Not just historically, either, though that is true: unmotivated people were given money and/or driven to polling places to vote for a certain candidate. Read "The Jungle," it's a great book, and mostly based on fact...if my example is wrong, I apologize.
But general elections largely ride on the undecided voters. I remember my high school history teacher's comments on caucuses and elections: "The winner is the person who can run out as far to the left or right before the convention, and who can as close to the middle before election day." Paraphrased a bit, but there it is. In a caucus or convention, the rules are all different--everyone is already rooting for most of the same issues, or they wouldn't be here. This may have been different this year due to more voter turnout (I was told that in my state, something on the order or 5 times the people they expected to come had showed up, and they began running out of ballots), but it is generally true and is certainly true in the election. For example, Obama has already won the Democrats with his message of change, so now he has to keep that message, but soften it up a bit for swing voters. McCain has to do that too, but I don't know what his message could possibly be other than "Agh my heart" so I can't offer commentary.
Back to the main point, the fact that elections are won by undecided voters is actually beneficial, because it still means the best side won...they just had to borrow a bit from the bank. They did that, of course, by working hard to get people to vote, and vote for them, and so they've paid their debt off mostly. The side who was the most dedicated, made the most phone calls, raised the most money, and pounded the most pavement will win. But we all know that.
Now every Joe Schmo with hundreds of acres of land, hundreds of construction workers and engineers, and a lot of raw materials can make his own black hole in his backyard!
From the content policy: "Pedophilia, Incest and Bestiality: Users may not publish written, image, audio or video content that promotes pedophilia, incest and bestiality."
They never said we couldn't promote pedophilia, incest, OR bestiality. First person to get an apology from Google for this gets bonus points:) Screenshot or it didn't happen!
Slashdot Mirror
I prefer Alliance...
"Inability to hit the "S" key due to a missing finger? Not geeky."
The 'S' key is under the pinky...well, if you're a geek, anyway. Inability to hit the 'O' key is more like it.
That's how elections are won, mate.
Not just historically, either, though that is true: unmotivated people were given money and/or driven to polling places to vote for a certain candidate. Read "The Jungle," it's a great book, and mostly based on fact...if my example is wrong, I apologize.
But general elections largely ride on the undecided voters. I remember my high school history teacher's comments on caucuses and elections: "The winner is the person who can run out as far to the left or right before the convention, and who can as close to the middle before election day." Paraphrased a bit, but there it is. In a caucus or convention, the rules are all different--everyone is already rooting for most of the same issues, or they wouldn't be here. This may have been different this year due to more voter turnout (I was told that in my state, something on the order or 5 times the people they expected to come had showed up, and they began running out of ballots), but it is generally true and is certainly true in the election. For example, Obama has already won the Democrats with his message of change, so now he has to keep that message, but soften it up a bit for swing voters. McCain has to do that too, but I don't know what his message could possibly be other than "Agh my heart" so I can't offer commentary.
Back to the main point, the fact that elections are won by undecided voters is actually beneficial, because it still means the best side won...they just had to borrow a bit from the bank. They did that, of course, by working hard to get people to vote, and vote for them, and so they've paid their debt off mostly. The side who was the most dedicated, made the most phone calls, raised the most money, and pounded the most pavement will win. But we all know that.
Americans, are we just going to let the government spend our money?? How can we help!?
Dude, that's like building an electronic voting machine and putting anti-virus software on it.
No, wait...
Now every Joe Schmo with hundreds of acres of land, hundreds of construction workers and engineers, and a lot of raw materials can make his own black hole in his backyard!
No, it was "Fat-Bottomed Girls, They Make the Rockin' World Go 'Round: A Study of Possible Causes of Gravity."
(TOTALLY stolen from UserFriendly, go upmod that site if you like this comment)
Well, Wikipedia's been proven nearly as accurate as Brittanica recently, so a little shock value couldn't hurt...
From the content policy:
"Pedophilia, Incest and Bestiality:
Users may not publish written, image, audio or video content that promotes pedophilia, incest and bestiality."
They never said we couldn't promote pedophilia, incest, OR bestiality. First person to get an apology from Google for this gets bonus points :) Screenshot or it didn't happen!