tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7629413949146506359.post2905012026741413272..comments2023-11-03T14:36:20.471+02:00Comments on Around The Island: Elections writ smallRobinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02409530202277375625noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7629413949146506359.post-39227636858557472262008-11-12T02:57:00.000+02:002008-11-12T02:57:00.000+02:00our little town is blessedly civil at election tim...our little town is blessedly civil at election time although some of the town meetings can get rowdy<BR/><BR/>your son is a handsome young man and he looks very pleased.Diannehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02946500110072411468noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7629413949146506359.post-27930439477557534692008-11-12T01:20:00.000+02:002008-11-12T01:20:00.000+02:00Sadly democracy also seems to have bred the idiots...Sadly democracy also seems to have bred the idiots who just lit off a full-size fireworks display in the park just one block from my house - at one in the freaking morning! Woke the whole damn neighborhood up. Then capitalized on it by driving around honking. Asshats.<BR/><BR/>Amazingly, my family seem to have actually slept through - do you realize how loud fireworks are when shot off just a block away and left to echo around a quiet city block? <BR/><BR/>Still no official word on who won, although from the commotion out there someone obviously knows.<BR/><BR/>I'm off to lie in bed and stare at the ceiling now.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02409530202277375625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7629413949146506359.post-56359227930601050332008-11-12T00:39:00.001+02:002008-11-12T00:39:00.001+02:00Hooray for democracy! It's so important the littl...Hooray for democracy! It's so important the little ones learn how it works (and sometimes not work). But what is important is that learn.marLouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06998349556012247366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7629413949146506359.post-18043947901816375442008-11-12T00:39:00.000+02:002008-11-12T00:39:00.000+02:00Hooray for democracy! It's so important the littl...Hooray for democracy! It's so important the little ones learn how it works (and sometimes not work). But what is important is that learn.marLouhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06998349556012247366noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7629413949146506359.post-48940094706067830872008-11-12T00:07:00.000+02:002008-11-12T00:07:00.000+02:00I'm on the both the class and the school PTA counc...I'm on the both the class and the school PTA councils. People yell, particularly at the school level, but so far it hasn't been nasty.<BR/><BR/>Fingers crossed it stays that way.Robinhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02409530202277375625noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7629413949146506359.post-15759785615813287482008-11-11T22:02:00.000+02:002008-11-11T22:02:00.000+02:00I hope your man wins.Do you get involved with the ...I hope your man wins.<BR/><BR/>Do you get involved with the PTA kind of actions in your children's schools? Does any mudslinging happen there? Because it sure does here and we are just supposed to be a group of parents fighting for the common interests of our kids...deedeehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10278468497564430383noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7629413949146506359.post-84618640821689521142008-11-11T20:33:00.000+02:002008-11-11T20:33:00.000+02:00Robin, I her you about elections, local ones espec...Robin, I her you about elections, local ones especially. In the US, it really is a fight between locals. Of course, at least in Connecticut, most towns have one controlling party. Political machines, whether Republican or Democratic (depending on city/town)are not ideal. As we know, political machines exist to perpetuate their very existance. Not so democratic (small D) in nature...<BR/><BR/>Yet, in this house we vote every election there is. Perhaps our vote doesn't count for much in the overall scheme. But is our chance to participate, and I have been able to since 1976. It is great that parents take their children to the polls when they vote. The child (cute in your case, BTW) gets the sense that to vote is important. Congrats for exercising your rights!Ralphhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09330927601223362873noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7629413949146506359.post-21435102899546177362008-11-11T19:11:00.000+02:002008-11-11T19:11:00.000+02:00Dear Robin,I think you are right. One should judge...Dear Robin,<BR/>I think you are right. One should judge a tree by its fruit, not promises of an uncertain future.<BR/>It's a good thing, democracy, and it leaves us with a huge responsibility.<BR/>To get a healthy society one has to think about the common good, not only look out for "What's in it for me?"<BR/>I am sure you will continue to have a good place to live in.<BR/>From FelisolFelisol https://www.blogger.com/profile/12240191154632603841noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7629413949146506359.post-88776195815545843682008-11-11T18:47:00.000+02:002008-11-11T18:47:00.000+02:00Oh, proud voter of course, clumpsy finger on the k...Oh, proud voter of course, clumpsy finger on the keyboard...:)Pia Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16519694952785489099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7629413949146506359.post-52635336304744783412008-11-11T18:46:00.000+02:002008-11-11T18:46:00.000+02:00Nice capture of one happy, produ voter:) I hope th...Nice capture of one happy, produ voter:) I hope the elections go well. Thanks for your visit and have a good RT, Robin!Pia Khttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16519694952785489099noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7629413949146506359.post-23851483925381592052008-11-11T18:33:00.000+02:002008-11-11T18:33:00.000+02:00I have beaten this same drum for a long time now, ...I have beaten this same drum for a long time now, and made a big point of it just before our national elections. On the ballot here were seats for judges, city council, county commissioners... all kinds of positions and people who probably have more of an impact on our day-to-day lives than the President or representatives in Congress. These are the elections that "get things done" in <I>our</I> world, and they're at least as important as the high profile races.<BR/><BR/>Unfortunately, these races are usually won by the candidate who can place the most yard signs. They're won on name recognition pure and simple. The public at-large doesn't even know who these people are, and in most cases have only a vague idea what they do!<BR/><BR/>So good for you not only to make the effort to educate yourself, but to educate your son as well. Because an uninformed vote is often worse than no vote at all.Mojohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03498213932233245032noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7629413949146506359.post-86644553016648339022008-11-11T17:42:00.000+02:002008-11-11T17:42:00.000+02:00Hi Robin,You have a cute little voter there! Thank...Hi Robin,<BR/>You have a cute little voter there! Thanks for your visit...ellen b.https://www.blogger.com/profile/14531430948905935301noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7629413949146506359.post-38705182637295141682008-11-11T15:48:00.000+02:002008-11-11T15:48:00.000+02:00I used to be a reporter covering small town stuff ...I used to be a reporter covering small town stuff here in Maine. So many people just turn out for the big, sexy presidential ballot every four years, but if the truth be known, the local five-member board of selectmen have more impact on people's daily lives year in and year out than the president does. These are the people who compile and propose the municipal budget, the school budget, the plan to repair roads and buildings that the town owns. Here in New England, that board also decides how much sand and salt the town will stockpile in advance of winter. If they put up too much they are upbraided for being too fast and loose with taxpayer funds, if they are more conservative and get stuck two snowstorms short, they are criticized as miserly and short-sighted. In the latter case, the daily commute of hundreds, if not thousands, of people is affected.<BR/><BR/>With fuel prices doubling in recent years, the people on those boards are the ones who decide to turn back the thermostats in the schools and town offices, to cancel field trips (fuel costs) and to drop athletic and arts programs because so much money has to go to keeping the pipes from freezing.<BR/><BR/>Local folks for some reason don't think voting in municipal elections is important like a presidential election, but if anything, it is more so. These are the people who make sure your streets are safe to walk (and drive) and your kids get a decent education. What is more important than that?Dawn Fortunehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14722591049949538021noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7629413949146506359.post-45045301540060071382008-11-11T15:28:00.000+02:002008-11-11T15:28:00.000+02:00Oh I love it! He looks so proud of himself!Oh I love it! He looks so proud of himself!Maribethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17435726542598515305noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7629413949146506359.post-60878039274496927552008-11-11T14:07:00.000+02:002008-11-11T14:07:00.000+02:00Good luck with the elections. It's great your son...Good luck with the elections. It's great your son is learning his civic duty at a young age. Love the red shirt. ;-)<BR/><BR/>Happy Ruby Tuesday!<BR/><BR/>PazAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7629413949146506359.post-79015922661781072002008-11-11T11:59:00.000+02:002008-11-11T11:59:00.000+02:00I am not allowed to vote in Belgium. For that I ha...I am not allowed to vote in Belgium. For that I have to take the belgian citizenship. But I can vote for the city. (the garbadge responisbles, lol)Gattinahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06636525277807715146noreply@blogger.com