JohnCorrespondent

Since you mention it: It takes a lot more than a plane ticket to get citizenship in another country. I've thought of moving, but I'm not wealthy enough to afford it, and have family connections here. Plus, I was born here in the USA and would like to get rid of those who are hijacking my country. Like the convicted criminals of the Nixon, Reagan, and GWBush administrations. If someone has to leave, it should be they, not I. And it's not the whole country I object to, of course. It's certain strains in it.

emarine

A quick question for John & Sew... what party do you feel represents your views best ?... I enjoyed your reply's & attitude... thanks E...

Sew_What

I stick with what Groucho Marx said:

"I don’t want to belong to any club that would have me as a member!"

Because if you're pleasing me, there are a whole lotta' people that would be less happy.

Belonging to a party has created a conundrum the way moral absolutes (i.e. subjective morality) pose for people of religious persuasion. We don't skip through life anymore because there so many "tribes" rather than a collective (I know this sounds all commie and s__t, but it ain't because the the military is an example of a collective: every person has a job every job has a person). We don't dwell on the benefits of anything we study the risks and prior failures because everything has to be decreed in simple terms.

In conclusion, I affiliate with no party because parties or "parties" contribute to the chaos and the mess. Vote for someone, not a party.

emarine

Groucho Marx .. now there's a stable genius ... … party's are the problem … thanks again...

JohnCorrespondent

I agree particularly to the part where you wrote: "... to realize that lying works for him and allows everyone to waste their talents chasing his lies rather than looking at the big picture."

I've seen that happen in court (as a layperson -- I'm not an attorney): an opposing litigant or attorney will sometimes say or insinuate one false thing after another. Sometimes it is more false things than one can remember. Sometimes there's not even an opportunity to counter them. Sometimes it cannot be ignored and must be countered. This was done to me. It took about three years to effectively counter all or almost all of it. It took an enormous amount of my energy (and some luck). The other side _could_ have destroyed me in such a way, but probably did not wish to go that far. At least two people I've known have been destroyed (or severely damaged) that way.

There are magic words to sway a judge or sway the public. (I say this, not to recommend it, but to describe this evil method I've seen others use.) That is, if one accuses a person of something which is very bad or very taboo, which the judge or public are already primed to believe (that is, a "hot button" issue of the day), then it's very hazardous for the accused person's reputation or other aspects of his or her life.

JohnCorrespondent

I have not studied the political parties. As a quick answer, which is a guess, I'd probably find that a Democratic Socialist party represents my views better than most other parties would. Bernie Sanders, who seems, to me, relatively sensible, has called himself a Democratic Socialist. I don't know whether there's actually a registered political party by that name (but there may be in the future). Another possibility for me would be the Green party, since I'm interested in the environment.

When I vote I try to find issues that I care about and candidates who support my side of those issues. So I read what the candidates say in the ballot pamphlet. (This is more relevant in the primaries, not as much in the general election.)

I try to vote only on things I know something about. I used to vote about a third of each ballot, abstaining from things I knew very little about. Now I'm up to voting about two-thirds of each ballot, as I spend more time now being informed (and also forming stronger opinions, with experience).

I have a really bad impression of the Republican party. So it would be hard for me to vote for a Republican party candidate. I would not want to support that party.

I was surprised to see your nice post. The atmosphere here usually feels alien or hostile to me.

emarine

Alien or hostile sounds about right... there are a lot more right leaning buddies than left... but the left can hold their own... I haven't a party holding me back… I vote for the individual people I relate to... my wife calls me a tree hugger with a chin saw.. pretty tired of all the propaganda lately … trump's a funny guy...