My name is Robert Thomas
and I'm running for President of the United States in 2024.
Why? By making myself heard now, I'm giving myself an extra fifteen years to prepare for a positive, impactful term in office.
Also see:www.YouTube.com/RT2024
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UPDATES
March 14th, 2010
I've started a discussion-based e-mail list, to be used as a forum for talking about politics, race, science, frustrations, joys, big ideas, deep thoughts, sports, humor, whatever. Talk about anything with everyone.
Join to enter a dialogue with the most intelligent and interesting people in the world: people like you.
Sign up at:
or
https://mailman.stanford.edu/mailman/listinfo/cuss_and_discuss
February 13th, 2010
"I remembered one morning when I discovered a cocoon in the bark of a tree, just as the butterfly was making a hole in its case and preparing to come out. I waited a while, but it was too long appearing and I was impatient. I bent over it and breathed on it to warm it. I warmed it as quickly as I could and the miracle began to happen before my eyes, faster than life. The case opened, the butterfly started slowly crawling out and I shall never forget my horror when I saw how its wings were folded back and crumpled; the wretched butterfly tried with its whole trembling body to unfold them. Bending over it, I tried to help it with my breath. In vain. It needed to be hatched out patiently and the unfolding of the wings should be a gradual process in the sun. Now it was too late. My breath had forced the butterfly to appear, all crumpled, before its time. It struggled desperately and, a few seconds later, died in the palm of my hand."
Nikos Kazantzakis
Zorba the Greek
January 9th, 2010
What if, in order to vote, you had to have a high school diploma and two years of national service - military or otherwise - under your belt? (credit to having read Robert Heinlein's Starship Troopers for the idea)
But that limits American freedoms!
True, if voting is something to which everyone is entitled. This certainly would take some serious revision of the Constitution.
But the Constitution was made by men and isn't quite perfect, with all due respect to the nation's forefathers.
Here are a few reasons for this limitation:
One: American election campaigns seem built mostly on propaganda rather than actual fact. It takes a lot of thought and knowledge to see through the smoke and mirrors, and to figure out what candidates are actually saying. Presumably, requiring a basic degree of education would mean voters are more informed and are thinking for themselves.
Two: Those who have national service experience would be more likely to have first-hand experience with diverse groups of people, and therefore are more familiar with the social challenges and problems in the country. They've gotten to learn about Americans from a perspective you can't get in a classroom.
Three: Servicepeople have lived in a culture of patriotism, or at least a culture of caring about the future of the nation's people.
Four: I think my world will be perfect when I know who I am, I know who you are, and everyone agrees that we equally know very little. My short experience with national service, and my education, have absolutely put me closer to each of those things.
But that might decrease voter turnout rates!
In 2008, 56.8% of eligible U.S. citizens voted, according to Dr. Michael McDonald of George Mason University. That's significantly fewer than many other nations in the world. We really don't have too much to lose.
On the contrary, I think having to earn the entitlement to vote would boost turnout rates. There would likely be an initial slump in turnout rates, and then as being able to vote became "chic," there would be a great increase.
But that would make America an aristocracy with an educated elite!
I don't think so. That "educated elite" is an overwhelming majority of the nation already. 84.1% of Americans had high school diplomas in 2002, according to the Census Bureau. I can't see any reason to not provide an additional incentive to graduate high school, and make it more meaningful than just something you go through to get a job. Besides, for the past 20 years, not graduating high school has been a quick ticket to a low quality of life.
What do you think?
Mini-update:This video by Tim Wise just changed my life. Watch it before it's too late.