Comments on: Eligible Voters and Iraq http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/ Just another Pajamasmedia.com weblog Sun, 22 Nov 2009 14:02:54 -0800 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: John Anderson http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/#comment-36165 John Anderson Tue, 01 Feb 2005 02:50:47 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/#comment-36165 What is meaningful here is not the raw numbers. Saddam posted higher turnouts. But then, as in many "elected" dictatorships, the guns were used to get people TO the polls, now they are used to keep people FROM the polls - and a majority went anyway. What is meaningful here is not the raw numbers. Saddam posted higher turnouts. But then, as in many “elected” dictatorships, the guns were used to get people TO the polls, now they are used to keep people FROM the polls – and a majority went anyway.

]]> By: Knucklehead http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/#comment-36164 Knucklehead Mon, 31 Jan 2005 17:30:04 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/#comment-36164 I'll join with a few others who have mentioned that "low" voter turnout in the US does not bother me in the least. Even if the entire reason our turnout is so low is <b>apathy</b>, so what? Apathy is a lack of interest or concern. If someone has no interest in our elections I'd just as soon they stay home and keep their vote to themselves. And a lack of concern suggests that some people feel pretty darned safe that whoever runs the government won't do them any harm. Apathy is not necessarily a bad thing - no doubt we can all find many things we are apathetic about. We leave the management of those things to the folks who have and interest in those things or are concerned about them. I’ll join with a few others who have mentioned that “low” voter turnout in the US does not bother me in the least.

Even if the entire reason our turnout is so low is apathy, so what? Apathy is a lack of interest or concern. If someone has no interest in our elections I’d just as soon they stay home and keep their vote to themselves. And a lack of concern suggests that some people feel pretty darned safe that whoever runs the government won’t do them any harm. Apathy is not necessarily a bad thing – no doubt we can all find many things we are apathetic about. We leave the management of those things to the folks who have and interest in those things or are concerned about them.

]]> By: Sir Lee http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/#comment-36163 Sir Lee Mon, 31 Jan 2005 05:36:11 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/#comment-36163 Registered vs. Eligible Unfortunately, I don't think it's true that we report as a percentage of registered instead of eligible voters. Even if it is true, the number of registered votes is a lot closer to eligible then 1 out of 3. There were over 121 million votes cast for Bush or Kerry last year. If that only represented 20% of the eligible population then there would be 605 million eligible voters in the US. There were 286.19 million people in the last census. Understand I'm not being the least bit critical of the results, I think 60% of Iraqis voting is absolutely amazing! I don't disagree with the sentiment at all, I just didn't think the earlier statement about 20% sounded right, so I ran the numbers. Registered vs. Eligible

Unfortunately, I don’t think it’s true that we report as a percentage of registered instead of eligible voters. Even if it is true, the number of registered votes is a lot closer to eligible then 1 out of 3. There were over 121 million votes cast for Bush or Kerry last year. If that only represented 20% of the eligible population then there would be 605 million eligible voters in the US. There were 286.19 million people in the last census.

Understand I’m not being the least bit critical of the results, I think 60% of Iraqis voting is absolutely amazing! I don’t disagree with the sentiment at all, I just didn’t think the earlier statement about 20% sounded right, so I ran the numbers.

]]> By: Yehudit http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/#comment-36162 Yehudit Mon, 31 Jan 2005 01:22:55 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/#comment-36162 "I have noted an absolute paucity of trolls on the pro-freedom sites today--I presume they are in a state of shock;" They are very feisty over at Jeff Jarvis. “I have noted an absolute paucity of trolls on the pro-freedom sites today–I presume they are in a state of shock;”

They are very feisty over at Jeff Jarvis.

]]> By: Terrye http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/#comment-36161 Terrye Sun, 30 Jan 2005 23:28:17 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/#comment-36161 Roger: I saw that. very good. I don't know what got into Coisty, he is usually very reasonable. I guess some folks were hoping for something different today. Roger:

I saw that. very good.

I don’t know what got into Coisty, he is usually very reasonable. I guess some folks were hoping for something different today.

]]> By: richard mcenroe http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/#comment-36160 richard mcenroe Sun, 30 Jan 2005 22:44:54 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/#comment-36160 Katherine ó 300%... well, Milwaukee tried its best... Katherine ó 300%… well, Milwaukee tried its best…

]]> By: RogerA http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/#comment-36159 RogerA Sun, 30 Jan 2005 22:26:53 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/#comment-36159 Terrye: re Coisty's railings, I took the liberty of posting a personal memory of good men doing great things--its on the other thread. Terrye: re Coisty’s railings, I took the liberty of posting a personal memory of good men doing great things–its on the other thread.

]]> By: RobbyS http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/#comment-36158 RobbyS Sun, 30 Jan 2005 22:04:53 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/#comment-36158 Off-year elections in the United States shows a turnout far less than a majority. Yet in most respects this is a good thing, because the voters are personally the most qualified. . Off-year elections in the United States shows a turnout far less than a majority. Yet in most respects this is a good thing, because the voters are personally the most qualified. .

]]> By: Katherine http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/#comment-36157 Katherine Sun, 30 Jan 2005 21:49:31 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/#comment-36157 I found this bit in The Corner: http://www.nationalreview.com/thecorner/corner.asp ìIn the less well organized 1925 election in Iraq, out of 3 million people, 10 million voted. The turnout was 300% because the sheiks wanted to create the illusion of larger tribes than they actually had. This led to the first accurate nationwide census.î 300% - that is a dream turnout, isnít it? Compare this with todayís paltry results! Iíd say that we have found the golden standard against the Iraqi election should be judged. I found this bit in The Corner:

http://www.nationalreview.com/thecorner/corner.asp

ìIn the less well organized 1925 election in Iraq, out of 3 million people, 10 million voted. The turnout was 300% because the sheiks wanted to create the illusion of larger tribes than they actually had. This led to the first accurate nationwide census.î

300% – that is a dream turnout, isnít it? Compare this with todayís paltry results! Iíd say that we have found the golden standard against the Iraqi election should be judged.

]]> By: Rick Ballard http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/#comment-36156 Rick Ballard Sun, 30 Jan 2005 21:34:05 +0000 http://pajamasmedia.com/rogerlsimon/2005/01/30/eligible-voters-and-iraq/#comment-36156 Roger, Best data on <a href="http://elections.gmu.edu/Voter_Turnout_2004.htm" rel="nofollow">US elections</a> says 60.7%. An Iraqi vote total (which won't be available for at least a few days) of 7.2 million will equal the US percentage. I'm betting on an Iraqi vote total of about 7.7 million for a 65% turnout. Roger,

Best data on US elections says 60.7%. An Iraqi vote total (which won’t be available for at least a few days) of 7.2 million will equal the US percentage. I’m betting on an Iraqi vote total of about 7.7 million for a 65% turnout.

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