So I am at HAVA social and received a LWV brocuhure abt 36.

[Hawkeye-X]

I now oppose 36. Why?

LWV says "Voters should know that this initiative did not spring from grassroot Coloradoans. It was sponsored by a group of wealthy Californians who hired an Arizona company that paid people to circulate petitions in Colorado"

That was more than enough reason for me. I hate wealthy influences.

[F.Gordon]

1. Do you hate Dean supporters?

Someone isn't telling you the whole story. Like it or not, it's the "wealthy influences" that are giving us a chance this year. This is the head of the "Arizona Company" that is helping to fund A36..(scroll down for contributions made this election cycle, take note of WHO his first Presidential candidate choice was)

http://www.campaignmoney.com/advanced.asp?searchtype=contributors&cycle1=04&lname=Sperling&fname=john&work=&zipcodes=&fdate=&tdate=&state=AZ&cycle2=04&cmtetype=&cmtename=&cmteorg=&igc=&cmteparty=&cycle3=04&cndoffice=&cndtype=&cndlname=&cndfname=&cndstate=&cndparty=&orderby=

[Hawkeye-X]

3. I am a Dean supporter.

I also know that Repukes wants the 36 to pass. Hmmm.

[F.Gordon]

4. Name ONE

I also know that Repukes wants the 36 to pass

[F.Gordon]

5. Hmmm?

That's what I said when I saw how many repukes were voting for Dean in the primaries.

I'm not sure what your implication is with the "hmmm", but if the fact that a Dean supporter is behind A36 doesn't hold much weight with you then I don't know what else I can say to convince you. I'll put you down as a NO on A36. Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.

[Hawkeye-X]

6. After further research

And after reading the local free rag (Denver Daily News), I've changed my mind once again. A36 has my vote of yes. Fuck Owens and his 527 of "Citizens against Really Stupid Ideas".

Hawkeye-X

[F.Gordon]

10. Citizens against Really Stupid Ideas

This was what convinced me on A36..... in my original "I Like A36" thread. A repuke on KOA was friends with the gal running this group. Both Bill "the whole state is burning" Owens and Pete "leave no child sober" Coors are backing this group.

Thanks!!

[F.Gordon]

2. Once upon at time.....

This was how our States voted. It was the "wealthy influences" that changed things and gave birth to the Electoral College to favor their party. Now the "wealthy influences" are trying to go one step further with their re-districting bullshit.

Once upon a time we had a Democracy in this Country.

[MissMarple]

8. Check it out. The electoral college was proposed by the framers.

It was for a reason, but times have changed and the reason doesn't necessarily apply. I'd tell you the reason, but it is best that you do your own research, I just looked it up in the encyclopedia. All states should have proportional voting. It would really level the field and make the parties more accountable to the people. As the senators originally were selected by the state legislators, the electors need to more reflect the votes of the people. The winner take all rationale distorts the vote. I'm not as sure about just doing away with the electoral college. I think that it would be a much harder sell, and am not sure if it would make an appreciably more accurate difference.

And: We are a republic, a democratic republic, not a true democracy.

:D I can't help sounding like a teacher, apologies if this was too much like a lecture.

[F.Gordon]

9. The possibility of electing a minority president??

I've had to do some History learnin' on the fly. The first system was designed to be implemented without the influence of political parties or national campaigns. It took awhile to get things all sorted out. There was also the concern of the British having influence in the elections.

There are several "historical" accounts of the birth of the EC, and they all differ to some degree. However, there is a consistent thread...a commom thought that runs with proponents of the Electoral College...."that it was never intended to reflect the national popular will" That bothers me a tad bit.

And I'll admit to a ton of ignorance on the republic vs democracy thing. To me it's always been that the "republic" was just an illusion to appease the concerns of the states. That the "republic" was really influenced by the greater power of a small number of people in those states that held a larger hold over our democracy.

You can lecture me anytime. I'd have to go back and do some learnin' on why the national popular vote idea was eventually rejected. I don't remember at the moment.

But, as I've said on the other thread...."if Florida wasn't a wakeup call to the people in this country that our system is broken....."

[paulk]

7. check out this Colorado blog

if you want more opinions on 36.

http://coloradoluis.typepad.com/