Friday, February 29, 2008

Week in review: What's on your mind?

Every Friday-ish we put up a post for everyone to discuss news items you'd like to discuss through the weekend.

Have at it!

Posted by Jay at 12:12 PM

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9 comments:

Just Fred said...

I was wondering what you fellow bloggers think about PA considering changing it's rules to allow 'independents' to participate in PA primary elections.

I think 22 states already have something in place to accommodate those of us who are not affiliated with a political party. We're all members of the same country, and because we choose not to join a particular politcal club doesn't mean we don't care about who should represent us.

I don't vote for a political party anyway, I vote for people and (if one comes along) a statesman.

February 29, 2008 at 12:51 PM
Anonymous said...

Fred, My Dad always used to complain about the closed primary system. I remember challenging him once saying, "it's still a secret ballot, nobody knows who you are voting for." To which he correctly responded, "Yes, but they know who I am not voting for."

As far as PA, I don't see any good reason why not to make the change. As the system stands right now you can vote in either primary as long as you make your mind up 30 days ahead of time. Get your registration turned in to belong to a party for 30 days prior to the election, then go and change your status back to independent the day after the election.

I would guess you could get a lot more people involved if they would take the party registration requirement out and just have an open primary.

February 29, 2008 at 3:29 PM
Just Fred said...

That's part of the problem, RB. I'd have to jump through a couple of hoops to be able to have my voice heard, and then jump back through the same hoops to reverse what I had to do to get my voice heard.

The Republicrats in PA don't seem to want us 'outsider' types messin' with a good thing that works for them.

February 29, 2008 at 4:58 PM
Anonymous said...

Really, the biggest and most outrageous example of flouting their arrogance to the people of Pennsylvania comes from the legislators stipulating that only THEY! can put a legislative proposal on the ballot as referendum.

In other words: "WE are the power--the rest of you are mere suggestions to be patronized or ignored as we feel."

IF the citizens had the power---which is their right--
which is their right and was taken from them by the legislators--
to put referenda on the ballot, then we might see some serious changes in the state government.

Elsewise, the inmates are running the asylum. And loving it!

How can we find a legislator bold enough to put this into action??---and how could it ever succeed without a horde of angry onlooking citizens demanding their legislators vote for it??

It is a dream.
A pipe dream, as they say.
(a phrase which I think owes its ancestry to opium) --------------------------------------------------
I found this most interesting column written a few years back in which the author contrasts the relative success of Republican and Democratic administrations.
Guess who wins, hands down??

This Post.

February 29, 2008 at 10:15 PM
Jay said...

Nice use of an embedded link, Jacque -- I guess the last tech tip was of some actual use!

March 1, 2008 at 10:08 AM
Just Fred said...

Jacque, you realize this will be disputed by the other team. Not because the facts might be in question, but because it was written in the Washington Post, so therefore the information can't be trusted.

March 1, 2008 at 11:44 AM
Gary Sutton said...

Just Fred,
In regards to your post, "Jacque, you realize this will be disputed by the other team. Not because the facts might be in question, but because it was written in the Washington Post, so therefore the information can't be trusted." Aren't we supposed to have one team with different ideas about how to win? Just a thought as I was reading your blog. The problem with any news source, whether it's the Post, the Times, or any other is the notion that we should have to decide if the reporting is reputable; whether it's opinion journalism or true journalism; and whether or not the paper has an agenda. I find a lot of great articles in both of these papers, but I also find a lot of pieces that lead me to believe that reporting the news is being trumped by opinion. This can also be said of other publications. The question that begs to be asked is whether the editorial and opinion page should be allowed to be blended together with the news page, and whether your publication should be reporting the news or making it. By the way, Fred, (and I really don't recall) was there ever a time you had a thought or post that disagreed with Jacque? Just a question? GS

March 3, 2008 at 8:00 AM
Just Fred said...

Gary,
Are there any publications you feel intermingle news with journalism to promote right-wing agendas? I hear the Washington Post and New York Times called out quite alot on talk-radio, but I can't recall anyone busting on a paper for promoting a right-wing agenda.

You read alot of printed media, so I thought you might be able to share an example of one you think slants political thought the other way.

I like to read about Jacque's perspective and when I concur with one of his observations I let him know. I do the same for you.

If I don't respond, that usually means I have no opinion or I haven't thought about it long enough.

March 3, 2008 at 2:16 PM
Gary Sutton said...

Fred,
Yes, I do. I feel that the Washington Times and the New York Post most definitely move in the direction of the right. I read all 4 publications in question every day. As I said before, I can find good news articles and op-ed pieces in both; I just don't want them mixed. My only point is that consumers of the news should probably be able to read it without having to run it through the filter of credibility in a day and age of opinion journalism. In trying to sift out fact and opinion, we end up doing a better job of quality control in our own efforts to be informed, but we also end up playing tit for tat and the right and left game again which I for one find tedious. Thanks for a great question, Fred. GS

March 5, 2008 at 7:59 AM

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