Dillards 88: 'Cause We're Living in a World of Fools

[GreenBeans]

On 1/26/2021 at 9:34 PM, Iamtheway said:

Well thankfully Biden has the record.

But Trump might very well smash his 74 millions himself. He’ll be back. Or one of his kids will. I’m sure of it. ??

The fact that it’s so hard for some Americans to vote, and that that’s an actual part of some politicians strategy to win makes me sad. In Sweden voting is so easy. My husband works for a local council and before the last election part of his job was to visit disabeled people to collect their votes so they didn’t have to travel.  No lines. No registration. No excuses not to vote. And we have a high turn out, 87% in 2018. 

Same in Germany. Everybody is registered with the city where they live (it’s mandatory to register). I know, many Americans will scream “socialism” and fear governmental control, but the upside is that every adult over the age of 18 (which is the legal voting age here) is automatically sent voting documents to their registered home address, including information how to vote, where to vote, how to do absentee voting etc. No need to register specifically for voting, no need to do anything except show up on voting day for voting. No long lines, either. And the idea that someone could not be eligible for voting simply due to having been or being in prison is mind boggling to me. 
 

There has been a discussion recently about how to include cognitively disabled citizens (who have a legal guardian for all or only specific areas of life), and where to draw a line (in terms of having to be able to at least understand the basic principle of voting and what different parties and candidates stand for). It is a difficult discussion - how much does one have to “understand” to be able to vote based on their very own conviction, without being too easily influenced? But then, again, how man people without any cognitive disabilities vote without any deep political knowledge - because they’ve always voted for that party, because their family has always voted for that party, because they are single issue voters, because they just don’t bother to read further than a newspaper headline (if they read at all)... But I can see that being a complicated issue, bordering on constitutional law issues and human rights. Denying voter rights due to criminal convictions, due to living in certain areas, not so much.

[PlentyOfJesusFishInTheSea]

30 minutes ago, GreenBeans said:

Same in Germany. Everybody is registered with the city where they live (it’s mandatory to register). I know, many Americans will scream “socialism” and fear governmental control, but the upside is that every adult over the age of 18 (which is the legal voting age here) is automatically sent voting documents to their registered home address, including information how to vote, where to vote, how to do absentee voting etc. No need to register specifically for voting, no need to do anything except show up on voting day for voting. No long lines, either. And the idea that someone could not be eligible for voting simply due to having been or being in prison is mind boggling to me. 
 

There has been a discussion recently about how to include cognitively disabled citizens (who have a legal guardian for all or only specific areas of life), and where to draw a line (in terms of having to be able to at least understand the basic principle of voting and what different parties and candidates stand for). It is a difficult discussion - how much does one have to “understand” to be able to vote based on their very own conviction, without being too easily influenced? But then, again, how man people without any cognitive disabilities vote without any deep political knowledge - because they’ve always voted for that party, because their family has always voted for that party, because they are single issue voters, because they just don’t bother to read further than a newspaper headline (if they read at all)... But I can see that being a complicated issue, bordering on constitutional law issues and human rights. Denying voter rights due to criminal convictions, due to living in certain areas, not so much.

Very interesting! Here in Canada, people with mental disabilities have been allowed to vote since 1988. I can't  imagine this ever significantly swings an election. People who are misinformed probably (collectively) have a much bigger sway.

[FiveAcres]

2 hours ago, GreenBeans said:

There has been a discussion recently about how to include cognitively disabled citizens (who have a legal guardian for all or only specific areas of life), and where to draw a line (in terms of having to be able to at least understand the basic principle of voting and what different parties and candidates stand for). It is a difficult discussion - how much does one have to “understand” to be able to vote based on their very own conviction, without being too easily influenced? But then, again, how man people without any cognitive disabilities vote without any deep political knowledge - because they’ve always voted for that party, because their family has always voted for that party, because they are single issue voters, because they just don’t bother to read further than a newspaper headline (if they read at all)... But I can see that being a complicated issue, bordering on constitutional law issues and human rights. Denying voter rights due to criminal convictions, due to living in certain areas, not so much.

I was a Democratic poll watcher here in Colorado in November 2018.  Colorado allows you to take an assistant into the voting station if you say you need help. I only saw one person us an assistant: a  young woman who was assisted by her brother. It seemed to me she possibly had some cognitive issues. The registrar wasn't fazed at all, and issued her a ballot just like everyone else. 

[IsmeWeatherwax]

My niece is mentally and physically disabled and she gets a ballot (UK)

[eport]

18 hours ago, FiveAcres said:

I was a Democratic poll watcher here in Colorado in November 2018.  Colorado allows you to take an assistant into the voting station if you say you need help. I only saw one person us an assistant: a  young woman who was assisted by her brother. It seemed to me she possibly had some cognitive issues. The registrar wasn't fazed at all, and issued her a ballot just like everyone else. 

Poll worker this past election. I did see two people with helpers, one was legally blind and preferred having their spouse help them rather than relying on the audio read out. The other said her English wasn't the best and wanted her adult son to help ensure that her vote was what she wanted. It was her first election as a citizen and wanted it to be right. (I gave her both a cheer and an elbow bump). Both of those are allowed.

[louisa05]

9 minutes ago, eport said:

Poll worker this past election. I did see two people with helpers, one was legally blind and preferred having their spouse help them rather than relying on the audio read out. The other said her English wasn't the best and wanted her adult son to help ensure that her vote was what she wanted. It was her first election as a citizen and wanted it to be right. (I gave her both a cheer and an elbow bump). Both of those are allowed.

My mother is legally blind. Mystate makes it difficult to bring someone to assist. They offer to have a poll worker available but it has to be a specially trained one (not sure what the training would be to read and mark a ballot). So you have to arrange it and they have to travel to the polling place. Alternatively, I can take my mother to the county election commission office to vote early and sign multiple forms promising my life away to assist her myself there. After going through this mess twice, we decided she would vote by mail. 

[eport]

4 hours ago, louisa05 said:

My mother is legally blind. Mystate makes it difficult to bring someone to assist. They offer to have a poll worker available but it has to be a specially trained one (not sure what the training would be to read and mark a ballot). So you have to arrange it and they have to travel to the polling place. Alternatively, I can take my mother to the county election commission office to vote early and sign multiple forms promising my life away to assist her myself there. After going through this mess twice, we decided she would vote by mail. 

The rule I was taught was that if a poll worker is helping by doing things like reading the ballot (and any worker could this was part of the training), there always have to be two at every step: one Dem and one Rep (determined by your voting record in the last primary so no one could claim to be from a different party to "sabotage"). Election judges under 18 (you can be a worker at 16) could swing either party for this purpose as they have no voting history.

[DarkAnts]

I am lucky to live in a state that voted entirely by mail. We have been voting that way for a decade. The ballot and voter handbook arrive in the mail a few weeks before the election. You can mail the ballot back or drop it off. It's so easy. I love it and I think it should be the way everyone votes in the US. Voter fraud has not gone up since the state adopted this method.

[SassyPants]

21 hours ago, DarkAnts said:

I am lucky to live in a state that voted entirely by mail. We have been voting that way for a decade. The ballot and voter handbook arrive in the mail a few weeks before the election. You can mail the ballot back or drop it off. It's so easy. I love it and I think it should be the way everyone votes in the US. Voter fraud has not gone up since the state adopted this method.

Totally agree. I haven’t voted in person in 20 years. I would much rather take my time and vote in the peace and quiet of my own home. 

[Denim Jumper]

My state is normally very restrictive with absentee ballots, so this year was a first for me. I actually only did it to have a frame of reference to counteract disinformation, like unsolicited ballots from the DNC, or being able to vote in person after sending a mail-in ballot, etc. I have to say, it was a very simple, orderly experience. I requested a ballot from the local board of elections, completed the ballot, and brought it to the drop box at the board of elections. My husband voted in person on Election Day, and saw that my name was not in the eligible voter log, BECAUSE I requested an absentee ballot. 

[HeartsAFundie]

On 1/30/2021 at 7:30 PM, SassyPants said:

Totally agree. I haven’t voted in person in 20 years. I would much rather take my time and vote in the peace and quiet of my own home. 

We in MA got to experience that firsthand this year if we so desired.  I loved voting by mail.  No driving around aimlessly in my precinct parking lot looking for a parking space, no waiting in lines, no dealing with poll workers that can't find my address.....it was great.  

And if I didn't want to mail my ballot, I could have always dropped it off at City Hall.  Still a win-win and a timesaver.    

Edited February 1, 2021 by HeartsAFundie

[hauntedoklahoma]

Regardless of whether or not Jill voted for Biden/Harris, I still have a lot of sympathy for the backlash she must have gotten for posting it. My relatives toe the fundie line from time to time and 99.9999999% of them are very hardcore Trumpites, and just existing for me as a progressive (“the librul”) in their overwhelmingly conservative space has been extremely exhausting, and that’s whether I speak up or don’t. I know she has gotten comments and is feeling something akin to the same isolation I have felt for the past four years just for daring to go against the party line, so for that, I feel for her. 

[purple_summer]

On 1/28/2021 at 11:45 AM, GreenBeans said:

Same in Germany. Everybody is registered with the city where they live (it’s mandatory to register). I know, many Americans will scream “socialism” and fear governmental control, but the upside is that every adult over the age of 18 (which is the legal voting age here) is automatically sent voting documents to their registered home address, including information how to vote, where to vote, how to do absentee voting etc. No need to register specifically for voting, no need to do anything except show up on voting day for voting. No long lines, either. And the idea that someone could not be eligible for voting simply due to having been or being in prison is mind boggling to me. 

The simple answer is that the US has never intended to have all citizens over a certain age vote. 

[louisa05]

On 1/29/2021 at 12:13 PM, eport said:

The rule I was taught was that if a poll worker is helping by doing things like reading the ballot (and any worker could this was part of the training), there always have to be two at every step: one Dem and one Rep (determined by your voting record in the last primary so no one could claim to be from a different party to "sabotage"). Election judges under 18 (you can be a worker at 16) could swing either party for this purpose as they have no voting history.

They didn't do that the time she did it. It was just one "trained" person. She was also bothered by it being right in the middle of the polling place--zero privacy for her vote. So we went to mail in ballots and I read it and fill it in. 

[BullyJBG]

Jill and Derick just posted a YouTube video of them having a "progressive date". They brought the kids and gave them McDonalds and had lots of distractions for them. Fun to watch.

[MaryOrMartha]

I just got done watching their video. I thought it was real and relatable and they aren't shy about sharing details! The only thing I didn't like about it was they didn't get the kids and ice cream!

[haroldtheyrefundies]

I haven't heard of this date idea before this video... is this a thing where yall are from? 

[Don'tlikekoolaid]

On 1/29/2021 at 3:23 AM, IsmeWeatherwax said:

My niece is mentally and physically disabled and she gets a ballot (UK)

After Mr Kool had his stroke we registered for me to have power of attorney.  I was very surprised when he no longer received a voting card.  I’m going to fix this because so far he’s not mentally impaired at all.  Thank goodness, at least I didn’t lose my friend.

[BullyJBG]

1 hour ago, haroldtheyrefundies said:

I haven't heard of this date idea before this video... is this a thing where yall are from? 

They found the idea on the Intimately Us app, so they just may be setting a new trend. Go Jill and Derick! Though it is close to the date Joe and Kendra went on where they kept flipping coins to determine where to go next. 

[freethemall]

1 hour ago, haroldtheyrefundies said:

I haven't heard of this date idea before this video... is this a thing where yall are from? 

I've heard and been to a progressive party, usually for Christmas, where a group of neighbors organizes so each house has a different assigned course - appetizer, main, dessert, maybe others. 

I have to say, I kind of like this idea, and I hate when I enjoy fundie ideas!

[PennySycamore]

I recall my sister went to a progressive sinner some 40 years ago.  I think it's a nice way for a group of friends to dine together without it being a huge burden to any one person/couple.  

[Not that josh's mom]

6 minutes ago, PennySycamore said:

I recall my sister went to a progressive sinner some 40 years ago.  I think it's a nice way for a group of friends to dine together without it being a huge burden to any one person/couple.  

Gotta love the typo! Wondering how a progressive sinner works.

[luv2laugh]

I think Jill was always clingy because of dependent personality disorder but is improving with therapy. I just hope she can become emotionally independent from Derrick. https://www.webmd.com/anxiety-panic/guide/dependent-personality-disorder

Edited February 7, 2021 by luv2laugh

[SassyPants]

4 hours ago, Not that josh's mom said:

Gotta love the typo! Wondering how a progressive sinner works.

I probably qualify. What do you want to know?

[OHFL2009]

16 hours ago, freethemall said:

I've heard and been to a progressive party, usually for Christmas, where a group of neighbors organizes so each house has a different assigned course - appetizer, main, dessert, maybe others. 

I have to say, I kind of like this idea, and I hate when I enjoy fundie ideas!

Our street did a progressive Christmas dinner a couple years ago. I volunteered to do dessert, because I thought it would be nice to be the last house, no rushing off to the next house while trying to clean up, etc. When the house before us broke out the tequila shots, I realized I was very wrong.