by The Rebel 21 Replies latest jw friends
Sometimes you get a proficiently honest politician, sometimes you don't but at least the general public in a democratic society has the choice.
As appose to Dictatorship, Communism, fascism etc. democracy is the lesser evil
In a democracy the pubic has as a influencing say to how the government should be run and what it should do .
Aren't we glad that we aren't living in North Korea or Syria right now, I know I am ?
The UK political coverage is a million times better than it is in the US. Probably because it's driven my money much more.
It's incredible how lame the interview are over here - they pretty much ask a question and then allow the candidate to spout a little party-political broadcast about whatever they please and they never ask even the obvious follow up questions or challenge them on obvious whopping lies.
They really need a Jeremy Paxman to tear into them.
I really miss the BBC and Question Time, Radio 4 etc...
I have exercised my right to vote for decades.
I understand that in a presidential race my vote is not going to make much of a difference on a national level in the USA. What it will do is off set someone else's vote who is voting for say a Donald Trump or some other chowder head.
It is going to make a difference when it comes to State politics, example, Jim Web became Senator for Virginia by 900 votes. Al Franken won his Senate race in Minnesota by 312 votes. Votes count.
There are 7,000 people who live in our small city. So every vote counts. Interesting to note City Council and the Mayor hold unpaid jobs. . Also important are State representatives, Congresspersons etc.
If I go to cast my vote for our Mayor....... every one else I can vote for is lined up for me........ it takes a minute a little longer if I have to read a proposition. Not to vote would be foolish as it is in my best interest to do so.
One big problem with American politics is the focus on the Presidency. Constitutionally, what the President can actually do is limited, or supposed to be. Laws are enacted by Congress, not imposed by the President. This is routinely ignored by everybody involved, candidates, media and voters. So we have all these people running for President promising to deliver a sky full of butterflies and unicorns when they don't have any reasonable chance of doing so.
Not every problem needs to be fixed in Washington, DC. A lot cannot be fixed in Washington. Your local officials have a much greater influence on your life, but the media and voters don't spend enough time looking at the options. I live in what is effectively a one party locality, and increasingly at the state level. The result is a lack of serious discussion of alternative ideas.
Some parts of the UK are like that - traditional labor or conservative and always voting someone in with a massive majority so it can feel like your vote doesn't count but it does, even if it just tips the "popular vote" stats.
It amazes me how some communities vote for the same idiots who don't ever do anything for them, then they wonder why they are in a mess. If you have a vote you have the ultimate power. If you didn't bother to vote then all your complaints about your local municipality and how it's governed are hollow IMO.
There needs to be more informed debate and a better educated electorate. You only get good results if you have a good process.
The words "President Trump" should send a shiver down the spine of everyone - I don't care what your party affiliation is. They guy is a fascist idiot and if he's like this when he's trying to be appealing, imagine what he'd be like if he had power? Who hasn't he insulted or claimed should be rounded up, beaten up or just ridiculed?
The fact that there is so little outcry is a terrible indictment of the US political system and the electorate and more specifically the republican party - at least that part of them that site, nod and clap when he comes out with his BS. Shameful.
I watched one of the so-called debates for the GOP nomination. I was stunned by the collective stupidity.
The first question asked them to admit to their greatest failing. All of them launched into a speech that had nothing to do with the question. Nobody held them to account.
It was pathetic and simplistic, full of jingoistic bullshit.
From this side of the pond it leaves us with a very poor view of anybody who has the least bit of respect for these idiots.
Although I don't trust ANY politicians, it's still a citizens right to vote!!
The JW's misinterpretation of ''not taking up arms'' is misapplied to voting as well. The JW's take away a person's right to vote, which is just plain WRONG''!!! IMHO.
The problem is that we as a species are the only hope for a better world. The only faith worth having is faith in humanity.
Faith in humanity doesn't come easy with America as the "world leaders" and 1/3 of the world's populations heads firmly implanted up Allah's arse....
It was pathetic and simplistic, full of jingoistic bullshit.
It really is bad, especially for a country that touts it's freedom and democracy as being some sort of standard against which others should be judged.
From this side of the pond it leaves us with a very poor view of anybody who has the least bit of respect for these idiots.
At least you still have a pond separating you from them. We just have a couple of guys stood at the border.
