What do you really think?
Over the last few months I have been sitting on the sidelines and observing this political process. I have been reading a lot of the support pushed by both sides telling us why we should vote for their candidate. During this observation there is one thing that I can say I know is fact, and that is how divided this country really is. The political process has accomplished to put Americans against Americans at a time when we as Americans should be fighting as one. We all know what the problems are in this country, yet so many of us fear of leaving the stance of the party we are affiliated with. I have spoke with people who totally disagree with the stance of their party but back them up just because they want to have what's best for their party. I do not understand this way of thinking. One thing I can say for sure is that this country is in trouble, and is coming into rough waters in the next few years. Whoever gets the nod this year to take over as the next President of the United States of America will inherit a lot of baggage from the previous administration.
A lot of you know that I don't trust our Government at all. I have never really trusted them for as long as I can remember, and what trust I did have for them left in my early twenties. I have plenty of reason why I don't trust them just like you have plenty of reason why you do, or, do not trust them.
I have a few questions that I have for you.
A. Do you really believe that these people who claim to care about us really care about us?
B. Why do you trust our Government?
C. Do you believe these candidates will honestly bring any change?
What do you really think?
Q. Do you honestly believe that there will be any change for the American people in this country?
Yes, I have to believe this or I couldn't get through the day. The practical execution of implementing change is quite another matter. It's hard to do that in the political system we have, but it can happen. The change will be slow if and when it happens. Rome wasn't built in a day. America has 300 million people. You can't turn a ship of that size around in an instant. More often you can simply alter its course, which is usually more practical anyway.
Q. Do you really believe that these people who claim to care about us really care about us?
Yes, I do. Again, I think I have to believe this to believe in our system of democracy. Also, I know that the people who run for office and hold positions in our government are regular folks just like you and me.
Q. Why do you trust our Government?
I don't trust everything about any institution, and I especially think finances and spending need to be monitored closely in a huge bureaucracy. No one with good sense entirely trusts anything. But overall I think I do have trust in our government. Partly because of the last line of my last answer: because it's made up of the people by the people and for the people. Also because, in a democracy, I have the power to change it with my vote and my support for candidates. So I'm responsible, at least in part, for the direction it takes.
Q. Do you believe these candidates will honestly bring any change?
Let's say I believe they'll try. I believe this of either political party. Whether or not substantive change will occur as a result is another matter. Again, size and speed and the checks-and-balances of a two-party system tend to slow us down. Still, that's the system we have. We made it, too, so we're responsible for it.
Travel to other parts of the world and you'll see how lucky we really are in this country. The fact that we have the rights we have, free access to information and news through a free press, freedom of religion, freedom to vote, etc., is just amazing when you think how random our chance of being born into freedom really is. In so many other places, people don't enjoy those freedoms. Seeing that lack of freedom first-hand makes you appreciate it much more here at home when you return.
I know a lot of people feel upset with our political system, but you have the right to change if if you don't like it. You can talk to your representatives and senators. You can elect new ones. You can run for office yourself. You can push for reforms. Those are nifty abilities. When I feel completely disillusioned by the two-party push-and-pull and futility of ever getting anything really done, I try and look at the opposing party as folks with a different mindset who are just as convinced their approach is what's right for the country. Ultimately, that's the common ground--the desire to do what's right by the country. Public servants know they have to work together and long ago made their peace with working with people with different mindsets.
What do you really think?
Quote:
Originally Posted by epxroot
A lot of you know that I don't trust our Government at all. I have never really trusted them for as long as I can remember, and what trust I did have for them left in my early twenties. I have plenty of reason why I don't trust them just like you have plenty of reason why you do, or, do not trust them.
I have a few questions that I have for you.
A. Do you really believe that these people who claim to care about us really care about us?
I do not believe that the majority of politicians care about our needs before their own; but at the same time I do believe a number of them want to create legislation and update old ones somewhat for our benefit. Overall as of late though I feel they're ignoring the fact that they should actually listen to what we want when deciding on a piece of legislation.
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B. Why do you trust our Government?
All in all I love my country. It has obvious flaws in it but let's face it we're a very young nation. Look at other countries approximatley the same age as us
Mexico (1821)
Argentina (1810)
Chile (1810)
Columbia (1810)
Costa Rica (1821)
Haiti
El Salvador (1821)
Thailand (1776)
etc etc...
I can say with all certainty that Given our countries age we are leaps and bounds ahead of other nations that were birthed about the same time as us.
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C. Do you believe these candidates will honestly bring any change?
I believe to bring about TRUE reform and change we need a restructure of the party system. Whether it's acknowledged or not; there is a pseudo monopoly going on. If we had dozens of parties with equal funding and limitations on how they can conduct themselves as a party then I feel we could make some progress. By evening out the playing field of the politicians they would be forced to work together in order to pass legislation.
However something like that would never happen because Congress would have to pass legislation to enforce this and there is no way that either republicans or democrats will risk giving up their power.
What do you really think?
Quote:
Originally Posted by epxroot
A. Do you really believe that these people who claim to care about us really care about us?
Maybe a select few but in general, no. When congress shuts down during an energy crisis, or waste our money on pork projects how can they, or anybody else state differently?
Quote:
Originally Posted by epxroot
B. Why do you trust our Government?
I don't, but like our current candidates it's the better of many evils out there. I'll take our system over any other in the world at the present time. They keep us safe from attacks from abroad but they sure don't give a rats ass about many domestic issues.
Quote:
Originally Posted by epxroot
C. Do you believe these candidates will honestly bring any change?
A little change here and there but nothing that's going to make us, or the world, say "WOW!". As long as you still have the ol' boy club with no term limits in the Senate and Congress, the word change is just a cliché.
Have a good one!:s4:
What do you really think?
Well... even if i (VERY FORTUNATELY) dont live in the usa, i think governments and governors are pretty much the same around the world. Some ones are worst than others, of course, but most of them are at least pretty bad, no matter where, and so i will answer this questions because they apply to any government/country.
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Originally Posted by epxroot
A. Do you really believe that these people who claim to care about us really care about us?
Of course not! A person who were actually interested in helping the others without any self-interest would not be a politician, but a saint, like Mother Theresa of Calcutta, for example.
Politics is the battle of interests of some dominating groups, so whoever enters it must comply to its rules, and their only freedom is to choose which power group they will fight for.
Quote:
Originally Posted by epxroot
B. Why do you trust our Government?
OF COURSE NOT!!!! I dont trust ANY government, for this matter, exactly because of what i said above.
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Originally Posted by epxroot
C. Do you believe these candidates will honestly bring any change?
Probably... but the changes wont be for the benefit of the people, or the country as a whole, but only for the benefit of the interests of the power groups the winning candidate is affiliate of.
The "system" (i cant find any better word) only cares about itself, not about people. It gives health care because sick people cant work, it gives education because people needs it for work, it gives safety because it must protect its slaves... NOT because the system really cares about any of you... but only because it needs your work to keep running.
I know many people wont agree... but i understand that is hard to see what one doesnt want to see. The truth is not as beautiful as the dreams. But only the ones who lives sleeping can live in a dream world. Waking up is annoying, but sometimes we need to.
What do you really think?
Maybe our founding fathers cared about this country, and even most of them had alterior motives. I don't think any politician honestly cares about this country. They are just trying to increase there power and finances. I've never seen a poor ex politician. It would help I think if we became a true democracy instead of a republic. But how to stop crooks from running for public office? One of things you could do is not allow attorneys to run for public office.
What do you really think?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Coelho
Well... even if i (VERY FORTUNATELY) dont live in the usa, i think governments and governors are pretty much the same around the world. Some ones are worst than others, of course, but most of them are at least pretty bad, no matter where, and so i will answer this questions because they apply to any government/country.
Of course not! A person who were actually interested in helping the others without any self-interest would not be a politician, but a saint, like Mother Theresa of Calcutta, for example.
Politics is the battle of interests of some dominating groups, so whoever enters it must comply to its rules, and their only freedom is to choose which power group they will fight for.
OF COURSE NOT!!!! I dont trust ANY government, for this matter, exactly because of what i said above.
Probably... but the changes wont be for the benefit of the people, or the country as a whole, but only for the benefit of the interests of the power groups the winning candidate is affiliate of.
The "system" (i cant find any better word) only cares about itself, not about people. It gives health care because sick people cant work, it gives education because people needs it for work, it gives safety because it must protect its slaves... NOT because the system really cares about any of you... but only because it needs your work to keep running.
I know many people wont agree... but i understand that is hard to see what one doesnt want to see. The truth is not as beautiful as the dreams. But only the ones who lives sleeping can live in a dream world. Waking up is annoying, but sometimes we need to.
Couldn't have said it better man. :thumbsup:
What do you really think?
A. Do you really believe that these people who claim to care about us really care about us?
Perhaps when they were young. The nature of existant to the world corrupts the minds of who want to do good. The system prevents individuals from changing it even if they wanted to. It's simply the nature of the beast.
B. Why do you trust our Government?
I have a faith in the government that they'll provide services prescribed by the law. The way I see the government is they are simply an instrument to enact policies and provide services for it's citizens. Don't blame the instrument, blame the conductors (politicians.)
C. Do you believe these candidates will honestly bring any change?
No.
What do you really think?
Btw DaiHashi, Thailand isn't as new as America! They had various kingdoms since the 600s.
What do you really think?
Quote:
Originally Posted by thcbongman
Btw DaiHashi, Thailand isn't as new as America! They had various kingdoms since the 600s.
America has various tribes across it since forever, but wasn't founded as a Sovereign nation until 1776. I was going by the countries declaration of Independance.
Japan also was made up of many territories until the 1800's when it was united into 1 nation.
The key here being United as a Sovereign nation. But yes, you're right. Thailand has been around since forever. :thumbsup:
What do you really think?
"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."
- George Washington's Farewell Address
Washington's Farewell Address - Wikisource
What do you really think?
A. Do you really believe that these people who claim to care about us really care about us?
I believe that many of the people in congress, the senate, local gov., etc. are corrupt and have lost touch with the values of our forefathers, constitution and the federalist papers. They are exactly what our forefathers warned against. We fought that war over taxation of 2%-ish, now our taxes swell to 36%+. And no one fucking cares. People continue to demand more "free" shit. "Free" healthcare for example. Yeah let's fuck with that! It works so well in the other countries. Not to mention our government can't even fix our roads and people want them to suddenly take over an industry that is a 1/4th of our economy. But anyway, you also have to realize that there are good people in our government. People who really care about the people, like Ron Paul.
B. Why do you trust our Government?
I give them just enough rope trust wise so they can't really hang themselves too bad. I really don't get my hopes up is what I'm saying. Though I pretty much do trust my government over any other nations government (99.9% of the time). We have issues but not nearly as bad as most of these other nations. I also remeber that yeah, America has done some bad shit but they have also done a lot of good.
C. Do you believe these candidates will honestly bring any change?
Nope, not Obama or McCain anyway (Libertarian candidates yeah). However I am voting for McCain. I do this while holding my nose. He is not a Republican and neither is Bush or any other of those assholes who hide behnd the name. A real Republican is a Libertarian. I respect McCain's war experience and I do feel he has one up on Obama on that one. And he is a low tax, low spending, no pork barrel spending kind of politician, and I like that. He also is pro gun and gun rights which I am. He wants offshore drilling and I do too. I also agree on the war and I'm anti-socialised medicine. But we differ on a lot of things. Like gay marriage, womens rights, I'm not religious at all either, drug laws and a few others.
And Obama, my god I don't even have enough space to bitch about this socialist. Handouts, bail outs, "free" medicine and tax hikes spell out doom for our economy. Were not even in a recession now and listen to the bitching! It can get MUCH worse people. On social issues like gay marriage, drug laws, enviroment (to a degree) and women's rights I agree with him. Other than that I disagree completely.
I hate both of these assholes but I will be first in line to vote (It's my first time :) ).
