Report a Comment

A lot of pouting from wonkish people and the odd racist.

I've lived in places with "non-partisan" elections. They end up being elections between 2 plausible candidates from the dominant party.

Can't change party on election day--the whole idea is to have an affiliation and have that represent something. My grandfather, a man described by his son, my Dad, as an ignorant superstitious man decided to become a Republican because he couldn't vote for a GOPer in a Democratic party. I'm not sure he was a good example of why people should be able to change.

Most independents lean toward one party or another but won't admit it. The others are the scary "undecided voters" who can't decide between obviously different people like Bush and Kerry or McCain and Obama. Yes, politically stupid people should be able to vote, but the system should minimize the damage.

There aren't and aren't enough GOPers in DC to make much difference in a mayoral election. that's why the council has affirmative action for some slots.

Give Anacostia back to Maryland? What happens when it starts to gentrify? There are plenty of awful politicians elected by white people, including white people with money. Just look at Doug "I love developers" Duncan or that twit Ehrlich, not to mention a lot of pols in Prince William County and many statewide figures in Virginia (e.g., George Allen, John Warner, Chuck Robb, not to mention the current governor and AG).

Want your vote to count? Vote in the Dem primary. I figured that out the first year I lived here. Not difficult to figure out and I'm a Dem. A GOPer? No chance in November anyway--support your favorite council candidate. An independent? Figure out who you really are and if you're someone who couldn't pick between Bush and Kerry, try to vote for things you actually know something about, instead everything else.

by Rich on Aug 26, 2010 8:47 pm • link • report