Why do you hope in the political element?

[trekkor]

I don't read all of the comments or threads on all of the issues here, but I consider myself pretty 'up' on peoples concerns in the communty.

Why do YOU think the real issues will be addressed?
How?

I have my take on it.

I'm honestly interested in YOUR hopes and expectations.
Also, why do YOU feel it will be different than any other election year.

Thanks for your replies.

Edit: When do YOU think the real issues will be addressed?

KT

[tabs]

This election is not about issues but who wields political power in Washington. That is the prize. Barrack is going to try and make the US into a socialist peoples paradise.

[trekkor]

who wields political power

I don't think that is really on the minds of the masses.
I think they want solutions to everyday problems.
Power and corruption go hand in hand.

Everyone sees that and despises it.


KT

[billyboy]

There is no solution from the politicians or mankind for that matter. History continues to repeat itself until it's over, once and for all.For the time being,the political system iswhat we've got to work with.

[Jim727]

I guess that depends on how you define "real issues". I'm a pessimist on this - in my lifetime I've seen the two major parties gradually move further from the center as party strategy trumps national interest. In general, we are no longer in a mode where a middle-of-the-road American is thinking of a candidate as being good for the country as much as they are being pushed to think of the other candidate as representing the end of civilization. Emotional polarization gets rid of those messy folks in the middle that need real information.

I don't think either the political "leadership" or the general population are willing to do what is necessary to get the government monster under control. Everyone has to give up something, but that's not what we are good at.

Unfortunately, I have no horse in this race. I find both parties sufficiently distasteful that I am unable to vote for either one. Should be interesting, but nothing good is coming out of this election.

[trekkor]

I'm surprised that I even got the few responses here.

There is no solution from the politicians or mankind for that matter

Most people are not honest enough with themselves to openly admit this fact.
It's easier to pretend things will somehow get better because of the words of some new guy.


I was listening to some talk radio show one evening on the road earlier this month.
The callers were trying to get the host to spell out his candidates proposed policies.
The host was more interested in making fun of the callers for not being 'informed' and wasn't going to go over it with them, instead telling them to 'get informed' or 'educate yourself'.

It was all bickering with no solutions being discussed.
People getting emotionally connected to a candidate regardless of what they say, do or end up doing.


KT

[Moses]

Government tends to mess things up when they undertake any task; welfare, Social Security, Medicare, etc. Government is pretty good at oversight; ensuring fair play, protecting civil rights, etc.

The government has grown by 60% in the last dozen years. Insane! I don't believe that any government will ever voluntarily limit their power or scope. With that in mind, I would like the citizenry to decide exactly how much government we are willing to pay for. After a binding budget is assigned, let the parties argue about how best to allocate the limited resources.

With that in mind, here's what I want from my government.

1) Lower taxes.
2) Stop legislating morality. The government should stay out of peoples private lives.
3) Corporate bailouts and corporate welfare should end NOW.
4) We are a Republic, not an Empire. We need to dramatically scale back our military ambitions. Korea, Vietnam, Iraq. All political and moral failures.

[DanielDudley]

Originally Posted by tabs

This election is not about issues but who wields political power in Washington. That is the prize. Barrack is going to try and make the US into a socialist peoples paradise.

Now I doubt that he will seriously be able to do that, and in six months, I'm pretty sure he will wind up a centerist. He might be able to get some of our debt paid down by those who have profited most by its formation, and that has got to be galling your spoons, Tabbie.

If I thought that McCain would take charge of his party, and clean up around the pool, I would be all for him. I know he hasn't got the smarts to pick a VP candidate like Palin, so I am pretty sure that somebody else is driving.

But really, look at Canada. Do you really think they suffer because of their government or health care system ? How about Japan or Sweden ?

[Moses]

Originally Posted by DanielDudley

Do you really think they suffer because of their health care system ?

Trick question?

[SirAndy]

Originally Posted by Jim727

In general, we are no longer in a mode where a middle-of-the-road American is thinking of a candidate as being good for the country as much as they are being pushed to think of the other candidate as representing the end of civilization. Emotional polarization gets rid of those messy folks in the middle that need real information.

I agree!
Andy

[VaSteve]

Originally Posted by Moses

Government tends to mess things up when they undertake any task; welfare, Social Security, Medicare, etc. Government is pretty

...


With that in mind, here's what I want from my government.

1) Lower taxes.
2) Stop legislating morality. The government should stay out of peoples private lives.
3) Corporate bailouts and corporate welfare should end NOW.
4) We are a Republic, not an Empire. We need to dramatically scale back our military ambitions. Korea, Vietnam, Iraq. All political and moral failures.

Not sure how you mean that the gov't messes things up when they implement these projects... When dealing with the people, people try to rob the government blind. Thus, more oversight is needed.

It's very complicated to run a complex, nationwide program.

I definitely agree with your #2.

[trekkor]

Stop legislating morality.

This is where it gets touchy...

One behavior is acceptable to some while it is abhorant to others.

I won't even give an example.
Take your pick. You can go from the least controversial to the extreme end of the spectrum.

I can't imagine a society where 'anything goes'.

There are many that live that way.
Everything is for self.


KT

[Moses]

Originally Posted by trekkor

This is where it gets touchy...

One behavior is acceptable to some while it is abhorant to others.

I won't even give an example.
Take your pick. You can go from the least controversial to the extreme end of the spectrum.

I can't imagine a society where 'anything goes'.

There are many that live that way.
Everything is for self.


KT

Personal behavior that puts others at risk is a legitimate target of government. Personal behavior that might "offend" others is not.

Abortion, it's availability and limitations are a reasonable point for discussion because at some point (as yet poorly defined) an unborn child is probably a legitimate beneficiary of certain rights.

[trekkor]

There was a shooting in the Bay Area a day or so ago.

A pregnant woman and her unborn daughter died.
Two murders.

Government says it's murder. ( as long as the mother doesn't OK it first )

This topic is much greater than abortion, though.

My question is really, at it's root, very basic.
Why do people think the governments will have success now, after so many years of trying?


KT

[Moses]

Originally Posted by trekkor

Why do people think the governments will have success now, after so many years of trying?


KT

That's a great question. I'm a bit of a fatalist on that issue. I'm certainly not looking forward to the next 4 years.

[trekkor]

Originally Posted by Moses

I'm certainly not looking forward to the next 4 years.

You are honest.

I don't know that anyone could say otherwise.
It has nothing to do with who's elected either.


KT

[Seahawk]

Originally Posted by Moses

Government tends to mess things up when they undertake any task; welfare, Social Security, Medicare, etc. Government is pretty good at oversight; ensuring fair play, protecting civil rights, etc.

The government has grown by 60% in the last dozen years. Insane! I don't believe that any government will ever voluntarily limit their power or scope. With that in mind, I would like the citizenry to decide exactly how much government we are willing to pay for. After a binding budget is assigned, let the parties argue about how best to allocate the limited resources.

With that in mind, here's what I want from my government.

1) Lower taxes.
2) Stop legislating morality. The government should stay out of peoples private lives.
3) Corporate bailouts and corporate welfare should end NOW.
4) We are a Republic, not an Empire. We need to dramatically scale back our military ambitions. Korea, Vietnam, Iraq. All political and moral failures.

I could not agree more with #4. What many people fail to understand is that the cost of the military is mostly in manpower: recruitment, training, salary, health care and the big velcro bugger, retirement funding and retirement health care.

We need to get everyone home and do a complete restructure of military roles and missions.

We then need a complete review of every government agency, roll back indexed budgets and mandate a 50% cut in manpower and budgets.

[Mo_Gearhead]

When I was a boy I was told that anybody could become President; I'm beginning to believe it.

Clarence Darrow

[carambola]

is it possible obama and his machine have realized how broken our government actually is and are paving a way for a civil revolution?

[Dantilla]

The far left says Mr. McCain will destroy our country.

The far right says Mr. Obama will destroy our country.

While we are facing uncertain times, our country is too big, and too stable to be destroyed within four years. What we argue about is which way to steer the country. It takes a long time to turn an aircraft carrier. It must be planned well in advance. In the same way, the next president will have a long-lasting impact over which way the country will be headed years from now.

I am discusted that the government not only grows every year, but it continues to be a larger percentage of GDP! How much is enough? For those that argue President Bush has grown government way too much, I agree. I've been disappointed in him. But the solution for change is not the guy who wants to vastly increase government even more.

Our political system does not necessarily attract the best and brightest- It attracts the power hungry. Just as no aircraft carrier lasts forever, we are not entitled to live in this great country. History teaches us that someday the United States of America will no longer exsist. It sure won't be within the next four years, but our political arguements are necessary to keep this experiment in democracy alive as long as possible.