Lets face it. US democracy is broken

[BoberFett]

Well said.

No.

 

[AzN]

Democracy never existed. It is an American pipe dream by the people.

 

[MotF Bane]

Well said.

You wouldn't know what liberalism is if it slapped you across the face.

 

[MotF Bane]

Democracy never existed. It is an American pipe dream by the people.

Look who's back.

 

[Bitek]

Honestly, I think its just a reflection of ourselves and its not the prettiest picture. The People can decry the recent politicians all the want, but in the end the People are the ones who hired them.

 

[werepossum]

Honestly, I think its just a reflection of ourselves and its not the prettiest picture. The People can decry the recent politicians all the want, but in the end the People are the ones who hired them.

Agreed. Funny though that cries of "Democracy is broken!" only come about when Democrats can't get their way - or are about to be thrown from power. But in the end, we are to blame.

 

[Modelworks]

TO me it is the slippery slope of gradually allowing politicians to get away with things not the internet that is the problem. If you look at the last 100 years you can see a clear correlation between what the public allows and the problems with government.

Politicians are like little kids, let them get away with little things and before long they are stealing your wallet, talking back and doing whatever they want.

 

[werepossum]

TO me it is the slippery slope of gradually allowing politicians to get away with things not the internet that is the problem. If you look at the last 100 years you can see a clear correlation between what the public allows and the problems with government.

Politicians are like little kids, let them get away with little things and before long they are stealing your wallet, talking back and doing whatever they want.

So true.

 

[ccbadd]

This may sound elitist, though it is coming from someone who only has a BS degree that grew up in Alabama, so I'm far from some Berkley raised liberal.

The recent arrival of 24hr news cycles, and broad adoption of internet access, has essentially paralyzed our democracy, and I dont see any way out of it without a major crisis. The reason for it...too many intellectual half-wits have been drawn into the world of politics. I actually think this country was better off when the less intelligent in this country focused on sports and television, leaving the politicking in this country to those who actually had to make a concerted effort to stay informed about the current issues of the day. Cable news and internet sites have turned politics into a team sport that every tom, dick, and jane takes a side in, and now their voices are easily heard and their votes easily corralled into a reliable voting block. Ever since the arrival of the "information age" so to speak, what kind of significant legislation has been passed in this country? Welfare reform comes to mind, but that required the use of budget reconciliation. Now politicians are unwilling to make the hard choices, so they just make the easy ones, which are cutting taxes and raising spending.

Living in Alabama, politicians fall all over themselves trying to claim they are the "true conservative". My views are obviously skewed by where I live, but it's rather disheartening to be a non-ideological, intellectually honest voter here, because my voice is drowned out by hoards of bible beating, right wing, redneck retards who cant articulate their ideological views beyond a sound bite they heard on fox news. Now to be fair that isnt some kind of generalization of right wing people here, just the ones who make an effort to be heard. Those people are the easy votes, so people like me that a politician actually has to work for have no true representation.

Now for those of you that believe I just come off as another liberal, Chavez supporting, California liberal with a superiority complex that is so well represented on this board, read my post history. I'm a former right ringer that now leans towards the middle. Both parties disgust me equally.

You say democracy is broken because more people are participating in politics! You also feel the politically minded of the past managed our country better than the rest of the people who were just working to support it. You poke fun at them for wanting to relax and enjoy the time they have off watching sports or television and this makes them lesser then you??

It's retards like you who threaten democracy today, not the 'Populist' who want some say in their own lives!!!!!

 

[ranmaniac]

US doesn't really have a democracy, and barely a republic either, it's more of an oligarchy, or plutonomy.

 

[Modelworks]

US doesn't really have a democracy, and barely a republic either, it's more of an oligarchy, or plutonomy.

It really is starting to remind me of when Caligula ruled Rome, without the sex.

 

[Craig234]

Agreed. Funny though that cries of "Democracy is broken!" only come about when Democrats can't get their way - or are about to be thrown from power. But in the end, we are to blame.

Funny that you lie as usual, as Democrats typically support democracy even when it costs them power, while it's Repubicans who behave as you say much more.

You aren't the worst though.

This week when Pelosi was asked about supporting Healthcare if it costs Democrats in the elections, she answered 'their first duty is to serve the people, not get re-elected'.

Rush Linbaugh said that quote made her 'just like the Imams who get kids to stap bombs to their chests'. And he's the #1 right-wing commentator.

 

[Craig234]

It really is starting to remind me of when Caligula ruled Rome, without the sex.

See Clinton.

 

[IndyColtsFan]

This week when Pelosi was asked about supporting Healthcare if it costs Democrats in the elections, she answered 'their first duty is to serve the people, not get re-elected'.

So in other words, the Democrats know what is best for us even if we don't.

 

[Modelworks]

It isn't just one party but government in general that wants to be big brother. It is our fault for tolerating the increase of control over our lives. It always starts small with things like taxes then moves to things like drug laws, labor laws, etc. Over time government begins to take more and more control. If you can't be trusted to avoid things like drugs then clearly the government should come in and be the parent and tell you NO. The same goes for health care. You don't understand health insurance or banking, it is too complex for your feeble minds, you are children and Uncle Sam will have to lead you in the right direction.

 

[Zebo]

It isn't just one party but government in general that wants to be big brother. It is our fault for tolerating the increase of control over our lives. It always starts small with things like taxes then moves to things like drug laws, labor laws, etc. Over time government begins to take more and more control. If you can't be trusted to avoid things like drugs then clearly the government should come in and be the parent and tell you NO. The same goes for health care. You don't understand health insurance or banking, it is too complex for your feeble minds, you are children and Uncle Sam will have to lead you in the right direction.

I read something once that one can not go through a week without committing a felony. There are literally millions of laws, 99% which arnt enforced because even the cops don't know them all.

Anyway my Dad (a businessman) and I (also) once discussed business and how fucked 99% of the population is due to laws and regs and wealth you need to comply with starting and running one. They simply don't let a man work anymore. I won't even talk about an PCB analysis firm or something really complex but take a simple a example: A house painter. Not only do you need 4 years documented supervisory experience, and that's not so easy with way guys like to pay or what they like to say about former employees, in order sit in for the contractors test in my state, you need $2800 to pay contractors board for privilege. Better bring your bonding paperwork, liability insurance, Corporate charter, workman's comp, enrollment forms in SSI and so on costing thousands more. Ok fine you passed the test and were given license to work, if not you lost all that cash...oh well. Next comes compliance with work laws, environmental laws, tax laws, disability laws and thousands of forms and man hours later you're ready to hire your first guy and paint a house. I could go trough them all but it's even too fuckin long to type out!! 99% of Americans simply can't do it. Too complex if you wish to avoid pitfalls government set up in addition to the ever frightening under-capitalization.

Same thing goes for tax code. Same thing goes for these 2500 page bills they write. It's meant to work for a certain group or those with high interest/intelligence and most Americans are fucking clueless.