Well I voted today . . . . . . .

[Cutz]

If I had my druthers - I want someone to go inside the Beltway and clean house. I want to start fresh and I want limits and I want money taken out of the equation. I don't feel that the people there work for us and I want all those bitches cut loose, I want them out of Dodge. They are not working together towards a common goal and they haven't done so in many, many years. It's like the goddamn Hatfields & McCoys as it stands now. The group of old pricks have got some power now but there is nothing they can do with it, this is just going to be another 2 years of the same ol' shit.

Yep. The two party system is so fail. The country votes for Red... Bush screws everything up. The country votes blue... Obama screws everything up. So now we'll swing back red... it's all the same shit. This isn't the red pill and blue pill in the matrix, you're just choosing colors of vitamins.

Money needs to be taken out of politics. Remove the advertising, institute debates in public forum, clean up the shit. Let independents have a fair shot. Remove the power of the lobbyists and corporations to elect their reps.

[HairOfTheDog]

^ I know a lot of people who feel the same way, Cutz.

It's disappointing that aggressive campaign finance reform attempts end up getting killed in court. I agreed with the primary goal of the Occupy movement, though the tactics they used to spread their message and gain support detracted from the legitimacy of their message (IMO). I share their belief that corporations should not be treated as having personhood, and monetary donations are not equivalent to free speech. I wish the Supreme Court agreed.

It would be great if Independents and Libertarians (without having to hide under a GOP label and agenda) had a fair shot in elections, rather than being dwarfed by heavily funded party-candidate campaigns. I think there is a sizable portion of the US population that is progressive when it comes to social issues and conservative when it comes to fiscal issues (and varies in regards to foreign and environmental policy) -- every time those of us go to vote, it feels like casting a ballot for the lesser of two evils (or extremes, in this case). That's true for me, anyway.

The Clean Election process in Arizona is interesting to me -- more fair to all candidates in limiting campaign funding disparities. There was talk of a movement to implement Clean Elections federally, but I don't know if it went anywhere. I really hope some leader or organization can find a way to effectively challenge campaign finance laws despite opposition from the super powerful corporations, PACs, SuperPacs, and special interest groups like the NRA and pharma.

For the time being, we've got filibusters, vetoes, and Executive Action coming our way. I'm hoping that there are enough members of Congress who care as much or more about doing their jobs and serving their constituents as they do about warring with the other party to get actually get something done. Hoping.

[username]

Money needs to be taken out of politics.

But we've got Super Pacs now!!!

[Maggot]

Is it time to cue the circular firing squad yet? Fire, Aim, Ready!

[username]

Is it time to cue the circular firing squad yet? Fire, Aim, Ready!

Yep. Slutz is right. The only way to fix our government system and ensure our representatives actually represent the will of the people is to take the money out of politics. I thought of playing a little Russian roulette myself when the Super Pacs were declared legal. Crap on a communion wafer--that's what they are.

[HairOfTheDog]

Money needs to be taken out of politics.

But we've got Super Pacs now!!!

SuperPac Man actually looks like some of the Mega Donors behind the Pacs.

I read that $4 billion was pumped into the mid-term elections -- much of it to help get the Republican wins needed for the GOP to take control of the Senate (while unlimited Union donors threw a shitload of money into backing Democratic candidates).

Some of the Mega Donors donate to causes or candidates based on passion for an issue, rather than a party, and thus end up donating to candidates from both parties.

Here's the article with the breakdown of top Mega Donors and SuperPacs -- I'm always interested in knowing who's driving the big buses. http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/polit.../18060219/

[Carsman]

.

Well my better half & I voted yesterday, and sure enough my candidate did not win! Like always!

[Carsman]

.

It used to be "The United States of America" here, not any longer, welcome to the New Divided States of America!

[Maggot]

I drove by the school in the morning around 7am and it was packed so I waited till I got off work around 5 that night and the place was packed. I had a tough time finding a parking spot and waited in line ¹⁄₂ an hr before I got in to get my chip. All in all about 1 hr. I've never seen a mid-term so loaded. It was great!

[Love Child]

That is awesome!

I filled out my ballot from the comfort of my own home and then dropped it into the ballot box near city hall.
I love the way WA state gets to vote and I wish it were that way for everyone.

[Maggot]

I'm not sure if thats done here. Probably and I've never looked into it. I had to register at town hall when I moved here and have to show my license when voting, then they draw a line through my name.