reasonable way to cap that? Should there be an arbitrary dollar figure that any one can spend to disseminate any viewpoint? If I make $100k per year and I can afford to spread my viewpoint better than someone who makes $20k per year, should I be limited? What is the lowest common denominator?
Should media companies be stopped from spending millions of dollars to promote Justin Beaver/Biever/Biever and make him popular through over-exposure? Maybe the world would be a better place, but I don't want to see government regulation of info dissemination having side effects like this.
Should National Public Radio be prohibited from airing programs because they spend more than the average individual can afford? Should all publishing companies, internet companies, and disseminators of information, be shut down because they spend more than we can as individuals?
It comes down to saying "some agendas should be limited but not others." Then who decides what agendas should be limited? What should be allowed? Should public radio be excluded from discussing political issues, societal issues that may influence how voters consider future propositions?
In a way, this argument is very much like trying to define a boundary between legitimate art and pornography. It's just too hard to define a boundary that doesn't have scary consequences for freedom of speech in other circumstances.
It's a tough nut to crack.
BUT... maybe a better approach is to enforce transparency of funding sources. THAT is a worthy goal that perhaps has down-sides in certain circumstances but seems like a more tenable approach to the problem.
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Sierra Ledge Rat
Mountain climber
Old and Broken Down in Appalachia
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Oct 25, 2012 - 06:20pm PT
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IMHO "ENERGY" should be the #1 issue in politics.
ENERGY drives our economy (er, drags it down) and drives our foreign policy. We even fight hugely expensive wars are kill thousanads of our own so that we can put gasoline in our huge SUVs.
The solution is NOT more drilling at home. I live in West Virginia, and if you want to see what strip mining for "clean coal" looks like, I invite you here to see the effects of rape of our country for fossil fuels.
Kennedy presented a challenge to the nation to send a man to the moon within a decade.
Why can't our president present another challenge to the nation?
"I propose that we make a 95% switch to clean, renewable, non-fossil fuels within a decade."
EDIT: great minds think alike
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Mungeclimber
Trad climber
the crowd MUST BE MOCKED...Mocked I tell you.
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Oct 25, 2012 - 07:03pm PT
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DMT is an optimist
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donini
Trad climber
Ouray, Colorado
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Oct 25, 2012 - 07:24pm PT
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The future....and I don't mean the immediate future. You have to have rocks for brains not to be concerned about the environment, global warming and America's posistion in an increasingly competitive 21st Century.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Oct 25, 2012 - 08:07pm PT
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I think these are the the most serious issues facing the legacy of Government of the people by the people and FOR the people.
1. Free elections
It is a travesty that it takes over a billion dollars in begging to become president. I don't believe any candidate can first serve the people if they must worry about donations just to get the job.
I feel that it is the big core of most of the corruption of our system. Unless we get serious about outlawing ALL donations to political parties we will not and do not have government for the people.We have government of the highest bidder first ..the people after and as long as it dosn't interfere.
2. Yer Gunna DIE .. Give me liberty or give me death
Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure. The Patriot Act and one other telecommunications act that allow browsing and surveillance of communications without warrants supervised by judges and put to the test of probable cause.
Terrorist are a real threat but government and police and their jails are a much more clear and present danger to the average citizen.
Neither of which the two guys who have been picked for us to vote for will do ANYTHING about other than to make it even harder to reform or fix either issue.
The American ideal of government of the people by the people FOR the people is near flatlined.
The real America exists only as a dream. But the truth and good always wins and cannot lose.
I am no pessimist I see the battle and the war and I revel in this great struggle. Government may be f*#ked up but the world spins on and Good always wins.
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Captain...or Skully
climber
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Oct 25, 2012 - 08:35pm PT
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"Good" is a Construct.
I think we're all gonna die. Sorry.
Not Skeered, though. We will carry on, in fine style.
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Chaz
Trad climber
greater Boss Angeles area
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Oct 25, 2012 - 08:41pm PT
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You should be able to walk into any Rexall's and pay for a box of Trojans with your Kaiser Card.
Anything less is a War On Women.
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Oct 25, 2012 - 08:47pm PT
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Yep we are all gonna die. The patriot act is a sad example of fake security over freedom.
Good.. may be a construct.. but it's a valid one if it is. Without a subjective viewpoint nothing exists.
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Captain...or Skully
climber
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Oct 25, 2012 - 09:13pm PT
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I'll buy that, climbski2.
Dingus is Emo! HA!
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zBrown
Ice climber
chingadero de chula vista
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Oct 25, 2012 - 09:24pm PT
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In the immortal words of Mr. Miyagi:
Focus on, Focus off
Funny how things have a way of trickling up in the world, for the faithful.
Gotta start somewhere.
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Jon Beck
Trad climber
Oceanside
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Oct 25, 2012 - 09:34pm PT
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In keeping with the Republican tradition, the two most important issues are birth certificates and blow jobs, not necessarily in that order
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climbski2
Mountain climber
Anchorage AK, Reno NV
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Oct 25, 2012 - 09:43pm PT
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Good cop bad cop. On most issues that really matter for the people, Democrat and Repub ACTIONS are almost identical. They know who their masters are and it ain't us.
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bit'er ol' guy
climber
the past
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Oct 25, 2012 - 11:03pm PT
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the only issue I see is making sure the 1% get richer
and throw us some crumbs. Right?
capitalism only works if EVERYONE values wealth over everything else
AND believe that they can obtain it (if they only work as hard as George W. and Mitt)
The commies in China are better at capitalism than we are.
We owe them.
Hilarious!
Bring on socalism.
Work less,
climb more with a smaller truck and less tattoos, guns, booze and cigs.
What happened to that big ass surplus the Clinton admin. piled up?
Right....the smart "economy" G.O.P guys blew it on tax credits to the rich.
They blew it so bad that a black dude named HUSSAIN OBAMA got elected president!
Even more hilarious
so lets elect another "business guru" with the same policies as W.
that'll really help.
I'd rather have my tax money go to hungry families and affordable heatlh care
than to the 1%
What would Joseph Smith do?
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10b4me
Ice climber
dingy room at the Happy boulders hotel
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Oct 26, 2012 - 01:48am PT
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I think it's important to vote your conscious, and not be pressured to vote the party line
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Norwegian
Trad climber
Placerville, California
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Oct 26, 2012 - 09:54am PT
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im focused on the candidate's
acknowledgement of the global environmental impacts
of our country; and their subsequent
commitment to mitigating these impacts
through responsible action.
im focused on a candidates willingness
to extend the opportunity of wellness to all deserving
citizens of our country, and of the world.
a serious turn off, for this voter
is a candidate's tendency to
validate any and all actions and/or legislation
for the sake of further-filling-full pockets with cash.
im voting for Barack Obama,
and im telling you that the majority,
if not the crushing majority of
my country will do the same.
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dirtbag
climber
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Oct 26, 2012 - 09:56am PT
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Don't forget about the Supreme Court. There are several aging justices that might retire or die in the next four years.
Remember, you will be voting for two branches of government.
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J.Haze
Sport climber
Ohio
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Oct 26, 2012 - 10:44am PT
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Sure I'll vote for Romney, with the stipulation that he has to have a shot and a beer with me before hand. How can I accept that Romney is a person and not just a robot (or corporation?) wearing a man's skin otherwise, so here is my question to the Prez and Mitt
Have you ever woken up with a spliting headache in a strange place with no recollection as to what occured the night/day before?
Possible locations include roadside ditch, bathtub, unfamiliar bed, or maybe a vehicle that is not your own.
Point is how can anyone trust a man whose life has been planned and calculated since birth, who's enducation and personality groomed for the purpose of making money and controlling people. How can the man claim to relate to 99% of America if hes never made a mistake to learn real life lessons, i.e. woken up in a ditch - its not a literal situation but a mear analogy for comedic purposes ;)
edited: To answer how people know where their political dollars are going relating to unions, superpaks ect. - Come to Ohio for a day and you'll be pretty clear on that (I mean it is the only state that seems to matter this election right?) Never before have I wished so hard for a comerical for maxi pads or drugs to stop restless legs maybe a car ad?
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couchmaster
climber
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Aug 25, 2016 - 12:40pm PT
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Good point about the Justices Dirtbag...
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