Interesting point, Serena - in fact, here in Oz I'm disappointed if I have to queue at all, and try to time my visit (i.e. walk to my local Primary School) accordingly.

i've never had to wait more than 5 minutes in any of the 6 polling stations i voted at ;-)

Now, here up north, I wonder how we'll be having so much of a good laugh, reading the newspapers now that Palin's away... : (
It's a sad day, lol !

I am in shock. I have predicted a McCain win in 2008 on these forums since 2004. Despite the news media cover ups and the cheating by Republicans (links above) a Democrat still won. Incredible. I was wrong I am happy to say.

John

While the Obama win is important for marking another wonderful opportunity for racial equality to flourish, it will have little significance beyond that.

Both political parties are completely in the pockets of the international bankers and their partner corporations. The will of the people is not considered at all in any important decision affecting this country (the Bailout Package being the most recent example of this...as well as the continuing "war" efforts in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Obama is as deeply under thier control as McCain would have been were he selected. The only thing America chooses in a president is whether they want the "good cop" or the "bad cop" to screw them up the butt for the next four years...but it is not up for debate that you will be screwed.

Read Cracking the Code, the Fascinating Truth About Taxation in America by Peter Hendrickson, if you want to start waking up and participating in REAL actions to bring the Federal and State government back under the control of the people.

Happy Wednesday!

Instead of jawboning about the election, isn't it about time we got organized to get in on the government largesse?

> People standing in line for 8 hours is not reasonable and elsewhere that would be interpreted as a device for discouraging voters.

What you fail to realize is that there was sufficient facilities for the "regular" voting population. I have never stood in line in past years. This election broke all voter turnout records and people who have never bothered to vote in their lives were "inspired" (for one reason or another) to get out this time and vote.

Apparently they felt strong enough to not be deterred by the 8 hr wait. I heard that by 10:am polls were reporting that they had already exceeded the normal voter turnout for the entire day in previous years. So no one has ever seen a turnout like this before and having to wait is not why American's don't vote.

~jr

I always leave for work 15 minutes early on election day and get to the polling place by 9AM. I never have more than 4 or 5 people ahead of me. Yesterday there was just one, already in the booth. In and out like greased lightning. Same thing goes for my supermarket shopping. Do it early and miss all the late sleepers.

What you fail to realize is that there was sufficient facilities for the "regular" voting population. I have never stood in line in past years. This election broke all voter turnout records and people who have never bothered to vote in their lives were "inspired" (for one reason or another) to get out this time and vote.
===========
According to the Brennan Center for Justice.................The number one problem on Election Day was registered, eligible voters' names not appearing on the voter rolls. Second, the vast turnout put a major stress on the system, leading to long lines in many places because of machine failures and a lack of contingency plans. "Our democracy is strong, but the problems we saw before and on Election Day are proof that the process is way too complicated and that the registration system is too vulnerable to error and manipulation. Americans deserve confidence that they will get to vote and that their votes will be counted. We should take this opportunity to improve our voting system—especially the voter registration system—to make it work better for all Americans. We don't want to spend every election fighting over the rules of the game and who gets to vote and questioning whether the result will be legitimate," Weiser stated.

The estimated national turnout was 64%, according to Michael McDonald of George Mason University.

That is a record turnout for the United States. We generally average around 54% voter turnout.

In comparison, Austria is at 92%, Italy at 90%, Bulgaria at 80%, Canada at 78%. Russia is around 61%, UK around 76%

John

...Canada at 78%. ...

I wish it were that high.
We haven't seen numbers like that since 1963 when it was 79.2%
Our most recent federal election last month only got 59.1% of registered voters out.
BTW, this was a record low for us :-(

Mike

And Argentina used to be 100% when I lived there. Voting was compulsory, you could cast a blank ballot, but you had to show up. Don't know if it's still that way.

Congrats on the citizenship, Patryk! Glad to hear you voted!