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 Politics
I have been thinking a little about politics lately - and how and why people vote the way they do.
I came up with the following reasons people vote the way they do:
1) Vote from the wallet: Often people voting in such a way to minimize their taxes or maximize thier social services. Might also vote for policies that favor their industry (i.e., saves their jobs). Usually conservatives, but not always - labor unions or people on welfare (or who have family members on welfare/ss/medicaid etc.).
2) Vote from the lizard brain: People who vote because they fear a particualr outcome. Classic example: people voting for "tough on crime" policies/candidates. Apropos of 2004 - people voting on the terror issue. Fear the hairy libs will take their guns, Fear of the UN, Fear of a Black Planet, whatever. Again, usually conservatives or paranoid drug users worried about excessive police states.
3) Voting your conscious: These are people who vote primarily on "moral" values. Now, sometimes this is coupled with reasons 1) and 2) above (it's immoral for people to get free money, or they fear homos) - but this is a weird mix of idealists and religous zealots. People who vote on an abortion (either way!) litmus test, or are worried about gay marriage, or school prayer or something.
I am solidly in the 3rd category - I vote to minimize worldwide human suffering. Noble perhaps, pointless, probably, but there you have it.
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Originally Posted by Corey
