One Pi$$ed Voter!

[North Texan]

I have been dissappointed with the Republican leadership lately, especially in the state level. They can call three special sessions, costing taxpayers millions, to pass a redistricting bill that wasn't required and nobody wanted. They deregulated tuition, causing it to go up about 36%. That really helped me out (of 36% more money). School funding hasn't been mentioned. The teacher's health insurance bonus failed, after the governor decided Aetna could spend it more wisely than just giving it to the teachers. Meanwhile, insurance rates continue to rise while teacher's salaries hold steady. My mom is a teacher, so I keep up with the situation a little closer than most. My state senator doesn't even know where my hometown is, or that it has a school. When he found out, he wondered why it hadn't been consolidated![:@] That's brilliant. Consolidate the only school in the region that has earned the states highest acedemic ranking for seven years running. And yet these people continue to remain in office simply because they are on the Republican ticket. I like most of the Republicans, especially the ones that are in districts that border mine. But we have several that need to go. They just keep winning because their Republican, and God help anybody around here that doesn't vote Republican.

So, I protested with my vote this year. I voted Libertarian everywhere there was one. Then Democrat if there was no Libertarian. Finally, in races where only Republicans were running, I left them blank. Bush will carry Texas, so no big deal. The other Republicans will likely win also, but they won't do it with my vote. This election, my vote said "Republicans, you have lost me. You'll have to work harder to win my vote next time."

No that I've gotten on my little soap box and vented, I feel better!

[m.t.hands]

didn't texas elect ann richards one year[:@], sorry i couldn't resist, by the way all this poop will be over in less than a week, so you can either habnd over your guns or have 4 more years of the same old poop, wheres ross perot when you need him

[Coastie]

Sounds as if you should start getting involved in your local political system. If your rep doesn't get things done the way you would like it, then start to do something about it. The redistricting thing is a job security ruse for politicians of both parties, once elected it takes nearly an act of God to dislodge them. Most of us, me included, are just too lazy, busy or burned out to take them on anymore so we have what we have at all levels of politics. It's our fault and only we can fix it.

[Bowtech Joe]

You might also want to pay more attention during primaries. Folks get on the november ticket during the primaries. Most people ignore he primaries but they can be just as important.

[Aught Six]

So, I protested with my vote this year. I voted Libertarian everywhere there was one. Then Democrat if there was no Libertarian. Finally, in races where only Republicans were running, I left them blank. Bush will carry Texas, so no big deal. The other Republicans will likely win also, but they won't do it with my vote. This election, my vote said "Republicans, you have lost me. You'll have to work harder to win my vote next time."

I kind of know where you're coming from. I'm a Libertarian, but I'm giving my support for Bush this election. Libertarians in general, and Badnarik specifically, can't be trusted on foreign policy. I still believe in the party when it comes to domestic issues, and so I vote Libertarian in local and state elections. If there isn't a Libertarian candidate, I check the other candidates' platforms and records and usually go Republican (seems most Democrats around here are pretty liberal).

I can see why you're losing hope in Republicans, though. Sometimes it just seems like the same old story. That's politics, I suppose, but we voters can improve the system by being organized and standing for what we believe in, not for what party the candidates belong to.

Like the others have said, get involved and do so early. You know what issues are most important to you, so use your principles and your energy constructively. Politics is a nasty business, but we all have to do our part to look through it and do our best for the country.

[North Texan]

I generally vote in the Democratic primary. There is no Republican party in my county, so basically all local elections are decided in the primary. But the local Democrats bear no resemblance to Democrats elsewhere. The local Democrats are typically more conservative than even most Republicans. The Democratic party they represent is the same one that was around a hundred years ago.

m.t.hands, I don't plan on handing my guns over anytime soon. The Republicans here haven't been as gun friendly as everyone thinks. A concealed carry permit costs more than the actual gun. Texas is now one of the most expensive states to own a handgun. I wouldn't worry about it, except that you must have a permit to carry one in a vehicle, regardless of where it is. If you get caught without one, you are now a felon and can no longer possess a gun. Texas is rifle friendly, but not so for handguns. You still have the right to own one, the catch is can you afford to own one?

As far as getting involved, I have been trying to spread the word. Need to do more. Maybe some letters to the editor or something. One of the problems is that the Perry is not up for election for two more years, and the main players causing problems are outside of my area. I would write their offices, but I know how that works. I have classmates that interned in offices. They do all the reading and responding, noting that the elected officials usually don't read the mail and don't care. I am in the Second Amendment Student Society, an organization devoted to the preservation of our second amendment rights. The organization is not very active right now, but I would like to work on that.