THR Political Activity Poll

I have gotten involved in the political process by doing the following:

  • Voted in the most recent Presidential Election

    Votes: 156 98.7%

  • Voted in the most recent national midterm election

    Votes: 136 86.1%

  • Voted in the most recent state elections

    Votes: 143 90.5%

  • Voted in the most recent county/municipal elections

    Votes: 126 79.7%

  • Voted in the most recent primary elections for my party

    Votes: 103 65.2%

  • Been an active member of my local political party caucus

    Votes: 21 13.3%

  • Voted on the party platform of my local party

    Votes: 23 14.6%

  • Run for office at the county/school board/municipal level

    Votes: 7 4.4%

  • Run for office at the state or national level

    Votes: 0 0.0%

  • Researched the political positions of candidates online

    Votes: 134 84.8%

  • Walked the precincts in support of a candidate

    Votes: 22 13.9%

  • Written a letter to my Congressman or Senator

    Votes: 142 89.9%

  • Donated money or time to a candidate who shares my belief

    Votes: 88 55.7%

  • Met with my Congressman or Senator personally to discuss issues

    Votes: 35 22.2%

  • Donated time or money to an organization that shares my beliefs

    Votes: 112 70.9%

  • Helped find a candidate to run against an incumbent I oppose

    Votes: 17 10.8%
  • Total voters
    158
  • Poll closed .
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B

Bartholomew Roberts

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Dec 26, 2002
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Texas
How active is the average THR member in the political process of his government? Please select all the options that apply to you.
 
None of the above, as there ain't nothing above!! :D

Ok, now there is and I voted - so you know something about me.
 
Early days yet but I clicked about everything other than the 0s at this time - the caucus/platform, the running for office and the candidate influence stuff. Looks like the early responders are all very similar to me in this regard.

I could of course be frowned upon for not being more intimately involved in the party machinery as that's where the real influence ultimately can be applied by citizens most effectively (at least by citizens who, like me, are unelectable because they are members of the most politically loathed minority). The reason I don't though is that the party (either major party and indeed any of the minor ones) is already dominated by true believers in the party line and even if I were suddenly given the oratorical skills of Pericles, I could not move them to where my positions would be supported, as I hold opinions that are anathema to both Dems and Reps, while agreeing in substantial measure with quite a few beliefs of both parties.

There really is no place in party politics for a true moderate who makes up their mind on each issue on its merits. The Republicans will hate me for X heresy and the Democrats will hate me for Y heresy and nothing beyond wasted air and time would come out of any involvement in the nitty gritty by me. So I simply support the candidates and organizations which to me will provide the greatest benefit or least harm overall. Politically independent thought has its price, and the inability to work in the party machinery effectively is a big part of it.
 
I have not run for office, or made the precinct walks, but I have done about all the rest
 
Well, I just turned eighteen so I haven't done any of that yet. I forgot about the primaries here in WI yesterday, so I didn't vote there. I fully intend to tke part in our government by doing pretty much all that you listed in the poll.
 
dmallind said:
There really is no place in party politics for a true moderate who makes up their mind on each issue on its merits. The Republicans will hate me for X heresy and the Democrats will hate me for Y heresy and nothing beyond wasted air and time would come out of any involvement in the nitty gritty by me. So I simply support the candidates and organizations which to me will provide the greatest benefit or least harm overall. Politically independent thought has its price, and the inability to work in the party machinery effectively is a big part of it.
Click to expand...

Wise words, which probably apply to many more people than one thinks.
 
I've gotten a lot less active since I was naturalized as a Texan. It took a while to get used to the notion that local races could be run between two "A" rated candidates. Or to discover that all your representatives are at least not "anti" if not overtly "pro".

There was a lot more work to do when I lived in Maryland.

One must remain vigilant though - I keep an eye on Standing Wolf 'cause I know he's wanting to entice Suzanna Hupp out of state.
 
Probably true cosine. It's one of the great dichotomies of American politics. A huge number of people are not happy in either party, and would prefer a middle way that was less dominated by the relevant extremes, and yet no "moderate" 3rd party positioned as the sensible middle course can ever seem to get even the traction that the far-extreme parties can let alone that of the major ones. When, say, Greens can get more people and more of a political voice than middle of the roaders you know something's wrong.

Personally I think it's down to two reasons - firstly that most moderates will pick the political party or candidate they see as the lesser of two evils who can beat the greater of two evils and secondly, and more germane to the whole issue, is that it is very difficult to get people passionate about middle of the road policies. It's much easier to get people energized and involved around partisan wedge issues like gay rights or immigration than get a march of thousands together in support of balanced budgets, sensible spending and equitable taxation, even though these things have a far greater impact on the lives of the vast majority than whether those two athletic young guys sharing the tastefully-decorated condo down the street are more than just pals.
 
I'd have voted in the primaries, but I wanted to sign Kinky's petition to get on the ballot, even though I don't know if I'll vote for him or not.

As far as parties go, I support both parties somewhat equally on a case by case basis. I'm also a member of quite a few Liberal orgs, as well as conservative/libertarian orgs.

My inbox is quite fun to look at.
LiberalOrg will send me an e-mail saying to support something, and conservativeOrg will send an email to be against it. I usually end up 40/60 conservative/Liberal, so voting for me tends to be quite a challenge.
 
I vote, I write, I volunteer (phone banks, hand out flyers, etc.), I am active within my party and I ran for office in '98 (judge, 11% of the vote).

Most importantly, I give money. Money is what makes politics happen. All well and good to talk, but money makes it happen. Give money to pro-gun candidates, for example, Ken Campbell who is running for Sheriff of Boone County, Indiana (just northwest of Indianapolis). Ken is an ardent supporter of the RKBA, an adjunct professor of gunology at Gunsite, host of firearms training that is open to non-LEOs, and all around swell egg.

Please send donations to: http://www.kencampbellforsheriff.com/

I'm El Tejon and I approve this man's election.:)
 
the Greeks had a word for those that did not partcipate in the political affairs of the empire...
Click to expand...

I believe the word was "Road Kill".

Politics: You can either fight for control of the wheel, or get run over. You pick.
 
If a conservative/libertarian happens to be located in a socialist hellhole of a state (me/maryland), what repercussions would there be to take a faux leftist hardliner stance to get elected, and then show the true colors in actions/words afterwards? Impeachment? More? If you cant beat them, pretend to be one of them until your the alpha.
 
I'm probably more of a Republican than a Democrat, but I still still wouldn't rubber stamp everything they put through either.

I never put a party on my voter's registration, so I don't get to vote in the primaries. short of handing out flyers or running for office, I do everything I can. That is, I vote, give money when I can, write my congressman and senators, and join groups that protect my interests.
 
Any time spent on political activities is time that could have been spent on the rifle range.

In other words, I have given up on the political process. It is not fixable. I now spend my time shooting my rifle, collecting guns & ammo, and preparing for the inevitable.
 
Haven't run for office, although I've thought about it and people have encouraged me to do so.

Also haven't gotten involved in the caucus--to busy working for the candidates.

Other than that, everything else.

If you work hard enough for a really good candidate, and get others you know to work equally as hard, you can actually make a real difference.
 
Out of 92 people who have taken the poll (so far), it seems that 5 of us have actually run for office (ran for mayor in 2003). That's better odds than I would have thought. We'll see what a day or two brings...

Oh yeah, done (and do) most of the other stuff.
 
I've never walked the precinct or run for public office myself, but I've done just about everything else including interrogating a potential candidate for state house.
Turns out he's dumb as a post for an Alaskan on gun issues, most of which he's learned off tv and movies.:rolleyes: He's got other issues that don't jive with freedom folks minded either. You can bet I'll work against him if he ever runs.
 
I myself have never run for office. I prefer to work the three parts of the government against each other start law suites in the courts that will eventually negate laws made by congress and let the pres. play referee between the courts and congress:D
 
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