This post is two days late, but I hope it won't be a dollar short as well. I'm really lookinng for feedback, because--honestly put--I don't know what to think anymore.
I'm talking about the American political system. This week, for the first time in five years, I was not in a TV newsroom on election night. This meant not working the dreaded Election Day double (a 16 hour shift), not getting free pizza for dinner, and not knowing exactly who won basically every race in the state. In fact, since I am currently out of state visiting family, I still don't have a clue who won any of the races back home.
While I didn't technically "miss" working on election night, I did miss being informed about the issues, the races and the candidates. It seems like--now more than ever--neither side likes each other; actually, it seems like they out and out hate each other. In the spirit of full disclosure, I am a political centrist. I have voted for Republicans and Democrats on the local, state, and national level. I agree with Democrats on a lot of issues (particularly social issues) and with the Republicans on many others (like fiscal responsibility). And I don't hate either side...
I hate BOTH sides.
I think the American political system is broken. I scoffed at haughty Republican commentators on Fox News (a word of note: this recently-retired news producer--and just about everyone she's ever worked with--does not think Fox News is "fair" nor "balanced"...), saying that now the Republicans would be able to "fix" the country. Really? You only control one house of Congress; with a Democrat-controlled Senate and a Dem in the White House, you'll be able to do even LESS than the Democrats were able to do with control of all three for the past two years.
Neither side is willing to work with the other. Most Republicans (Olympia Snowe aside) were completely unwilling to work and compromise with the Democrats; I fully expect the Dems to be as hostile to a Republican-controlled House. If neither side is willing to give a little now and then, how can we expect anything other than a stalemate?
It's a shame that the donkey and the elephant are the political "symbol" for our two political parties; I think one of the symbols should be a goat instead, because that's what I'm looking for-- a scapegoat. I'm looking for someone to blame. Maybe it's the system itself. A party system that divides American into just two real groups is too black and white; it doesn't accurately represent the American public (or at least, centrists like me). It's like saying the rainbow is either red or purple, and ignoring all the beautiful shades in between.
I'm looking for some debate-- I want to hear from you, regardless of where you fall on the political spectrum (or, if like me, you're close to chucking the political spectrum to he!!). I want to know what you think will fix what I see as a failing system; or if you think I'm crazy to think the system is failing at all. Keep it polite, but be real:
I have had some of the same thoughts you do. Either people don't remember or don't get it but in 2006, when the Democrats took over it was all the same type of talk. "Well now we can fix things." And "The world is going to end because they are in power now" Then you add in the lies and falsehoods both sides put out it and it just makes me not want to care anymore.
I am not sure what the solution is but what we have going right now is stupid and isn't doing us any good.
I was just thinking the other day that we need to scrap the entire two party system and run like we used to in school. You didn't affiliate with a party- you stood up and said what you believe in and what you intend to do if elected and then people voted. The end. I think that all these ads sponsored by this party or that party... it's all about money and careers and there is no longer any true focus on the people.
I totally agree. Eric and I neither one affiliate with one party and have been disappointed with the way our government is currently running. Eric didn't even vote on Tuesday b/c he figured it didn't really matter. It's even spilled over into friendships in a "I can't believe you voted for a Republican/Democrat" kind of way. Things aren't getting done in our country (in my opinion) because of the political party label attached to them. The Democrats won't get behind anything a Republican proposes and vice versa (again, from what I've come to understand and observe of late).
I also think it's sad that so much money is being spent on campaign ads that simply paint the opposing candidate in a bad light. Maybe it's just me, but quite a few of the problems the government says they're trying to "fix" in this country could be fixed if the money were directed at fixing the problem instead of smearing someone's name (I know, this is wishful thinking).
I don't think any of this is going to change anytime soon though.
I am ready for ALL the issues to be placed on the ballot and let WE THE PEOPLE vote! Like healthcare, etc. Let us make the choices by numbers!! We hand all of this power over to the people we elect. Many of them that have NEVER walked in the shoes of the rest of us to even know how what they vote on impacts the rest of us!
It's a mess. I don't see it getting any better either. That's sort of how I feel about it. I'm a bit of a deb the downer regarding the state of our country's political affairs. We don't get anywhere by fighting and other forms of nastiness either. I'm still thinking about it all.
That must have been interesting watching election events unfold from the outside this time.
I see an abundance of self-serving and indulgence on both sides, and it is no wonder that many Americans have become supportive of the other movements trying to develop.
I hear you! I didn't vote for a single Republican or Democrat this time around, only random 3rd parties (that weren't Libertarian or Tea Party...whoops, starting to show my true colors here!). I feel your frustration and hope we can continue to all work within the system to make it better and make this country a better place. It's a shame one can't be passionately moderate. The problem is that the heat, the passion, and the ambition and drive that get things done naturally fall to extremes. That makes it hard for those of us who can understand both sides (and I imagine that's actually most Americans) to have our voices heard and our opinions carried out- we don't have enough fire in our bellies to fight for our moderate views.
Honestly my dad made the best comment when we were talking about it during his last visit.
The country operates best when the congress is split with the majority of all 3 (house, senate & POTUS) not being of one political party b/c busineses know things won't radically change. People know their taxes won't get spiked.
Since I learned the split was good in HS, based on history, his reasoning made a ton of sense...
I agree we have a lot to work on to improve our country, but stopping a single party movement is a huge step in the right direction. Personally, I'd be happy if they stopped legislating & or focused on repealing legislation that is showing not to work as inteneded (NCLB for ex)so businesses felt confident in making decisions that won't bite them based on new taxes or legislation (ex. CapnTrade)
You know it's bad when your 11 year old asks you how much longer we'll have to listen to the political ads with everyone talking about how bad the other person is. I've spent his whole life telling him, "if you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." And I still believe that. But how can I expect HIM to believe that when every other commercial is someone talking bad about someone else? He's already sick of the process, and he still has 7 years before he's even able to vote! How sad is that?!
Mich
The political ads were even more nuts this year than usual. I am truly just completley turned off by the craziness our system has become.
Great post!
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