NP>JR>I have mixed views on this.  In one way I agree with you, then
NP>JR>again I see it as a "perk" for becoming a Life Member and making
NP>JR>more of a commitment to the NRA.
NP>Truth be told, I have about the same mixed feelings.  I just slightly
NP>lean more towards extending voting rights, perks if you will, towards
NP>all members.  I think there are plenty other perks that can be made
NP>available (and are) to life members and highly active members.
Yes, Like letting you be a "Golden Eagle" and sending many times more
than the cost of an annual membership each year to support the NRA and
it's programs.
NP>JR>Sounds okay to me, but would either up the cost to print or cause
NP>JR>something else to be left out.  Repeating the same info more than
NP>JR>once might mean a few more people would pay attention, but on the
NP>JR>other hand, it's done the same way at the same time every year.
NP>JR>Those of us who care pay attention and even debate the merits of
NP>JR>the various candidates here in advance of the ballots being due.
NP>Well they could drop the cost of printing back down by not using all
NP>color glossy pages.  B&W can be fine.
NP>Question back at you though.  Every year?  For the life of me, I don't
NP>remember seeing it every year in the past.  Granted, I had to spend five
NP>years getting to the level of voter eligibility, but I don't remember
NP>seeing articles about elections and such, especially every year.  Just
NP>in the past year.
Yep! Every year as best as I remember.  A certain number of positions
expire every year.
NP>JR>We must get different ballots as well as getting them in a
NP>JR>different way.  My ballot was "clean", at least until I spilled
NP>JR>coffee on it. :-)
NP>We probably are.  I don't remember if it was here or over in Rime that a
NP>number of us had a conversation going about the different types of mail
NP>we would each get from the NRA.  What because clear to us all was that
NP>each of us did in fact get very different quantities of mail and types
NP>of mail.  As well as different presentations of the same offers and
NP>such.  So it wouldn't surprise me at all if yours was "clean."  I don't
NP>think I've ever gotten a piece of mail from the NRA that didn't have
NP>attached a request for money.
I still get more than a little of the mailings for donations, Golden
Eagle program for Life Members, Friends of the NRA, ILA, special
building fund load payoff, etc.  The ballot itself was just that.
NP>JR>Unworkable - I could see 3,000,000 people running for the board!
NP>JR>$10 is not a meaningful deterrent, and making it meaningful would
NP>JR>mean that you would have to have money to run for the board.
NP>JR>Neither is a good idea.
NP>Three million people tossing in $10 each would give the NRA 30 million
NP>extra dollars.  Which I would think is actually a very good idea, at
NP>least as far as the NRA would be concerned.
Thats before expenses, and two would create too many choices for a
reasonable selection.  Just think of it as going into the voting booth
this November and having to choose from 1000 candidates for President.
What are the odds that a total "idiot" could get elected?  I would bet a
lot less than the odds of the best 35 being selected.

NP>But those groups also don't have the sort of problems the NRA has
NP>through this sort of election.  Which, in my opinion, is a sham
NP>election.
We will have to disagre on this point.  In summary, I don't see your
plan as any improvement over the existing election procedures.
                        JR
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 X OLX 2.1 TD X "One man with courage makes a majority." Andrew Jackson
--- Maximus/2 2.02
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