Did You Vote Today? (Scranton, Republic: living, law, vs)

[The Commish]

Originally Posted by go phillies

elitist

That's ridiculous national politics mumbo jumbo and you know it.

[NYRangers 2008]

Originally Posted by ScranBarre

Supposedly it's official. Christopher Doherty has retained his position as Scranton's mayor for a third term, but his council puppets of Fanucci and Gatelli have both been ousted by two newcomers who ally themselves with incumbent Doherty critic (and ironically neighbor) Janet Evans. At least the city has a good "checks and balances" system in place now.

The sheep have spoken. They love their King Chris, but had the sense to get rid of his puppets Fanucci and Gatelli, two council members who have done absolutely nothing but vote for everything the mayor wants, good riddance. Maybe now Janet will get some of her ideas through since she won't be in constant opposition from those two. This is good because the mayor won't get whatever he wants anymore.

[EnyaGirl]

Originally Posted by Trucker7

I didn't vote today, since I'm a Republican and there were no contested primaries in Scranton for GOP mayor. In regards to the other races, I did not have enough information about the candidates to make an informed decision.

While the media counts voter turnout as the ultimate barometer of democracy, I still believe that people voting should know what they are voting for. If you're voting for a candidate because he/she is cute, because he promises "hope", because someone told you to vote for him/her, or because your dad, grandpa, and great-grandpa always voted that way, you will be doing a better service to this country by staying home instead.

True, but I don't believe "I didn't have enough information" as a valid excuse for people not to vote. I'm sorry, but information is EVERYWHERE. It is the citizen's duty to read it! Up until a few days before voting day, all I knew were candidate's names from campaign signs I saw around town. I had to pick up the paper, look them up online, etc. to read about their views, experience, education and I did it in time to vote. It's not like voting day is held secret until the last minute. Everybody knows when it is, so "Well I just don't know enough to vote" excuse is pretty lame.

[NYRangers 2008]

Originally Posted by EnyaGirl

True, but I don't believe "I didn't have enough information" as a valid excuse for people not to vote. I'm sorry, but information is EVERYWHERE. It is the citizen's duty to read it! Up until a few days before voting day, all I knew were candidate's names from campaign signs I saw around town. I had to pick up the paper, look them up online, etc. to read about their views, experience, education and I did it in time to vote. It's not like voting day is held secret until the last minute. Everybody knows when it is, so "Well I just don't know enough to vote" excuse is pretty lame.

You and Trucker both make some valid points. News coverage and signs everywhere, newspapers and the internet, info is all over the place. Everyone should have enough info at their disposal to make an informed decision.

To vote for someone purely on their name, or because someone told you to, or "he's cute", like Trucker mentioned is wrong. This isn't American Idol or a popularity contest. People like that, shouldn't vote at all.

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by The Commish

That's ridiculous national politics mumbo jumbo and you know it.

Huh? What does Chris Doherty being elitist have to do with national politics? I say he's elitist because he's out of touch with the working people of this city.

[go phillies]

Originally Posted by NYRangers 2008

This isn't American Idol or a popularity contest. People like that, shouldn't vote at all.

The problem is that too many people are too wrapped up in American Idol or other slop on TV, and they don't take the time to learn about the politicians that take their money, and they either don't vote or they vote based on the claimant's ethnic background (when's the last time Scranton didn't have an Irish mayor?), political party, or slanted propaganda posing as news in the Times-Tribune. They're easily swayed by wasteful taxpayer-funded photo ops like treehouses, million dollar crumbling nature trails, Christmas lights, etc etc, because they're too dumb to see what is happening around them as far as the debt, rising crime, and cronyism.

The people in this area need to put down the remote, get off their arses and open their eyes to what is going on around them. It seems as long as the people around here have their TV and some beer, they couldn't care less.....

[loveinbloom]

I have been scratching my head since the announcement about Doherty last night. I can not believe the voters of this city. I have only been here two years and see the writing on the wall. All I can say is, I am glad I am still a renter!

[NYRangers 2008]

Originally Posted by go phillies

The problem is that too many people are too wrapped up in American Idol or other slop on TV, and they don't take the time to learn about the politicians that take their money, and they either don't vote or they vote based on the claimant's ethnic background (when's the last time Scranton didn't have an Irish mayor?), political party, or slanted propaganda posing as news in the Times-Tribune. They're easily swayed by wasteful taxpayer-funded photo ops like treehouses, million dollar crumbling nature trails, Christmas lights, etc etc, because they're too dumb to see what is happening around them as far as the debt, rising crime, and cronyism.

The people in this area need to put down the remote, get off their arses and open their eyes to what is going on around them. It seems as long as the people around here have their TV and some beer, they couldn't care less.....

Excellent post. Most in this city and the area are out of touch with reality. All that stuff you mentioned is lipstick on the pig. You can paint a garbage can with nice colors and paint and guess what, it's still a garbage can. Doherty's park and his downtown are a facade, to hide what Scranton is really like. I guess the people of Scranton enjoy electing an out of touch, smug, no personality elitist like Doherty. Same goes with Massachusetts. They keep electing that drunk Ted Kennedy over and over again. Have they no shame. He's been a senator there since 1962, 47 years. They are glutens for punishment, just like the sheep here. Some of these offices should have term limits, like the Presidency, to save people from themselves and their horrible political choices.

[NYRangers 2008]

Originally Posted by loveinbloom

I have been scratching my head since the announcement about Doherty last night. I can not believe the voters of this city. I have only been here two years and see the writing on the wall. All I can say is, I am glad I am still a renter!

You said it. I'm glad I'm a renter also, makes it easier to get the hell out of here. Really, it isn't much of a surprise with the sheep mentality here. I thought maybe, just maybe this time around the sheep would revolt. Didn't happen.

[Jungle George]

I think I saw Dan last night swinging his incense over Scranton....