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PriestTheRunner wrote: ↑Thu Mar 14, 2019 2:50 pm(Sadly) my money is on Kamila, Beto and Bernie winding up as the three main players at the end, with Beto edging out the other two a few months into the primaries.

I disagree on Kamila Harris making it that far. I also think Bernie will end up being the nominee. Bernie supporters will not change from last time, plus he gets the sympathy vote for the way he was treated by the party last time. In addition, this time he will get the party to work for him, both because of last time and because he is the closest thing they have to a party Democrat running. O'Rourke will get some support because so many of the party see him the same as Obama (likable by the people and controllable by the party). His close election in Texas will help propel him within the party. I think Warren might be able to beat out Kamila, but both will be also-rans after the second or third primary.

This appears to be good news for the Republicans because it is their election to lose. Between the power of the incumbency, the multitude of candidates splitting the electorate, the craziness of the newest congressmen, and the falling apart of the charges against Trump, it should be a cakewalk for them. Unfortunately, I also have faith in the Republicans ability to do stupid things and lose.

PriestTheRunner wrote: ↑Sun Nov 11, 2018 11:57 amPersonally I would like to see a law that all tobacco, marijuana, alcohol, voting and the draft be legally required to apply at the same age. Be it 18, 21 (my preference) or 25.

I agree and want it taken a step further. I want a constitutional amendment that states that the age of majority is the same age for all actions. Whatever we decide that age is, it applies to everything including voting, buying anything, signing contracts, getting married, and consenting to sex. This would also apply for such things as going to jail or juvenile detention. You are either an adult or not.

I understand the current science does say that the part of the brain that is responsible for judgment is not fully developed until approximately 25. I believe we are artificially delaying our children from developing judgment by protecting them from consequences when they are younger and excusing things based on their age. I will accept almost any age for the cutoff though, whether it is 18, 21, or 25 or something else. It does not have to be what science says is fully developed, though I would argue that it must be high enough to have the brain start developing in that area.

I will point out that a long time ago, there was a general consensus that you were an adult when you said you were and adult and starting working at an adult's job and took the responsibility of being an adult. This is how we had so many underage enlistees in the military during and prior to WWII. There is something to be said for not penalizing the 15 year old genius for the actions of the 21 yer old idiot. I just cannot figure out how the law can be written for this so a single line should be drawn.

I like the new voting machine we used in Caldwell county. You get blank paper for a ballot. You insert it into a computer that then shows the various options. You vote however you want and then the computer prints the ballot on the piece of paper with your votes. You take the ballot over to another computer that is a scanner. It reads the ballot and computes the votes. This way there is a paper ballot in case anyone wants a full recount. The paper is clearly printed and readable. No hanging chads or partial markings to be interpreted.

You do have to be careful when you vote before the paper is printed, but you get to verify it twice - once in the voting machine and once after it is printed.

I can think of several. My rules for voting are (in order):

1. Vote for people I specifically want to win. This means that I have paid enough attention to that race that I decided who I support for whatever reason.
2. Vote against people I specifically do not like. Again, this means I paid enough attention to a race to make a decision.
3. In races where I did not pay that much attention (we simply have too many offices for me to follow all of them), I refuse to vote in any race where the person is unopposed. If he can't win without my vote in a case like that, he doesn't deserve the office.
4. Vote by party in the following order:
a. Libertarian
b. Independent
c. Republican
d. Democrat
e. Vote against anyone in Communist or Socialist party.

Some of the issues I strongly disagree with the Republican party on include religion and abortion. Some of the issues I strongly disagree with the Democratic party on include welfare and guns.

I note that when I get to the party part, I place the Republican party higher than the Democrats, but since I vote for (and against) people first, there are specific issues I use to decide. I do know of some Democrats who are staunch supporters of gun rights and I can be convinced to support them in some specific cases.

As an aside, when I vote against someone it is usually character based more than issues.