eXcape the matriX politics outside the box – Survey/Quiz
The readers of ETM have spoken. We conducted our 1st Political Survey/Quiz and received a variety of responses. We would like to thank all of our readers who participated. What are your thoughts on these questions? We’ll be posting the survey on our Blog (www.etmmag.blogspot.com). Share your feelings on what some are calling the most important election of our lifetime.
1.) The 3 remaining candidates for the Presidency of the United States of America are:
Barack Obama, Hillary Clinton and John McCain.
2.) Do you vote according to party or according to the issues that matter to
you?
Lanie - I vote by the issues and by party…mostly by issue, but the issues that tend to be of highest interest to me are traditionally “democratic party” issues. (Whether that’s in theory or actual practice remains to be seen). Those would include poverty, education, healthcare and the environment.
Samuel - I vote by the issues that matters the most in the United States. Issues that can make a difference and help us Americans progress to be the true land of the free that we so claim to be. Such as economy, war, healthcare, the environment, etc.
Jenise - I don’t vote according to either. People lie about their
stance on issues. You usually don’t find opposing candidates who agree on a hot
button issue like abortion. It’s like the system is rigged so people don’t have
to do research. “I’m for this and so is he, so I’m voting for him!” It’s all a
trick. I usually vote for whomever I feel is more genuine or sometimes the
lesser of two evils, so to speak.
3.) Do you believe the Bush Administration did a good job in helping America become a better country over the last 7 (almost 8) years? If yes why? If not why?
Troy - Nope. cuz gas is too expensive, kids are over in Iraq, and cuz he’s an idiot- a terrible posterboy for our country.
James - No. I believe his greatest inadequacy is his lack of
diplomacy. He doesn’t appreciate the diversity that is the world system. We have
lost considerable respect with some powerful countries because he is very
closed-minded, inflexible, and quick to act before he thinks!
Chenita - I’m sort of on the fence with this question. It would take more
than 8 years for America to become a better country.
Samuel - This is a very easy question to answer for most Americans. Due
to the fact that the Bush Administration took action to go to war and we are
still overseas fighting someone else’s war and our brothers and sisters are
dying every month. But at the same time I do believe that going to war was a
choice that was decided amongst Americans. So I would say that Bush
administration has made America a better country and has protected Americans
since the attack of Sept. 11, 2001. On the other hand, the Bush administration
has failed to deliver America to the highest peek. They have failed to make our
economy succeed. They have failed to protect our environment and our investment.
Most of all they have failed to give support to and help Americans be
“AMERICANS.” We are the wealthiest country, but yet we have thousands and
millions of families who are struggling day by day to live and work on minimum
wage with hardly any resource to give them a step or two to help them.
4.) Do you consider yourself a Democrat, Republican or Independent?
Jenise - I consider myself a Democrat, I guess. Honestly, I feel no loyalty to any party. I’m not a firm believer in political efficacy.
Samuel - This is a very arguable question, if you understand what I’m trying to say. Every party has different views on issues and changes, as well as they way to go about making changes as well as creating chaos. But I am happy to say that I am a Republican. A lot of people will argue with me as to “Why I am a Republican if I’m Black?” But I know why I choose to be a Republican, and it has to do with issues and policies. But I won’t elaborate on it, because that would start another question and answer. But at the same time a good one!
Lanie - Independent thinking Democrat.
5.) If a candidate from another party spoke to issues that meant a great deal to you would you be willing to cross party lines?
Chenita - I would vote different but I would still remain a republican
Lanie - Spoke to, or acted on?
Troy - in theory, sure, but in reality, its doubtful. its never that simple and folks will say anything just to get votes.
Jenise - I don’t really have a party line, so there’s nothing for me
to cross.
6.) What has been the most significant moment in the presidential race for you thus far?
Troy - Obamas speech on race.
James - I believe the precedence of the first Latino Democratic nominee
was really cool. Also the tremendous turn out of young voters is incredible. It
shows the importance of how badly we need a change.
Jenise - Having a woman candidate and an African American candidate has
been the most significant moment thus far. It shows how far we’ve come. And yet
the controversy surrounding both candidates and all the mudslinging shows how
far we still have to go.
7.) In light of comments made by Pastor Jeremiah Wright (Former Pastor to Barack Obama) and Geraldine Ferraro (Former Female vice presidential hopeful and financial contributor to Hillary Clintons campaign) how much does race matter to you when it comes to your day to day life in America? Does it matter at all?
Samuel - Race shouldn’t matter, matter of fact it DOESN’T matter to
me. We are not in the slavery days nor are we in the 1960’s when blacks were
called Negroes. We live in a world where the first thing people judge you by is
your color, then your sex, and then your sexuality. We need to open our eyes and
see that we are free. Free to do what we want, be who we want to be, and if
that’s to be the president. Then so be it.
James - I don’t think about race that much. I look at people based on the
content of their character, not to judge but to understand how I should conduct
myself around them.
Chenita - Yes it matters, but my focus is not on race it’s on myself. One
can be so focus on race that you forget who You are. We all have choices.
8.) One of the issues being brought up in this race is patriotism. How much of a patriot are you? Some political pundits find that it’s wrong to be anti American and live here. Some don’t understand how some cultures can be pro American after the things the government has put them through. What are your thoughts?
Renaldo - Part of being an American is the freedom to not have to fall in line with the majority or the traditionalists.
Troy - I think the concept of “patriotism” is subjective, and I think a lot of folks twist it to be relevant to PEOPLE, not to the country itself- what is stands for or was built upon. To say you’re “anti-Bush”, for example, some will call you “unpatriotic” because he’s the president. As far as I’m concerned, the Ku Klux Klan are unpatriotic, because they despise their own fellow citizens on the grounds of ethnicity. To not support a war, also is not unpatriotic in my opinion. Some folks think being “patriotic” means blindly supporting the leadership and its decisions and I disagree. Patriotism is holding fast to and holding others accountable to the standards and ideals that form the foundation of a nation.
Chenita - America may get on my last nerve and drive me nuts, but I would not want to be any where else. All families have issues but that doesn’t mean you have to move out.
Samuel - If I truly answer this question, I might get in a debate with
you. But I have to be honest. I am not 100% patriot. It is not wrong to be anti
American and live here. The United States should be some what ashamed of them if
they consider America as a Patriot Country. I am an American but realistically,
the government has failed us to many times in the Bush Administration, Clinton
Administration (which had a lot of flaws), and so on. So I would have to say
that I am not nor will consider myself to be 100% patriot.
9.) For those who don’t know, the animals that represent the main parties are:
Democrat
– Donkey (Cartoonist Thomas Nast is credited with making the donkey the
recognized symbol of the Democratic Party. It first appeared in a cartoon in
Harper's Weekly in 1870, and was supposed to represent an anti-Civil War
faction. But the public was immediately taken by it and by 1880 it had already
become the unofficial symbol of the party.)
Republican
– Elephant (Thomas Nast was also responsible for the Republican Party
elephant. In a cartoon that appeared in Harper's Weekly in 1874, Nast drew a
donkey clothed in lion's skin, scaring away all the animals at the zoo. One of
those animals, the elephant, was labeled "The Republican Vote." That's all it
took for the elephant to become associated with the Republican Party.)
Information provided by: www.infoplease.com
10.) Did you vote in your primary or caucus? If so who did you vote for and why? If you didn’t vote please explain your reasoning.
Chenita - I didn’t vote because I was not registered at my current address and I thought I was, it’s taken care of now.
Samuel - Of course I voted! If you don’t vote you shouldn’t be bitching or arguing about what’s not being done in America. You should just sit down and shut up. But I voted for (D) Ms. Hillary R. Clinton. I voted for Ms. Clinton because of her policies on Universal Healthcare, Economy, and the well being of Americans. Change was a big factor for me, and who I can see making changes and progressing with the changes. That’s why I voted for Ms. Clinton. Being a strong and firm President is what we Americans want, a President with an attitude and demeanor that can and will do the job right from day one and bring back the morals of the United States.
Jenise - I did not vote because I had to write to Maryland so I could register to vote here in California and in the mean time I missed it. I would’ve voted for Obama, though. I like him.
James - I voted for Obama. I believe that he has some key ideas and
thoughts on how this country can change for the better. His stance on healthcare
and his ideas about education are refreshing. I also believe him to be a
credible diplomat in foreign policy and he can bring this country back to some
level of respectability. I also think because he is interracial he looks like
the “melting pot” we are supposed to be. There are many other reasons.
“Prepare to eXcape”