Volconvo is a debate forum for the discussion of political, religious, and news-based topics.

Starboy · Oct 28, 2004, 04:43 pm

Many people today think that we have a secret ballot. Although your vote may not be completely open to everyone the fact that many people are registered republicans or democrats certainly does reveal your leanings and makes that information available to everyone. I have no problem with parties but when did it become the job of government to keep track of which is which? Such indications should be removed from voter registrations and if a person wants to support the Republican or Democratic Party they should go to a party office (separate from the government) and register. If a party wishes to make membership information public then that is up to them. And if a person wished to register in both parties then that is fine with me as well. It is up to the parties to police their members not the government. Much of the election skullduggery that takes place is made possible because people’s political choices are made public. This removes some of the secrecy of a secret ballot. This secrecy is essential if people are to have the freedom to vote for whom they wish.

Starboy

Suburbanite · Oct 28, 2004, 04:48 pm

it just has to do with the primary system, not all states have open ballots. You can register NP though, and then no one knows.

Starboy · Oct 28, 2004, 04:57 pm

I understand this, but since when did the republican or democratic party become part of the consistution? The government should not be endorsing or providing special treatment to any party.

Starboy

PatrickHenry · Oct 28, 2004, 05:18 pm

The gov should not be in the business of running primaries. How the nominees are chosen is party business, not gov business.

Oct 28, 2004, 05:19 pm

primaries are artificial constructions of the democratic and republican parties. they decide whom the party will back with their money and guns.

the electoral college is a ridiculous sham that was merely redundant until Y2K. Now it is at risk of being manipulated by the candidates.

believe me, if bush or kery try any sticky tricks like bush did in 2000, i will so end my participation in this nation. that's a promise, not a threat.

Starboy · Oct 28, 2004, 07:33 pm

Quote:

Originally posted by Bob_Dobbs,
believe me, if bush or kery try any sticky tricks like bush did in 2000, i will so end my participation in this nation. that's a promise, not a threat.

I know what you mean. I have thought the same thing. There comes a time when you have to figure the odds that things will only get worse and not better. There are a lot of questionable things going on in a climate where people refuse to question them. This cannot lead to good things.

Starboy

Oct 28, 2004, 05:18 pm	#4 (permalink) (top)
PatrickHenry 9/11: Inside Job Location: Hawai'i, Big Island Posts: 10,438	The gov should not be in the business of running primaries. How the nominees are chosen is party business, not gov business. "Arms in the hands of the citizens may be used at individual discretion for the defense of the country, the overthrow of tyranny or private self-defense." -- John Adams

Oct 28, 2004, 04:43 pm	#1 (permalink) (top)
Starboy BANNED: Repeated insults Posts: 4,828	Many people today think that we have a secret ballot. Although your vote may not be completely open to everyone the fact that many people are registered republicans or democrats certainly does reveal your leanings and makes that information available to everyone. I have no problem with parties but when did it become the job of government to keep track of which is which? Such indications should be removed from voter registrations and if a person wants to support the Republican or Democratic Party they should go to a party office (separate from the government) and register. If a party wishes to make membership information public then that is up to them. And if a person wished to register in both parties then that is fine with me as well. It is up to the parties to police their members not the government. Much of the election skullduggery that takes place is made possible because people’s political choices are made public. This removes some of the secrecy of a secret ballot. This secrecy is essential if people are to have the freedom to vote for whom they wish. Starboy

Oct 28, 2004, 04:48 pm	#2 (permalink) (top)
Suburbanite BANNED Location: Los Angeles Posts: 3,203	it just has to do with the primary system, not all states have open ballots. You can register NP though, and then no one knows.

Oct 28, 2004, 04:57 pm	#3 (permalink) (top)
Starboy BANNED: Repeated insults Posts: 4,828	I understand this, but since when did the republican or democratic party become part of the consistution? The government should not be endorsing or providing special treatment to any party. Starboy

Oct 28, 2004, 05:19 pm	#5 (permalink) (top)
Bob_Dobbs Guest Posts: n/a	primaries are artificial constructions of the democratic and republican parties. they decide whom the party will back with their money and guns. the electoral college is a ridiculous sham that was merely redundant until Y2K. Now it is at risk of being manipulated by the candidates. believe me, if bush or kery try any sticky tricks like bush did in 2000, i will so end my participation in this nation. that's a promise, not a threat.