tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post6615242273683684804..comments2024-03-27T15:44:43.564-08:00Comments on What Do I Know?: Vote Here To Know GodStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10498066938213558757noreply@blogger.comBlogger6125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post-56999575200994796392010-09-04T13:43:54.411-08:002010-09-04T13:43:54.411-08:00Kathy, you're right, significant is a better w...Kathy, you're right, significant is a better word than enormous. But those numbers are enough to have changed the Miller-Murkowski outcome, and that is an enormous difference.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10498066938213558757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post-52372193983368746322010-09-04T10:41:27.413-08:002010-09-04T10:41:27.413-08:00Steve -- I had not followed the link to Miller-McC...Steve -- I had not followed the link to Miller-McCune when I wrote my comment yesterday, but I just read it. I find many of their ideas intriguing (especially like the non-precinct Vote Center) but can't say that I agree with your summary that voting location has an "enormous" impact. The difference between 53.09 and 55.0, or between 81.5 and 83.0, the only two reported numerical results, may be statistically significant but I would hardly describe it as enormous. I agree with you that more study would be helpful.kathy in KYnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post-19493920168060418022010-09-03T11:03:50.790-08:002010-09-03T11:03:50.790-08:00Kathy in KY, thanks for your thoughtful comments h...Kathy in KY, thanks for your thoughtful comments here and elsewhere. <br /><br />I want to think this should be ok, but there are two issues here that still matter for me.<br />1. the fact that we have some churches in the US trying to make this a Christian - their brand - nation, and they get involved in politics; and <br /><br />2. the issues raised by the link sent by Dean (update at end of the post) and echoed by Jay, that voting locations can affect both who votes and how they vote. I think we need more research on the impact of the voting place on the election.Stevehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10498066938213558757noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post-720096612104415802010-09-03T06:46:06.945-08:002010-09-03T06:46:06.945-08:00This is an interesting concept to chew on, since I...This is an interesting concept to chew on, since I share your predilections toward attending church. We vote in a church, too (but in the activity room, not in the actual sanctuary, so if you didn't notice the sign by the street you might think you were still in the community center where we used to vote). I have never felt impinged upon by religion when I go there to vote. Instead, now that I think about it, I guess I feel reassured because the church is voluntarily playing its proper role in democratic society: offering its resources to support the common good. They don't require you to show a membership card or cross yourself or recite from the Bible in order to vote; all comers accepted, even non-Christians. They are literally rendering unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's. I have no problem at all with that -- only when organized religion tries to take over the things that are Caesar's and the people that are not their own members.kathy in KYnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post-6706873298387163032010-08-30T09:16:14.834-08:002010-08-30T09:16:14.834-08:00When the Alaska constitutional amendment limiting ...When the Alaska constitutional amendment limiting marriage was voted upon in 1998, our local polling place was in a church which national body rejected same-sex marriage in any form.<br /><br />I brought my concern to election officials before voting but location logistics was the concern, not symbolism. I was reasonable and silently entered that church to vote that terrible day. <br /><br />I don't think people knew what it felt like. Thanks for trying to point it out, Steve.Jacob Dugan-Brausehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06287631724339961459noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-30897652.post-62163077230523550852010-08-30T06:38:42.854-08:002010-08-30T06:38:42.854-08:00I didn't even want to set foot in the financia...I didn't even want to set foot in the financial, power and political hungry ABT for the Senator's funeral but it was a price to pay my respects to Alaska's rain-maker and representative of all Alaskans even if you didn't belong to his party or contribute to his campaigns.<br /><br />Everyone rightly complimented the ABT in pulling off the logistics and the smooth planning necessary for such a high profile event with little lead time, and the memorials were touching and telling of the man we came to honor - but hate and fear monger Prevo's patting of his back and taking credit for Stevens' salvation and overturned conviction was nauseating and indicative of his ego. <br /><br />I saw on Mudflats a photo of the Bethel Pentacost church telling people how to vote on Ballot Measure 2. At least voting wasn't on the premises, but it goes to show how Alaska's churches thumb their noses at legalities - it's only for sinners I suppose.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com