Theos-Talk Archives (October 2004 Message tt00372)

> As for the coming election, I have been amazed that the political
> discussion has not gotten hot and heavy here on theos-talk as it has in
> the past. Perhaps that in itself is a positive sign. My hope for the
> election is that more people vote than have ever voted in history.
I haven't read many of my messages for a few days (been working on my web 
pages rather than reading the e-mail that is pre-sorted), but seeing the 
above reminded me of the time last summer when two different theosophy 
friends took practically the same tack, when they expressed their view that 
every theosophical member HAD to agree with their political position.

One was an elephant, and one was a donkey.

I've heard similar things from Mensa people. Someone will join Mensa because 
they think, "Now, I'll find a group where people agree with me, because 
we're both intelligent", only to find that there's just as much variety of 
opinion there as in the real world.

Personally, I'd love to see Bush win the popular vote, and Kerry win the 
Electoral vote, because then, we might finally see Congress willing to 
return us to a vote of the people.

I'd also like to see the country acknowledge that if a candidate does not 
get more than 50% (even if more by one vote) in one state, that there should 
be a runoff in that state between the top two vote-getters. (Or they could 
have a "second-choice" page of the ballot, where you only vote for your 
SECOND CHOICE and where that page only lists those candidates expected to be 
in the top-two, which could be based on parties who got more than 5% of the 
vote four years before). I believe that this "reform" would give the 
alternative parties a chance to do better in the elections. I personally 
might vote Libertarian if I didn't think it would hurt the person that I did 
already vote for.

Finally, if we don't get rid of the antiquated electoral college system, I'd 
like to see the electoral votes apportioned by the percentage each candidate 
received statewide. If there were 50%+1 vote for candidate 1, and 50%-1 vote 
for candidate 2, in a state with 11 electoral votes, candidate 1 would get 6 
and candidate 2 would get 5. That way, everyone's vote somehow gets counted.

After November 2, I'll be happy to say who I voted for, but I don't think we 
should use our list for campaigning, except in cases of talking about broad 
reforms, not specific elections.

Just my 2 cents worth.

John