Do you believe uninformed voters are hazardous to our Republic?

SSG Gerhard S. — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 23:30:06 -0400

I wrote this a number of years ago, and try to repost during election years. As always, respectfully interested in your thoughts.

Response by SSG Gerhard S. made Oct 23 at 2016 11:33 PM

SSG Gerhard S. — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 23:33:06 -0400

A little something I wrote a number of years ago, which I like to trot out in election season. I'm not suggesting here that anyone CAN'T vote, or shouldn't be allowed to vote, only that the people described here should be encouraged to "Please don't vote" as a result of their failure to gain a understanding of the immense responsibility an informed voter and the terrible consequences of doing so willfully uninformed. Happy Election season!

• If you haven't read, and understand the Constitution....
PLEASE DON'T VOTE!

If you haven't taken the time to research the Candidate's positions...
PLEASE DON'T VOTE!

If you don't know the platform of the party you support... ...
PLEASE DON'T VOTE!

If you don't understand there's a difference between the powers allocated to State and Federal Governments respectively...
PLEASE DON'T VOTE!

If you don't know what an "enumerated" power is....
PLEASE DON'T VOTE!

If you believe it is somebody else's responsibility to pay for your education....
PLEASE DON'T VOTE!

If you believe that a majority of the people should be permitted to vote your rights away...
PLEASE DON'T VOTE!

If you don't know what "Inalienable" rights are...
PLEASE DON'T VOTE!

If you believe the 2nd Amendment was written for hunting...
PLEASE DON'T VOTE!

If you believe the Constitution is a "living" document that can be changed by court orders, or judicial decisions or executive orders.....
PLEASE DON'T VOTE!

If you believe a politically appointed Judge can "interpret" the Constitution better than the men who actually wrote it.....
PLEASE DON'T VOTE!

If you believe deficit spending, and spiraling debt is our path out of a financial crisis...
PLEASE DON'T VOTE!

If you equate ILLEGAL immigration with LAWFUL immigration....
PLEASE DON'T VOTE!

If you don't know why the "Commerce clause" was written into the Constitution, and how it has been subverted....
PLEASE DON'T VOTE!

If you don't know that "Promoting the General Welfare" means passing laws that apply to all equally, and not passing laws that benefit, or harm any individual or group specifically....
PLEASE DON'T VOTE!

In short.... IF YOU HAVEN'T TAKEN THE TIME TO EDUCATE YOURSELF ON THE ISSUES; ON THE HISTORY SURROUNDING THE ISSUES, AND ON THE RAMIFICATIONS OF BAD DECISIONS.....
If you haven't read, and understand the Constitution....you have not taken seriously your responsibility as a citizen and I implore you to....
PLEASE DON'T VOTE!

Large portions of our population poking around, in the dark, with sharp sticks, uninformed, and ignorant could prove to be destructive for all of us. Besides, someone could lose an eye.

Response by SFC George Smith made Oct 23 at 2016 11:34 PM

SFC George Smith — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 23:34:58 -0400

Low information Voters have been a hazard for 50 years...

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 23 at 2016 11:35 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 23 Oct 2016 23:35:35 -0400

Yup. They are the proverbial useful idiots.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2016 12:41 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 00:41:43 -0400

I'll tell you this in Canada ever since two soldiers were killed by terrorists one of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and one warrant officer run down by a jihadist that the Canadian government prohibits soldiers from wearing uniforms off duty. I met a cgsoc Canadian instructor exchange instructor dressed in his Canadian cgsoc polo shirt. He did not wear his uniform while traveling though I do when I travel from Canada to United States for weekend drill. People will find excuses to marginalize the uniform I mean isn't it true that they already won't let us count the vote if you are stationed abroad that those votes don't go toward the general election? I think some Democrats fear uniform voters because it implies conservative values even though I bet almost half of the uniformed service members vote Democrat. Democrats are not confident.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2016 12:44 AM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 00:44:04 -0400

People intimidated by the uniform as in the example of uniform police with military-like gear prepared for these riots.

Thesee knee-jerk reaction to rioting and look what happened when the police did not come prepared they got peppered with rocks and were seriously hurt

It is really stupid if they think the police shouldn't be dressed for riots and look at this people or intimidated by the

Uniform service members should be able to go vote in uniform at a polling station outside of Base. I don't know what it is if people, idiots, have a problem with this. We are 1% of the population but if he/she happens to be a transgender guy dressed in drag then it's okay if it's a guy wearing high heels getting yelled at by people because he looks so stupid looking like the transvestite from Rocky Horror going to vote and we make fun of him then it's racist or homophobic but if a person goes to wear his uniform to go vote that's not proper. We should not be criticized at all just like the transgender has the right to be dressed as he feels.

This is not Thailand where the miltiary runs the government.

Response by SSG Robert Webster made Oct 24 at 2016 12:51 AM

SSG Robert Webster — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 00:51:17 -0400

Interesting that a great number of enlightened individuals, will claim that a 200 year old document written by man needs to change but that certain religious beliefs and writings that are more than 6,000 years old, about 6,000 years old, about 2,000 years old, or 1,400 years old has more relevance, or none have any relevance at all. Interesting enough that all of the major accepted religions in the world, based on Abrahamic belief have strictures and rules against such things that todays youth believe is their right and prerogative to practice. Interesting that other side of the terrorist equation is no different, than those on our supposed side sowing the same type of discord by claiming one thing but practicing another. Interesting that Sodom and Gomorrah, though apocryphal they may be practiced their acts that brought about their destruction. I am not a religious man, but there is a thread of truth in those tales and stories. I would note that in all of those stories, those that were prepared were able to mostly survive the onslaught of destruction.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Oct 24 at 2016 12:53 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 00:53:23 -0400

Yes. They are. But a right is a right regardless.

Response by Sgt Wayne Wood made Oct 24 at 2016 12:54 AM

Sgt Wayne Wood — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 00:54:25 -0400

Seriously? The only protection a republic HAS is an informed electorate. Also applies to ppl who vote to raise taxes who pay no taxes... Bread & Circuses folks. Bread & Circuses

Response by Capt Michael Greene made Oct 24 at 2016 2:15 AM

Capt Michael Greene — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 02:15:44 -0400

Yes, and SCOTUS Justice David Souter makes this point. "Democracy cannot survive too much ignorance," he said.

In 2012, before Trump, Souter told his audience, "...when the problems get bad enough, as they might do, for example, with another serious terrorist attack, as they might do with another financial meltdown, some one person will come forward and say, “Give me total power and I will solve this problem." Souter said he doesn't worry about attacks from outside hurting the US, but that we will turn our problems over to someone who promised to save us, and say. "Do what you have to do." That is the way democracy dies.

After telling us that absolutely everything about America is broken, depleted, destroyed, and a sham, Trump said in his nomination speech: "I alone can fix it." And in June he said, "These problems can all be fixed...only by me."

“Politicians...have given you nothing,” Trump said. “I will give you everything. I will give you what you’ve been looking for for 50 years. I’m the only one.”

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2016 7:30 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 07:30:25 -0400

Yes, but, not as much as uniformed or misinformed candidates.

Response by SGT David T. made Oct 24 at 2016 8:06 AM

SGT David T. — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 08:06:12 -0400

Uninformed voters have been around since the beginning. That is why the electoral college is in place and not popular vote. Even the Congress was not elected by popular vote initially. The Senators and Congressmen were appointed by the state legislatures. So since this has always been an issue, I wouldn't say they are a threat to the Republic. Politicians are...

Response by MCPO Roger Collins made Oct 24 at 2016 8:16 AM

MCPO Roger Collins — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 08:16:55 -0400

It's the only way to maintain the two party system. Without these citizens, there would be no Democrat Party.

Response by 1LT Aaron Barr made Oct 24 at 2016 9:28 AM

1LT Aaron Barr — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 09:28:59 -0400

The answer to your question is yes. Every system of government has at least one major weakness and the weakness of a democratic system is that the quality of the government you'll get in such a system is no better than what can be gotten over on the stupidest 50% + 1 of the electorate. As such, the dumber the electorate, the worse the government.

Response by MSgt Michael Smith made Oct 24 at 2016 9:53 AM

MSgt Michael Smith — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 09:53:34 -0400

I do believe this, but probably not for the same reasons you do. Therein lies the problem with this kind of thinking. You see, I learned about the Constitution, Bill of Rights, etc. in a different place and a different time than you did. Just like different interpretations of the bible, there are different interpretations of the Constitution. And like it or not, many, many Constitutional scholars find overwhelming evidence that the Constitution is a living document, subject to interpretation based on the time period and what is occurring. That is especially true of the Bill of Rights. You have your interpretation and I have mine. Neither is wrong, just different.

Response by SPC Sheila Lewis made Oct 24 at 2016 10:43 AM

SPC Sheila Lewis — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 10:43:29 -0400

yes they are

Response by SFC James Asbill made Oct 24 at 2016 11:15 AM

SFC James Asbill — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 11:15:47 -0400

Yes they are .. look what they have led us to today ..

Response by PO3 Donald Murphy made Oct 24 at 2016 11:58 AM

PO3 Donald Murphy — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 11:58:59 -0400

Only if they are electoral voters.

Response by Lt Col Jim Coe made Oct 24 at 2016 12:34 PM

Lt Col Jim Coe — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 12:34:17 -0400

I believe uniformed voters are essential to our Nation. They are willing to put their life on the line to protect and defend the Constitution, making them a unique group of people. If we had to earn our citizenship, instead of being awarded it my birth, military service would be one of the best ways of earning it.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2016 1:16 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 13:16:20 -0400

SSG Gerhard S. Without uninformed voters, no candidate would ever get elected in my opinion. Politicians depend heavily on ppl that vote based on emotions, how cute he/she is, I've always voted for ____party, etc

Response by LT Charles Baird made Oct 24 at 2016 7:36 PM

LT Charles Baird — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 19:36:38 -0400

No - because if you believe your vote actually counts - your naïve.

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 24 at 2016 7:47 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 24 Oct 2016 19:47:30 -0400

I think the problem is more misinformed than uninformed. So long as media outlets like Fox News and now Breitbart can spew crazy conspiracy theories as though they were news, backed by talking heads on radio and TV like Hannity and Limbaugh are allowed to present conspiracy theory as news the problem will just keep getting worse. Trump is a symptom, not the cause.

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Oct 25 at 2016 11:20 AM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 11:20:32 -0400

Yes... we all have a right to voice our opinion, but if we don't have an informed opinion, we could be negatively affecting others as well. I know most people only think of the President when it comes to election season, but there's so much more to voting than the big choice.

Response by SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2016 11:54 AM

SPC(P) Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 11:54:43 -0400

Yes, but being uninformed does not mean they lose their right to vote

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 25 at 2016 5:39 PM

MSG Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 25 Oct 2016 17:39:13 -0400

simply do your research, who can do the most and hurt us the least, don't go by media they have their own agenda and each side will say anything to discredit the other, its called mudslinging, after you have researched follow your heart, you instincts, not your party, whether dem or repub who will bring the phoenix from the fire, that's all we can do, this was a great country and can still become one again, fix the internal problems before we fix the worlds that's where we lost it

Response by SSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Oct 27 at 2016 4:44 AM

SSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Thu, 27 Oct 2016 04:44:12 -0400

Without a doubt SSG Gerhard S.