Who actually buys all the political games

by free2beme 17 Replies latest jw friends

  • JeffT
    JeffT

    I made a comment on another thread that I fervently believe. I think this country is ripe for a solid third party or independent candidate. We have created a monster. We have a system which insures that the people who get elected have entirely the wrong skill set for the job once they get there. I agree that this campaign is going to be ugly, it is already going on WAY to long.

  • jgnat
    jgnat
    Who actually buys all the political games

    A bare majority, which can be easily measured by the electoral results. I've always wondered where they find candidates for shows like Jerry Springer. Like, if you have half a brain cell operation, don't you know that your presence on the show can not turn out well for you? But apparently, there's about 3,000 people a year in a population of 300 million who are that stupid. But considering they make up less than 0.001% of the population, maybe the country is not that bad off.

    Politics are a joke and our politicians will never improve, as long as you have a world in which the true power belongs to the media.where people blindly believe all that is told to them.

    I don't know if I blame the media. It's just a tool that reflects the population at large. I suspect the internet and individual voices (i.e. blogs) will start to become the next powerhouse of opinion, and the powers-that-be have not yet figured out how to influence the blogosphere to any great degree.

    Oh, no. I just had a horrible thought. If the internet more accurately reflects the country's concerns are the Pamela Andersons of the world our future leaders?

  • BFD
    BFD

    I don't buy into it for one second. I used to think my vote counted but I am starting to believe that the next President has already been choosen. I will still go cast my vote anyway.

    BFD

  • Carmel
    Carmel

    http://studycircle.angeltowns.com/western_democracy.htm An interesting discussion on the fruits of competitive democracy. carmel

  • jaguarbass
    jaguarbass

    Right On Freetobeme!

  • SacrificialLoon
    SacrificialLoon

    I posted this in another thread, but it got lost in something about home loans. Over 200 years ago George Washington had a thing or two to say about political parties:

    I have already intimated to you the danger of parties in the State, with particular reference to the founding of them on geographical discriminations. Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party generally.

    This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy.

    The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.

    Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight), the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it.

    It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.

    There is an opinion that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the government and serve to keep alive the spirit of liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in governments of a monarchical cast, patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume.

    You can read the rest of his farewell address here.
    A brilliant man, we were lucky to have him as our first president.

  • amused
    amused

    Check out www.unity08.com......Could be interesting.

  • John Doe
    John Doe

    "Democrats are more intelligent." My experience has betrayed quite the opposite.

Share this

Google+
Pinterest
Reddit