[BurlyShirley]

See, there's a bit of a dilemma with me here. My beleifs are way more closely aligned with GWB. The things he wants are by and large, the things I want on a grand, nation-wide scale. In fact, even the disagreements I have with his policies are easy to overlook because Im so supportive of his initiatives. BUT, there's a bit of a catch.
I hate John Kerry. Hate what he wants to do. Think he's a snake of a politician if there ever was one. But he promises to do one thing that weighs on my mind quite heavily. It has to do with "Ending the backdoor draft" as he put it, that the current administration has going on with the War in Iraq. Now, Kerry is a tool. Legally, and in truth, there is no backdoor draft going on...BUT what Kerry is talking about is the activation of guys on Inactive Reserve (ie, ME) and the re-activation of retirees and other people who've honorably served. Now, I know Im under a contract and I would of course honor it, but being recalled is seriously the LAST thing I want right now, especially being enrolled in college and working alot on my future. It'd be a huge setback. Now, in TN, it statistically doesnt even matter if I vote...Bush will win by a ton here, but even if he didn't we're such a minor state that its useless. But at what point do I put ME over the FUTURE of the COUNTRY. And am I totally wrong for kind of going against my beleifs for personal gain? Any sympathy or death threats?

 

[Jr_Bullit]

Burly, darlin, it's been ages since you and I talked, but I gotta say - when it comes to voting there are a ton of people who make there decisions with a lot less foundation then clearly understanding how one candidate can directly affect them than another.
Also...let's say the new guy (Kerry) beat the incumbent (Bush), you will still most likely have a majority in the House and Senate...all that will happen is the system will right itself and the check's and balances that are supposed to be inherent in our system will be back in play. Any majority in either party of all three branches of government sends our wonderful country off all alkilter.

 

[LordOpie]

i hear what you're saying, but for the good of the country, allowing the activating recently retired personnel is of critical importance. The key is, having an administration that wouldn't put US in a position to need to do that. Reactivation should be done only if we're attacked, not because we went looking for a fight.

That said, what does Kerry actually propose?

 

[BurlyShirley]

That said, what does Kerry actually propose?

Well that's the catch isnt it? I mean you cant nail it down. But basically it has to do with relying more on a UN based peace force than a US based on, and hence, less need for activations.

 

[narlus]

ask N8, i'm sure he'll cut and paste a good answer for you.

 

[LordOpie]

Well that's the catch isnt it? I mean you cant nail it down. But basically it has to do with relying more on a UN based peace force than a US based on, and hence, less need for activations.

Ah. Okay, so he's not talking about removing the option to recall soldiers, just saying we shouldn't bear so much of the burden. Yeah, I agree with that.

Honestly, in the big big picture, does it really matter which one you vote for? While I hate Bush's fiscally irresponsible policies, I don't think he's going to ruin america. While Bush is tighter on security, I don't think Kerry's gonna let us get fvcked over. Kerry might make slight changes that could actually and personally affect you. If Kerry goes the UN route and Bush keeps troop numbers high -- at least as a symbol to Iran -- then yeah, that could affect you.

Other than that, I just don't see their policies being that drastically different. So I say you should vote what's best for you... that's the Republican, err, American Way.

 

[valve bouncer]

Who are you trying to kid Shirley, it'll be a cold day in hell before you vote for anyone except Bush.....well perhaps if Genghis Khan was running you might think twice.

 

[BurlyShirley]

Who are you trying to kid Shirley, it'll be a cold day in hell before you vote for anyone except Bush.....well perhaps if Genghis Khan was running you might think twice.

You're right. Actually, Id vote for the Romans. Ghengis is a bit too much of a revolutionary for my tastes.

 

[valve bouncer]

You're right. Actually, Id vote for the Romans. Ghengis is a bit too much of a revolutionary for my tastes.

I thought the Spartans would be more up your alley being the mighty warrior that you are. What was it, deadliest pen in the army or something like that?

 

[ALEXIS_DH]

You're right. Actually, Id vote for the Romans. Ghengis is a bit too much of a revolutionary for my tastes.

Beware the leader who bangs the drums of war in order to whip the citizenry into a patriotic fervor, for patriotism is indeed a double-edged sword. It both emboldens the blood, just as it narrows the mind. And when the drums of war have reached a fever pitch and the blood boils with hate and the mind has closed, the leader will have no need in seizing the rights of the citizenry. Rather, the citizenry, infused with fear and blinded by patriotism, will offer up all of their rights unto the leader and gladly so. How do I know? For this is what I have done. And I am Caesar.


not really a quote from julius, but still, it was the first thing that popped in my mind when i read your post.

dont matter who actually said it, but very applicable for this election and political moment imo.

 

[Skookum]

Freind might i sway your vote towards a true visionary, a leader that will bring us forward into the future without fear of death or destitution. Freind when you walk into the voting booth doing your civic duty make sure you vote for....

 

[dante]

hey Burly, thought you might be interested to read this:

http://story.news.yahoo.com/news?tmpl=story&cid=514&e=4&u=/ap/20040918/ap_on_el_pr/kerry

it's totally partisan crap, but a pretty scary thought, esp with your earlier comments. especially combined with some of the reports out there (threatening current forces to either reinlist or they'll be sent to iraq to serve out the remainder of their term, etc), it's not something that i'd put past this administration. the last thing us "leftists" want is more american troops being sent to iraq to die for a war that was officially started on false pretenses (it's official, according to our gov's chief weapons inspector, there are no WMD in iraq).

regardless, stay safe.
T.