Gary, I think that you may miss the point that we don't live in a democracy we live in a republic. The government we have has never been based on anything other than a winner take all. Whatever the criticisms one might have of parliamentary systems around the world, the one thing they do allow is minority parties to gain power in a way that allows to have a lot more flexibility and ownership by the voters. We have chosen to tell voters that if their candidate loses they have no power anymore. You have to just put up with it until the next election. Add to that the need for 24 hour new cycles and the never-ending expanding gambling society that we have created and you have a perfect storm recipe for what the voters want to hear at any given moment. Follow the odds for the next election online because they're there all the time. We deserve the politics we get and we get the politics we deserve George Carlin once said. I couldn't agree more. The current inept batch of politicians we have at the local state and federal level is sort of shocking when you really look at it. Our own federal representative didn't even show up for the vote that killed NPR and billions of dollars of foreign aid that her single vote could've saved. She has never accounted for why she wasn't there. At my age I've become so cynical about politics anymore but I don't even see any reason to participate. I don't believe anybody is actually acting in my interest anymore. The Democrats seem to be the anti-semetic party racing to get the Palestinian vote, the very people who are responsible in a couple of states for Trump winning and the Republicans well they're just totally incapable of ruling anything. So if it's a gambling game that they want I really don't care I don't gamble. I was raised in horse racing I know who loses and it's always the two dollar bettor.
I hear your frustration, Al. A lot of people are feeling that right now, for good reasons.
I see it differently. However imperfect the system is, I still think participation matters. Elections, advocacy and public pressure are the ways change has happened in this country, and I’m not ready to give up on that.
That’s part of what I’m trying to do with Plainly, Garbl: highlight ways people can stay engaged and make a difference, even when the system feels broken.
Gary, I think that you may miss the point that we don't live in a democracy we live in a republic. The government we have has never been based on anything other than a winner take all. Whatever the criticisms one might have of parliamentary systems around the world, the one thing they do allow is minority parties to gain power in a way that allows to have a lot more flexibility and ownership by the voters. We have chosen to tell voters that if their candidate loses they have no power anymore. You have to just put up with it until the next election. Add to that the need for 24 hour new cycles and the never-ending expanding gambling society that we have created and you have a perfect storm recipe for what the voters want to hear at any given moment. Follow the odds for the next election online because they're there all the time. We deserve the politics we get and we get the politics we deserve George Carlin once said. I couldn't agree more. The current inept batch of politicians we have at the local state and federal level is sort of shocking when you really look at it. Our own federal representative didn't even show up for the vote that killed NPR and billions of dollars of foreign aid that her single vote could've saved. She has never accounted for why she wasn't there. At my age I've become so cynical about politics anymore but I don't even see any reason to participate. I don't believe anybody is actually acting in my interest anymore. The Democrats seem to be the anti-semetic party racing to get the Palestinian vote, the very people who are responsible in a couple of states for Trump winning and the Republicans well they're just totally incapable of ruling anything. So if it's a gambling game that they want I really don't care I don't gamble. I was raised in horse racing I know who loses and it's always the two dollar bettor.
I hear your frustration, Al. A lot of people are feeling that right now, for good reasons.
I see it differently. However imperfect the system is, I still think participation matters. Elections, advocacy and public pressure are the ways change has happened in this country, and I’m not ready to give up on that.
That’s part of what I’m trying to do with Plainly, Garbl: highlight ways people can stay engaged and make a difference, even when the system feels broken.
I participate in elections, I just am fed up with dealing with the Democratic party and their supposed “opposition” to Trump.