Politics, One Last Time

[cygna_hime]

Several posts by more-or-less neutral parties (dkellis and chresimos especially) have made me realize how little I know about how people other than myself make political decisions. Since I believe that the only way to pull this country back together is through understanding, I have composed a survey. Please, if you read this, answer it, in the interest of keeping America from shattering.


For Republican Citizens
1. Did you vote in the last election? If not, why not? If so, for whom?
2. Did you vote a party ticket, or choose individuals?
3. Were you/would you be a one-issue voter? If yes, which issue?
4. What issue was the most important to you in choosing a candidate?
5. Why do you feel the way you do about this issue?
6. How do you feel about U.S. foreign policy?
7. About domestic policy?
8. What media do you use to gather information about politics?
9. Do you think these media are slanted? In which way?
10. What other factors influenced your choice?
11. For whom did your state vote?
12. How do you, personally, feel about the election?
13. What do you think is the last administration's greatest failure?
14. What is its greatest success?
15. What action of behalf of the government would make you feel safer?
16. How do you define 'separation of church and state'?
17. Do you believe there is a problem with a political group's definition with it?
18. Which group, and why?
19. How do you feel it should be changed?
20. What single thing would make you feel better about the political situation?

For Democratic Citizens
1. Did you vote in the last election? If not, why not? If so, for whom?
2. Did you vote a party ticket, or choose individuals?
3. Were you/would you be a one-issue voter? If yes, which issue?
4. What issue was the most important to you in choosing a candidate?
5. Why do you feel the way you do about this issue?
6. How do you feel about U.S. foreign policy?
7. About domestic policy?
8. What media do you use to gather information about politics?
9. Do you think these media are slanted? In which way?
10. What other factors influenced your choice?
11. For whom did your state vote?
12. How do you, personally, feel about the election?
13. What do you think is the last administration's greatest failure?
14. What is its greatest success?
15. What action of behalf of the government would make you feel safer?
16. How do you define 'separation of church and state'?
17. Do you believe there is a problem with a political group's definition with it?
18. Which group, and why?
19. How do you feel it should be changed?
20. What single thing would make you feel better about the political situation?

For Other Citizens
1. Did you vote in the last election? If not, why not? If so, for whom?
2. Did you vote a party ticket, or choose individuals?
3. Were you/would you be a one-issue voter? If yes, which issue?
4. What issue was the most important to you in choosing a candidate?
5. Why do you feel the way you do about this issue?
6. How do you feel about U.S. foreign policy?
7. About domestic policy?
8. What media do you use to gather information about politics?
9. Do you think these media are slanted? In which way?
10. What other factors influenced your choice?
11. For whom did your state vote?
12. How do you, personally, feel about the election?
13. What do you think is the last administration's greatest failure?
14. What is its greatest success?
15. What action of behalf of the government would make you feel safer?
16. How do you define 'separation of church and state'?
17. Do you believe there is a problem with a political group's definition with it?
18. Which group, and why?
19. How do you feel it should be changed?
20. What single thing would make you feel better about the political situation?

For Non-Citizens
1. Do you have an inclination one way or another? If so, which way?
2. What things do you think have shaped your opinion the most?
3. What issue gets you the most emotional?
4. What do you think is the big failure of the current administration?
5. What is its greatest success?
6. For whom would you vote?
7. How did you feel about the recent U.S. election?
8. Why did you feel that way?
9. What action on the part of the U.S. would make you feel safer?
10. What do you think is the most important thing to remember for the next four years?




Democrat
1. No; too young. Would have voted for Kerry.
2. N/A.
3. No; many issues are important to me.
4. Probably the Iraq war, which I feel to be critical to our nation's attitude at home and abroad.
5. Because I believe that peaceful avenues were not fully exhausted, and the government is not at this time competent to take care of Iraq as it is morally obligated to do.
6. I believe that our attitude toward other countries is too nationalistic, and not open enough to other points of view. I believe that America has been behaving not unlike a schoolyard bully, who thinks he should get his way because he's stronger/bigger than the others.
7. I believe that, while many reform movements are arising, they are being faced with unthinking bigotry and fear. It is my opinion that one point of view is getting more value than others.
8. Presidential debates, courtesy of History class. Local paper, internet (flist) sources. Progressive political club at school.
9. Slanted left, but in many cases addressing slants to the right in other media which I do not personally watch or read.
10. My liberal, politically-minded parents; the diverse, liberal tone of my school; like-minded friends, real and online.
11. Kerry; we're invariably Democrat.
12. I think it was a bad thing for the American people and country as a whole, and says a good deal about the way people in America are often underecucated about politics, and that we are a great deal more diverse than we think we are.
13. Failure to maintain good diplomatic relations with other nations.
14. Supporting a certain ideology in all areas.
15. Legislation protecting the fundamental rights of Americans under all circumstances, and in all cases. Repeal of USA PATRIOT.
16. No religious viewpoint shall be considered as justification for government action, nor shall any action be taken which restricts freedoms beyond those of any religion.
17. Yes, definitely.
18. The Conservative Christian groups from which one hears often seem to construe it as, rather, 'No government action shall be taken which restricts freedoms otherwise than my personal religion.' I believe they are confusing an inability of the state to restrict the church with an inability of the state and church to affect each other.
19. It should be made clear that, though a majority in many cases, no political group has the right to enforce the morals and codes of their religion on other people restrictively; that while people may be permitted more than a certain religion believes, they may not be permitted less than any. Also, that lack of religion is a religion, and the right to disbelieve is part of the right to believe.
20. Not having to hear God and/or Christianity brought up in a context of political reasoning or justification. Above all, not see prohibitions being enforced on religious grounds (you may prohibit less, but not more).


Well, that's what I think. Can you tell me what you think?

Comments

[sakuracorr.livejournal.com]

For Democratic Citizens
1. Did you vote in the last election? If not, why not? If so, for whom?
Yes, for Kerry
2. Did you vote a party ticket, or choose individuals? Individuals, I don't belive in straight-party voting.
3. Were you/would you be a one-issue voter? If yes, which issue? No, I weighed everything I thought was important and decided on that.
4. What issue was the most important to you in choosing a candidate? In the end there was no particular issue, so much as many issues like the enviroment, my own beliefs on more minor issues, and the economy (certainly).
5. Why do you feel the way you do about this issue? The enviroment is going down way too quickly. The economy is my money. The rest is just the rest, I suppose.
6. How do you feel about U.S. foreign policy? Sucks ass, as everyone hates us except for Austrailia (sp?).
7. About domestic policy? Bush's domestic policies have been really crappy, even ignoring anything about gay rights.
8. What media do you use to gather information about politics? CNN.com, though I used a lot of stuff I learned in International Studies, and from discussions with several people. I also watch CNN, and my roommate watches the news, and I listen to that, so.
9. Do you think these media are slanted? In which way? Of course, but I've never figured out which way CNN goes, since they've put both down...
10. What other factors influenced your choice? My beliefs are that people should have the freedom to do what they want to do as long as it does not harm anyone else. I believe that this corresponds with what the Bill of Rights was put into place for. Voting for a president who is the dead opposite of this theory does go against my ethics.
11. For whom did your state vote? Bush
12. How do you, personally, feel about the election? People didn't know what they were voting for, and now that it is over, all we can do is look at things in terms of black and white. Either you kiss the ground Bush walks on and are a fanatical Christian or you're a gay lesbian dyke liberal who needs to be mocked. Both sides are acting unappropriately.
13. What do you think is the last administration's greatest failure? Clinton? Or Bush's last term? I liked Clinton. Though to be fair, I was a lot less informed during Clinton's reign, so I am not qualified to say either way what kind of president he was. I think that Bush's focus on international policy has been damaging.
14. What is its greatest success? Ties with AU.
15. What action of behalf of the government would make you feel safer? Showing definite signs of finishing up in Iraq.
16. How do you define 'separation of church and state'? You don't make laws because of religious beliefs, and no instution of government prefers one religion over another. This includes atheism, though this is better defined as freedom of all people to practice their religion rather than banning religion totally.
17. Do you believe there is a problem with a political group's definition with it? Yeah, we can't have the commandment in the court rooms, but we can allow the Christian opposition to gay rights change state constitutions. The first did a lot less.
18. Which group, and why? I think there is more than one group.
19. How do you feel it should be changed? Live and let have freedom of religion. Censorship is not the answer.
20. What single thing would make you feel better about the political situation? People showing that they are willing to listen to each other and discuss issues rather than fight with the opposing side so that nothing gets accomplished.

[dkellis.livejournal.com]

Non-Citizen:
1. Do you have an inclination one way or another? If so, which way?
I was listed on that Smallest Political Quiz thing as a Centrist (exactly smack dab in the middle), but in reality I'm pretty much for intelligent government control over many things. I have faith in the Singapore government to be that intelligent, but I don't have much data about the US government.

Otherwise, I'm a fence-sitter. Certain "liberal" viewpoints of mine are neatly balanced by the "conservative" viewpoints, to borrow American terms.

2. What things do you think have shaped your opinion the most?
The behaviour of the supporters of each candidate. I've found that on a lot of the forums I visit and frequent, the Bush-supporters are almost uniformly arrogant, and the Kerry-supporters flame and rant immaturely at every opportunity.

As for in general, mostly my life in Singapore and the one-party system. We're described as a "police state", we spend plenty on defence and law enforcement, we have compulsory national IDs that we all take for granted, but oddly enough, we feel safe enough in our privacy and homes that the government has accused us of being too complacent. So even though the US tries to move towards that model, I don't know why I would feel even less safe were I an American citizen.

3. What issue gets you the most emotional?
The Truth, which should be spoken with intelligence and rationality, and heard at every opportunity. I plug Factcheck.org to almost anyone who trots out FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Distrust) and misinformation, but I almost always get ignored.

4. What do you think is the big failure of the current administration?
Very strange priorities in terms of foreign policy. Singapore knows that it needs international cooperation in order to survive, but the go-it-alone attitude of the US is utterly perplexing. Snubbing international relations is a very quick way for this American Empire to fall. (For example, China has a lot more people than you.)

5. What is its greatest success?
Right now, Colin Powell. He seems the most level-headed of the entire Bush team.

6. For whom would you vote?
Personally, David Cobb (Green Party), if I really had to. Most of his policies are palatable, except for his anti-space exploration (and rather anti-science) stance. Otherwise, I would just go with whichever major-party candidate has told the truth more times, and has evaded less questions.

7. How did you feel about the recent U.S. election?
Extremely polarized and immature. The behaviour of many Americans after the fact is utterly shameful. This wasn't an election, this was a circus.

8. Why did you feel that way?
I think I've explained the reasons enough in my LJ.

9. What action on the part of the U.S. would make you feel safer?
Improving international relations, not being so arrogant and pissy. Being fair and balanced, especially in dealing with the touchier issues like China/Taiwan and the Middle East. Singapore is a mainly Chinese society sandwiched between Malaysia (a somewhat friendly neighbour, but we're still a bit cautious) and Indonesia (the world's most populous Muslim country, currently friendly), so either flashpoint would have consequences for us. And currently, the US is the one loose cannon (the Muslim countries seem content to stay put, while China is busy modernizing) that could make life very, very difficult for all of us.

10. What do you think is the most important thing to remember for the next four years?
For the Americans, remember that whatever happens, short of massive tectonic upheavals, the US will still be there. Your morals (whether pro or anti whatever) may not be everyone's, and the best thing to do is to compromise.

Also, it's four years. It's not the end of the world. And unless you're clairvoyant, all the claims that "freedom is dead" and such fearmongering has as much accuracy as all the people pre-election saying "Kerry will definitely win by a landslide".

Part I of II (LJ thinks I typed too much)

[kiraya.livejournal.com]

For Other Citizens:
1. Did you vote in the last election? If not, why not? If so, for whom?
Yes; I voted for Kerry.

2. Did you vote a party ticket, or choose individuals?
Individuals.

3. Were you/would you be a one-issue voter? If yes, which issue?
I wasn't, but I admit I can see myself being a one-issue voter focused on gay marriage.

4. What issue was the most important to you in choosing a candidate?
Religion. Bush's fanaticism scares me.

5. Why do you feel the way you do about this issue?
Eh... have to admit, I've had bad experiences with Christian fundamentalists in the past. Really bad.

Part II of III

[kiraya.livejournal.com]

6. How do you feel about U.S. foreign policy?
What foreign policy? Oh, you mean the whole "we don't give a fuck what you think so we'll just do our own thing," "we're we're gonna stick our nose in stuff that's really none of our business" crap that's alienated almost all of our former allies and made the world despise us in a time when international relations are so important?

7. About domestic policy?
The rich keep getting richer and the poor keep getting poorer. Decades of civil rights and environmental legislation are endangered by this man and his administration. The deficit just keeps rising, and payment for it's going to come out of our pockets. To sum it up: Not good.

8. What media do you use to gather information about politics?
Newspapers, websites, the presidential debates, even the odd book (I read a really good, non-biased one on gay marriage a while back).

9. Do you think these media are slanted? In which way?
Oh, of course. Most of them slant towards the left, but there are a few more conservative ones (like the New York Post).

10. What other factors influenced your choice?
No way in hell was I going to vote for someone who couldn't admit to making a single mistake these past four years. A man with a mindset like that should not be allowed in any position of power.

11. For whom did your state vote?
Kerry.

12. How do you, personally, feel about the election?
Unsurprised. I had a bad feeling Bush was going to get reelected, especially since we've never changed administrations during a time of war. It's interesting to note, too, that he got all the hick states (the Midwest and South).
Other than that... disgusted. Frightened for the future of America, that her people could be such sheep. Part of me's dreading World War III, but the other part's saying, "We survived 8 years of Reagan and his bullshit, we can do it with Bush. We may come out quite a bit worse for the wear, but we'll survive."

13. What do you think is the last administration's greatest failure?
Where to begin...? I'd say Iraq. As is now apparent, they were no threat to us, had no WMDs, and aren't particularly happy that we're over there. It feels like it's turning into another Vietnam.

14. What is its greatest success?
Uhhhh... gods. Now I have to think.
...Probably uniting the country so much under their banner, and being able to pull the wool over the average American's eyes on almost every issue.

15. What action on behalf of the government would make you feel safer?
The one thing that in my eyes is under the greatest attack by the government is our rights. We need to repeal the USA PATRIOT Act so people can freely say nasty stuff about the president without worrying about visits from the FBI. We need legislation that will preserve the right of women to choose, or at least prevent men from deciding if we get to keep that right. We need legislation that will protect GLBT individuals from discrimination. Hoping for certain other rights is just wishful thinking at this point...

Part III of III

[kiraya.livejournal.com]

16. How do you define 'separation of church and state'?
First amendment of the Constitution: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion" = No religious dogma shall be written into our laws, no religious paraphenalia will be placed in federal buildings, and no one religion shall be favoured above others by the state (so much for that last). "...Nor prohibiting the free exercise thereof." = Do whatever the hell you want to worship God, as long as it doesn't involve killing other people or other criminal activity.

17. Do you believe there is a problem with a political group's definition with it?
Absolutely.

18. Which group, and why?
The conservative Christian right defines it this way: "The federal government isn't allowed to tax us, but we can meddle in politics however we want. They can make laws against other religious beliefs, but they're not allowed to make laws that go against the Bible."

19. How do you feel it should be changed?
I believe you summed it up very, very nicely. I only want to add that they should stress that "under God" is an optional part (that is, can be omitted during recitation) of the Pledge of Allegiance -- hopefully that'll mollify both the atheists who want to remove it and the Christians who start foaming at the mouth when that notion's brought up.

20. What single thing would make you feel better about the political situation?
Bush's resignation. If not that, impeaching him for lying about Iraq, but both of these are sadly unlikely...

--

Sorry about the length... I get pretty wordy on this sort of thing.
This was a really good idea. Do you mind if I post this in my own journal?

Re: Part III of III

[cygna-hime.livejournal.com]

No, I don't mind at all. In fact, please do post this. The more people who share their viewpoints, the better we can understand them.

Non-Partisan

[butterflydrming.livejournal.com]

For Other Citizens
1. Did you vote in the last election? If not, why not? If so, for whom?
Yes. I voted for Kerry, and not just because he was the other major party alternative to W.
2. Did you vote a party ticket, or choose individuals?
I chose individuals. They happened to all be D.
3. Were you/would you be a one-issue voter? If yes, which issue?
I consider a lot of issues. Environmental policy is important to me, but so is improving public schools, addressing the need for health care (I'm not sure yet if we should have National Health Care), and the upholding of individual freedom.
4. What issue was the most important to you in choosing a candidate?
Many of the R candidates in my state made a point to say things like "abortion is the American holocaust" and "marriage is one man, one woman". Those phrases immediately earned a scratch-through mark, with me.
5. Why do you feel the way you do about this issue?
I'd rather not get started.
6. How do you feel about U.S. foreign policy?
We have extremely poor foreign policy right now. The US acts as if it has been appointed as the world's police, and as if our "way" is the only right way.
7. About domestic policy?
We have internal terrorism (the KKK), poverty, illiteracy... the economy is in the toilet... I'd say that our domestic policy needs some attention.
8. What media do you use to gather information about politics?
Newspaper, Internet, TV, word-of-mouth.
9. Do you think these media are slanted? In which way?
Everything is biased. It is important to question everything, and consider the validity of what is being said or written.
10. What other factors influenced your choice?
If a politician is not doing a good job in office, then he should be fired.
11. For whom did your state vote?
WA voted Kerry.
12. How do you, personally, feel about the election?
(sigh) I would have liked a different outcome. However, we *are* a democracy, which means, Majority Rule. A mature approach would be to examine why the split is so close, and that does not mean pointing at each other and yelling insults.
13. What do you think is the last administration's greatest failure?
There has not been enough attention paid to the state of our own country. (see #7)
14. What is its greatest success?
They've done a great job of making the government more powerful, and reducing individual freedom. I'm still flabergasted that the Patriot Act passed, and that Homeland Security exists.
15. What action of behalf of the government would make you feel safer?
I don't depend on my government to feel safe.
16. How do you define 'separation of church and state'?
It seems really obvious to me. Church is chosen by the individual, to determine the moral rules by which he wishes to abide. State is a standard Law that applies to all citizens, and cannot be based on ambiguous "values". There is no way to make Pro-Lifers and Pro-Choicers agree, for example, because it's not a yes/no arguement.
17. Do you believe there is a problem with a political group's definition with it?
See #4. Hey, this questionaire itself is highly slanted, isn't it? (Leading)
18. Which group, and why? ---
19. How do you feel it should be changed? ---
20. What single thing would make you feel better about the political situation?
I would like to see the citizens of the USA set their emotional responses aside and listen to each other. Unless the 48% are ready to start a revolution (and by that, I do mean internal war), we are going to have to accept that W is our President for the next four years, that R policy is going to dominate what we do as a country, and that we will have to be more aware and involved with what is happening in Congress.

[nirejseki.livejournal.com]

For Democratic Citizens
1. Did you vote in the last election? If not, why not? If so, for whom?
No, too young. I would have cast it for Kerry, though.
2. Did you vote a party ticket, or choose individuals?
I like to think that I choose individuals, but considering that since I've really gotten into politics, I've been Democratic-leaning, I'm not sure yet. The Republicans in our town were running on 'Evil Democrats Will Steal Your Money!', so my vote would have been straight Democrat. But can you really blame me?
3. Were you/would you be a one-issue voter? If yes, which issue?
No, I don't think so. There's a lot - abortion, gay rights, the economy, Iraq...
4. What issue was the most important to you in choosing a candidate?
Abortion and gay rights - and if you group them together, you can call it 'religious fanaticism versus personal freedoms'.
5. Why do you feel the way you do about this issue?
Because I like my freedoms, thank you. Furthermore, I have a cousin that is a lesbian, () and I like her very much.
6. How do you feel about U.S. foreign policy?
We're strutting around like roosters, and someone should shoot us. Afganistan, Iraq...gods, we're even screwing up Israel!
7. About domestic policy?
Evaganlical Christian fanatics are taking over our country's policies. That is all.
8. What media do you use to gather information about politics?
In-school debate (casual and classroom), friendly debate (with friends, etc.), but most of all dicussion with my dad. He's more arguementive than me, and he hopes to eventually go to learn political theory in college - not because he needs to, but because it's fun.
9. Do you think these media are slanted? In which way?
My dad is a strong Democrat, and hates Bush as much as I do. Yeah, he's biased. But he tries to be fair...he just can't find much good about Bush.
10. What other factors influenced your choice?
Personal research.
11. For whom did your state vote?
Kerry, thank god.
12. How do you, personally, feel about the election?
Just send that death warrent to the post office now; the ink is dry.
13. What do you think is the last administration's greatest failure?
Bringing God into every little step of the process.
14. What is its greatest success?
Playing on the fears of the average American to such a degree, and with such deft skill, that they were able to win a second term. Abusing a disaster for their own benefit, yes. Doing it skillfully? Must be admitted to also be a yes.

[nirejseki.livejournal.com]

15. What action of behalf of the government would make you feel safer?
The ideal action? Recounting the votes and finding out that a few states were cheated; Kerry won, as did a number of Democratic Senate/House seats. Okay, wishful thinking. More realistically, finishing Iraq and NOT passing the Const. amendment! Dropping it entirely!
16. How do you define 'separation of church and state'?
Not letting the fanatics turn our democratic republic into a theocracy. Our school as a betting pool on the US becoming a virtual theocracy within 4 years, esp. if there is another disaster. I believe the odds are currently 4:1.
17. Do you believe there is a problem with a political group's definition with it?
Leading question, but yes, I do.
18. Which group, and why?
The neo-conservative Republicans currently in power have brought us back to the pre-Civil War defintion of "people"...in other words, if you're not a white, protestant, at least fairly well-off male (the "American taxpayer"), then you are not defined as a person. So go screw yourselves.
19. How do you feel it should be changed?
...well, I'd really rather not have to go through the whole civil rights movement twice. Sure, good things came of it, but can we just KEEP them without erasing them and then having to do all that work all over again?
20. What single thing would make you feel better about the political situation?
Option A) Bush leaving office without harm. The Democrats getting a major lead next time around. Anti-Bush people managing to keep the majority of damage down...
B) The Republicans taking their heads out of their asses - and I don't mean it in the sense of the Democratic symbol - and actually seeing what they're doing to the country.
or
C) The Apocalypse finally occuring. Save us all this tension, okay? We got the signs: Red Sox won (on a night when the mood was blood-red, no less!), Bush got reelected...we're tired of waiting! Just let it happen already!