Sigh...
The republicans may have won the White House, but once again California shows their independence and hate for the central-american ideal of Evangelist Christians -- Stem Cell Research has passed in California, with a bond of $300 million a year for 10 years.
Bush didn't win because of Iraq, or any other real important issue. Here's what happened (Please note I'll be highly generalizing from this point on):
The liberal/Democratic ("blue") states on the west coast and north east of America based their votes differently than Central America ("red" states). The blue states that voted for Kerry voted for the following issues: Iraq, Economy, Education, and Health Care. The red states voted on the issue of morality, based on religion. The numbers don't lie.
The voter turn out was about $114 million, which is lower than the projected $120 million which was based on voter registrations. What group of people didn't show up to vote? It was the young people (Ages 18-24).
However, this election there was a turnout of a highly unexpected group of people -- Evangelist Christians, who did NOT vote in the 2000 election. These people where mainly based in the 11 states that had Gay Marriage on the ballot, and they obviously voted for Bush because he "Shared their moral views". Ohio was the tie-breaker in this election, last election is was Florida. If Ohio didn't put Gay Marriage on the ballot, Bush wouldn't have won that state.
I continue to hear conservatives call liberals "moral less". I don't see how we are moral less. Liberals are more scientific, California's results are an example of that. Conservatives are more religious, and think everyone should be constrained to a single point of view, and allow no room for experimentation that could ultimately save lives.
I think Mark Wardlaw said it best (This is an email forwarded to me today [by Mrs. Joyner]):
"It's tempting to go over the top and to call this the worst night of my life. Once again, the majority of Californians have been reminded that our opinions are moot and that our votes are irrelevant in national elections, even though we live in the most populous state and wield the greatest economic clout. Once again, the state that should play the biggest role in casting electoral votes has been reduced to an understudy in the baffling power play that has seen rural America move to the center stage of American politics.
However, I can't really dwell on how I feel tonight. Sadly, the pain and abandonment I'm experiencing at this moment will pale in comparison to what lies in store for most Americans during the next four years. It would be easy to say that they've done it to themselves and that they'll deserve what they get. Nonetheless, I think we can expect inevitable and profound changes that are certain to have a major impact on the next several generations of Americans.
Ironically, President Bush's most significant support comes from Americans who have gained nothing from him and his policies. He enjoys overwhelming support from the ordinary (read: lower middle class and underclass) citizens of the "red" states. To put it bluntly, these people are the cannon fodder in his senseless war. They are the people whose veterans' benefits he wants to cut, those who cannot afford health insurance and those whose social security benefits he wants to plunder. What are we to make of a citizenry so indifferent to these facts that they would reward an incompetent president with four more years in the oval office?
Throughout the campaign, John Edwards spoke of "two Americas." He described an America of a few "haves" and an overwhelming number of "have-nots." While I'll be the first to admit that, in a global sense, very few Americans truly are "have nots," I also recognize that the gap between the rich and poor in our country is getting wider each day. This disturbing trend is only one example, in my opinion, of the "two Americas" Senator Edwards spoke about. Here are others:
One America is the west coast and the northeast, and the other America is the rest of the country.
One America is where people read, think for themselves and gather information from a variety of sources. The other America gets its information from Fox News and at church.
One America believes that taxes are the price of freedom and civilization. The other America believes that taxes are evil and that we should keep more of our own money regardless of the resulting deterioration of our infrastructure and services.
One America believes that gay people are entitled to all of the rights and privileges of straight people and that it's nobody's business what any of us does in our own lives. The other America believes that gay people have chosen a deviant lifestyle and that granting legal rights to their "selfish hedonism" would threaten the "sanctity" marriage.
One America believes that religion and prayer are private matters that do not belong in school or the workplace. The other America believes that (Christian) religion and prayer should be forced on all of us.
One America believes that it is a woman's right to choose and that the government has absolutely no jurisdiction in this private matter. The other America favors legislation that will imposes their sense of morality on every woman.
It is clear to me that rural America has re-elected this president based on narrow, so-called moral and religious "values." I fear for our gay siblings, relatives and friends who will endure a sustained assault on their rights, dignity and humanity. I fear for our children who will be saddled with an obscene national debt that will severely restrict their prosperity and security. I fear for poor women who will be forced into back-alley abortions.
Most of all, I'm angry. We're a divided nation with huge cultural divides. I'm sick of hearing that, as a liberal democrat, I have no values. I will not rally behind this president. I will be one of the shrill voices constantly saying, "I told you so!" Every time someone complains about the economy, gas prices, more deaths in Iraq, no viable exit plan from this war, etc. I will say with pride, "I didn't vote for this fraud!"
Thanks for indulging me. "
Mark
Pick your battle. Keep in mind -- Science has never been proven wrong.
Bush didn't win because of Iraq, or any other real important issue. Here's what happened (Please note I'll be highly generalizing from this point on):
The liberal/Democratic ("blue") states on the west coast and north east of America based their votes differently than Central America ("red" states). The blue states that voted for Kerry voted for the following issues: Iraq, Economy, Education, and Health Care. The red states voted on the issue of morality, based on religion. The numbers don't lie.
The voter turn out was about $114 million, which is lower than the projected $120 million which was based on voter registrations. What group of people didn't show up to vote? It was the young people (Ages 18-24).
However, this election there was a turnout of a highly unexpected group of people -- Evangelist Christians, who did NOT vote in the 2000 election. These people where mainly based in the 11 states that had Gay Marriage on the ballot, and they obviously voted for Bush because he "Shared their moral views". Ohio was the tie-breaker in this election, last election is was Florida. If Ohio didn't put Gay Marriage on the ballot, Bush wouldn't have won that state.
I continue to hear conservatives call liberals "moral less". I don't see how we are moral less. Liberals are more scientific, California's results are an example of that. Conservatives are more religious, and think everyone should be constrained to a single point of view, and allow no room for experimentation that could ultimately save lives.
I think Mark Wardlaw said it best (This is an email forwarded to me today [by Mrs. Joyner]):
"It's tempting to go over the top and to call this the worst night of my life. Once again, the majority of Californians have been reminded that our opinions are moot and that our votes are irrelevant in national elections, even though we live in the most populous state and wield the greatest economic clout. Once again, the state that should play the biggest role in casting electoral votes has been reduced to an understudy in the baffling power play that has seen rural America move to the center stage of American politics.
However, I can't really dwell on how I feel tonight. Sadly, the pain and abandonment I'm experiencing at this moment will pale in comparison to what lies in store for most Americans during the next four years. It would be easy to say that they've done it to themselves and that they'll deserve what they get. Nonetheless, I think we can expect inevitable and profound changes that are certain to have a major impact on the next several generations of Americans.
Ironically, President Bush's most significant support comes from Americans who have gained nothing from him and his policies. He enjoys overwhelming support from the ordinary (read: lower middle class and underclass) citizens of the "red" states. To put it bluntly, these people are the cannon fodder in his senseless war. They are the people whose veterans' benefits he wants to cut, those who cannot afford health insurance and those whose social security benefits he wants to plunder. What are we to make of a citizenry so indifferent to these facts that they would reward an incompetent president with four more years in the oval office?
Throughout the campaign, John Edwards spoke of "two Americas." He described an America of a few "haves" and an overwhelming number of "have-nots." While I'll be the first to admit that, in a global sense, very few Americans truly are "have nots," I also recognize that the gap between the rich and poor in our country is getting wider each day. This disturbing trend is only one example, in my opinion, of the "two Americas" Senator Edwards spoke about. Here are others:
One America is the west coast and the northeast, and the other America is the rest of the country.
One America is where people read, think for themselves and gather information from a variety of sources. The other America gets its information from Fox News and at church.
One America believes that taxes are the price of freedom and civilization. The other America believes that taxes are evil and that we should keep more of our own money regardless of the resulting deterioration of our infrastructure and services.
One America believes that gay people are entitled to all of the rights and privileges of straight people and that it's nobody's business what any of us does in our own lives. The other America believes that gay people have chosen a deviant lifestyle and that granting legal rights to their "selfish hedonism" would threaten the "sanctity" marriage.
One America believes that religion and prayer are private matters that do not belong in school or the workplace. The other America believes that (Christian) religion and prayer should be forced on all of us.
One America believes that it is a woman's right to choose and that the government has absolutely no jurisdiction in this private matter. The other America favors legislation that will imposes their sense of morality on every woman.
It is clear to me that rural America has re-elected this president based on narrow, so-called moral and religious "values." I fear for our gay siblings, relatives and friends who will endure a sustained assault on their rights, dignity and humanity. I fear for our children who will be saddled with an obscene national debt that will severely restrict their prosperity and security. I fear for poor women who will be forced into back-alley abortions.
Most of all, I'm angry. We're a divided nation with huge cultural divides. I'm sick of hearing that, as a liberal democrat, I have no values. I will not rally behind this president. I will be one of the shrill voices constantly saying, "I told you so!" Every time someone complains about the economy, gas prices, more deaths in Iraq, no viable exit plan from this war, etc. I will say with pride, "I didn't vote for this fraud!"
Thanks for indulging me. "
Mark
Pick your battle. Keep in mind -- Science has never been proven wrong.