This memory black hole is essentially the problem of the older crowd: 48 percent of those who did not know were between the ages of 55 and 64, and 47 percent were older than 65, according to the poll.
Next time I’ll RTFA before taking a swipe at the younger crowd. I just did an old fart style “Those darn kids” and I’m not yet 30. Hopeless.
Good point Mike. A Congressman is too often elected for life, and now their kids think they should inherit the job. It also doesn’t help to have a culture that interprets Democracy in exactly the opposite way it is intended to be. Kicking third party candidates off the ballot on nit picking technicalities, making it impossible for independents to run. Illinois’ 1971 Constitution insured the latter, with no independents in the last 25 years. We seem to be heading towards a two party dictatorship, and a large portion of the population could care less.
Illinois has had third parties in the last 25 years. One was the Solidarity Party in the 1986 election, organized when Adlai Stevenson III refused to continue his campaign for governor as a Democrat after one of Lyndon LaRouche’s followers won the Democratic primary for Lt. Gov. I don’t think this “party” had any structure, but persisted for a while as a vehicle for what were essentially independent challenges. For example, I think Tom Hines may have used the Solidarity Party in his brief run for mayor of Chicago against Harold Washington and Eddie Vrdolyak in 1987 until Vrdolyak destroyed Hines in a debate.
Third Parites Illinois has had, including Jerry Kohn on the Libertarian party vs Keyes and O’Bama.What they have not had is a true unaffiliated independent candidate since something like 1980. Illinoize (capitalfax)had a post on this about 2 or 3 months ago where they covered this issue in detail. In that post they pointed out independents actually have more requirements than mojor parties, or third party candidates, a concept that surely does not seem fair. Mike would have probably been interested in that post and its comments because it reflected some of the difficulties the candidates who are not in the major parties face here as well.
Intresting, but what I want to know is what % know who won American Idol that year? :)
I take that back.
This memory black hole is essentially the problem of the older crowd: 48 percent of those who did not know were between the ages of 55 and 64, and 47 percent were older than 65, according to the poll.
Next time I’ll RTFA before taking a swipe at the younger crowd. I just did an old fart style “Those darn kids” and I’m not yet 30. Hopeless.
Perhaps a Matlock quip would’ve been more appropriate. :)
Damn. That’s enough of the population to win a presidential election, with the help of some clueless partisans.
I’ve read that more than a few of us struggle with which year the War of 1812 started in as well.
My HS social studies teacher always liked to stump people with “Who won the French & Indian War?”
And you wonder why incumbents keep getting re-elected as our Country is going bankrupt!
I do not wonder, I know why…
Mike Sylvester
Good point Mike. A Congressman is too often elected for life, and now their kids think they should inherit the job. It also doesn’t help to have a culture that interprets Democracy in exactly the opposite way it is intended to be. Kicking third party candidates off the ballot on nit picking technicalities, making it impossible for independents to run. Illinois’ 1971 Constitution insured the latter, with no independents in the last 25 years. We seem to be heading towards a two party dictatorship, and a large portion of the population could care less.
Gary-
Illinois has had third parties in the last 25 years. One was the Solidarity Party in the 1986 election, organized when Adlai Stevenson III refused to continue his campaign for governor as a Democrat after one of Lyndon LaRouche’s followers won the Democratic primary for Lt. Gov. I don’t think this “party” had any structure, but persisted for a while as a vehicle for what were essentially independent challenges. For example, I think Tom Hines may have used the Solidarity Party in his brief run for mayor of Chicago against Harold Washington and Eddie Vrdolyak in 1987 until Vrdolyak destroyed Hines in a debate.
Third Parites Illinois has had, including Jerry Kohn on the Libertarian party vs Keyes and O’Bama.What they have not had is a true unaffiliated independent candidate since something like 1980. Illinoize (capitalfax)had a post on this about 2 or 3 months ago where they covered this issue in detail. In that post they pointed out independents actually have more requirements than mojor parties, or third party candidates, a concept that surely does not seem fair. Mike would have probably been interested in that post and its comments because it reflected some of the difficulties the candidates who are not in the major parties face here as well.
I see “Never forget!” worked out well.