quote:

Originally posted by Skip:
Didn't watch it.

Out of curiosity, do people actually get swayed based on a debate? I think it is the better part of wisdom to do research on the issues, past voting history, etc. rather than listen to speeches written to create little sound bites. Either of them could have talked circles around the other and it wouldn't impact my vote in the least. The same is true with the presidential debate. Do I want someone who is a good orator? Or someone who genuinely cares about the direction that this country has gone and where it needs to go?

quote:

From blog:
If you are like me, you're getting pretty tired of all the madness that accompanies the election season. All the name-calling, bickering, and empty promises. Then there are the cars with giant loudspeakers that drive around all day playing political propaganda, the incessant firecrackers, and the frequent assassinations.

I haven't been following the elections in the US very closely, but I can't get away from them here in Brazil. Hardly a minute of the day goes by that I don't hear firecrackers (really big ones) or loudspeaker cars trying to draw our attention to some politician. And it really annoys me when I get a politician's campaign song stuck in my head - some of them have really catchy tunes.

Voting is mandatory here. Every citizen who is of age is obligated to vote. If you are away from the area where you are registered then you have to show up at the polls anyway and get some kind of exemption. If you don't vote, then you have to pay a fine the next time you have to renew documents or do any business with the government. My wife, being a Brazilian citizen, has to do this.

One of the headlines in the news today is that there have been 20 political candidates assassinated so far in this election. Another headline says that in this election so far, the government has authorized military troops to occupy 302 cities. Their job is to maintain order during the election season and to protect candidates from "militias", organized crime, and drug traffickers.

This is not the presidential election cycle, it is for positions like mayors and governors and such. As a foreigner, there is a lot I still don't understand about politics here. I hear a lot of gossip about corruption, but I don't really know what the truth is. But one thing that seems evident is that being a politician, even a low level one, is a desirable job. There must be some powerful incentive for people to seek a position that makes them a target. So if anyone really wants to get into politics, a couple of positions just opened up this week.

quote:

Originally posted by Optimus Prime:
If Joe is not already aligned with a party, he's going to hear a few sound bites here and there and cast his vote.

quote:

Originally posted by Skip:

Some will say that I am wasting my vote. I guess I would say that my vote would be wasted if I voted for someone I didn't believe in.

Overall, I don't think it matters. I don't trust either party anymore.