My Soapbox II: November 2016 Elections
5The Soapbox Troll is back.
We have the opportunity in November to elect a new President. It’s either Donald or Hillery at this point.
yay.
I think what we need in this and future national elections is an automatic NOTA candidate: None Of The Above.
This is from Wiki:
*When None of the Above is listed on a ballot, there is the possibility of NOTA receiving a majority or plurality of the vote, and so "winning" the election. In such a case, a variety of formal procedures may be invoked, including having the office remain vacant, having the office filled by appointment, re-opening nominations or holding another election (in a body operating under parliamentary procedure), or it may have no effect whatsoever, as in India and the US state of Nevada, where the next highest total wins regardless.
If ending corruption in politics were the goal, then a "None of the Above" victory could be executed in a way, which makes all current candidates ineligible for the current election, then require a new panel of candidates for the position be proposed, evaluated and revoted upon. This would allow for a more accurate representation of the People's true opinion, in the American political landscape, and a reversal of financial influence in Congress.*
[(Full article)][1]
[1]: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/None_of_the_above
What do you think?
(Let’s try to keep this discussion away from this 
or this 
)
But this is OK
Aaaaaaand GO!
- 13 comments, 17 replies
- Comment
Loved this!
@mfladd I knew I liked him for a reason…
This discussuon might not end well. Humans might not be capable of maintaining civility on this topic.
@f00l I think we can. We’ll see.
@f00l This probably will due to our friends on both sides. But I love them both. Hey, I loved both Reagan and Clinton - what does that say about me. Except that they were both great presidents in their own right. (back off both left and right).
I ask them to restrain themselves and be funny.
@mfladd
If you valued both Clinton and Reagan, both valuations with areas of strong reservation abour performance and philosophy regarding each, what it shows about you is indications of intelligence.
Is Cthulhu on the ballot?
@narfcake I would so vote Cthulhu
/giphy brewster’s millions
Last general election, I tried to get people to write in for Alan Smithee for precisely this reason. I would love to the the option to officially say “I came out, I voted, and it wasn’t for any of these clowns.”
I keep saying this, quietly, and nobody’s listening. There is ONE person who has such outstanding qualifications that they shine like a supernova. Who else plays lead guitar and banjo, and is lead singer in their own Celtic rock band? 30 years of experience in government at all levels: councilman, mayor of a large city, twice governor of MD. He only ‘suspended’ his campaign; it could be reactivated.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Martin_O’Malley
@OldCatLady He’d look like a fool if he reactivated his campaign and he’s no fool. I think his best path is to get a cabinet position, some national exposure, and try again in eight years.
@emilyap I know. You’re right. Sigh.
@OldCatLady He was actually my first choice too, though I knew there was no chance in hell he’d have any real support. I hope to see him back in the future. I also think he’d make a good choice as a running mate for Hillary.
I’m tired of hearing people say they won’t waste their vote on a third party candidate… and then don’t vote at all.
That is a wasted vote.
At some unknown time, somewhere, somebody held up their mug of mead and said, "You know, we need to get the British out of our business."
The American Revolution started with one idea. What can we start with one vote?
i just popped in to see if the war started yet.
@carl669
All so far (unfortunately?) are behaving as tho we possess both brains and maturity, and acting like we do not wish to walk into a rancorous debate or flame-war in which so many lose repurations along the way.
[[ Like, yeah, i really wanna hear your (“your” as in “anyone’s”) opinion, or have your POV “proved” to me. Not! And you really really wanna get that from me. Also, not! ]]
Depending on POV, this thread is either terribly impressive, or tremendously disappointing; what a civilized bore!
I vote for the boring civility. No contest here.
I already have access to lots of idiotic and self-righteous intolerance elsewhere, so i dont need to stock up -it’s like i practically live in a costco of one-sided, perspective-free and reflection-free "righteous’ commentary (sorry, costco, you didnt deserve it, except for being a quantity/volume warehouse).
POV of current local fetid swamp of opinion mostly red, but still varies widely across the spectrum, all non-modulated opinions are unwelcome if within my hearing range. More to the point, ALL Unsolicited Opinions are very unwelcome if within hearing range.
it can be hard to know who i might have a truly modulated, reflective, and thoughtful conversation with, and i’ve little energy/time/interest for it. I know what factors and “political logic” (yeah, i know!) inform my thoughts. I read a lot. I listen a lot. All sources have shortcomings. We’ve all got it.
I dont wish to have my own methods/thinking exposed or critiqued at this time. Most people i know either dont use my methods, or dont discuss it if they do. Silence until one cautiously opens a topic in private is just fine.
I discuss with carefully selected among my family/friends. They come from a variety of standard and non-standard positions, again, across the well-known spectrums with some unexpected deviations. I like to think i do as well (come from across spectrums), tho self-delusion is commonplace or the norm in political thought.
If i were to open a political discussion, it would be in private, testing the waters, to see if both can tolerate and respect each other. Not in public. This is my way at this time, and it has its drawbacks. Some people i admire go boldly forth. However, that does tend to degenerate quickly into sloganeering, and hardly an opinion is ever thereby moved along a scale. I hate these sorts of pointless conversations which accomplish little and can debase thinking and respect into reified fortresses of relative unreality or oversimplification.
So i tend to keep my fucking mouth fucking SHUT. Cowardice or wisdom? Whatever anyone wants to think is fine.
My thoughts aren’t a huge secret, and much might he inferred. I likely wont confirm.
I respect those who wish to discuss, unless their presentation seems less than i might hope for. Then…sigh. Is someone, anyone, just super-correct about everything and can prove it? Again…sigh.
If someone’s conduct degenerates, well, depends on how bad. Everyone has bad days. Can you feel remorse in the AM, and show it? Then you’re cool.
However
@carl669
I have a message for you
Fucking fuckety fuck motherfuckingfucker.
I ask your Meh-Oracle for a response to my special message.
Thanks.
@f00l If I may please allow me to add this to your talk:
TLDR: Keep your fucking opinions to yourself.
[edit] Did I read it right?
@Mehrocco_Mole
I’m such a long-winded, intolerant, inconsiderate, loudmouth, immature, ranting bore.
Fuckety fucking fuck. Yet again.
Apologies.
Actually I don’t mind cautiously approaching others opinions; am in this thread knowing the risks…I almost hope I don’t hear them. Perhaps I hope I hear only humble, modulated thoughts.
I hope I respect what I might or will hear.
It’s cool. I can skedaddle if needed.
@f00l You said what you needed to say. That’s cool! What’s up for debate is putting NOTA on the ballot. I knew the topic could get skewed and if that happens, that happens. I invite all comments long and short, PC or logical, red or blue as long as they eventually get on topic.
Just as a good troll should.
@Mehrocco_Mole
On the ballot, how about
NOYL
(Not On Your Life)
And
DYFL
(Do You Feel Lucky?)
And
YGTBFKM
(You’ve Got To Be Fucking Kidding Me)
@f00l I’ll take C, YGTBFKM. Final answer.
@Mehrocco_Mole
Also ballots could use as a choice:
No. I said No. Just No.
@Mehrocco_Mole Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate, will be on the ballot in all 50 states this year.
I’m not saying you should vote for him if you don’t agree with the LP platform – just trying to respectfully raise awareness of his existence.
@medz Hey, I voted for Ross Perot!
I support the NOTA proposal. Not only should the losers be ineligible from running in the new election, they should be prohibited from holding any public office (elected or appointed) for a period of at least five years.
The RNC is drafting new rules, inserting a ‘conscience clause’ into the balloting. Even on the first vote, delegates who have been pledged to T can vote their conscience. They are legally accountable only to the people in their districts who voted for T. So sue them. It would be a fait accompli. Easier to get forgiveness than permission. They could insert rules to allow for other candidates. One can hope.