There's no one I want to vote for. (Warning: Political Stuff)

"Anon" (tjsielsistneb)
06/29/2015 at 23:10 • Filed to: None

I love my country and it’s people. However, I still haven’t been able to find anyone I want to vote for . The problem is that everyone is either far right or far left. I want someone who can see both sides of the arguement. I have a mixture of republican and democratic beliefs. Such as:

1) I support the second amendment.

2) However I do think we should have tighter restrictions on who can own one. The mentally ill should not be able to get their hands on an AK-47. A basic psychiatic check should be done before someone is able to own any gun. At a gun show almost anyone can buy a gun in 10 minutes.

3) net nutrality is a major point that is very important for the future of this country’s tech industry.

4) Support of gay rights.

5) More support for kids going to college.

6) universal health care. Between my entire fmaily, we have to spend almost $1000 a month on various medications that would cost less than $25 if we lived in canada.

7) better treatmemt of the mentally ill.

There’s a lot more but that’s all I can think of right now. If you can think of anyone currently running that meets some of these points, please feel free to suggest them.

DISCUSSION (75)

DrJohannVegas > Anon
06/29/2015 at 23:12

The primaries are not about seeking the center. Just wait for it all to pass, and you’ll see what the options (for good or for ill) are.

Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST) > Anon
06/29/2015 at 23:13

Bernie Sanders?????

disclaimer: I’m not a political person at all

ttyymmnn > Anon
06/29/2015 at 23:19

Welcome to the Great Middle of the country.

GTRZILLAR32-Now saving for Godzilla and a condo > Anon
06/29/2015 at 23:20

I wish it would happen too, but it won’t in my lifetime. The traditional parties have too much money and too big an ego to let a moderate candidate run for them.

Trunk Impaired 318 > Anon
06/29/2015 at 23:24

Congrats! You’re just like me and most of the other reasonable thinking American public. Too bad we’re forced into voting for political parties and not actual policy...

dogisbadob > Anon
06/29/2015 at 23:25

Bernie Sanders :)

For Sweden > Blunion05 drives a pink S2000 (USER WAS BANNED FOR THIS POST)
06/29/2015 at 23:25

Old White Guy 2016!

DarrenMR > Anon
06/29/2015 at 23:25

Im tired of voting the lesser of evils.

DarrenMR > dogisbadob
06/29/2015 at 23:29

Where could one find unbiased info about this person?

JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder! > Anon
06/29/2015 at 23:31

It’s a shame that every canidate now has to play perfectly to their party. They essentially are stereotypes at this point since they can’t think freely.

El Rivinado > Anon
06/29/2015 at 23:38

I get what you mean, as a Libertarian, my party is still recovering from Crazy old man Ron Paul, so voting for my guys just seems like a waste. The problem is, I refuse to vote Democrat on principle (Big 2nd amendment supporter and hater of the party in blue that thinks it's meaningless) and so far the Republicans haven't showed anyone that isn't a backwards ass weirdo thinking this country was better off in the 50s. It's a sticky situation no doubt

CounterTorqueSteer > Anon
06/29/2015 at 23:39

1. Have you ever actually been to a gun show?

2. Why specifically the AK-47?

3. Have you ever had to go through the process of purchasing a firearm/do you know the actual procedures?

Mike > Anon
06/29/2015 at 23:42

I’m in pretty much the same boat politically. Only person I’ve even considered is Bernie Sanders. Frankly, I don’t know his stance on gun control and the like, but he’s got pretty much every other base covered. He also seems to be the closest thing to a normal human being in American politics, so that’s kinda nice.

StoneCold > DarrenMR
06/29/2015 at 23:43

http://www.ontheissues.org/senate/bernie_…

Edit: I should mention there is NO context on most of these. Sometimes legislature votes down things that need to be changed, but the proposed bill isn’t adequate or something else is attached, etc

SlickMcRick > DarrenMR
06/29/2015 at 23:45

This is exactly my thinking. If you place to evils in front me and I can opt out, chances are I’m opting out.

Party-vi > Anon
06/29/2015 at 23:45

Literally Bernie Sanders.

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > Anon
06/29/2015 at 23:45

Kinja'd!!!

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Anon
06/29/2015 at 23:50

(Second Amendment is capatalized.) Regarding Number 2: do you live in California?

It’s going to be fun watching the Republican Platoon form circular firing squads.

What appalls me is that the Democrats give us Mrs. Clinton as a candidate.

StoneCold > Mike
06/29/2015 at 23:52

http://www.ontheissues.org/Domestic/Berni…

Seems to want to allow them in moderation.

http://www.npr.org/sections/itsal…

StoneCold > For Sweden
06/29/2015 at 23:54

Guy whom I agree with 2016!

BReLp7dzHM3ytYsE > Anon
06/29/2015 at 23:55

This should help you out

StingrayJake > Anon
06/29/2015 at 23:56

Politics are about compromise. Not everybody is going to have the same opinion on every subject. It is absolutely impossible.

And yet we’re trained almost from birth to associate with one party or the other. And if you feel a certain way about a certain issue, people think you have to be 100% in favor of the policies of the party that agrees with you on that certain issue. There is no compromise... and if there is, said voter or elected official is somehow a turncoat — a traitor.

That’s why we’re doomed, politically speaking. We’re in a never ending swirling toilet flush of extremist rhetoric that is designed to stir emotions and further divide people and it’s all just going to go back and forth until it all collapses.

For Sweden > StoneCold
06/29/2015 at 23:56

Policies formed in 96% White Vermont sounds like a recipe for national disaster.

AthomSfere > Anon
06/29/2015 at 23:57

I’d go Bernie too, although I expect Hilary will win. The republicans haven’t come up with a real contender yet.

Also, point 3 is a crock. Net Neutrality really doesn’t need the FCC fucking it up.

CB > Anon
06/30/2015 at 00:08

Move to Canada. Well, unless you like guns. You can still get them here, but it’s a bit harder, especially for handguns and we have a lot of banned rifles. And rifle magazines are limited to five rounds.

Other than that, yeah, it’s pretty swell here.

Anon > CounterTorqueSteer
06/30/2015 at 00:18

1) yes, they are a lot of fun. I actually got my ruger .44 mag redhawk at one. (Brilliant gun by the way)

2) My mentally ill uncle owns one and so it was the first to come to mind. I have nothing against the AK-47, in resposible hands they’re a lot of fun for target practice. Hell, we own one!

3) No I have not. I know that there is a background check but there is no required check for mental illness. However 12% of guns used in crimes are obtained by the person themself legally. (Source: http://dailycaller.com/2013/02/11/whe… ) while that might not seem like much there were 45,000 gun homicides (not just deaths) in 2010, that makes over 5,400 homicides with legally aquired guns! I’m not saying all of them were mentally ill, however I’d place good money on a large amount of them being mentally ill. (Source: http://www.humanosphere.org/science/2014/0… )

Anon > CB
06/30/2015 at 00:21

Well pretty much all of my guns match thosr restrictions. However, I really like my revolvers (I adore my ruger Redhawk 44. Mag, even if it is overkill for target shooting.)

StoneCold > For Sweden
06/30/2015 at 00:23

Because Obama totally adopted Chicago politics to the White House.

The more important statistic for me is the fact Sanders’ net worth is under one million dollars, not his color or religion.

Mike > StoneCold
06/30/2015 at 00:27

Good to know, I suppose. I’m more libertarian, personally, but at least he’s not a hardline Brady Campaign-type.

Anon > StoneCold
06/30/2015 at 00:27

Hey now guys, lets not get into a fight. I know politics stir emotions but we should keep friendly on oppo.

Anon > For Sweden
06/30/2015 at 00:28

Hey now guys, lets not get into a fight. I know politics stir emotions but we should keep friendly on oppo.

Herr Quattro - Has a 4-Motion > Anon
06/30/2015 at 00:29

(7) and (2) contridict each other.

Not saying your wrong and/or disagreeing at all.

Mike > For Sweden
06/30/2015 at 00:29

SJW decision-making strategies!

Seriously, for an “old white guy” he seems far more connected to reality than most of the aristocracy we have in office.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > Anon
06/30/2015 at 00:34

At this point Bernie Sanders. I can’t vote for Hillary and I find the GOP pool a farce

I agree with the idea that money in elections is on of the biggest threats to democracy.

No surprise how fast people forget this.

Destructive Tester > Anon
06/30/2015 at 00:37

I’m not going to try to convince you toward any party. What I’d suggest is make a list of ALL the political parties (not just the Dems and Repubs) do some research on their respective policies (also referred to as platform planks), and make a checkmark by each plank you agree with. It may seem oversimplified, but it’s how democracy is supposed to work instead of the way things have become where people identify as a member of a party first and shape their opinions accordingly...

This looks like a good place to start; http://www.dailykos.com/story/2015/05/… DISCLAIMER: I honestly don't know much about the site, it was just a convenient way to link to the websites for all of the parties to start your research...

Anon > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/30/2015 at 00:39

Nope, Louisiana.

Baeromez > Anon
06/30/2015 at 00:59

My ideal candidate’s entire campaign would consist of: “As long as you don’t fuck with anyone else, I’ve got your back if anyone fucks with you.”

Dunnik > Anon
06/30/2015 at 01:06

Um, well, you still have lots of time before your presidential election, no? So lots of time to make up your mind. Millions of Americans, I’m sure, are in the same boat.

You describe yourself as a centrist, and yes, one of the clear trends of US politics in recent years is the two main parties have drifted towards their hardcore bases. There really is no party that represents the interests of the mushy middle. I don’t suppose it’s worth pointing out that most other western democracies have 3 (or more) parties at the federal level, and that a third party could go up the middle and score?

Unfortunately for you, your political beliefs are from across the spectrum, so none of the two parties will satisfy you on all points. It’s just a matter of who ticks the most boxes, I guess. But this requires time and research, ugh. So much easier to be an ideologue and just vote according to programming!

BATC42 > Anon
06/30/2015 at 01:19

I think it’s the same case all around the world. The issues at hand aren’t the same, but the fact is that poilitical parties are allways all or nothing. And when some try to find the middle ground, well, they’re rubbish. Keep in mind I’m European, so I’m kidn of spoiled when it comes to the number of candidates I could vote for, but they always have that one thing missing which happen to be really important to me. As a result, I really don’t see who I could vote for for the presidential election in 2017 (in France). Especially since all the potential candidates are absolutely rotten. And on top of that you can add the batshit-crazy-absolutely-racist-”but, hey we’re not like the others” far right parties that have been growing in Europe (aka the FN or Front National in France).

Also, might I ask, because I’m curious about that, what do you consider being “too much left”? Because for me, if we compare to what we have in Europe, the Democrats are centre-right, and the Republicans are right-right (but not far-right, although some times it looks like it).

And as for my point of view on US politics, I should say that, from what I understand, it seems that every single stage of it is rotten by corporate lobying and corporate interests supplant the interest of the people. And to be honest, this one of the reason that makes me not to want to try to find work in the US, while I’m pretty sure I could get one. (one other reason is that I’m way too attached to the healthcare system we have in France).

sellphones2493 > Anon
06/30/2015 at 01:35

Bernie or Rand. I;m going for Rand, but those are the only two candidates who actually stand for something.

Wheelerguy > Anon
06/30/2015 at 01:36

Or we can brainwash every voter so that they do not vote and their mind’s pretty blank, send the right messages, then TAKE OVER THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA!!! *evil villain laugh*

Of, course, before we do so, we have to plan out every single policy first.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Anon
06/30/2015 at 01:49

I was stationed at Fort Polk in the mid-eighties.

Anon > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo
06/30/2015 at 01:51

Fort Polk is only about a 20 minute drive from my house!

Once_upon_a_pvt > El Rivinado
06/30/2015 at 01:59

I know what you mean in regards to the ron Paul stigma. As a member of the military, you are pretty much expected to be right wing. Any time I bring up leaning more libertarian its pretty much laughed at thanks the crazy old man.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > Anon
06/30/2015 at 02:08

I was just looking at Fort Polk on Google Maps. Haven’t done that in a while, like 30 years. I did not enjoy my time there, if I’m honest. The weather was shocking and so were the scorpions and cockroaches. It’s been a long time. I had a couple of nice visits to Shreveport. There was a little place called New Llano, through which passed 7/10 of a mile of Highway 171 between Fort Polk and Leesville. Highest DWI rate in the country as I recall. And damned stupid GIs got drunk and drove their cars through there every night of the week. Leesville was a dump thirty years ago. I’d be curious to see what it looks like now.

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > JQJ213- Now With An Extra Cylinder!
06/30/2015 at 02:13

And then voters are effectively forced to compromise by endorsing (voting) for one extreme or another.

Svend > Anon
06/30/2015 at 02:16

On behalf of the rest of the world can I please ask that you don’t vote for anyone who says:

“legitimate rape” rarely results in pregnancy due to a woman’s biological defences.”

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2012/aug…

or:

“If the people so violently shot down in Paris had guns, at least they would have had a fighting chance.”

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/do…

Because stuff like this scares the crap out of us all.

Maxi Cooper ¯\_()_/¯ > For Sweden
06/30/2015 at 03:48

Ummm... you are aware that Bernie was a member of SNCC and CORE alongside noted black activists such as Rev. Jesse Jackson, no?

Maxi Cooper ¯\_()_/¯ > Anon
06/30/2015 at 03:52

To reiterate what others have said, Bernie Sanders is your guy. Very socially liberal, wants to make public college education free, has supported gay rights for far longer than Hillary, supports single-payer healthcare, wants to crack down on “gun show exemptions” and has voted to outlaw assault weapons in the past, but is also more moderate on gun control than the Democratic party as a whole, citing the rights of hunters in Vermont. I’m voting Bernie and I suggest you do the same, based on your expressed set of beliefs. #FeelTheBern

JEM > BATC42
06/30/2015 at 07:10

And as for my point of view on US politics, I should say that, from what I understand, it seems that every single stage of it is rotten by corporate lobying and corporate interests

You have a better grasp on it than probably 50% of the US then.

I take it people don’t listen to political talk radio in France?

BATC42 > JEM
06/30/2015 at 07:30

I don’t but people do. And most of the time the guests (whether or not they are part of the government) are there to say the same bullshit as everyone else in their party. So nothing much interesting going on...

I would say the biggest difference is that, excluding newspaper which are traditionnaly leaning on a side of the political spectrum (the shit that Minute is, is far right, Le Figaro is right-wing, Libération is left-wing, and Le Monde seems a bit more objective), we don’t have any “propaganda” (for lack of a better word) media like it seems some are in the US (I’m thinking Fox News, but my view is probably biased by what we get from it here).

JEM > BATC42
06/30/2015 at 07:43

I find it hard to tell where “leaning” and “propaganda” in media start/stop/end personally. I try to ignore most US media as I know they’ll have too much of a bias. I’d much rather get me national/international news from BBC/Al Jeezera

Tekamul > For Sweden
06/30/2015 at 07:59

This is one of the least informed statements I’ve ever heard.

pip bip - choose Corrour > Anon
06/30/2015 at 08:02

(P)rick Santorum?

Santiago of Escuderia Boricua > Anon
06/30/2015 at 08:04

I want Bernie Sanders to win simply because he doesn’t have any billionaire supporters. All the other candidates are scrambling for money from the Koch brothers or other 0.1%ers.

BlazinAce - Doctor of Internal Combustion > Anon
06/30/2015 at 08:13

Man, america is becoming more and more like Brazil... Politics have been specially fucked up down here for the better part of the last decade, with people absolutely embracing block thinking. If you’re in the right, then you have to support X and Y groups, while A and B are your sworn enemies, and vice versa.

Your enumerated points, believe it or not, are also issues in Brazil, and I agree to most, if not all of them, and there simply isn’t a “party” or candidate who supports that, they all buy into the block thinking.

Of course, there’s also the fact that not a single politician in Brazil is trustworthy, and both our president and the opposition candidates must have few loose bolts and several missing.

Tripper > Anon
06/30/2015 at 08:19

I tend not to get caught up in the “issues” and just vote for whomever is going to take the least out of my paycheck.

505Turbeaux > Party-vi
06/30/2015 at 08:28

Literally

philsphan09 > Anon
06/30/2015 at 08:36

You seem to be near where I am. Fiscally more conservative and socially more liberal. The problem with any Republican Candidate still to me is that they still trying to hard to appeal to their base that they aren’t budging on any social issues. I know many people who historically have voted republican but refuse to do so because of how backwards thinking they have become socially.

bob and john > Anon
06/30/2015 at 08:38

you can get handguns. I have a couple.

but you need to get another 2 permits for one (a restricted permit and a permit to transport them) and they all have to be pin to 10 rounds (IIRC) and have to have the barrel a specific elngth

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > Anon
06/30/2015 at 08:45

Bernie Sanders.

seriously, don’t listen to what the other candidates are saying about him, or what the (mostly) uninformed major media says about his “fringe” position, read up on his policies and history. Despite the fact that he’s a Social Democrat when it comes to government policy, he’s about as middle of the road on most things as anyone gets, and he’s also a real person.

JawzX2, Boost Addict. 1.6t, 2.7tt, 4.2t > El Rivinado
06/30/2015 at 08:47

Sanders is strong on the second Amendment.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Anon
06/30/2015 at 09:01

You have the affliction of being an ordinary person in a situation where all the candidates try to be polarizing.

I don’t believe in the 2-party system. Or three. Or one, I’m not communist. I don’t believe in have parties at all. Every man for himself, then you’d have people supporting progress rather than an agenda. And no term limits, so no lame-duck 2nd-termers.

Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready > Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer
06/30/2015 at 09:10

I agree with all of this, except I personally think that no American President should be allowed more than one term, so they have less time to become corrupt.

Smallbear wants a modern Syclone, local Maple Leafs spammer > Hahayoustupidludditeshutupandgohandcrankyourmodeltalready
06/30/2015 at 09:14

The problem with 1 term is the same as a 2nd term. you have acheived your goal, and now you just want to fly under the radar and nothing gets done. As long as there is a chance that the people will elect you again, you have an incentive to accomplish something.

R Saldana [|Oo|======|oO|] - BTC/ETH/LTC Prophet > Anon
06/30/2015 at 09:31

Can I add non-discriminatory environmental regulations. Meaning, we set the standard and refuse to do business with any country, corporation, or entity that does not play by the rules - period. No more exporting raw materials, manufacturing process’, non-taxed US currency, or labor to countries who do not meet up with international law regarding human and civil rights and fair wage and safe work environment regulations.

Things will become more expensive, but maybe just maybe we as Americans will learn to appreciate things more, instead of succumbing to death by retail prices via “payment plans”.

Oh and liberty, justice, and freedom for/from all. ;-)

For Sweden > Maxi Cooper ¯\_()_/¯
06/30/2015 at 09:45

Using Jessie Jackson as validation LOL

Cixelsyd > DarrenMR
06/30/2015 at 11:04

Kinja'd!!!

BorkBorkBjork > Anon
06/30/2015 at 11:25

Regarding #5

I think college itself has been over-hyped and should not be the end-all be-all for education. One of our problems in this country is that a high school education is not worthwhile, and teaches very little about functioning in the real world. I graduated high school with a good understanding of the political systems of Medieval Europe, but I had no idea how to do basic accounting or decide whether I should get loan “A” or loan “B”. That sounds pretty fucking backwards to me.

And part of the problem is that colleges hype themselves up as well. News flash, you will probably earn more money, have less debt, and have more marketable skills if you go to a technical school than if you go to a first-rate college and get an arts degree. Hell, I’m an engineer, and it took me YEARS to start earning more money that the guys who were welding the tubes together that I designed!

Destructive Tester > gmporschenut also a fan of hondas
06/30/2015 at 11:34

Before I go into my comment, allow me to say that my interest in primary presidential campaigns is purely academic because I am registered as “unaffiliated” and as such cannot vote in any party’s primary.

I see a lot of people who view Senator Sanders as either an also-ran or a protest candidate. We have to remember that in 2007, Hillary Clinton was also seen as the inevitable Democratic candidate for President... Voting for the DNC candidate doesn’t begin until February 1 with the Iowa Caucus, a lot can change between now and then. We’ve seen it before...

Also for what its worth, I sincerely hope the GOP manages to successfully nominate a viable candidate who isn't forced to take too many extreme stances that will hinder him (lets face it, Carly Fiorina stands a snowball's chance in Phoenix) in the general election. This has been the party's biggest hindrance over the past 8 years...

Anon > bob and john
06/30/2015 at 15:06

Well barrel length isn’t an issue, the thing has a 8” barrel and it only fires 6 shots. Also as long as I could keep my redhawk and shotguns then that’s fine.

Maxi Cooper ¯\_()_/¯ > For Sweden
06/30/2015 at 15:39

Yes, to contest your point that

Policies formed in 96% White Vermont sounds like a recipe for national disaster.

I think it’s perfectly valid to argue that Sanders’s extensive work in the civil rights movement indicates that his policies will be informed by, and work well in, states that are more ethnically diverse than Vermont.

For Sweden > Maxi Cooper ¯\_()_/¯
06/30/2015 at 15:41

Eh, America has too many White Savior complexes already.

BATC42 > JEM
06/30/2015 at 17:33

I think Al Jazeera is probably one of the best international news channel available, Euronews is not too bad either (the 2 main French channel are appaling....). And that’s one of the reasons I love twitter, it’s easy to get different point of view from local and international news, and you can taylor it to your needs. It’s kind of my principal source of news now that I’m away from France.

gmporschenut also a fan of hondas > BATC42
07/01/2015 at 23:27

a friend of mine from France would always correct people with “you have no idea what a socialist is.”