Right-Wing Commentator: Poor People Voting Is ‘Un-American’

Raw Story: Many conservatives appear to think badly of poor people, but Matthew Vadum of the Capital Research Center takes it a step further. According to the title of his latest article for American Thinker, he believes that "registering the poor to vote is un-American."

"Why are left-wing activist groups so keen on registering the poor to vote?" Vadum asks. "Because they know the poor can be counted on to vote themselves more benefits by electing redistributionist politicians. Welfare recipients are particularly open to demagoguery and bribery."

"Registering them to vote is like handing out burglary tools to criminals," he continues. "It is profoundly antisocial and un-American to empower the nonproductive segments of the population to destroy the country-- which is precisely why Barack Obama zealously supports registering welfare recipients to vote. ... Encouraging those who burden society to participate in elections isn't about helping the poor. It's about helping the poor to help themselves to others' money."

Read the full story @ Raw Story

Political Spending For 2012 Election Year To Be $6 Billion

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Forget the struggling economy. There's one U.S. industry -- Big Politics -- that is looking ahead to a record year in 2012. The U.S. elections will be the most expensive ever, with a total price tag of $6 billion or even more, fueled by millions of dollars in unrestricted donations as Republicans and Democrats vie for control of the White House, Congress and state governments.

Read the full story @ The LA Times

The Growth of Social Media: An Infographic

Say what you will about the tidal wave that is social media: it’s over-hyped, a fad halfway through its 15 minutes of fame, that isn't as effective for influencing and motivating voters as television and print newspapers or old fashioned telephone and door to door canvassing.

But take a look below at the steep curve of the user growth rate in all age ranges and demographics, and the continuing pervasiveness of social networking into every facet of work, play, politics and life in general. It’s hard to argue that social media hasn’t changed forever how we interact and connect with each other. See for yourself: (below the fold - click more)

The U.S. Government Is Not Broke

by Beverly Bandler

To tell Americans that the United States Government is broke, as the Republican Party and some Democratic conservatives do, is not only a lie it is irresponsible and just plain idiotic propaganda. Too many Americans believe this hokum that defies common sense.