619 replies to this topic

[Emily]

 

hahaha. Funny up until the lies at the end. 

[DonValentino]

Just spent a few hours canvassing for Bernie, got a wristband guaranteeing me entry to his town hall speech tomorrow morning!

[talbs]

Despite being a staunch conservative, I find this conundrum very amusing. Apparently two of Trump's children aren't registered Republicans so they can't even vote for him. 

 

What I find to be ridiculous however is that the cutoff for NY primaries is in October. In North Carolina, the cutoff for new registrations or updates is always 25 days prior to Election Day.

[DonValentino]

What I find to be ridiculous however is that the cutoff for NY primaries is in October. In North Carolina, the cutoff for new registrations or updates is always 25 days prior to Election Day.

Yes, it is ridiculous. IIRC, there are 500,000 registered independents and 2,500,000 registered voters with no party affiliation. The idea that they won't be allowed to vote for who they want to be president is insane. I get the original intent behind the law, but as a nation there are a lot of laws that need to catch up to the present. 

 

Speaking of bringing change to the country...Binghamton was feeling the Bern this morning!!

 

Fucked up shit: https://www.facebook...62/?pnref=story

[jinq]

haha, conan thought it was funny to have a female Hitler bash the Donald ...

 

[Mishelle]

Yes, it is ridiculous. IIRC, there are 500,000 registered independents and 2,500,000 registered voters with no party affiliation. The idea that they won't be allowed to vote for who they want to be president is insane. I get the original intent behind the law, but as a nation there are a lot of laws that need to catch up to the present. 
 
Speaking of bringing change to the country...Binghamton was feeling the Bern this morning!!
 
Fucked up shit: https://www.facebook...62/?pnref=story

I don't think they'll change it until we start actually letting 3rd party candidates gain traction. Like the majority of Americans are independent/non-affiliated but they still continue to mostly vote for Dems or republicans.

[DonValentino]

I don't think they'll change it until we start actually letting 3rd party candidates gain traction. Like the majority of Americans are independent/non-affiliated but they still continue to mostly vote for Dems or republicans.

The problem, at least in closed primaries, is that they can't vote for Dems or Reps. That's what needs to change, or at least move the deadline closer to the election. October is insane when the majority of people haven't even started paying attention yet, and even fewer have made up their minds.

 

http://www.nydailyne...ticle-1.2599202

[Junjie]

Just saw this online article on the US Elections: http://www.cracked.c...yes-foreigners/

 

As a non-US citizen, I think I'd have to agree with many of their points here.

[ShadowLink64]

Fucked up shit: https://www.facebook...62/?pnref=story

 

This "pre-election" seems to be quite disappointing overall. It's bad enough that Bernie has to play catch-up, but when stuff like this happens, it's infuriating. And then on the other side, you have either Cruz or Trump (really doubt the RNC will just put someone random in there instead). I'm glad this is not an election I have to care too much about. I'll play the part of the concerned neighbour.  Unless a wall gets built on our border too, then shit.

[Bone]

FWIW, several million more votes have been cast for Hillary than for Bernie, so far.

[Kaddict]

I hate all 4 of the probable candidates. As a person, I like Sanders, but I fundamentally disagree with his political ideas. The other 3 options are hosers at best though...

Did you hear Clinton avoid avoid avoid last night?

[DonValentino]

Had this article published in my school's paper yesterday. The editor's gave it that lame title but whatever, hopefully it persuades at least one student to vote. 

http://www.bupipedre...umnist-woodson/

[Frizzle]

Only if the government already automatically issues out photo IDs to all of its citizens. Why doesn't America do that -.-

Get a passport or driving license? Those should always be accepted and if you can't get either of them, there should be some sort of official ID that cost very little to get. In the UK we have some ID companies that can be used as official ID cards.

[Ali]

I find it bewildering that anybody wouldn't have an official form of photo ID. 

[Frizzle]

I find it bewildering that anybody wouldn't have an official form of photo ID.

Most, or a lot, of yanks don't have passports because the country is so fucking massive. They could drive for twelve hours straight and be in the same state, if we did that we could pass through seven countries. Other than a driving license, I can't imagine any form of photo ID that most people would have. Plus, in certain areas, a driving license is a waste of money.

[Coops]

Most, or a lot, of yanks don't have passports because the country is so fucking massive. They could drive for twelve hours straight and be in the same state, if we did that we could pass through seven countries. Other than a driving license, I can't imagine any form of photo ID that most people would have. Plus, in certain areas, a driving license is a waste of money.

Yep.

And passport applications can cost up to 130-150 USD, depending on your age, where you get the photo done, etc. And these applications take about 6-8 weeks. Drivers licenses are not as expensive, but you're required to take a driving course, or complete driving tasks and take the test, again depending on your age. State IDs are pretty uncommon unless you're under 18. Hell, I have never had a state ID, except in the form of my DL. And I have my passport because husband is military.

[Ali]

Most, or a lot, of yanks don't have passports because the country is so fucking massive. They could drive for twelve hours straight and be in the same state, if we did that we could pass through seven countries. Other than a driving license, I can't imagine any form of photo ID that most people would have. Plus, in certain areas, a driving license is a waste of money.

I can see not needing a passport or a driving license for their intended purpose, but you still need ID for loads of things. I still get regularly ID'ed in bars, I needed to provide my passport when I started my job, I needed photo ID as part of the client engagement process with our solicitors and to open bank accounts...

[Kaddict]

I don't know how you can be an american human and get anything accomplished without a drivers license. First, you literally can't drive anywhere without doing something illegal. Second, you need your license to get essentially any job. You don't have to pay to take a driving course. I did a free online drivers ed course when I was 15. And government id is not expensive. From the DMV website: 
 

First-time and replacement ID cards:

• Under 18 years old: $10.25.
• 10 thru 64 years old: $22.25.
• 65 years old or older: $8.25.
   

Other states are cheaper, renewals/replacements are cheaper. Having an ID is not prohibitively expensive and I don't understand why anyone in the country wouldn't have one (other than the amish and those types who live on their own).

•  

Oh, and the fee for a drivers license is $33, also not expensive. A ticket for not having one is probably 5-10 times that much.

EDIT: Since I just google searched, I think the price from the drivers license and the ID were from different states, but whatever. In any case, it is cheap. 

Edited by Kaddict, 19 April 2016 - 02:06 PM.

[DonValentino]

I don't have a license, but I do have a state ID. Basically the same, just can't drive.

[Coops]

I don't know how you can be an american human and get anything accomplished without a drivers license. First, you literally can't drive anywhere without doing something illegal. Second, you need your license to get essentially any job. You don't have to pay to take a driving course. I did a free online drivers ed course when I was 15. And government id is not expensive. From the DMV website: 
 

First-time and replacement ID cards:

• Under 18 years old: $10.25.
• 10 thru 64 years old: $22.25.
• 65 years old or older: $8.25.
   

Other states are cheaper, renewals/replacements are cheaper. Having an ID is not prohibitively expensive and I don't understand why anyone in the country wouldn't have one (other than the amish and those types who live on their own).

•  

Oh, and the fee for a drivers license is $33, also not expensive. A ticket for not having one is probably 5-10 times that much.

EDIT: Since I just google searched, I think the price from the drivers license and the ID were from different states, but whatever. In any case, it is cheap. 

Yeah we don't have good public transport in *most* American cities, with the exception of large metropolitan areas like NYC, Chicago, and whatnot. And I think the driver's education requirements also vary by state. In Texas, you had to take the class or your parents had to teach you and sign the forms before you could get your permit. There wasn't an online way where I lived. And my parents refused to teach me. And then you were tested to get your actual license. So, education costs vary by state.

 

But I can see lots of reasons for not having an ID - being homeless, not having access to the resources to get your state ID/DL/passport, such as a phone and mailing address to get a notarized copy of your birth certificate, or other documents needed to support getting an ID, not having a mailing address which in Texas, at least, is required to get your ID/DL. 

I remember the case of a girl who had parents who withheld her birth certificate and never even got her a social security card (they were fundie Christians). So, on paper, this girl basically did not exist. I think a humanist organization reached out and helped her to get her documents necessary to get out and go to college eventually. This is an extreme example, of course. But there are definitely a fuckload of circumstances that could prevent someone from having an ID. I think it's hard for people to conceptualize these challenges unless they've directly faced them, or witnessed someone close experiencing them.

[Padme]

If you fail to ID yourself where I live you are subject to a ticket or being arrested (situations vary.)

There are a LOT of times where I've even taken my dog for a walk and if the police stopped me, I'd get ticketed for it (potentially.)

 

However in a lot of places this isn't the case, especially in the U.S.

There are major cities but there is also a vast amount of the population who do not live in metropolitan areas, who don't work for corporations/businesses who think to actually verify identities.

There is a lot of contributing factors in it all.

 

In relation to todays circus that is the voting, my friend had a polling station attendant try to look at his ballot. Tons of shady shady shit going on. Lots of misinformation (being told to pick for ex. 6 delegates instead of UP to 6 delegates), lots of 'helping' from workers and to boot the judicial case happening could cause todays vote to actually be open?? 

 

What a gong show.

[Mishelle]

I don't know how you can be an american human and get anything accomplished without a drivers license. First, you literally can't drive anywhere without doing something illegal. Second, you need your license to get essentially any job. You don't have to pay to take a driving course. I did a free online drivers ed course when I was 15. And government id is not expensive. From the DMV website: 
 

First-time and replacement ID cards:

• Under 18 years old: $10.25.
• 10 thru 64 years old: $22.25.
• 65 years old or older: $8.25.
   

Other states are cheaper, renewals/replacements are cheaper. Having an ID is not prohibitively expensive and I don't understand why anyone in the country wouldn't have one (other than the amish and those types who live on their own).

•  

Oh, and the fee for a drivers license is $33, also not expensive. A ticket for not having one is probably 5-10 times that much.

EDIT: Since I just google searched, I think the price from the drivers license and the ID were from different states, but whatever. In any case, it is cheap. 

 

I don't have a drivers license. I get anywhere I have to go on public transportation. Or sometimes I'll take an uber. It's actually really easy to get around without a drivers license. Although I do think our infrastructure could be a lot better compared to other countries.

[Kaddict]

[talbs]

I don't have a drivers license. I get anywhere I have to go on public transportation. Or sometimes I'll take an uber. It's actually really easy to get around without a drivers license. Although I do think our infrastructure could be a lot better compared to other countries.

 

I can't help but think of how awesome it would be to not have to pay for car maintenance, gas, insurance, etc. But then again, I like being able to walk outside and hop in my car and go wherever I want, whenever I want, so I don't think I could manage.

[NapisaurusRex]

That's the point. Not everyone has a driver's license or a passport, so whoever doesn't have one gets shafted. These are the only main government issued IDs.

Why would you not just get a state ID?