Sorry, Host, didn't answer your other questions before. I shall attempt to do so now.
If most people vote republican, the consequence will be continued "one party rule" of the federal government. Your answers to the list of what Tennessee has gained, to replace the losses on the ten category list above, may give you insight into the continued consequences of voting for increasingly unaccountable, unresponsive, and secret, government administration.
First, did you think you could convert me? Hee hee..... I am resistant to your solar-powered political ray-gun, as I have on my trusty nuclear republican armor.
Haven't you noticed that in our political spectrum, power is a pendulum? It shifts from left to right, and because of that, things seem to balance out. In the 60's, people were tired of the Johnson Vietnam war stuff, and so didn't support his party's candidate, they went with Nixon. After the crap that was Watergate, people didn't want any reminders of Nixon and dishonesty, so they went with Carter, the more "moral" choice. After Carter, people didn't want the sense of helplessness that went with the Iran hostage situation NOR the whole energy crisis, so they went with Reagan, the "power" guy. And so on. Political power is just that way, and I think America is better for it. Even if it means that my party is out of power for a while - ESPECIALLY if it means this. Sitting on the sidelines tends to cause a group to sharpen what they believe, and that can only mean better choices for us citizens.
And, just to mention, republicans have only been in power of both houses of congress for the past 12 years. Democrats had it a long time before then, and yet were vulnerable when the electorate were presented with a very consise, well-writen plan for where republicans wanted the country to go (Contract for America). The electorate went for it, and in a mighty way.
What are the pluses that you perceive, for voting republican, vs. democrat?
While I admire the traits of some democratic candidates, on the whole, I trust republicans more. Especially with all the Foley stuff going on. Yes, that is a strange opening of this point, but let me explain. Back in the 70's when two congressmen were caught with page seduction issues, one (the republican) resigned, one didn't (the democrat). The democrat went on to stick it out and received A STANDING OVATION by the democrats on the floor of the house, THREE TIMES. He had sex with a 17 year old girl, and he got a STANDING OVATION? Where, I ask you, is the honor in the democratic party? WHERE? Mr. Foley resigned, even before all the stuff came out about the IM's he'd sent that boy. And what are the democrats doing? CALLING FOR RESIGNATIONS. Yes, I know there is all the who-knew-what-when stuff, but the fact remains: Republicans take responsibility for their actions, democrats wave off their responsibilities and are APPLAUDED for it. Where is the honor, I ask you?
That's not to mention the Louisianna representative who was in possession of 90,000 frozen dollars. Did Ms. Pelosi ask for his resignation? No. Why not? Because democrats want to keep that seat, and if they don't address it, then it doesn't become real. You let a republican get caught with frozen bucks and he'd be hoist from the house ceiling.
I may seem partisan, but I started out neutral, many years ago, and I read a lot. I don't find any benefit for the people of a below average per capita wealth and income state, to vote to deny a "son" of that state, the presidency in exchange for what they've gotten in return.
You seem to think we're all just sitting here barefooted counting our Food Stamps and hoping that we can make ends meet. Tennessee is a very prosperous state on the whole. If you consider that many elements in the stats regarding poverty include the Appalachian region, then perhaps you can understand that it's actually not so poor here. Our unemployment rate is something like 5.8 percent (yes, above national, but it's not in the double digits like many states are) and we've seen a net job growth of 55,000 in the last couple of years. Coupled with the fact that we don't have a state income tax and property values are very attractive, it makes great sense for you to move here!!!
Yea!! Come on! Join us....you know you want to. We have hundreds of universities and colleges that are top-notch schools, and a very diverse population. And we have Elvis. He always shows up, somewhere or another, looking for donuts, thank you very much.
An article in the Tennessean newspaper a few months ago told of a few families who had moved to Tennessee from other states, most notably, California. They had sold their small houses in their home states and moved here, and were AMAZED at what kind of house they could buy for their money. And equally amazed at how cheap is is to live here, compared to their former home states. And some of them, self-described middle class, moved into Brentwood, a more affluent section of Nashville.
Is anything that I've posted, untrue? Why would you even consider voting to keep this party in total control? Would democrats do less for Tennesseans? How?
Democrats could do well for Tennessee, just show me the democrats you have in mind. I have no interest in voting for someone who does not represent our values (I include all of Tennessee's values), and I'm not alone. There's millions like me. We're here, we're conservative, get over it.
Yee-Hoo! Got my own thread, and at such a young age.