Hi. My name is...Gary

Posted by JaxGary 10 years, 8 months ago to The Gulch: Introductions
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I'm very happy to have landed in the Gulch...

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  • Posted by JaxGary 10 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Another thing we have in common. Thank you for your service, My eighteenth birthday was January 2 in my senior year of high school. My county was drafting for Viet Nam at 18 year, 3 months and I received my draft notice before HS graduation. I enlisted in the Navy 2 weeks after graduation! I did not pay much attention to politics until Nixon and the day pay that came and went with a pay check!
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 10 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    Since I entered the military (willingly) at 18 yrs and 50 days, I understand. Was able to drink (since the federal drinking age was and still is I think, 18) and vote, but the first vote of consequence was the Reagan re-election, since I was too young to vote for him in 1980.
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  • Posted by JaxGary 10 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I also thought is wrong that I could serve my nation at age 18 but I could not vote or legally buy an alcoholic beverage. Instead of raising the age of conscription, we lowered the voting age and some states lowered the drinking age. Man, the animal had not changed, only his external circumstances changed.
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 10 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I would agree to the voting age if the age of conscription (if it ever were re-initiated) would be the same. It is irrational to require some to put their lives on the line without the ability to have a voice in the decision process of enacting the circumstances of such harm.
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 10 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    No, but they are the more populous. If we could reduce the vote to those who contribute, things would be much different.
    For example, Ford signed into law the Earned Income Tax Credit (a most misleading and foul a name) which is a direct wealth transfer from those who have to those who have less. This provision in the tax code, along with subsequent adjustments in the income levels for tax rates has effectively removed nearly half the population from contributing, yet they still participate in voting - and they continue to vote for those who will give them more, taking it from the "rich" or even worse, from the future.
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  • Posted by khalling 10 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I don't think a procedural change such as this would have any effect. Warren Buffet is still going to promote leftist ideas. govt bureaucrats pay taxes, most of them support bigger govt. the people on welfare are not the biggest looters.
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  • Posted by JaxGary 10 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I agree that all voters should have something tangible at stake other than losing a government subsidy. I also take exception to lowering the voting age. We are not capable of completely rational though and sound decision making until somewhere around the age of 23 - not my opinion, a scientific fact. However, I do not have much hope any changes in voter eligibility that lean toward reversing those progressive trends.
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  • Posted by Robbie53024 10 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    People that don't have a stake in the system (by virtue of having something to lose), and can use their collective will to force others to give them goodies, is a disaster in the making.
    At one time the US had requirements on voting, not merely age but being a landowner. As a landowner, you had something to lose from bad public policy. Our looter society today has a majority that do not.
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  • Posted by $ jbrenner 10 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    This past year Florida barely voted down medical marijuana, but this was an exception. In general, I agree with you.
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  • Posted by JaxGary 10 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    The Florida experience convinced my that people are like sheep (sheeple) in that they will vote yes for an amendment believing it must be a good thing or it would not be on the ballot. I like people being able to retain the right to govern through recall and other ballot initiatives; but I cannot tolerate an "ignorant" vote under any circumstances. People do not have to agree with me, but I expect them to have a reason for disagreeing! When I asked folks, and I ask quite a few, why they voted for those things they had no deeper reason other than it sounded like a good idea - ignorant vote!
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  • Posted by JaxGary 10 years, 8 months ago in reply to this comment.
    I lived in Jacksonville from 1983 to 2004. I finally moved back to Ohio after retiring from the Navy and seeing my children complete high school. I lost my zeal fro Florida when the people amended the state constitution to create the high speed rail boondoggle and provide constitutional rights for pigs! I will not return to Florida, but Arizona looks pretty good to me right now.
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  • Posted by $ jbrenner 10 years, 8 months ago
    Welcome to Atlantis, Gary. Are you from Jacksonville. If so, I am only a couple hours down I-95.
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  • Posted by Mamaemma 10 years, 8 months ago
    Gary, welcome to the Gulch. Hope you like it as much as I do
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