Politics in America...Very troubling...
 

Just thinking here, and the one thing that troubles me more than anything else about US politics is not the Democrats or Republicans, but how they both act. I mean, now days they are at each others throats, demonizing each other, yelling at each other, its pathetic. Anger has replaced sophistication. They all act like a bunch of school children fresh out of diapers. No control over their emotions. All logic out the window replaced by how much you can trash the other party, not taking a stand on a particular issue and debating that stand with sound logic.

The point of this thread is, I've lost respect for the people in charge. The people we elected. Where are the upstanding respectable statesmen that we are supposed to have representing us? All I see are a bunch of children in the sandbox, slinging mud at each other, and then whining about it at the same time.

Just my 2 cents on American politics lately. And don't think it is only one sided - both major parties are at fault here.

-S

Read a wonderful article the other day talking about exactly this:

The Problem With America

That was a good article. Thanks.

-S

It comes and goes. The more I read about the founding period of America, the more I discover things really haven't changed all that much. Name-calling ("Un-American!"), mud-slinging ("If Jefferson is elected, murder, robbery, rape, adultery and incest will be openly taught and practiced" [an actual campaign newspaper ad from 1800]) and all-around vitriol were just as common in every period of our country.

the benefits of a two-party-system.

We have (theoretically) several different parties in Germany, now 7 of them with realistic chances to get into parliament when elections are being held. But the two major parties, the union of CDU and CSU on the one hand, and the SPD on the other, have lost so much identity both of them (which made them appearing as separate alternatives that are different to each other), and we have so often coaltions now with minor parties, that indeed we are down to a two-party, or better: a two-block-system as well. And from here on it is showing a behavior like what Subman is complaining about in America.

World never stays the same, it is dynamic change all over, what once was a positive, inevitably turns into a negative, while all contexts are constantly shifting and reinterprete former constellations and factors in them. Even democracy cannot escape this dynamic as well. the best argument against democracy is today's political parties, and the fact that we accepted the suicidal pervertion of it when allowing professional politicians that make their living by being politicians, and by understanding that as their lifetime "job". One of the bad results is that many politicians set their personal career interest above the interests of the community, and cling to power forever, not understanding that politicians in a democarcy cannot only be voted for, but can be voted out of power, office and influence again. but if they loose their seats today, they lurk around in the background and try to find other ways to stay around. Even if you vote them out of office - you do not really get rid of them, since they make their living by being politicians. thats is the virus that has caused the illness of democracy, and the patient is not dying from it, but already has died many years ago. On national levels, I see not a single democracy anywhere in the West.

Democracy and parties/lobbies do not go well together. I would even say they are mutually exlcusive. The latter turn the first into an enemy to public interest and the wellbeing of the community. Politicians should, like presidents, have a limited time allowed only to be polticians, before they have to leave politics again, and political parties, as well as lobbying, should be forbidden, the latter being seen as a major crime: treachery on the community's interests.

Another fault is that many people are running around and equate elections with democracy. But democarcy is so much more than just being able to vote, elections are only a tool of democracy, and elections must not lkead to democracy automatically - the big self-deception of european, naive well-meaning tolerance-preachers of today. As we see in the ME not really that rarely only, democratic elections can help to bring anti-democratic, ultra-conservative orthodox as well as enemies to freedom and democracy to power. To equate elections with democracy is a very huge, and extremely dangerous mistake. It is popular not only in europe, but America as well.

Sounds like America is going the same way as here, you only got to watch Prime Minister's question time and some times it like a school playground. And they wonder why more and more people are not voting and why? In our case these people can no longer be trusted and they just walk over the voters of this country which leads to this circle going around and round with no results.

I can not suggest anything for you guys but here in the UK I feel politics needs one all mighty shake up and it's down to the voter to do something about it as our political party's will not lift a finger. Political Correctness and liberal stand point has gone to far, the Labour party jump on the conservatives and call them right wing, please don't make me laugh.

Sounds like both our country's need to get a grip. :yep:

One of the change we face is the current state of the US primary and the high cost to run for political office. The primaries tend to attract the far left and right with most others waiting for the main election. This remove the moderates from running in the main election and I feel has caused the wide difference between Republicans and Democrats. In addition because of the extreme cost to run a competitive election it is extremely hard for a independent to run. Really the best way to solve this if for more to vote and realize how important every election is and vote every chance you get.

The other thing I would like to see is a more classical education in the US. During the cold war there was a lot of stress put on math and science and is still that way today. Today when history, reading and social studies schools just teach the facts and do little to go into the why. When you look at our founding fathers they were truly renaissance men. The idea a well rounded education is hard to find in politics.

The good thing is when you look a America though history it is like a slow moving pendulum. When the government goes to far to one side the people react and it will move back. The fact that it moves slowly is a good thing because it allows for the right direction to be mad. The important thing is that we insure our right remain intact and the we maintain an equal balance of power. I truly believe that in 1787 that the right men at the the right moment truly did form a more perfect Union and there has yet to be a better.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b2...idate-grid.png
Yep.

I believe the movie was called, "All the Presidents Men" were Robert Redford was running for president. He was made to look great...flawless....his opponents look bad. The movie consisted of pushing popularity into the White House at all costs. The drive to get him there, to make it was no holes barred. Once there (Robert Redford), and the classic line of the movie, "What do I do now?" The character was totally clueless. Very much what we have going on here. The main players have lost sight of what is really involved with the presidency...they have only focused on getting to the White House and will use any means to do that! It is the thrill of the hunt and the kill. Sadly, once there, they are clueless as to what to do. Just my thought on the current debacle the country is in.

I remember taking those tests in my government class.

http://politicalcompass.org/analysis2

I always end up in weird places but I guess today I'm leaning toward Gandhi.

Your political compass

Economic Left/Right: -2.63
Social Libertarian/Authoritarian: -2.46

http://politicalcompass.org/images/axeswithnames.gif

They need to give a copy of this to each member of congress and post it on every street corner.

Not a fan of a two party system, but I guess that's not surprising. I've always been in a definite minority of political views, so my interests have always been woefully unrepresented in government. No wonder I'm getting increasingly bitter at the system.

Here's me on the chart:

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y12...swithnames.gif

Needless to say, though I love many Americans as people, I'd just never get along in your country. Hope you guys sort things out your way and in a positive way. :yep:

I think you are getting this a little mixed up. In the film "All the Presidents Men", Robert Redford played the role of Washington Post journalist Bob Woodward, and the film told the story surrounding the Watergate scandal. Perhaps you just had a long day at the office. ;)

I can't resist....

A comedian said it best awhile ago, not my words but he makes a good point.

M'kay, im gonna scamper back into the SH4 forum now, i can't talk politics and not get pissed off. i only came here to see how that "evil" thread was doing. lol.