Lots of us have strong opinions and the experience and education to back them up. Out of curiosity, has anyone actually run for office - PTA president, city council, homeowners association, local public office, state public office, National?
No. But, I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night! 
I've sat on a couple of boards... but that was long ago.
I've stepped on half a dozen nails over the years.
Get your tetanus shots, people!
No. But, I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night!
I think that's a requirement for political campaigns.
I've sat on a couple of boards... but that was long ago.
Did you feel a sense of accomplishment or was it all just talk?
Get your tetanus shots, people!
So, you have a campaign slogan.
Get your tetanus shots, people!
So, you have a campaign slogan.
I'm the self appointed unofficial mayor of Mandana, where the cows outnumber the people and we're OK with that.
I've been on several boards, an elected officer of a couple of organizations and currently (roped into) a board member of my homeowners association. Having said and done all this - I don't see how any of these things is an indicator of the slightest amount of common sense in a human being. Some of the absolute biggest idiots and morons that I know have multiple college degrees. There are numerous elected officials who apparently can't find their own a$$ with Texaco roadmap and a full length mirror or have the ability to pour pi$$ from a boot -with the instructions on how to do so printed on the sole of said boot.
My thoughts exactly. Apparently, anyone w/any sense doesn't run for office and thus, we have the people Rusty describes running just about everything.
Cyclone88, I don't mean to knock anybody personally. I consider myself among those "educated idiots". 😉
So much of corporate America - and politics is governed by those who raise their hand and shout, "ME! ME! I'LL DO IT!!!!"
There was a thread a few years ago where we discussed educated people compared to folks with practical knowledge and common sense. My late stepfather was one of those who dropped out of school, lied about his age and joined the military (Korean conflict - Vietnam era). There were a lot of words that he couldn't spell or pronounce but I never saw or found anything that he couldn't repair or build. He was an outdoorsman - grew his own vegetables and harvested most of the meat and fish that he ate. He never paid for a repair for anything!
I knew a girl who was studying to be a stylist (beautician - whatever) and she had to take and pass state board tests ... to cut hair ... that will grow back no matter how bad you butcher it.
Politicians only have to ante up the proper fees and have a good PR/ad campaign. It's about name recognition and soundbites. There are no prerequisites.
At the municipal levels - getting elected is often a lark. Candidates who run during the same elections as the higher offices (President, governor, senator etc) - those whose names appear down at the bottom of the slate ... most people don't know who they are or what the post that they're running for even entails. These votes often come as the result of a coin toss or an eeny-meeny-miney-moe chant. 😉
Cyclone88, I don't mean to knock anybody personally. I consider myself among those "educated idiots". 😉
I didn't take it as a diss. I agree it's frustrating for people who want to make a change to work hard to get elected and then realize there are too many obstructionists who need that Texaco map (great line) to really accomplish great things.
I was just curious if anyone here had the same mentality as I do - wouldn't run for any political office - despite not needing that Texaco map or had held office and met their goals.
IMO, a huge issue is that the amount of bureaucracy in government is completely and proportionally out of whack with representation.
The bureaucracy is too big and doesn't need to be bigger, but the representation, in particular Congress, is too small. The Senate setup is woefully outdated. Over 84.3 million people alone live in California, Texas and New York and they are all represented by six people in the Senate. Six. By percentage of population of just those three states, that's, um... 0.0000071174377224199285%
Of course the House is setup to be somewhat more representative, but personally I like the approach that some parliaments have, such as Canada, where votes for parties turn into seats in the House of Commons. Currently there are seven parties represented. Going beyond the two-party paradigm sounds so very refreshing, don't think we'll ever see it, though. Sigh.
Oh, and, no, I've never run for much of anything, but have volunteered for campaigns.
The only thing I ever run is my mouth 😛
oh yeah a bike runs are awesome 
... Going beyond the two-party paradigm sounds so very refreshing, don't think we'll ever see it, though. Sigh.
I actually believe that with the advent of the internet/social media we'll see some big strides in third, fourth and beyond parties and candidates. I've been reading and hearing about how the major television networks are now having to take note of the interest in programming from sources like NetFlix, Hulu, YouTube and others. I think that sooner than later we'll see grass roots (for lack of a better term) candidates who do not have the traditional deep pockets provided by special interest groups emerge. Maybe a restoration of government BY the people! I hope so!
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As "diverse" as we claim to be as a nation, you would never think that by looking at our political system.
As "diverse" as we claim to be as a nation, you would never think that by looking at our political system.
Amen.
We have 180 brands of toilet paper to choose from... 74 brands of hemorrhoid cream to choose from... and only 2 butt holes to decide between for President.
Something stinks.
Oh, and, no, I've never run for much of anything, but have volunteered for campaigns.
Are you going to work on Trump's campaign?
I am the smartest poster in the forum. G.N.A.R. <---- http://unofficialnetworks.com/gnar
I have never run for office, except for Attorney General at Massachusetts Boys State in 1984 (I was 17)...have been going back as a counselor ever since and have mentored many kids who later went on to run for office in the real world (some have won and some are currently in office). I have campaigned for Susan Collins, US Senator from Maine. I also wrote, narrated and appeared (with my wife and son) in a campaign ad for a GOP candidate for governor of Maine in 2010. He lost in the primary, I try not to take it personally. Here's a link if anyone wants to watch the ad, it actually won a Telly Award that year:
[Edited on 7/7/2015 by gondicar]
As "diverse" as we claim to be as a nation, you would never think that by looking at our political system.
Amen.
We have 180 brands of toilet paper to choose from... 74 brands of hemorrhoid cream to choose from... and only 2 butt holes to decide between for President.
Something stinks.
Only two?? I think your math may be what stinks. There are 16 declared Dem candidates, 31 on the GOP side, and two dozen 3rd party and independent candidates as well. That's a grand total of 71 candidate choices to pick from for 2016 at this early stage, with more likely to enter the fray before it is over...
Dem: http://2016.democratic-candidates.org/
GOP: http://2016.republican-candidates.org/
Other: http://2016.presidential-candidates.org/?other=other
[Edited on 7/7/2015 by gondicar]
Oh, and, no, I've never run for much of anything, but have volunteered for campaigns.
Are you going to work on Trump's campaign?
No, I don't have the time to volunteer on any campaign anymore.
Only two?? I think your math may be what stinks. There are 16 declared Dem candidates, 31 on the GOP side, and two dozen 3rd party and independent candidates as well. That's a grand total of 71 candidate choices to pick from for 2016 at this early stage, with more likely to enter the fray before it is over...
And how many of those will be on the ballot?
Only two?? I think your math may be what stinks. There are 16 declared Dem candidates, 31 on the GOP side, and two dozen 3rd party and independent candidates as well. That's a grand total of 71 candidate choices to pick from for 2016 at this early stage, with more likely to enter the fray before it is over...
And how many of those will be on the ballot?
Pick me! Pick me! Um...a Dem & a Repub?
Can I get 2 more guesses if the first one wasn't right?
I am the smartest poster in the forum. G.N.A.R. <---- http://unofficialnetworks.com/gnar
I have never run for office, except for Attorney General at Massachusetts Boys State in 1984 (I was 17)...have been going back as a counselor ever since and have mentored many kids who later went on to run for office in the real world (some have won and some are currently in office). I have campaigned for Susan Collins, US Senator from Maine. I also wrote, narrated and appeared (with my wife and son) in a campaign ad for a GOP candidate for governor of Maine in 2010. He lost in the primary, I try not to take it personally. Here's a link if anyone wants to watch the ad, it actually won a Telly Award that year:
[Edited on 7/7/2015 by gondicar]
Great post & video!
Only two?? I think your math may be what stinks. There are 16 declared Dem candidates, 31 on the GOP side, and two dozen 3rd party and independent candidates as well. That's a grand total of 71 candidate choices to pick from for 2016 at this early stage, with more likely to enter the fray before it is over...
And how many of those will be on the ballot?
Depends on which ballot you are talking about. And if a candidate can generate enough early support (i.e. raise enough money) then he/she can get on the general election ballot in one of the two major parties. Of the "3rd parties", the Libertarians are ballot qualified in 34 states, the Green Party in 21, and the Constitution Party in 12 (no others in more than 4). The system we have is far from perfect, but unfortunately about the only thing that would make it better is a more involved electorate and less voter apathy.
[Edited on 7/7/2015 by gondicar]
Only two?? I think your math may be what stinks. There are 16 declared Dem candidates, 31 on the GOP side, and two dozen 3rd party and independent candidates as well. That's a grand total of 71 candidate choices to pick from for 2016 at this early stage, with more likely to enter the fray before it is over...
And how many of those will be on the ballot?
Depends on which ballot you are talking about. And if a candidate can generate enough early support (i.e. raise enough money) then he/she can get on the general election ballot. The system we have is far from perfect, but unfortunately about the only thing that would make it better is a more involved electorate and less voter apathy.
Just imagine the cluster-eff that would ensue if everyone eligible to vote actually showed up. 😛
Only two?? I think your math may be what stinks. There are 16 declared Dem candidates, 31 on the GOP side, and two dozen 3rd party and independent candidates as well. That's a grand total of 71 candidate choices to pick from for 2016 at this early stage, with more likely to enter the fray before it is over...
And how many of those will be on the ballot?
Depends on which ballot you are talking about. And if a candidate can generate enough early support (i.e. raise enough money) then he/she can get on the general election ballot. The system we have is far from perfect, but unfortunately about the only thing that would make it better is a more involved electorate and less voter apathy.
Just imagine the cluster-eff that would ensue if everyone eligible to vote actually showed up. 😛
Imagine that!
Years ago (late '80's) I served on city council for the small town where I lived. It was a pleasant experience and I learned a lot. I got to ride in a convertible during the Memorial Day parade and had the respect of my peers. There were no major controversies so nobody needed to become an a-hole about anything. The biggest issue during my tenure was trying to attract Philips Corp to choose our town to build a new HDTV picture tube factory. HDTV was a new concept at that time and we wanted to to be part of it. I learned a lot about the reality of tax abatements, hazardous waste disposal, infrastructure, etc. Long story short Philips decided to locate in our town and started to develop the site, and then the economy took a turn and they abandoned the project entirely.
Up until a year ago I served on the board of my HOA. That was the most thankless and unrewarding job I've ever had and I'll never volunteer to do that again.
Other than those I have not run for an elected position except for when I was in college and ran for my dorm president. Three of us ran. Me and another guy tied for first, but I lost in the runoff. My platform was to have a kegger every Saturday instead of the the existing practice of every other Saturday.
My platform was to have a kegger every Saturday instead of the the existing practice of every other Saturday.
Proof positive that less is not more.
