Are 95% of Golfers Republicans?

[beisenhauer]

I've never encountered a Democrat politician that I liked, and precious few Republicans; fewer still since they've given up all but the pretense of being in favor of small government. In some ways this pretense makes the Republicans worse than the Democrats. At least the Democrats are honest socialists.

I suppose I might allow myself to be called a (small-L) libertarian, but I don't have much use for the Libertarian party or for the movement in general. I think they've done a lousy job defending a good idea, because they've tried to advocate political freedom without sufficiently defining what that means or why it is desirable in ethical/moral terms.

I'm actually finding myself pulling for Hillary precisely because I think she'll be the least effective at implementing her agenda. Certainly the most likely to rouse opposition in Congress from the other party. What I most fear is an Obama vs. Huckabee general election: a choice between a religious welfare-statist and... another religious welfare-statist. Talk about the worst of all worlds.

[iacas]

I am a little confused on how we can be so far in debt and we are going to start sending tax "relief" rebates to people.

My college Econ 101 professor told us that the "national debt" doesn't matter because countries don't have a life expectancy. There was obviously quite a bit more to it, but she convinced me long ago that caring about the national debt was pretty pointless. If I cared enough about politics to see if what she told me back then still made sense, I'd research it more.

The national debt makes sense to people and, I think, is simply something parties use at one time or another to try to hurt the other party, when really it may not mean much at all. It's not like some day Germany is going to knock on your door and say "your share of the debt to us is $2,712.32. Pay up."

I have a hard time accepting the fact that gas is $3.00 a gallon.

Yet, at the same time, if gas had increased with the cost of other necessities - milk, eggs, etc. - it'd cost something like $8/gallon now.

I'm certain that if we spent what we spend fighting in Iraq for one month on alternative fuel research, we'd have a solution that could remove our dependency on foreign oil for transportation within twenty years (and only that long because people wouldn't be keen to replace their brand new gasoline-powered car). Heck, if we spent the money one year in Iraq costs us we might be able to give everyone in the U.S. one of those cars. Which is not to say I support or don't support the war. Quite frankly, I'm too uninformed about it at this time to really give an opinion. I have seen figures re: how expensive it is, though.

I am Pro Choice, but do not think abortion should be used regularly as birth control. At the same time, people make mistakes. I don't think a 16 year old should be raising a kid just because they made a careless mistake. I think stem cell research could lead to some of the most important scientific breakthroughs ever.

Agreed. I don't view a blob of cells as a person. Obviously at some point the blob of cells becomes a person, and I think that point is prior to birth, but it ain't in the first three months and it sure as heck ain't at the stem cell stage.

I suppose I might allow myself to be called a (small-L) libertarian, but I don't have much use for the Libertarian party or for the movement in general. I think they've done a lousy job defending a good idea, because they've tried to advocate political freedom without sufficiently defining what that means or why it is desirable in ethical/moral terms.

The Libertarians could use a good marketing agency, that's for sure.

There, now that's the most I've written about politics in over a year.

[shortgame85]

And I'd love to get involved,

Do you really assume that most voters are so stupid as to not wish for an honest candidate or do you believe that your views would not be acceptable to the general electorate? In my case, on issues such as separation between church and state, I, like you, believe my view ( which was the view of our founding fathers and designed, of course, to protect religious groups from becoming oppressed by a state sponsored church ) would not be well accepted by the vox populi. And there are other covictions I hold that would surely seperate me from much of the electorate, not to mention my in-laws.

However, there are many ways one can affect and participate in the political process that do not include running for office: supporting candidates on local, state and regional levels with whose positions you largely agree; lobbying local and state officials on behalf of causes or entities you believe ( such as issues like primary, secondary and higher education, property taxes, public bond issues, etc. ); serving on local, state and regional boards ( and through your influence on those boards, influece public policy ), etc. Now, my suggestions require time, commitment and study. It is hard, with all the demands we have on our time ( with family, work and a little recreation like, maybe, golf ), to stay up on everything. But I do humbly believe that it is our obligation , in large part because of the extraordinary freedoms we enjoy and which, for the most part take for granted, to give back to this country even, and most especially, on a local level and especially through the political process; even if being involved means only staying informed about the big issues of the day so that your vote for candidates is an informed one. By doing these things we become to a larger extent engaged, something which I think we owe our country, our communities, our families and ourselves. It is so easy to give in to cynicism; I am as guilty as any. I think we must fight against the knee jerk reactions we tend to have ( about anything, whether the subject is politics, race, education issues, financial issues or, really, anything else ) and dig in and do the hard work necessary to be thoughtful, contributing members of our broader society.

[iacas]

Do you really assume that most voters are so stupid as to not wish for an honest candidate or do you believe that your views would not be acceptable to the general electorate?

I believe no party would have me. And by that, I mean Republicans or Democrats. I believe I wouldn't raise $10 let alone become known nationally. And let's face it - without being on one of those two tickets, you don't stand a chance these days.

Now, my suggestions require time, commitment and study. It is hard, with all the demands we have on our time ( with family, work and a little recreation like, maybe, golf ), to stay up on everything. But I do humbly believe that it is our

I'm glad you believe that. I don't. I have 5 hours per day after school to spend with my daughter before it's time for bed. Since I get her ready for school in the morning, that's another hour gone. Six hours with the kid per day, 7-8 hours to sleep, and 8 hours of work.

That's 21-22 hours a day. With the other 2-3, I play some golf from time to time. I watch TV. I read. Or I do things like go shopping for food. Run errands. Fix things around the house. Eat. Exercise. I could easily cut back on the time I spend with my daughter, but I'm not going to do that. I don't get to read enough as it is, and reading has always been a high priority in my life. If I don't have more time to read, I don't have more time to spend doing other things. They say the opposite of love isn't hate, but apathy, and politics has driven me to apathy. I just don't care. I don't want to make the choice between candidates who only support 25% of my views. After all, what's the difference between a candidate who supports 25% of my views and one who supports 23%? Is that 2% worth spending an hour less per day with my daughter? Per week? Per month?

It is so easy to give in to cynicism; I am as guilty as any.

It's not cynicism in my case. It's apathy and having priorities that put my family above everything else, along with a little personal recreation (and not enough of that).

I think we must fight against the knee jerk reactions we tend to have ( about anything, whether the subject is politics, race, education issues, financial issues or, really, anything else ) and dig in and do the hard work necessary to be thoughtful, contributing members of our broader society.

OK, I'll make you a deal. You do that, and I'll try to be the best parent I can be. If we both live fulfilling, happy lives we'll call it a tie.

I'm not going to be guilted into caring about politics and wasting time getting involved because someone lays a guilt trip on me. And I know that's not what you're trying to do... but it kind of is. I feel a sense of civic duty, I assure you. But the barrier for entry is just too costly at this time in my life.

[shortgame85]

I'm not going to be guilted into caring about politics and wasting time getting involved because someone lays a guilt trip on me. And I know that's not what you're trying to do... but it kind of is.

Look, I'm not trying to guilt you into anything. And I own a business and I am well aware of the demands work, family, and life make on one. I, too, get my daughters up and get breakfast for them. And, I confess I've been a little less active in local and state politics in the past few years, in part, because I have a young family whose needs I wish to address as well as I can. But to that end, I serve on the board of my children's school and, believe me, that service is very political on many levels. And I try to keep up with issues by reading a bit, maybe not as much as I used to. But how long does it really take to stay current? How much inconvenience is it to get a bit involved locally? Look what you've done with this website, after all. Brother, this stuff takes some talent and some people skills. You've got both. Really, all I'm saying is this: don't discount the possibility of getting involved in some issue because politics as usual turns you off. You can use your creativity to profit the common weal, as well as be a great dad to your daughter. You don't have to get involved on a national level to be effective. Start local. After all, all politics is local, said Tip O'Neill. And even if you don't get involved now, because of the demands of your family, keep that sense of civic duty. You never know, maybe the desire to get involved will be enflamed by an issue that affects your family. I guess all this must sound pretty hoaky to some, but if we all disengage, don't we just give the extremists the opportunity to step right in? I don't mean to sound high falutin' about all this, I just hate to give any ground to the extremists on either side of the aisle.

[boothyuk123]

Ok so I think I am in a good position to comment here right now, I am from Manchester, England where the LEGAL drinking age is 18 but am currently in Hutchinson, KS on a golf scholarship where the LEGAL age is obviously 21. There are clearly advantages and disadvantages of both age limits, my personal suggestion is that by having the age at 18 it makes people mature at an earlier age. Since I have been in KS I have noticed a lot of the under 21 category are very, very immature - I don't want to offend anyone by saying that but it is just because they don't know any different. I am not sure whether the age would ever be changed here again in the States but I am sure that whatever happens there are always going to be people that disagree with the law in place.

If you are under 21 and want to drink legally, get a cheap flight across the pond and drink to your hearts content!

[NCGolfer]

My college Econ 101 professor told us that the "national debt" doesn't matter because countries don't have a life expectancy. There was obviously quite a bit more to it, but she convinced me long ago that caring about the national debt was pretty pointless. If I cared enough about politics to see if what she told me back then still made sense, I'd research it more.

Interesting point. I just think that the national debt is a good way to measure how good (or, in this case, bad) our leaders are doing at running our country as a solvent business.

I'm certain that if we spent what we spend fighting in Iraq for one month on alternative fuel research, we'd have a solution that could remove our dependency on foreign oil for transportation within twenty years (and only that long because people wouldn't be keen to replace their brand new gasoline-powered car). Heck, if we spent the money one year in Iraq costs us we might be able to give everyone in the U.S. one of those cars.

Bingo. I think one of the main goals of the next administration should be advancing alternative fuel and reducing dependancy on foreign oil. (like that will happen though)

Agreed. I don't view a blob of cells as a person. Obviously at some point the blob of cells becomes a person, and I think that point is prior to birth, but it ain't in the first three months and it sure as heck ain't at the stem cell stage.

Hearing my child's hearbeat at 9 weeks changed my opinion on that. I'm more on the pro-life side, but it's not something I like to argue about. It's way too hot-button.

[fbords]

lol...this is a funny topic

[shortgame85]

lol...this is a funny topic

No, this is a telling topic that reflects, I think, the growing frustration and, to a large extent, the disconnect between the electorate and those they choose to represent them. Additionaly, I think it sadly reflects the all too common belief that the institutions that govern our country are so vast, remote and/or corrupt, that there isn't much one can do about anything, therefore one just goes about one's life feeling somewhat disconnected to the governing fabric of one's life.

As difficult and remote as involvement can seem, there are ways to get your toes in the water. For example, if you are an advocate of alternative fuels, try to support that position not only in the cars you buy but in the candidates you support ( or perhaps I should say, as part of a check list of issues used to support or reject candidates ). Additionally, if you can afford to, financially support groups or candidates whose positions most closely reflect your own. Most of all, I advocate reading; certainly we can all do that. Taking responsibility for being informed about the issues of the day, as well as the history of events and people that brought us to this day, at the very least, makes us a more informed electorate. Maybe, at the very least, we can agree to do this.

[iacas]

But to that end, I serve on the board of my children's school and, believe me, that service is very political on many levels.

I didn't talk about all those things, but I do those kinds of things too. My wife's a teacher specifically so that she can have the summer off to spend with our daughter.

I don't consider local school boards, your local energy advocacy, or donating a few bucks to Greenpeace to be within*the general scope of this discussion, and thus I've left that discussion to the side. I took this conversation to be more about national politics, and that's primarily what I've been discussing.

Really, all I'm saying is this: don't discount the possibility of getting involved in some issue because politics as usual turns you off.

Let's please not assume I don't get involved in causes or things I support. It's safe to assume, however, that national politics is not one of those things I get involved in. I've purposely said very little about local stuff because, again, I don't consider that the topic at hand.

[shortgame85]

I don't consider local school boards, your local energy advocacy, or donating a few bucks to Greenpeace to be within*the general scope of this discussion, and thus I've left that discussion to the side. I took this conversation to be more about national politics, and that's primarily what I've been discussing.

If the discussion was more about national politics, then I certainly took it a little off topic to discuss what I took to be the general tenor of some of the responses, which were understandable but a little disheartening to me. No offense intended.

P.S. Some of my greatest mentors were teachers. I remember the names of every fine teacher I had. P.P.S. I do, however, appreciate the opportunity to discuss some of these ideas, here, in the manner we've done.

[nykfan4life]

I am young and have never voted(I will be eligible the election coming after this one). However, I have been following it for a couple years. I would describe myself as somewhere in between Conservatism and Libertarianism. I agree with previous posters who say that every candidate left is just atrocious. I've supported many candidates(as they dropped out), and it seems that every time someone drops out I have to settle for someone more liberal. I liked Thompson, then Romney, and now finally i have to chose the least of the evils(McCain.)

I just can't stand the socialist rhetoric of Obama and Hillary. They try to make the successful and wealthy businessman look like satin, and the high school dropout, the drug addict, and the illegal immigrant seem 'taken advantage of'.

[lamebums]

I went from Tancredo to Hunter to Thompson to Huckabee. Now Huckabee has no chance of winning.

Romney has no credibility whatsoever - I don't see why his supporters think he's the Messiah, and that he's done no wrong (If you care about his positions, compare them two years ago to today. He's pandered like no other.)

I will never vote for McCain. Ever. He is a demented lunatic who will send this country on an utterly irreversible tailspin, with his fighting the tax cuts, wanting amnesty, and staying in Iraq for "a hundred years".

After Kentucky has its primary on May 20 (where I am voting for Huckabee) I am changing my party affiliation to Independent and voting for the Democrat in the fall. I have nothing in common with two socialists (Obama refuses to even say the Pledge of Allegiance or respect the flag in anyway, whereas Hillary....well.) but I'm going to send a message to the Republican party - I would rather see them go down in flames than elect a Republican in name only.

Choosing between a Democrat, a Democrat, and another Democrat...well, I will end up having to choose a Democrat, won't I?

Edit: What this country needs is a good kick in the butt. Augusto Pinochet, anyone?

[ganjagolfer]

to Huckabee. Now Huckabee has no chance of winning.

i tend to think that people who think the universe is 6,000 years old wouldn't make a good president

[lamebums]

i tend to think that people who think the universe is 6,000 years old wouldn't make a good president

Well, my choices are between bad and worse. Do you have a better solution? No McCain, No Billary, and no Obama. Who's left?

[ganjagolfer]

Well, my choices are between bad and worse. Do you have a better solution? No McCain, No Billary, and no Obama. Who's left?

i like obama, for more than reasons of the obama girl

am not quite sure where you heard "Obama refuses to even say the Pledge of Allegiance or respect the flag in anyway,"?

[lamebums]

i like obama, for more than reasons of the obama girl

Heh... I thought the Hillary girl was nicer.

Chain mails, unfortunately. When I further researched all I found was this (a minor violation of the Flag Code at most):

[erniebanks]

I wouldn't vote Democrat even if Jesus Christ was on the ticket