No Vote, No Voice
 

It is November now and a time of excercising a priviledge within our citizenship is upon us. With elections being one week away, it is imperative that we VOTE. No matter what your race/ethnicity, organizational affiliation, etc., your voice should be heard.

From voting for President of the United States to local leadership, it is important that you make informed decisions about who you elect to represent you politically. As one looking forward to voting, I encourage everyone to vote and take someone with you when you vote. No one should be sitting at home, and no one has excuses.

What are some characteristics you feel are important in political leadership? What are some issues that are a priority to be addressed by national leadership post election?
What are some things you think the United States must do to improve equality and opportunity for prosperity for citizens?

Please share your thoughts.

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Sweet Deliverance's PHI-losophy:
"What you do or do not do today determines what you can or cannot do tomorrow."

[This message has been edited by Sweet Deliverance (edited November 01, 2000).]

Soror, those are some interesting questions (I'll try to keep it brief, b/c you all know how I get when the topic is politics or football!)

1.What are some characteristics you feel are important in political leadership?

The top 3 characteristics I feel are important in political leadership are:

• Intelligence- I think this one is pretty obvious http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif
• Honesty- I think it is important for leaders to be up front with the people. (Note: I'm not talking about their personal lives.)
• Presence- Now when I say presence, I mean the ability to speak clearly, and to converse with other leaders (domestic and international). This encompass the ability to demand and receive respect.

2. What are some issues that are a priority to be addressed by national leadership post election?

My top 5 are:

• Education- The education in this nation is out of control. The children in this country seem to be learning less and less each year. The teachers (one of this nation's most valuable resources) are over worked and underpaid. Being a teacher is one of the most noble professions, yet they are struggling. The children in this nation need to be taught the skills to keep up with the rest of the world.
• Taxes- They are out of control also. Everytime I look at my pay stub, I cringe. Our government needs to become more efficient so that taxes can be lowered. Uncle Sam needs to get his damn hand out of my pocket.
• Social programs- Such as welfare and social security need to be revised. Did you know that at the rate we're going now, the social security system will be bankrupt by the time those of us that are in our 20's are of age to receive it? Welfare needs to be revamped. Too many people on the welfare rolls who need to get off their a$$es and work. There are people out there who really need it, but there are too many who are taking advantage. I would like to see more welfare to work programs.
• Healthcare- There are too many children and elderly without sufficient healthcare. I'd like to see a system for those people who can't afford the high premiums that a lot of us pay. (Cause medicare ain't working!)
• International issues - I'd like to see us stay out of other people's crap until we get our own house in order. 'nuff said.

3.What are some things you think the United States must do to improve equality and opportunity for prosperity for citizens?

• See #2!

ZetaAce
PS-That was more long winded than I thought it would be. Oops! http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif

My, you were up here a while weren't you Soror ZetaAce? LOL! Thanks for your responses. I hope to hear more from other Sorors, Sisterfriends, and visitors.

While the United States is a work in progress I might add that it takes ALL of us as citizens working together to nurture and build up what God (the one who has been pushed aside by most of leadership...) has graciously and abundantly blessed us with.

I'm feeling another topic bubbliing:"One nation under GOD with liberty and justice for all." How true are the contents of that statement in the year 2000?

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Sweet Deliverance's PHI-losophy:
"What you do or do not do today determines what you can or cannot do tomorrow."

Hmmmm...
Some characteristics:
1. Intelligence, of which common sense must be a component
2. Empathy
3. Persuasiveness

(Looking a lot like ZetaAce's LOL http://www.greekchat.com/forums/ubb/smile.gif)

Issues:
1. Education reform: This is my number one issue...I would like to see drastic reform here.
2. Financial conservatism (I HATE pork barrel politics, even if I benefit).
3. Campaign Finance Reform: The amount of money spent on local, regional and national elections can feed and house many a homeless family.
5. Environment: As caretakers of this Earth, what we've done with it so far has been criminal.
6. War on Drugs/Drug Reform: Less jails for drug users, more treatment programs, run by faith-based and non-profit orgs. See #2.

Prosperity: Without education reform, there will be no prosperity to those at the bottom. Education is the only real equalizer. The other issue is that people must start giving back, no matter how much or how little they have. As long as all folks care about is their immediate family, then people will continue to be left behind. To be insulated from the rest of the your community, city, state, country or world is short-sighted and selfish, and what we get are lots of short-sighted, selfish people. As you can see, I am not an isolationist, although I do believe in domestic issues as the first priority.


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Finer Womanhood: the "Cat's Meow" Since 1920