The Ferrett ([info]theferrett) wrote,
@ 2005-04-23 12:00:00
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Oh, The POWER!
Damn straight I'm filling it out, though God knows why I got it; I registered as "Independent." And yet it came with my name on the envelope and on the survey, so I guess it's mine.

My Evil Side


Still, I had to answer "yes" to a distressing proportion of questions:

"Do you continue to support increasing the amount of security at airports, train stations, and all government builds including monuments and museums?"
"Do you agree that teaching our children to read and increasing literacy rates should be a national priority?"
"Should students, teachers, principals, and administrators be held to a higher standard?"
"Do you support President Bush's initiative to allow private religious and charitable groups to do more to help those in need?" (Not at the cost of other groups, or with the conditions he's giving to much of our current charitable output, but more charity's always good.)
"Do you agree that our top military priority should be fighting terrorists?" (Our top military priority, yes.)

The rest, I said "no" on. And I didn't even put a stamp on it, though the envelope told me that I'd be saving the Republicans money. HA!


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[info]itches
2005-04-23 04:03 pm UTC (link)
Wouldn't your top military priority be to, uh, defend your nation?

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evacuee
2005-04-23 04:24 pm UTC (link)
Well, apart from the very unlikely potential of nuclear conflict - which can only be prevented with diplomacy - terrorism is the *only* genuine threat to the vast majority of western democracies. You or I are *not* going to be invaded in the concievable future.

The way the Bush administration goes about defending the state is a somewhat different issue, however.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)(Expand)

(no subject) - [info]itches, 2005-04-23 04:37 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - evacuee, 2005-04-23 04:42 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]itches, 2005-04-23 04:47 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - evacuee, 2005-04-23 04:50 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]itches, 2005-04-23 04:53 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]djeu, 2005-04-23 04:57 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - evacuee, 2005-04-23 05:24 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]ladyortyger, 2005-04-23 05:59 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - evacuee, 2005-04-23 07:03 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]ladyortyger, 2005-04-23 07:09 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - evacuee, 2005-04-23 07:13 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]ladyortyger, 2005-04-23 07:15 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - evacuee, 2005-04-23 07:49 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]tashiro, 2005-04-23 04:57 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]mejeep, 2005-04-23 06:17 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - evacuee, 2005-04-23 07:14 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]fuschia
2005-04-23 04:12 pm UTC (link)
Jim got one of those (he and I are both registered Green, so who knows why), and took great pleasure in writing out crankily scathing responses. I'm sure they just tossed it, but still...

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[info]noumignon
2005-04-23 10:07 pm UTC (link)
(he and I are both registered Green, so who knows why)

I could imagine them sending this survey only to non-Republican voters, as a push poll or as a way to get swing voters to fill in information missing from their voter database.

(Reply to this)(Parent)


[info]off_coloratura
2005-04-23 04:22 pm UTC (link)
The security thing is a big issue with me. My husband has worked security before and is constantly frustrated by the incompetent people working security at airports and the very vague standards they apply to those who pass through.

I don't think INCREASING security is the answer if it means more of this crap. IMPROVING security is another matter entirely.

(Reply to this)(Thread)


evacuee
2005-04-23 04:26 pm UTC (link)
Absolutely. The security measures at airports are plenty sufficient to prevent terrorist activity. The implementation often seems to be very lacking, however. Especially at domestic terminals within the States.

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[info]wolflady26
2005-04-23 04:37 pm UTC (link)
I agree. I think the security they have now is a farce designed to soothe people into believing they are safer. For example, we can't have metal butter knives on a plane, but we can have breakable glass bottles (because duty-free alcohol is a big seller, not a threat). Also, I know someone who accidentally walked through International security with a pocketknife in his carry-on luggage with no problem. Thank goodness we have so much security!

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(no subject) - [info]hobomagic, 2005-04-23 04:50 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]wolflady26, 2005-04-23 05:28 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]evilbeard, 2005-04-23 06:04 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]terpsichoros, 2005-04-23 05:05 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]lady_guenievre, 2005-04-27 08:23 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]wolflady26, 2005-04-27 09:11 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]theferrett
2005-04-23 05:06 pm UTC (link)
Ah, but you forget the real problem:

They don't screen a lot of the cargo that goes into airports, trains, and ships - especially if it's bulk cargo. I don't care about individual bags, but I do want better overall screening.

It's not just the shmoe at the X-ray machine, and getting better behind-the-scenes efforts will take money.

(Reply to this)(Parent)


[info]pi216
2005-04-23 04:31 pm UTC (link)
"Thank you for replying to our identification letter! Please remain in your house while we send hired goons to teach your children 'creation science' and deny them access to hormonal contraceptives.

Just remember, "If they're white, on the flight! If they're brown? On the ground." And have a pleasant Culture of Life!

Yrs. in Profit,
the RNC"

(Reply to this)


[info]force_of_will
2005-04-23 04:40 pm UTC (link)
Uh, I did just get done studying how most of these are written with a linguistic bias that steers folks to answer a certain way. Which of course is then used to back the party platform.

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[info]hobomagic
2005-04-23 04:51 pm UTC (link)
If they are sending this stuff to people, they probably actually want to know people's responses. Of course, it could be essentialy an ad campaign to get people to realize they are more aligned with the republicans than they thought, but I don't really see them doing that outside an election year.

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(no subject) - [info]theferrett, 2005-04-23 05:09 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]theferrett
2005-04-23 05:08 pm UTC (link)
I was tempted to replicate the phrasing here for the record, but I was going out to lunch with Amy and mailed it on the way. Oh well.

(Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)(Expand)

(no subject) - [info]force_of_will, 2005-04-23 05:29 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]gentlemaitresse
2005-04-23 06:45 pm UTC (link)
I was thinking along those same lines, so I decided to translate the questions for the average reader. :-)

"Do you continue to support increasing the amount of security at airports, train stations, and all government builds including monuments and museums?"

Translation: "Do you want your tax dollars to support a private industry that benefits citizens who fly and ride trains, and do you support allowing the federal government to decide the security standards for those industries?"

My answer would have to be no. Let airlines and train companies decide for themselves how to handle that problem. They'll likely come up with better solutions than the feds, and they'll pass the cost on directly to those who use their services, rather than the general public. If you don't like their solutions, you won't use their service, and they'll have to come up with better solutions! Hey, that's what businesses DO!

"Do you agree that teaching our children to read and increasing literacy rates should be a national priority?"

Translation: "Do you agree that the federal government should decide how and what *your* children should be taught, even though we've never met them or you, and we have no personal stake in the outcome since our children will be attending private schools anyway?"

Naturally, I would say no. The federal government was never intended to decide those kinds of things. Let local school boards, along with the parents, decide that.

"Do you support President Bush's initiative to allow private religious and charitable groups to do more to help those in need?"

Translation: "Do you agree to let the federal government give more of your money to private charities, with whom you may or may not agree?"

No way. Let me keep more of my money and I'll decide which charities deserve to get some of it! How can it make any sense to anyone to give their money to the government so the government can decide which charities it ought to go to? Or do most people just forget that it's their money, so they think 'yeah, more money for charity from Uncle Sam... good idea'?

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(no subject) - [info]emoticripple, 2005-04-24 01:03 am UTC (Expand)

[info]emoticripple
2005-04-24 12:59 am UTC (link)
We got an absolutley laughable one from our Congresswoman (the vile Ann Northup) last summer. Your choices are essentially

A) I agree with you.
B) I honestly couldn't agree more.
C) I am rabid. I've had it with your pussy-footin around. Nuke 'em!
D) Do nothing.

Your tax dollars at work.

(Reply to this)(Parent)


[info]xsoulx
2005-04-23 04:49 pm UTC (link)
an infusion of common sense is what is required, most of the airport security seem to lack this character trait, for example when my friend was made to give up his nail clipper before they would let him through security (not one of those with a knife inside, or a nuke inside, just a plain 99cent nail clipper) how retarded is that?

wondering was there anything on there that said 'do you think we should scrap the rights-violating-sign-this-or-ill-call-you-unpatriotic-patriot-act?'

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[info]djeu
2005-04-23 04:56 pm UTC (link)
That's a pretty common one though. I know a lot of other countries do that too, and (I may be wrong), but I vaguely remember it being there before certain events on a certain date.

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(no subject) - [info]xsoulx, 2005-04-24 01:23 am UTC (Expand)

[info]ldygwynedd
2005-04-23 06:18 pm UTC (link)
You know, really, it's not like these are bad ideas -- it's how they IMPLEMENT them that sucks big ones. It's like, here's an issue that everyone's concerned about and we are going to do something about it! Rah! Rah! And, if in the fine print, it incidently fulfills something else on our agenda, like the privatization of EVERYTHING so that cronies get their pockets lined, more power to us!

For instance, the No Child Left Behind Act. Sounds good on the surface, sucks on the implementation. The NCLB has set standards so high, public schools are sure to fail, so the gov't can say, "see, public education sucks" so they turn it over to private educational businesses (whose students, incidently, don't have to pass the rigorous testing standards that public education students do). The NCLB blames every failure upon teachers, principals and administrators. And a Failure is defined as any kid who isn't at grade level. Sounds good, right? Well, this includes kids with low IQs, kids learning disabilities, kids whose parents don't get them to school, kids whose parents don't see that they get their homework done, kids whose parents don't value education except as a babysitting service, kids who Christmas-tree the tests because they could give a damn whether they pass or not (and yes, there are kids in schools like that).

I am a Public School teacher. When I see what the hell is going on, it makes me want to quit. The emphasis in schools that are behind the NCLB crapola (like my state)is on testing. The whole frigging school year revolves around them. If something you teach isn't on the test, then it is ruthlessly cut from the curriculum. Weeks and months of precious class time is spent on "how to pass the test". Electives are cut from the curriculum and elementary schools eliminate wasted time like recess, PE and Art.

Yeah. NCLB sounds good on the surface. But it is ruining a generation of children.

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[info]gentlemaitresse
2005-04-23 06:57 pm UTC (link)
What kind of solution would you favor?

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(no subject) - [info]ldygwynedd, 2005-04-23 07:45 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]gentlemaitresse, 2005-04-23 07:51 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]ldygwynedd, 2005-04-23 08:15 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]gentlemaitresse, 2005-04-23 08:25 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]ldygwynedd, 2005-04-23 08:35 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]gentlemaitresse, 2005-04-23 08:39 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]ldygwynedd, 2005-04-23 08:42 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]gentlemaitresse, 2005-04-23 08:44 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]lilitou, 2005-04-23 08:56 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]ldygwynedd, 2005-04-23 09:49 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]lotrfan, 2005-04-23 10:01 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]ldygwynedd, 2005-04-24 11:01 am UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]lilitou, 2005-04-24 02:58 am UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]perfectnormalcy, 2005-04-23 09:37 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]ldygwynedd, 2005-04-24 11:07 am UTC (Expand)

[info]ladyortyger
2005-04-23 07:17 pm UTC (link)
What I've heard on the NCLB alone is enough to make me want to either homeschool or do alternative schools for my (future) kids.

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(no subject) - [info]ldygwynedd, 2005-04-23 07:50 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]ladyortyger, 2005-04-23 07:57 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]ldygwynedd, 2005-04-23 08:04 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]force_of_will, 2005-04-23 07:41 pm UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]ldygwynedd, 2005-04-23 07:48 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]bnatural
2005-04-23 08:02 pm UTC (link)
My problem is that, who wouldn't say yes to those questions:

I no that I for one am strongly against literacy ;-)

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(no subject) - [info]gentlemaitresse, 2005-04-23 08:33 pm UTC (Expand)
Um, can someone explain #4?
[info]girliewhirl
2005-04-23 08:28 pm UTC (link)
What exactly does that mean: "allow private religious and charitable groups to do more to help those in need?". As opposed to preventing them from doing more to help those in need?!? Was someone planning a "let's stop private charities from helping people" campaign that Bush is now going to foil? Was there some federal law limiting the amount of help that private charities could give, that Bush is going to now lift? ("I know you guys have been DYING to do more, and the damn federal government keeps getting in the way, but NO MORE!")

Or, does it mean that he's going to "allow" private charities to do more by eliminating all the "competition" of government programs that help those in need? Because, you know, there really aren't enough needy people in this country to go around, and if the government keeps selfishly helping them all, it leaves private charities with nothing to do!

Yeah, that must be it...

(Reply to this)(Thread)(Expand)

Re: Um, can someone explain #4? - [info]gentlemaitresse, 2005-04-23 08:35 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]skryche
2005-04-23 09:09 pm UTC (link)
I don't think they even tally those. They just want to get you to respond (prefereably with $$$) so they can add you to their list.

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(no subject) - [info]noumignon, 2005-04-23 10:04 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]calamity
2005-04-23 09:48 pm UTC (link)
Your not conscerned that even though you registered as an independent that it looks as though you are registered as a republican? I wonder how many other independents were sloted into the republican category.

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[info]yerrolemodel
2005-04-24 06:57 pm UTC (link)
Oh, just come out of the closet and admit you're a republican already.

c'mon, Ferrett... they dont send those things out on accident.

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[info]harold3
2005-04-26 12:57 am UTC (link)
Since you registered as an independant you can potentially get stuff like this from both major parties. As your name is in both their databases. (Your considered a "Swing Vote" so both parties claim you in their numbers.)

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