Our nation has been on a steady decline politically for a number of decades now. My question is....can it get any worse? Under our present administration our federal debt has increased $6 trillion to over $16 trillion. I just learned what the number "trillion" was a little over a decade ago. Just to help you put these astronomical numbers into perspective; if you were to count back one trillion seconds ago, you would be counting until 29,700 B.C. In other words, if you were to count back 16 trillion seconds, you'd be counting back to over 500,000 years ago. Our politicians throw these numbers around like they're "No Big Deal" but what do you "think". The problem is....most of us don't. We just go along for the ride like the little piggie in the Geico
commercial. The only problem is, we're being driven right off the cliff. We haven't even begun to discuss our foreign policy, education, social security, etc. By the way, isn't an attack on another nation's embassy
"A Declaration of War"? Not sure...just asking???
Then we have an opposing candidate that just seems totally out of touch with at least half of the nation, well at least 47% that is. What are we gonna do folks? Of course we need to exercise our God given right to vote...but man...what choices!!! We need some bright ideas like never before so all of your suggestions are quite welcome. I look forward to hearing from you.
I think it is sad that anyone who runs for public office is cut to the quick, trashed and ridiculed for whatever stand s/he takes. It is no wonder that good qualified people don't want to participate in politics. I think it would help if we could agree to disagree without ripping our opponent apart, if we could discussion ideas and facts instead of personalities and suspected ulterior motives. If we could discuss instead of tossing sound bites back and forth.
ReplyDeleteI agree wholeheartedly. I think the entire process of "trying to find dirt on my opponent" has prevented very well meaning people from entering into politics. Even if they have lived a stellar and upstanding life they stand the threat of having their family drug through the mud.
DeleteUnfortunately, politics has been reduced to a popularity contest and "mud" sticks better than truth. In the computer field we have a phrase "Ten attaboys are wiped out by one oops." So, today's political environment attributes those "oops" even if they don't exist.
DeleteI like your comments. I wonder how many American citizens would agree with you. Like you, I am not real happy with our choices. I feel that politicians on BOTH sides seem to have forgotten that they work for US, no other way around. For the longest time I was against term limits for politicians. However, I am beginning to think that term limits would be a good idea for ALL our politicians.
ReplyDeleteYou make a very good point. Many of the senators and congressman and women have established such a stonghold in their districts that it makes it very difficult for a "better" opponent to defeat them. Often times it's the economic base of special interest groups alone that enable them to remain in office term after term.
DeleteI confess that I myself am not one to care too much what goes on in politics. But it seems like, over just the past 4 years, I could not help but get dragged in. Despite all the criticism that the overwhelming numbers seem to be judging George Bush, watching the news, the debates, the complaints, the 'tea parties', and all these other movements, even a person like me who does not have much connection with politics cannot help but have our eyes gawking at these occurrences and ask ourselves "what the hell has this leadership come to?" There is no perfection without compromise. There is always going to be someone that disagrees with something by any leader; it does not matter what side you are on. It is called differences. The whole point to electing a leader is for that leader to make the absolute best decision that leadership can make for the people. At least that is how I would think. And like your statement of intent mentions, the occurring election process does not feel like we are deciding who has the best educated plan possible for the people, but rather deciding who we should eliminate. I don't even know if I'd want to vote; too many advertisements backslapping each other. I don't want to hear how bad the other guy is. In this case, I want to hear WHY I should bother voting for Obama, or WHY I should bother voting for Romney.
ReplyDeleteI doubt if you're of the minority. It's difficult for any "thinking" individual to get excited about politics anymore. There are just way too many contradictions. Just the term "public servant" is an oxymoron in itself. I'm sure that there may be a few individuals who enter politics with good intentions but the great majority of them are motivated most by money and power.
DeleteI am with Matt. I even make it a point to avoid political debates. It is usually one of those "im right and your opinion is wrong" situations. All the luck to you with this post. I will enjoy seeing it develope.
ReplyDelete