hey guys....

i'm a first-time voter, as some of you may have read before. you may have also read where i stated that i'm not a card-carrying member of either party.

i've grown up in a household that's been devoid of diehard political party members (Thank God!!!) so i don't know what it's like to vote for a particular party simply because that's the family tradition.

dare i say, my exposure to the world outside the confines of this country, has only strengthened my belief that in order for democracy to truly thrive, one must be objective and open to hearing both sides.

yes, this election....i have already made up my mind as to who i'm voting for. but trust me...in 5 years, i could very well be on the other side of the fence if i feel they're more in tune with what i feel is the best direction for the country.

so i have a few questions.

1) are any of you diehards? if so, why? don't you think people can change?
2) do you think we'll ever have a voting system that is similar to the US...whereas we vote for individuals as representatives, and we also cast a ballot for the prime minister?
3) do you think the swing vote percentage will increase over the coming years?

(p.s. - kudos to the PLP site for posting my thoughts about objectivity.....and then responding to it with a simple 'Beautiful'.)

2) do you think we'll ever have a voting system that is similar to the US...whereas we vote for individuals as representatives, and we also cast a ballot for the prime minister?

I would like to see this be our reality before 2012.

Im not a die hard, at least I dont think so....I vote for the candidate who I think best represents me and will do the most for my area.

This is my third election and I have voted for the same candidate each time. Does that make me a die hard?

I feel if the roles were reversed, and he was on the other team and his opponent on his team I still would vote for him.

My dad is a die hard and he seems very upset that all the 'chidren' seem to be voting opposite him. I told him that because he is dont mean I have to be. Plus he has never taken the time to explain to us why he supports the party of his choice. What they have done to/for him that he feels he owns them unflinching support. You know....give me a reason to follow you, not just blind faith.

I saw a comic once. A guy was campaining in an area and he is standing on a doorstep talking to a housewife. The house wife is saying 'i just vote for whoever my husband is voting for' The candidate says 'well think about this madam, would you vote for your husband?"

That made me think hard. Why should I support a party or candidate because someone in my family does? There are allot of things ppl in my family do that I dont do or dont agree with, so what makes voting any different?

.....
so i have a few questions.
1) are any of you diehards? if so, why? don't you think people can change?
I'm not a diehard. I want to hear the facts. It's so hard to get the issues out of the candidates.
2) do you think we'll ever have a voting system that is similar to the US...whereas we vote for individuals as representatives, and we also cast a ballot for the prime minister? I have no probelm with our present parlimentary system. If the individual candidates were more concerned with the well-being of their consituency, MP's would move more fluidly from party to party as conscience and issue dicated.
True our present system does have its fault. I've noticed that many unsound ideas have been presented by both PLP and FNM governments. MPs need the courage of their convictions.
3) do you think the swing vote percentage will increase over the coming years? Yes. As the country becomes more technologically savvy, more people will demand SERIOUS debate and not the gossip games. Don't get me wrong, I enjoy the humor of the Bahamian campaiging trail, but real debate has to become the anchor.

die-hard also die·hard (dhärd)

adj.
Stubbornly resisting change or clinging to a seemingly hopeless or outdated cause.

n.
One who stubbornly resists change or tenaciously adheres to a seemingly hopeless or outdated cause

http://www.thefreedictionary.com/diehard

The question is: "Can Democracy Truly Exist Amongst Diehards?" The answer would seem to be a yes and no. Yes, they want, even demand, Democracy, freedom of speech, etc. for themselves but not for the "others."

thanks for the responses so far. :)

i think if you are prone to saying: i will never vote for the FNM/PLP, you're a diehard.

IMO, the point raised by the "would you vote for your husband" question is a good one. we don't always agree with what our family members say or do....so why take their word on politics?

choose for yourself.