OUR CIVIC DUTY

I think it would be appropriate to advise the young person that if he/she were to vote to re-elect George Bush it would be equivalent to gross crimes against humanity -- and that anyone who does so will more than likely roast in Hell being tormented and tortured excruciatingly and eternally for such misconduct.

I've tried to be objective and reasonable.

How'd I do?

Made me smile.

First thing I'd suggest would be to do some reading - the Constitution, the Preamble, some American History. Some discussion about government - who and why the set-up; what it's supposed to do. A little discussion about federal vs state's rights. Role of judiciary. What the balance of power is and means. Then, maybe, a little reading and history of presidents and wars.

Mostly, the importance of voting - what it means, what it can effect.

(Once teacher, always a teacher.) In practice, this is what I do with my grandsons. There's more to life than soccer, hockey, roller boarding, and basketball. And games. However, these can all be interwoven, like in how and in what way Hitler and the Nazis tried to control the Olympic athletes.

After reading Mamajuana's post, I think I would do that too.

THEN I would tell him/her that if he/she were to vote to re-elect George Bush it would be equivalent to gross crimes against humanity -- and that anyone who does so will more than likely roast in Hell being tormented and tortured excruciatingly and eternally for such misconduct.

I would tell him/her to do a lot of research. Don't mistake other people's opinions for fact. Try not to be influenced by rhetoric and emotion, just the reality and the facts. Learn to read through the BS and lies. What was the candidates record before on the issues? Have they lied before about the same issues? Have they followed through on their promises? I would tell him/her to vote for the person who is on their side on the issues that are most important to them.

So far so good, thanks to everyone -- Frank, you shouldn't be so dry, tell us what you really think.

Please keep 'em coming.

"You tell me whar a man gits his corn pone, en I'll tell you what his 'pinions is."
Marx Twain?

with that i would start. one needs to know what elections mean in the society, what forces are at work and what information is available to be able to access what is going on in the country and the consequences of electing one person or another.

sure it helps a citizen of a consititutional republic to know the consititution under which one lives, but it is the competent analysis of the economic and cultural factors of society which led one to express opinion by voting one way or th eother.

the questions then are by what manner is a citizen stimulated to seek information to make a competent analysis of the economic and cultural factors affected by politics, and where does one acquire this information.

you have to show young people how they will be affected by political policies to get them involved in the process. if they are interested, they will find out what they need to know. if they dont care, they will watch WWFW on election day.