MOST important election?

[brighteyes ALW]

Do you think that this upcoming presidential election is more important than those past? Why? Maybe I'm just not with it but I seem to view it as just another election. We'll all move on despite the outcome. Our country won't be thrown into chaos when one side wins over the other. Thoughts?

[sflathinker]

I seem to remember the last one as bigging the "biggest." I think anytime it's close they say that.

[gone]

yep. every election is "important" because i think they want to urge people to get to the polls and vote.

there's a lot of things that could change if either candidate gets into office. some of these changes could be good, others bad. will they impact us personally? some will, undoubtedly. so just looking at it in terms of how the winner's decisions in future years will affect my life, i'd say yeah, it's important. evey election is:)

[Kensington]

All elections are important. I've been voting for twenty years & have certainly found them all important, but this one seems more heightened than most others. It's the first election after the horror of the nine-eleven terror attacks & it's an election going on during a war we are waging on foreign land. People feel very strongly. Both sides are worried about possible "chaos" if their opponent wins.

[SFishy]

This election has been called "the most important in our lifetime" for several reasons I can think off...

Whoever is elected will likely be able to name several supreme court justices, which could tip the scales in favor of one position vs. another. Decisions that weigh in the balance: Roe vs. Wave (pro-choice vs. pro-life); Gay marraige left up to the states or banned through a constitutional amendment. Other potential issues include Affirmative Action and School Vouchers.

We are at war. The war in Iraq. The war on Terror. And we have little respect from other nations around the world (based on polling of countries other than the US). Where the next administration takes us will be important not only to our foreign relations, but to global safety and US safety.

Our foreign policy doesn't just include Iraq, Afghanistan and Terrorism. It includes decisions that will need to be made about Iran (nukes), North Korea (nukes), Sudan (humanitarian efforts), Africa (AIDS crisis), Cuba (continued embargo/restrictions), Israel and Palastine (the Gaza strip and lasting Peace), and Immigration overall.

The Patriot Act has been called both "necessary" and "a loss of civil liberties". Finding the right ingredients of national security while protecting citizens consitutional rights will be a key decision to the next president.

The middle class are suffering. Jobs have been lost. Average cost of living has gone up. Average salaries have gone down. And the US has accumulated a huge debt (budget defecit) in the last four years. The next president is going to have to find a way to stimulate the economy while attempting to "balance the budget" somehow.

Social Security is as stake. Someone needs to save it, or come up with a plan for saving it. Working to get the defecit down will be key to saving Social Security.

Stem cell research is a huge topic the country is divided on. The next president will have important decisions to make about federal funding for embyonic stem cell research, attempting to find the delicate balance in a decision that is morally grounded and scientifically sound.

Health care - with millions of US citizens that have no way to pay for medical costs, something needs to be done. This is an issue that came up in two-thousand, and since then LESS people are insured and insurance prices have gone way up. Health care reform is a huge issue on the plate for these candidates.

Other issues to consider: education, environment, college costs.

Voter fraud is under the spotlight. When we're trying to encourage democracy around the world, our own democracy is being questioned by many. Is the electoral college still effective? Is electronic voting tainted to favor one candidate? Are minorities being left out? Are voter registrations being tampered with? These have all be topics in the news lately and because they echo of the two-thousand elections, are under higher scrutiny than before. Our system is being tested.

Unlike other elections, these issues all are massively important at this time in history... together all at once. The US is split down the middle, devided by these arguments and which are the right decisions to make about them. Our candidates are as different as the country devided.

Take care of YOU (and get out to VOTE!)

[Vicks]

I think the biggest question people need to ask themselves is "in the last four years how have their lives changed?"

My life has deffinitely changed. Where I work we have twice as much security as we use to. We have armed quards in the entrance ways.

My husbands brother, was labeled "a suspicious looking arab guy" and hence, a cop came to his parents house. All the kid did was open the door for an older gentleman at a post office, and yes he looks arabic some, because he has syrian blood in him.

I now am paying for part of my health insurance, and that has made a dent in my paycheck.

This election I think is extremely important and most likely one of the most important elections ever, for the reasons that Amy Fishy mentioned. Key laws that affect and changed American society over the last fifty years are in the balance.

The world is inherently different now. The patriot act is a very controversial issue, the next president will have to decide what direction to take it.

Our world is forever changed. That is why this election is so important, our world can never go back to pre-nine eleven. So, yes this election I would say is extremely important, simply because of the issues that are having to be dealt with.

Vicks

[brighteyes ALW]

Oh, I think this election is important and I plan on voting, but it doesn't seem more important that other elections. The tragedy of nine-eleven was terrible, but I don't think this presidential election is now suddenly a crucial event because of it. Perhaps more people are becoming aware of the responsibility and opportunity inherent in the voting process, in light of the attack and all that has taken place since then? It was certainly a wake-up call for our country. I guess I've always thought that each election is important and I don't feel like this one is any different. I don't have strong opinions on most of the key issues, especially all of the "middle-class" issues. The middle class covers such a broad spectrum of lifestyles, financial and economic situations and the like and I find it highly unlikely that either candidate could solve all of the problems. Some have lost their jobs during the past few years, others have gained. I've never had health insurance so it is hard to have an opinion on that either.

[Vicks]

middleclass issues? What exactly are those? I have done a good job of tryign to explain to my freinds who are economically in the lower class of US society how we are all, affected by many of the same things.

Taxes affect everyone, as long as you drive on roads, shop in a store, ever gone to school, that is an issue that affects everyone in society.

I am not trying to attack you, but I am confused by what you call "middle class issues", politicians, do like to divide classes and ethnic groups at times, but I like to think most people have more in common, then less in common.

No candidate can fix everything, but with such division in the US right now, I would hope some things would change. I hate to think my husbands brother would be labeled a "suspicious looking Arab guy again" for opening the door for someone.

Vicks

[New-Bride]

I don't necessarily think this election is the most important (but it's obviously very important). Truthfully I think that if the republicans win this year, then THE MOST IMPORTANT ELECTION will be in four years when :stars Hilary Clinton :stars runs. We are ready for a woman president, and I think she's our best shot to take the white house.

[ribbon]

My experiences from when I was old enough to remember elections:

The last most important election I remember is ninety-two, when Bill Clinton was elected and one term Bush I (vs I hope one term Bush II :winky) was in power.
The first election I remember was was Humphrey vs Nixon in sixty-eight, although I don't remember it very well because I was young. I remember my grandmother saying that Nixon was a bad man and young me saying, "He looks nice to me." Ok, what did I know about politics back then :muhaha.
I remember Nixon vs. McGovern in seventy-two and getting McGovern's autograph at a rally (I have no idea what I did with it). That sure seemed like an important election to me, Watergate, Viet Nam etc.
Carter vs. Ford in seventy-six seemed important, a good time for a change.
Reagan vs Carter in eighty didn't seem that important until Reagan won :winky.
Reagan vs. Mondale was really important in eighty-four. I saw Geraldine Ferraro give an awesome speech at a rally. I was so excited to see a woman named to the ticket. It was a really exciting time for the country (or at least to me). It was nice to have so much to vote FOR, rather than just voting against Reagan and his horrible policies.
Bush I vs. Dukakis was built as an important election, particularly for those of who are democrats.
Bush I vs. Clinton in ninety-two I already spoke about.
I don't remember Clinton vs. Dole seeming as important in ninety-six ore Bush II vs. Gore in MM, of course, until the debacle in Lorida :winky.
The reasons I think this is the most important election are: our country is at war; we're hated throughout most of the world, which I see as a terror and safety issue; the aging supreme court and the possibilty the new president could nominate as many as four justices; continuing choice for women and their bodies; equal rights for gays and lesbian families; rising health care costs and inaccessibility of the poor and elderly to services.

[Stardancser]

This is the first presidential election that I am old enough to vote in, (I missed two thousand by a few months:ugh) so for that reason this election is personally important to me.

Granted I have not been alive long enough to remember that many elections, nor have I been aware enough for even some of those (being a toddler for some), but I think that Amy:sfishy and Ribbon make excellent points and I stand behind what they both said.

For emphasis, I especially support what Amy said:

This election has been called "the most important in our lifetime" for several reasons I can think off...

Whoever is elected will likely be able to name several supreme court justices, which could tip the scales in favor of one position vs. another. Decisions that weigh in the balance: Roe vs. Wave (pro-choice vs. pro-life); Gay marraige left up to the states or banned through a constitutional amendment. Other potential issues include Affirmative Action and School Vouchers.

We are at war. The war in Iraq. The war on Terror. And we have little respect from other nations around the world (based on polling of countries other than the US). Where the next administration takes us will be important not only to our foreign relations, but to global safety and US safety.

Our foreign policy doesn't just include Iraq, Afghanistan and Terrorism. It includes decisions that will need to be made about Iran (nukes), North Korea (nukes), Sudan (humanitarian efforts), Africa (AIDS crisis), Cuba (continued embargo/restrictions), Israel and Palastine (the Gaza strip and lasting Peace), and Immigration overall.

The Patriot Act has been called both "necessary" and "a loss of civil liberties". Finding the right ingredients of national security while protecting citizens consitutional rights will be a key decision to the next president.

The middle class are suffering. Jobs have been lost. Average cost of living has gone up. Average salaries have gone down. And the US has accumulated a huge debt (budget defecit) in the last four years. The next president is going to have to find a way to stimulate the economy while attempting to "balance the budget" somehow.

Social Security is as stake. Someone needs to save it, or come up with a plan for saving it. Working to get the defecit down will be key to saving Social Security.

Stem cell research is a huge topic the country is divided on. The next president will have important decisions to make about federal funding for embyonic stem cell research, attempting to find the delicate balance in a decision that is morally grounded and scientifically sound.

Health care - with millions of US citizens that have no way to pay for medical costs, something needs to be done. This is an issue that came up in two-thousand, and since then LESS people are insured and insurance prices have gone way up. Health care reform is a huge issue on the plate for these candidates.

Other issues to consider: education, environment, college costs.

Voter fraud is under the spotlight. When we're trying to encourage democracy around the world, our own democracy is being questioned by many. Is the electoral college still effective? Is electronic voting tainted to favor one candidate? Are minorities being left out? Are voter registrations being tampered with? These have all be topics in the news lately and because they echo of the two-thousand elections, are under higher scrutiny than before. Our system is being tested.

Unlike other elections, these issues all are massively important at this time in history... together all at once. The US is split down the middle, devided by these arguments and which are the right decisions to make about them. Our candidates are as different as the country devided.

Take care of YOU (and get out to VOTE!)

Take empowered care:wand
:ribpurpstar:dolphin

[safe t belter]

good thread!

i do think that this is the most important election to date. (and also the first time that i will be able to vote:supergrin:cheesy)

i think that it is because this election will determine the direction of our country for good. we are in a morally declining time... and i think that the election will decide if we will fight against this decline or seep deeper into it....(and hit rock bottom).

this election is a VERY close one:ummm:ugh people are very tense and divided over the issues. (i've seen this on a daily basis because i have been out campaigning for the pres. for the past few weeks... there are VERY strong emotions on BOTH sides. )

i pray that people will realize the significance and the moral implications of this election.

go out and vote. the future of this great nation depends on YOU!

:love michelle

[Vicks]

we are in a morally declining time

um... I think in a way, there is so much more legislation that has been inacted infringing upon so many civil liberties. And that scares me. Morals, are such a varried thing, to me, the most important thing to protect are civil liberties, without civil liberties, noones morals can be respected from those who advocate prayer to those who don't, to those who advocate the death penalty to those who don't, morality, can never be legislated, once that happens, it is very hard to turn back.
Vicks

[bellydancer]

I can say, that I have never received so many phone calls, mailers, etc., with people trying to get me to vote.

In the past twenty-four hours, I have received phone calls from none other than Bill Clinton and Gen. Wesley Clark. Yep. They both called little old me. I feel special. (I'm joking, of course, they were recorded messages).

I can remember getting exactly one call in the last presidential election and that was from some woman on election day urging me to vote for W.

Interestingly enough, my boyfriend lives in a heavily African-American neighborhood and has gotten close to a dozen canvassers at his door making sure he is registered and planning to vote. I only say this because people in other parts of town have not had the same onslaught of people.

[MegaVictory]

I heard that if Kerry wins, no way will Hillary get a shot at the presidency. Also, I heard Guilianni--not sure of spelling (former mayor of NY), will run next time..