Life in America 2010 - Political

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[DomainsInc]

You are so blind. You can easily switch out democrat for republican and it would be the same. Maybe your life wouldn't suck so bad if you didn't waste so much time online blaming everyone else for your own failures in life.

[500,000]

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[fab]

The answer is making government smaller.

[katherine]

The problem is that Americans have no real choice. They are locked in a two-party duopoly.
When you are fed up with one party you can only sway to the 'other' side. Where is the choice ?

[Gerry]

Same message.

New thread.

Your life sucks.

It's Obama's fault.

Blame the dems.

Dems bad.

GOP good.

George W. Bush = New Messiah.

Barack Obama = Anti-Christ

[fab]

Same message.

New thread.

Your life sucks.

It's Obama's fault.

Blame the dems.

Dems bad.

GOP good.

George W. Bush = New Messiah.

Barack Obama = Anti-Christ

Believe it or not, some members say the same thing just opposite.

The problem is that Americans have no real choice. They are locked in a two-party duopoly.
When you are fed up with one party you can only sway to the 'other' side. Where is the choice ?

Multiparty systems have numerous problems as well. Look at Israel, Italy, the parliments rise and fall all the time, no the US is not only a two party system for all those whiners. On the state and local level citizens are entitled to propose bills, which get voted by the populus into law.

Now please tell me, what does that have to do with two parties. Yes on a federal level that doesn't exist, but the federal government doesn't control the major aspects of life.

[Gerry]

Now please tell me, what does that have to do with two parties. Yes on a federal level that doesn't exist, but the federal government doesn't control the major aspects of life.

I believe a strong viable third party is perhaps one to two elections away (four to eight years).

Lets face it, people are sick and tired of the status quo regarding inaction and inactivity. At this very moment, party politics is crippling this nation.

We have 60-80 years olds in both houses that are still practicing politics 30-40 years old. It is the good ol boy system of politicing.

Since 1789, the First Congress, there have been a grand total of 2,167 people in the US Senate.

I really don't think the founders intended these seats to be filled with career politicians.

Look at some of these tenures:



1. Robert C. Byrd (D-WV)
Jan 3, 1959 to present
50 years, 10 months, 16 days

2. Strom Thurmond (R-SC)
Dec 24, 1954 to Apr 4, 1956
and Nov 7, 1956 to Jan 3, 2003
47 years, 5 months, 17 days

3. Daniel K. Inouye (D-HI)
Jan 3, 1963 to present
46 years, 10 months, 16 days

4. Edward M. Kennedy (D-MA)
Nov 7, 1962 to Aug 25, 2009
46 years, 9 months, 19 days

5. Carl T. Hayden (D-AZ)
Mar 4, 1927 to Jan 3, 1969
41 years, 9 months, 30 days

6. John Stennis (D-MS)
Nov 5, 1947 to Jan 3, 1989
41 years, 1 month, 29 days

7. Ted Stevens (R-AK)
Dec 24, 1968 to Jan 3, 2009
40 years, 10 days

Of the top 25 in Length of Service,

Three are still seated senators
Four retired or were defeated (Kennedy died) in 2009
Two more were seated in the first decade of 2000

So 9 out the top 25 longest in service since founded in 1789 have been in power for the first decade of 2000.

[fab]

I believe a strong viable third party is perhaps one to two elections away (four to eight years).

That's dreaming! I can only imagine one if a very popular personality will push one. Look how long the Peace and Freedom, Libertarian, Constitution, etc., have been trying.

Lets face it, people are sick and tired of the status quo regarding inaction and inactivity. At this very moment, party politics is crippling this nation.

Most people complain a lot more then they actually do. Look at this thread.

Politics in every country is dirty, regardless of the number of parties!

As I said before citizens can propose propositions.

[Gerry]

That's dreaming!

Then you read about the dream here in April 2010.

I give credit to a very young, politically active generation totally fed up with the status quo and those who represent the status quo.

# Federalist Party (c.1789–c.1820)
# Anti-Federalist Party (c.1789-c.1792)
# Democratic-Republican Party (1792–c.1824)
# Toleration Party (1816-c.1827)
# Anti-Masonic Party (1826–1838)
# National Republican Party (1829–1833)
# Nullifier Party (1830–1839)
# Whig Party (1833–1856)
# Liberty Party (1840–1848)

And more:

Hell, even Alaska has the Independent Alaska Party seeking independence from the US, the only nation that Palin would have a chance of being President.

[Infoproliferati]

American politics is partisan politics. Partisan politics places loyalty before issues. A young politician gets to Washington with the hope of changing things one day. But before the politician knows it, his alignment with one party renders him incapable of seriously considering the other party's proposal. Understanding partisan politics is really the fastest way to rise within the American political system. Even a majority of Americans buy it and align themselves with one political party through hell and the high seas. It is this type of politics that is hurting this country.

It is also for this reason that a growing number are starting to distance themselves from their own party. The mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, once a Democrat, figured he wouldn't win his own party's nomination as a candidate for a mayoral race. So he switched to the Republican party and won 2 terms. And then he realized that partisan politics doesn't get much done. Now he is a registered Independent.

Almost every other modern democracy despises partisanship. Who can get things done, is all that matters. The American political system needs to be infused with more of Japanese type civic responsibility. Resign if you can't get the job done. Japan has had 5 Prime ministers in 4 years. 5. For a country with the world's second largest economy, having 5 PMs doesn't look good in the eyes of the international community. But you know what? They want to get things done.

The U.S has to wake up to the fact that partisan politics is handicapping the decision making process of government. And it needs to do that sooner than later.

[Gerry]

American politics is partisan politics. Partisan politics places loyalty before issues. A young politician gets to Washington with the hope of changing things one day. But before the politician knows it, his alignment with one party renders him incapable of seriously considering the other party's proposal. Understanding partisan politics is really the fastest way to rise within the American political system. Even a majority of Americans buy it and align themselves with one political party through hell and the high seas. It is this type of politics that is hurting this country.

It is also for this reason that a growing number are starting to distance themselves from their own party. The mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, once a Democrat, figured he wouldn't win his own party's nomination as a candidate for a mayoral race. So he switched to the Republican party and won 2 terms. And then he realized that partisan politics doesn't get much done. Now he is a registered Independent.

Almost every other modern democracy despises partisanship. Who can get things done, is all that matters. The American political system needs to be infused with more of Japanese type civic responsibility. Resign if you can't get the job done. Japan has had 5 Prime ministers in 4 years. 5. For a country with the world's second largest economy, having 5 PMs doesn't look good in the eyes of the international community. But you know what? They want to get things done.

The U.S has to wake up to the fact that partisan politics is handicapping the decision making process of government. And it needs to do that sooner than later.

Many, many good points that echo my feelings.

Bravo for Bloomberg.