Opinion: Are politicians too rich to understand us?

[Ducimus]

http://www.cnn.com/2012/06/12/opinio...html?hpt=hp_c1

In this age of austerity, America is run by men with wealth that could have leapt from the pages of "The Great Gatsby."

[Takeda Shingen]

When did the civilian legislator ever have a day? Our founding fathers were the wealthy and elite of society. Virtually every elected official since that time has been the same. The illusion of Mr. Smith Goes to Washington was simply that; an illusion. The more I think of it, the 'good old days' that many pine about, whenever they may have been, were probably a lot like today. Humanity is incapable of improving his condition.

[Ducimus]

Oh just read the article if your inclined. I thought it was a good read. I beleive the point is, none of these bastards we elect, at any level, regardless of party, have a clue as to what the everyday American thinks, needs, or wants. Their off in their own bubble somewhere in the stratosphere. George Carliln was right,

[mookiemookie]

The only person with a chance of being elected is someone who can spend piles of money. That pretty much rules out any everyday Joe who would have a clue about things that everyday people care about.

[Takeda Shingen]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

Oh just read the article if your inclined. I thought it was a good read. I beleive the point is, none of these bastards we elect, at any level, regardless of party, have a clue as to what the everyday American thinks, needs, or wants. Their off in their own bubble somewhere in the stratosphere. George Carliln was right,

I did read the arcticle, Ducimus. Did you think that I was just replying off the cuff? Do you see me as impulsive?

My point is that this had always been the case. Today is no different than 50 years ago. From 100 years ago. From 1000 years ago. It is the rich and powerful that decide the fates of many. As it has been, as it is, and as it has always been. To reform humanity is to run his head into the concrete wall. You will neither succeed nor feel well enough to continue.

[Ducimus]

*sigh* yeah i guess. Money is power, right?

Just when i couldn't get more depressed about the state of our government. "Government of the people, for the people, by the people." What a bunch of BS. And some people I know bitch at me when i tell them I don't bother to vote. This is PRECISELY why i don't. It does not matter if i do, or if i don't, end result will always, be the same.

[the_tyrant]

Thing is, do you really think the "average joe" can run a country?

I tend to run when politicians claim to be "just like me"

do you trust me to run a country?

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by the_tyrant

Thing is, do you really think the "average joe" can run a country?

I tend to run when politicians claim to be "just like me"

do you trust me to run a country?

Thing is, given the current state of the US, the rich lawyers can't run it for crap either. Maybe i should give more credence to this whole doomsday prepping thing.

[MGR1]

Do politicians understand Joe Public?

No. They come from too narrow a social strata for that to be the case and that's true everywhere.

If your not part of the club, you don't get in, so change is nigh impossible.

Mike.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

This is PRECISELY why i don't. It does not matter if i do, or if i don't, end result will always, be the same.

Of course there are those who will tell you that if you don't vote you have no right to complain. I always reply that as long as they don't have a box labeled "None Of The Above" I can complain.

But something in the way you wrote that made me think. If you don't vote you can't complain that it was the other guy's fault. Of course you have it easier as well. No matter who gets elected you get to say "Don't look at me. I didn't vote for him!"

[Ducimus]

Originally Posted by Sailor Steve

Of course there are those who will tell you that if you don't vote you have no right to complain. I always reply that as long as they don't have a box labeled "None Of The Above" I can complain.

But something in the way you wrote that made me think. If you don't vote you can't complain that it was the other guy's fault. Of course you have it easier as well. No matter who gets elected you get to say "Don't look at me. I didn't vote for him!"

I quote George Carlin entirely too much, but here goes anyway.

I believe if you vote, you have no right to complain. People like to twist that around; they say, 'If you don't vote, you have no right to complain', but where's the logic in that? If you vote and you elect dishonest, incompetent people into office who screw everything up, you are responsible for what they have done. You caused the problem; you voted them in; you have no right to complain. I, on the other hand, who did not vote, who in fact did not even leave the house on election day, am in no way responsible for what these people have done and have every right to complain about the mess you created that I had nothing to do with.

So long as no matter who you vote for, it ends up a mess and things never change, that bit from Carlin will hold true. When that is no longer the case, you'll find me voting again.

[Sailor Steve]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

I quote George Carlin entirely too much, but here goes anyway.

That's a good one!

So long as no matter who you vote for, it ends up a mess and things never change, that bit from Carlin will hold true. When that is no longer the case, you'll find me voting again.

No argument from me. I was just having a laugh myself.

[Ducimus]

Yeah i'm having a "moment" with this thread. Venting my frustration in some incomprehensible form.

[Takeda Shingen]

Originally Posted by Ducimus

Yeah i'm having a "moment" with this thread. Venting my frustration in some incomprehensible form.

I understand.

People have become too invested in party. They become too attached to the keywords of 'liberty', 'freedom' and 'individualism'. They are all to eager to belong; to forget the global definition of these things. They prefer what I like to call the 'NFL experience' of politics. They like to root against the bad guys in a white and black world. They fail to see that when Republicans talk about these things they almost exclusively mean financial matters, and when Democrats talk about these things they almost exclusively mean civic matters. I want both. I want to keep more of my money and I want a gay man to be able to marry his love and be recognized by the state. I consider neither of these to be unreasonable.

The man in the middle seems to be eternally forgotten in the persuit of polemics.

[August]

It's just not true that being wealthy or elite is a requirement for high political office.

Abraham Lincoln was certainly not wealthy or elite, nor was Harry Truman, Andrew Jackson, US Grant, Andrew Johnson, Millard Fillmore, James Buchanan, James A. Garfield, Warren Harding, Herbert Hoover or Bill Clinton and that's just at the presidential level. The further down you go on the government ladder the more humble beginnings you will find.

Sure there tends to be more wealthy people in government but that should not surprise or disappoint anyone though. We want successful people in those positions. They are certainly better suited for the job of running a nation than, say, the folks in this forum, myself included.

I mean could you imagine a President Skybird? He'd have the nation in total anarchy within a week and this is not a slam on him because I would hardly fare any better and ditto for the rest of you too.