Poll:Do You Believe The Presidential Election Is Fixed?

[virginiakid]

Just curious to see where people stand on this. Does your vote really count? Do you think that the Presidential elections are fixed?

 

[Rainsford]

I suppose it depends on what you mean by "fixed". Do I believe some shadowy organization picks exactly who wins the election? Nope. But I do think that the parties artificially limit our choices and that corporate donations make a lot of choice for us. If Hillary wins the Democratic nomination, and almost any Republican wins the Republican nomination, I'll basically have two choices...neither of which I really like. Now is that a fixed election? Well, my voice doesn't REALLY count for the kind of person I'd like to see...so it's a little iffy.

 

[bamacre]

I wouldn't say "fixed," but there seems to be some corruption here and there.

 

[IronWing]

With no Bush in the race, it probably isn't fixed this time. However my vote won't count as I live in a heavily R state and the winner-take-all BS for Electoral College seats prevents my vote from counting.

 

[bamacre]

Originally posted by: ironwing
With no Bush in the race, it probably isn't fixed this time.

Right because Bush Sr. served two terms, right?

It has nothing to do with family, but money and power. As usual.

 

[nageov3t]

fixed as in, someone's controlling the outcome (ie: hacking the voter boxes)? no.

I think it's naturally "fixed" in that success snowballs... get media attention, gain notoriety, raise more money, which allows you to get more media attention, etc, etc.

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: Rainsford
I suppose it depends on what you mean by "fixed". Do I believe some shadowy organization picks exactly who wins the election? Nope. But I do think that the parties artificially limit our choices and that corporate donations make a lot of choice for us. If Hillary wins the Democratic nomination, and almost any Republican wins the Republican nomination, I'll basically have two choices...neither of which I really like. Now is that a fixed election? Well, my voice doesn't REALLY count for the kind of person I'd like to see...so it's a little iffy.

There we go.
Corporate donations make the choice by deciding who gets the money. Whoever gets the most money gets the most airtime, and the best writers. More airtime greatly increases the chances of getting voted. Someone who proposes to severely curtail the powers of large corporations would generate some money from donations through friends and local businesses, but he might be able to afford a few commercials on local TV stations - most of the country won't even know his name. Meanwhile, you don't have a clue who Senator Dingbat is, but dammit you've heard that name a lot lately, so this person must be worth something.

Whoever you vote for, more and more it feels like you're voting for a different face which covers the same head of the same beast.

 

[virginiakid]

Originally posted by: Jeff7

Originally posted by: Rainsford
I suppose it depends on what you mean by "fixed". Do I believe some shadowy organization picks exactly who wins the election? Nope. But I do think that the parties artificially limit our choices and that corporate donations make a lot of choice for us. If Hillary wins the Democratic nomination, and almost any Republican wins the Republican nomination, I'll basically have two choices...neither of which I really like. Now is that a fixed election? Well, my voice doesn't REALLY count for the kind of person I'd like to see...so it's a little iffy.

There we go.
Corporate donations make the choice by deciding who gets the money. Whoever gets the most money gets the most airtime, and the best writers. More airtime greatly increases the chances of getting voted. Someone who proposes to severely curtail the powers of large corporations would generate some money from donations through friends and local businesses, but he might be able to afford a few commercials on local TV stations - most of the country won't even know his name. Meanwhile, you don't have a clue who Senator Dingbat is, but dammit you've heard that name a lot lately, so this person must be worth something.

Whoever you vote for, more and more it feels like you're voting for a different face which covers the same head of the same beast.

Not true with this years Republican Race. Ron Paul raised $20 million dollars in the 4th quarter and the MSM has totally shunned him. In fact, they have outright conspired against this man by not including him in polls, making false statements, etc.... What are they scared of?

 

[silent tone]

Study after study says that electronic voting has egregious security failings in the requirements, design, implementation, deployment & support. Secure voting can be achieved - we choose not to. If voting equipment and processes had to adhere to the standards used for ATM or slot machines, we might be able to at least have votes that can get cast counted accurately.

Paper ballots aren't exempt from fraud though.
New Hampshire Primary, pitiful chain of custody

Nobody except the general public benefits from an accurate, fair voting process. Maintaining the status quo has a significant financial impact to many companies and individuals however. Guaranteeing a particular candidate wins can be even more lucrative for an even smaller set.

 

[Jinru]

Originally posted by: silent tone
Study after study says that electronic voting has egregious security failings in the requirements, design, implementation, deployment & support. Secure voting can be achieved - we choose not to. If voting equipment and processes had to adhere to the standards used for ATM or slot machines, we might be able to at least have votes that can get cast counted accurately.

Paper ballots aren't exempt from fraud though.
New Hampshire Primary, pitiful chain of custody

Nobody except the general public benefits from an accurate, fair voting process. Maintaining the status quo has a significant financial impact to many companies and individuals however. Guaranteeing a particular candidate wins can be even more lucrative for an even smaller set.

Are you kidding me? They leave the ballots in a room with easy access, put a paper on the door as if thats going to stop anyone from coming in, and forget to put the seal on the ballot boxes.

 

[Moonbeam]

I get to vote for Tweedledum or Tweedledee. Is that fixed?

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

I wouldn't call the party caucus/primary systems "fixed". But they are heavily influenced and run in such a way as to limit choice.

 

[NoStateofMind]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I get to vote for Tweedledum or Tweedledee. Is that fixed?

:laugh:

 

[Whoozyerdaddy]

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I get to vote for Tweedledum or Tweedledee. Is that fixed?

:laugh:

And Ron Paul! Don't forget about Ron Paul!

 

[Pabster]

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I get to vote for Tweedledum or Tweedledee. Is that fixed?

:laugh:

And Ron Paul! Don't forget about Ron Paul!

Ron WHO? :laugh:

 

[shortylickens]

No, after analyzing the last election I honestly believe a majority of Americans are complete idiots.

 

[Jaskalas]

I really don?t know.

I sure as hell know that we tend to repeatedly dig up trash and place it on a pedestal when we vote. That alone is very discouraging and I REALLY want someone in the general election that I won?t have to puke over having to choose.

Clinton/McCain/Romney are not my choice for President, yet it seems apparent that I might only get to choose between the lesser of those evils. I hate that. Of course, in democracy it doesn?t matter what 1 person likes/dislikes. Apparently the majority of voters want to get bent over and screwed.

I can?t stop them.

 

[StageLeft]

OMG some of you are insane who said yes. You think the same government that messed up the intelligence for Iraq, has no fvcking clue what Iran is doing, cannot manage a war to safe its life is smart enough to fix an election in the most visible democracy in the world and get away with it? Hah! Now, it's easy to manipulate outcomes because people are all broken and stupid, but that's not really a fixed election

 

[heyheybooboo]

Originally posted by: Whoozyerdaddy

Originally posted by: PC Surgeon

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
I get to vote for Tweedledum or Tweedledee. Is that fixed?

:laugh:

And Ron Paul! Don't forget about Ron Paul!

Tweedledum ... and Tweedledumber

(I would just like to note as a Leftist Libertarian that I understand and support certain principles of Ron Paul - but let's face it, Dr. Paul needs a Reality Check and borders on the well-deserved label of Loon.)

 

[GarfieldtheCat]

Originally posted by: Rainsford
I suppose it depends on what you mean by "fixed". Do I believe some shadowy organization picks exactly who wins the election? Nope. But I do think that the parties artificially limit our choices and that corporate donations make a lot of choice for us. If Hillary wins the Democratic nomination, and almost any Republican wins the Republican nomination, I'll basically have two choices...neither of which I really like. Now is that a fixed election? Well, my voice doesn't REALLY count for the kind of person I'd like to see...so it's a little iffy.

++

 

[Jeff7]

Originally posted by: shortylickens
No, after analyzing the last election I honestly believe a majority of Americans are complete idiots.

Really? I'd arrived at that conclusion long before then.

 

[Mxylplyx]

When I saw the dems sue Nader to get him off the ballot, in courts controlled by political appointees no less, I knew the elections were fixed. They might not be fixed at the lever pulling or vote counting level, but everything up to that point is heavily manipulated by the 2 parties and their cronies in the courts.

 

[newmachineoverlord]

Originally posted by: silent tone
Study after study says that electronic voting has egregious security failings in the requirements, design, implementation, deployment & support. Secure voting can be achieved - we choose not to. If voting equipment and processes had to adhere to the standards used for ATM or slot machines, we might be able to at least have votes that can get cast counted accurately.

Paper ballots aren't exempt from fraud though.
New Hampshire Primary, pitiful chain of custody

Nobody except the general public benefits from an accurate, fair voting process. Maintaining the status quo has a significant financial impact to many companies and individuals however. Guaranteeing a particular candidate wins can be even more lucrative for an even smaller set.

QFT

Electronic voting is the most insecure method used, and cannot be audited, so there is no evidence whatsoever that it is in any way reliable, and plenty of evidence that it is easily hacked and manipulated.

The 2000 election was decided by illegally disenfranchising blacks in voter roll purges, and the 2004 election was decided by machines, not voters.

The myriad of problems with disenfranchisement and non-auditable machines hav enot yet been fixed, so the election results cannot yet be trusted.

 

[Mavtek3100]

If you want "choice" vote in your primary or caucus, if you don't it's your fault, that's the most choice you're going to have. As far as fixed, well in the sense that the media and the corporations have more influence than they should absolutely.

Ultimately it's up to you though, it's up to you to research all the candidates, their records in public and the personal life they lead. I say their personal life is important because they do need to follow values that are important to you, as this is your choice and it needs to be the person who best fits your mold in every regard.

 

[Fern]

Originally posted by: virginiakid
Just curious to see where people stand on this. Does your vote really count? Do you think that the Presidential elections are fixed?

Oh h3ll no, they're not fixed.

You wouldn't be seeing all these candidates blowing huge amounts of money, sometimes their own, if it was fixed.

Will my vote count?

Not likely, my state's primary election isn't scheduled until May 5th. It'll likely be over by then. Worse, saw in today's newpaper taht a lawsuit was filed about some redistricting which is likley to delay our election to an even later period.

Will my vote count in the gen election? I suppose in some way it does, but like almost everybody else my state is a "winner-take-all". So if the candidate I vote for doesn't win in my state it'll be like I never voted at all.

Fern