A Sour Note (flat and off key)

[angrychair]

Its great to be positive and we need those voices. I talk to many of our fellow "citizens" and find it very hard to shake my negative perspective. While it is possible that 2016 and 18 and 20 may herald a new dawning of Democratic power and a grand new Age of Reason but I struggle to see it. I know power swings happen but the factors that create a power shift in one decade don't always exist in another.

We have all been paying attention to the last several election cycles, right? Less than 40% of all citizens actually vote...at all. We have the lowest average voter turn out of any modern democracy in the world. Not only are we not the "shining beacon on the hill" we aren't even the night light. 
Chuck Hagel quit today and I would bet good money that more than 50% of our fellow citizens don't even know who he is or what he does. In fact I would bet even more good money that very few people (30% or less) could name more than three people in PBO's cabinet. 

The sad fact is that our fellow citizens checked out long ago and as long as the "big booty" songs and iPhones keep rolling in they could give a shit...at least until they can't afford them anymore...by then it will be to late. The royal plutocracy will be in place with the media, money and guns to keep the people in place. 

For what it is worth, I hope I'm wrong.

[Skink]

1. We need a voting app

People don't have the time to wait in lines. And where early voting doesn't happen if they have to work that day I don't blame them.

[MH1]

2. We need appropriate sized voting districts and polling places within reasonable distance.

Also employers should be required to pay people for time missed while waiting in line on election day. Give people receipts for voting and if they are late to work, it shouldn't be counted against them. Or, make Election Day a holiday (not happening any time soon, I'm sure).

Philadelphia has rules about the size and location of polling places, and typically the waits are not extreme, as long as you don't have a machine breakdown during a heavy period. (By extreme I am referring to the 4 hour and longer waits you hear of in some places. What's up with that? Clearly there are too many people per machine when that happens.)

[ctaylors6]

4. I start to agree then look at Washington

They vote by mail and turnout was 54%.
http://kuow.org/post/washington-voter-turnout-appears-36-year-low

Also it reminds of American Idol, and that scares me a little.

[CK_John]

3. Too much was promised and not enough change happened. It will be 2yrs plus two terms of a GOP POTUS

before it swings our way again.

Start looking for the next FDR, we'll need them.