NationStates

San Lumen wrote:

Alcala-Cordel wrote:https://www.timesunion.com/news/article ... 838735.php

Too easy.

That was several years ago. Nothing came of it.

Alcala-Cordel wrote:

San Lumen wrote:That was several years ago. Nothing came of it.

Doesn't really matter as far as my point goes, she still recieved huge sums of money from different companies.

Forever Indomitable wrote:

Cybus1 wrote:...OP, what, pray tell, is a cognitive minority? What do you mean when you say you want "compensation or special autonomy"?
You say you get nothing in return for the system, but you do. I assume you use roads? The postal system? If you live in a city or town, you pay for various things (I've never lived in a city, but I'm pretty sure the city handles the water, garbage, etc?). You just don't like your political choices. Neither do I, but I vote for the one which aligns with whatever I want, even if it's a fairly tangential connection.

OP, what, pray tell, is a cognitive minority?

I'm a prototype cognitive minority. My philosophy, behavior and ideals differ substantially from everyone else. I don't have a political ideology or religion that I can fit in to. Everywhere I've been, I've never fit in. I am fundamentally alien to everyone else. I have never been given the luxury of similarity; I have to stand alone on just about everything.

I assume you use roads?

I do, but what I lose in return isn't worth it and I'd rather walk in the dirt than pay for all these mediocre services that are poorly designed, as most American infrastructure is. I live between 2 cities, both Democrat and Republican run and both have dog shit quality roads and sidewalks designed solely around car usage. I have to go to the park to rollerblade because the trash I'm forced to pay for doesn't accommodate quality pedestrian usage. I can't vote for what I want because the bag is too mixed. If I vote for A, B & C, I'm going to get royally fucked on X, Y & Z. It's a lose-lose game, so why even play?

As far as compensation, like tax exemption or more personal autonomy, I don't expect it because it's not realistic. I have to pay for everyone else and go along with all their bullshit, but I don't get anything good in return. I have to pursue my happiness in spite of society, because I damn sure don't get it because of it.

San Lumen wrote:

Alcala-Cordel wrote:Doesn't really matter as far as my point goes, she still recieved huge sums of money from different companies.

So? The people liked her enough to put her in office for a third term.

How about this person? Is she a rich elitist? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanda_Williams

Ors Might wrote:

San Lumen wrote:
So? The people liked her enough to put her in office for a third term.

How about this person? Is she a rich elitist? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanda_Williams

I didn't see anything about her financial status on that site. But even if you can find a handful of politicians that aren't wealthy, that doesn't change the role that money plays at the state and federal level. You don't typically see lower income Americans run for those positions and I'm pretty sure you know why that is.

East Florida wrote:

Forever Indomitable wrote:

I'm a prototype cognitive minority. My philosophy, behavior and ideals differ substantially from everyone else. I don't have a political ideology or religion that I can fit in to. Everywhere I've been, I've never fit in. I am fundamentally alien to everyone else. I have never been given the luxury of similarity; I have to stand alone on just about everything.


I do, but what I lose in return isn't worth it and I'd rather walk in the dirt than pay for all these mediocre services that are poorly designed, as most American infrastructure is. I live between 2 cities, both Democrat and Republican run and both have dog shit quality roads and sidewalks designed solely around car usage. I have to go to the park to rollerblade because the trash I'm forced to pay for doesn't accommodate quality pedestrian usage. I can't vote for what I want because the bag is too mixed. If I vote for A, B & C, I'm going to get royally fucked on X, Y & Z. It's a lose-lose game, so why even play?

As far as compensation, like tax exemption or more personal autonomy, I don't expect it because it's not realistic. I have to pay for everyone else and go along with all their bullshit, but I don't get anything good in return. I have to pursue my happiness in spite of society, because I damn sure don't get it because of it.

You know you sure do seem adamant on making sure you get your point out there on why your vote is useless. You could have spent your time attending city council meetings and local events actually getting your opinion out there instead of arguing your point online...

San Lumen wrote:

Ors Might wrote:I didn't see anything about her financial status on that site. But even if you can find a handful of politicians that aren't wealthy, that doesn't change the role that money plays at the state and federal level. You don't typically see lower income Americans run for those positions and I'm pretty sure you know why that is.

I am so tired of the everyone is a rich elitist argument. Its beyond tiresome.

Ors Might wrote:

San Lumen wrote:
I am so tired of the everyone is a rich elitist argument. Its beyond tiresome.

And I'm tired of you saying the exact same crap over and over. Explain why lower income Americans often don't run for roles at the state and federal if money doesn't play a role.

Ors Might wrote:

San Lumen wrote:
So? The people liked her enough to put her in office for a third term.

How about this person? Is she a rich elitist? https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wanda_Williams

I didn't see anything about her financial status on that site. But even if you can find a handful of politicians that aren't wealthy, that doesn't change the role that money plays at the state and federal level. You don't typically see lower income Americans run for those positions and I'm pretty sure you know why that is.

San Lumen wrote:

Ors Might wrote:And I'm tired of you saying the exact same crap over and over. Explain why lower income Americans often don't run for roles at the state and federal if money doesn't play a role.

Perhaps they don't want to or don't feel they can win. In recent years your seeing more and more lower income people running for office and actually winning. There are groups that help with this. One is called Run for Something.

East Florida wrote:

Ors Might wrote:I didn't see anything about her financial status on that site. But even if you can find a handful of politicians that aren't wealthy, that doesn't change the role that money plays at the state and federal level. You don't typically see lower income Americans run for those positions and I'm pretty sure you know why that is.

It's mostly just because low-income Americans don't have the same funding to be able to put themselves out on the platform. A good solution would be an enforced platform for all candidates, because obviously not all people who want to run have the money to do so. If the government were to set up platforms for all candidates, it'd be a lot easier to hear everyone's opinion. Think of it as the presidential debates but without the arguing and more of actually getting to know the less heard candidates.

A lot of people who ARE running for government positions aren't heard often because for the most part the government and states have left it up to the news stations to put out candidates to the people (obviously they're going to leave out a lot of people, because "who cares?").

That's one problem with elections in our country, but it's one that can be fixed locally, and even statewise.

Ors Might wrote:

San Lumen wrote:
Perhaps they don't want to or don't feel they can win. In recent years your seeing more and more lower income people running for office and actually winning. There are groups that help with this. One is called Run for Something.

"In recent years" so you admit that lower income Americans running for office is pretty rare. So why is it that every fucking time someone complains about their state represenative not representing their views, you come and insist that they run for office when you're apparently fully aware of the fact that they likely aren't able to?

San Lumen wrote:

Ors Might wrote:"In recent years" so you admit that lower income Americans running for office is pretty rare. So why is it that every fucking time someone complains about their state represenative not representing their views, you come and insist that they run for office when you're apparently fully aware of the fact that they likely aren't able to?

Nothing will change if you don't change who you send to your state capital or Washington. Voting matters. If you don't like whose running get off your butt and run yourself.

Its as if you expect running for office to be easy. You have to earn it.

Ors Might wrote:

San Lumen wrote:
Nothing will change if you don't change who you send to your state capital or Washington. Voting matters. If you don't like whose running get off your butt and run yourself.

Its as if you expect running for office to be easy. You have to earn it.

You just admitted that most lower income Americans can't. What the fuck do you expect them to do if they don't like whose running?

I don't expect shit to be easy. You're the one constantly telling people to do it as if it's that simple.

San Lumen wrote:

Ors Might wrote:You just admitted that most lower income Americans can't. What the fuck do you expect them to do if they don't like whose running?

I don't expect shit to be easy. You're the one constantly telling people to do it as if it's that simple.

I did not say they can't.

If you don't like whose in office and don't like the candidates run yourself. Start with local office. People don't often start with statewide office like Governor.

Ors Might wrote:

East Florida wrote:
It's mostly just because low-income Americans don't have the same funding to be able to put themselves out on the platform. A good solution would be an enforced platform for all candidates, because obviously not all people who want to run have the money to do so. If the government were to set up platforms for all candidates, it'd be a lot easier to hear everyone's opinion. Think of it as the presidential debates but without the arguing and more of actually getting to know the less heard candidates.

A lot of people who ARE running for government positions aren't heard often because for the most part the government and states have left it up to the news stations to put out candidates to the people (obviously they're going to leave out a lot of people, because "who cares?").

That's one problem with elections in our country, but it's one that can be fixed locally, and even statewise.

This is a very good idea that likely won't be implemented.

Ors Might wrote:

San Lumen wrote:
I did not say they can't.

If you don't like whose in office and don't like the candidates run yourself. Start with local office. People don't often start with statewide office like Governor.

No, explain to me what a person living paycheck to paycheck is supposed to do if they don't like the candidates running for president. Tell me what they're supposed to do? How are they supposed to "get off their butts and run" like you've been repeating ad nauseum for years?

San Lumen wrote:

Ors Might wrote:No, explain to me what a person living paycheck to paycheck is supposed to do if they don't like the candidates running for president. Tell me what they're supposed to do? How are they supposed to "get off their butts and run" like you've been repeating ad nauseum for years?

almost no one starts with president first. Did you miss the part were i said start with local office?

East Florida wrote:

Ors Might wrote:This is a very good idea that likely won't be implemented.

Well it's an idea. I haven't seen many solutions brought up in this forum, I've only seen complaints and pessimistic responses, if you guys think elitist theory is a problem and that your vote doesn't matter, do something about it honestly.

Ors Might wrote:

San Lumen wrote:
almost no one starts with president first. Did you miss the part were i said start with local office?

Did I ask about local office, Lumen? But fine. How is someone who's one missed paycheck away from losing everything supposed to run for office and carry out those duties.

Ors Might wrote:

East Florida wrote:
Well it's an idea. I haven't seen many solutions brought up in this forum, I've only seen complaints and pessimistic responses, if you guys think elitist theory is a problem and that your vote doesn't matter, do something about it honestly.

I would genuinely like to do something about it. But I'm just some shmuck working the night shift at a shitty fast food joint. I don't have the money or influence to bring about actual change.

San Lumen wrote:

Ors Might wrote:Did I ask about local office, Lumen? But fine. How is someone who's one missed paycheck away from losing everything supposed to run for office and carry out those duties.

Thats where many people got their start. Plenty of people have managed to do it. Multiple people want to run sometimes. You might not be the one who wins. That's part of politics.

Ors Might wrote:I would genuinely like to do something about it. But I'm just some shmuck working the night shift at a shitty fast food joint. I don't have the money or influence to bring about actual change.

Like I said go for local office. You need to be wealthy to do so.

Ors Might wrote:

East Florida wrote:
Well it's an idea. I haven't seen many solutions brought up in this forum, I've only seen complaints and pessimistic responses, if you guys think elitist theory is a problem and that your vote doesn't matter, do something about it honestly.

I would genuinely like to do something about it. But I'm just some shmuck working the night shift at a shitty fast food joint. I don't have the money or influence to bring about actual change.

Ors Might wrote:

San Lumen wrote:
Thats where many people got their start. Plenty of people have managed to do it. Multiple people want to run sometimes. You might not be the one who wins. That's part of politics.

Like I said go for local office. You need to be wealthy to do so.

Okay Lumen. Given that I have bills and loans to pay, I'm going to have to keep my near full time job. So where am I supposed to find the time to run for the office of, say, mayor and carry out the responsibilites of that office?