[Winona Online Democracy]
1. I think that Jesse and China, if she is his Vice President, will make
a great showing in the next Presidential election. I think Ralph is
"unsafe at any speed"
2. I agree it would be interesting to see how we stack up and wish that
the media spent more time on this type of reporting than the day by day,
blow by blow of the current Florida situation.
3. I "do not agree" with your mixing of the terms wealth and powerful as I
think they are separate issues. Is a labor union wealthy, powerful or
both? Does that then make their membership wealthy? Can the same then be
applied to membership of Green Peace, the NRA, the Sierra Club, MADD, NOW,
etc.?
3b. Life is the priorities we choose and examples we set --- I value the
right to vote. It is a very high priority. I will always "make the time".
In Minnesota the process is easy, the rules are simple and you don't even
have to wait until election day to do it.
3c. Did wealth, power or people prevail in the recent Presidential
election in Mexico?
Paul Double
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>Date: Sun, 12 Nov 2000 17:13:17 -0600
>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Dwayne Voegeli)
>More of my opinions and responses to your responses.
>
>1. Low Turnout: Isn't that why we need to allow 3rd parties to exist?
>That way more parites can reach out can connect with a wider set of issues
>in more personal and direct ways. Our current system of rules stacks the
>deck against 3rd parties. We have a two party monopoly. More controlled
>competiton can bring in more ideas. Don't you agree?
>
>2. Other Countries By Comparison: Look at almost any of the Scandanvian
>or Western European countries. I wish our media would do more of this. We
>would learn a lot if we were humble and wise enough to compare our system
>to other countries.
>
>3. Correlation Between Wealth and Power: It seems like you ducked the
>original question, the one asking, "is there a connection between wealth
>and voting?". Don't you find it funny that the govt. that is controlled by
>the wealthy and powerful has created a system that benefits the wealthy and
>powerful? Isn't it funny that money controls our elections now and that
>the issues that directly affect people with less wealth and power are not
>being addressed? Isn't there a direct correlation between wealth and
>voting percentages? Do you think that our govt. is representative of the
>people they represent? Women, minorities, middle and lower class people?
>Tell me more about the use of Monday Night Football fans in your
>explanation about why people do not vote.
>
>You have many good points, keep them coming.
>
>Dwayne
>
>===============
>
>
>>Date: Sat, 11 Nov 2000 11:30:12 -0600 (CST)
>>
>>My opinion and attempts to your questions are:
>>
>>1. When two candidates for the same office have very similar positions on
>>many issues some people do not have a burning desire to vote. If on the
>>other hand their positions are radically different I would anticipate a
>>higher percent will vote some out of fear and some to support. In
>>addition, I believe that some also feel they have no power and therefore
>>why invest the time if nothing will change.
>>
>>2. I would like to know what the countries are since I would think they
>>would reflect two or three major consistencies. a) In countries where
>>people have been denied the right to vote and then it becomes available I
>>would expect higher turnouts. b) In countries which may have fought major
>>wars during which their right to vote was denied or suppressed I would
>>expect higher turnouts. c) When people feel they are empowered by their
>>vote I would expect larger turnouts. Initiative and referendum options
>>would in my opinion solve part of that problem.
>>
>>3) I disagree with the implications of the third question - "People vote
>>regardless of their wealth if they feel empowered by their vote". If you
>>are going to take away ones right to chose what to do with the money that
>>they have worked hard to earn then they may have a greater incentive to
>>vote. "People invest their time and talent in whatever is their passion."
>>If their passion is Monday night football why would they attend a Monday
>>School Board Meeting. If their passion is their kids or educational
>>improvement then maybe the place they will show up is at the School Board
>>Meeting. People, regardless of wealth put their energy into what they feel
>>is important. One of the responsibilies of those elected is to excite
>>people into becoming involved thus making things better at whatever
>>activity we are engaged in.
>>
>>If I disagree with the direction of the country, second right amendments or
>>whatever the issue I will expend whatever energy is necessary to engage,
>>perswade and convince others so as to attempt to prevail in the outcome.
>>My sons have been raised to understand and believe that commitment to cause
>>makes most things possible.
>>
>>Paul Double
>>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>
>>>Date: Fri, 10 Nov 2000 15:47:37 -0500
>>>Hello Paul,
>>>
>>>You raised some good points and I won't argue that there will always be a
>>>few people who prefer to exercise their right not to vote and be heard.
>>>
>>>At the same time, beyond individual laziness, do you think there are any
>>>systemic reasons for low voter turnout?
>>>
>>>Why do other countries have much higher voter turnouts than the U.S.? Are
>>>Americans just lazy?
>>>
>>>Isn't there a connection between wealth and voting or are poor people just
>>>plain lazy?
>>>
>>>Dwayne
>>>
>>>============
>>>>[Winona Online Democracy]
>>>>
>>>>Public Policy is determined by those who show up. That includes the
>>>>elections, City Council, County and School Board meetings and active
>>>>participation in Planning Commissions, Focus Groups etc. Those who
want to
>>>>enjoy the fruits of Democracy also need to make an investment of their
time
>>>>and talent. With involvement policies, rules and laws can change but
>>>>those who side on the sidelines may not like the outcome. So get
involved,
>>>>strive to make things better or sit back and pay the bills and complain,
>>>>complain, complain.
>>>>
>>>>Paul Double
>>>>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>don >Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2000 13:58:20 -0500
>>>>>To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>>>>From: Dwayne Voegeli <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>>>>>Subject: [Winona] Election Turnout Misperception?
>>>>>Hello Paul and Others,
>>>>>
>>>>>In regards to heavy voter turnout, correct me if I'm wrong with this
>>>>statement:
>>>>>
>>>>>The Winona Daily News stated in an article today that the voter
turnout was
>>>>>as high as 85% in some precincts.
>>>>>
>>>>>The article was only talking about people who had already preregistered.
>>>>>
>>>>>Doesn't that mean that the number does NOT reflect all the people who
have
>>>>>not registered to vote?
>>>>>
>>>>>Am I accurate?
>>>>>
>>>>>If so, even though the number is nice, it does not represent the
numbers of
>>>>>all potential voters.
>>>>>
>>>>>What do you think?
>>>>>
>>>>>Dwayne
>>>>>
>>>>>==============
>>>>>
>>>>>
>>>>>>Date: Thu, 9 Nov 2000 09:33:35 -0600 (CST)
>>>>>>Subject: [Winona] Elections
>>>>>>Mime-Version: 1.0
>>>>>>
>>>>>>I second your comment. It was a long but good day. Lots of people
>>>>>>registering to vote either as new voters or because of relocation. I
>>>>>>believe many precincts were close to 85 percent turnout.
>>>>>>The new Secretary of State web site is also a big plus in getting the
>>>>>>details and breakdowns. http://elections.sos.state.mn.us
>>>>>>
>>>>>>Paul Double
>>>>>>[EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>>>>>
>>>>>>>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
>>>>>>>Date: Wed, 8 Nov 2000 15:15:49 EST
>>>>>>>Subject: [Winona] Elections
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> I really enjoy being able to be an election judge, working to
>>continue
>>>>>>>our great process that we have. It's amazing how everyone is able to
>>set
>>>>>>>their political adgendas aside and work for more than 15 hrs together
>>with
>>>>>>>the common goal of helping every eligible voter exercise their right to
>>>>vote
>>>>>>>within the rules provided.
>>>>>>> The head judges are really very important members of our
community,
>>>>>>>doing their best to maintain these rules. We have a great process!
>>>>It's
>>>>>>>a lot to be proud of!
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Kathleen Giebel
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