America is a mess. I don’t know how anyone could come away from the election not believing so. I’m having a hard time deciding if this is still one nation united. The country is as far away from a middle ground as heaven and hell. They two dominant political views are complete opposites, there is no room in political minds of either side for compromise. This is the sort of environment that leads to civil war; circumstances are that dyer.
The electorate is uninformed. The most intelligent answer I heard from Obama supporters was I agree with his policies; a policy was never actually mentioned. Perhaps this is clever news editing, but from my experience the public does not understand public policy. It’s not their fault. The news doesn’t teach public policy and a candidate isn’t required to actually talk about public policy. When we agree, and I am including myself in this, it is due to a vague ideological position. We are lions without any teeth. Our leaders do not care if we know public policy and continue to thrive on a planned mass ignorance. I can see the smokey rooms full of the cackles of evil men degrading the common man.
The Republicans are no better. All I hear is double talk, rhetoric, and especially anger. I just don’t get the anger, do they really hate the people they are angry at; does 50% of America really hate the other half? How could I draw any other conclusion. Yesterday morning Fox 5 in New York barely covered the Presidential results; it was obvious and comical. This is a child’s mentality, “if I ignore it maybe it will go away”.
We have 4 years to prepare for the next election and we owe it to ourselves to engage in the decisions that affect each and every life. In that time we have duty to develop the infrastructure that can make this happen. It has to be open and free to all positions. It has to be scalable,; easy for the novice with the depth of the seasoned. It has to be free from corporate or political funding otherwise it will be hijacked for other ends. I suppose that is my vision for SJS, only time will tell if others agree.
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Although I agree with a lot of what you’re saying, I disagree when you say it is not the electorate’s fault they are uninformed about public policy. If the “news” only talks about Kim Kardashian, people should have enough sense to know that the “news” is not talking about the issues that matter, and therefore we are responsible for finding the answers elsewhere. Like, perhaps, a legitimate news source like the NYT, or even C-Span etc. Public Policy is public record, anyone who wants to can look at it. The reason this country is failing is because WE are being too lazy to inform ourselves. It is OUR fault, the CITIZEN’S fault, for not participating in our own government’s affairs. It is not anyone else’s responsibility to to make sure we pay attention. Most American’s are just too apathetic to care. And until the MAJORITY cares and informs themselves, this country will continue to fail.
In either case I think we can both agree that this is THE major problem?
Oh I definitely think it is the primary problem. It can be pretty scary out there, thats for sure.
The issue is 2 political parties who are opposite in their philosophy. There is always a middle ground and for the sake of the American people, Republicans and Democrats have to meet in the middle.
I agree that the richest should be taxed more-they can afford it. We have the Rich and everyone else. It is similar here in Canada too regarding the weathly and everyone else.
I would love to see a President like Franklin Roosevelt and Eleanor Roosevelt in power again; think of the time they were in power and all that was created for the American people,jobs, SW grew our of necessity providing basics. Those were even more difficult times than now-
Today the issues is overconsumption and materialism which leaves people further in debt as they are trying to keep up with the wealthy-not possible!
People need to learn to live withing their means, pay down debt and focus on family, friends and community.
I see hope in trends not relegated to the two major parties- the growing strength of the Libertarian movement. Gay marriage, marijuana legalization, expansion of gun rights, expanded gambling, allowing illegals a better route to citizenship…cutting red tape, allowing more personal freedom, shrinking unnecessary rules and regs- these are the things that will lead us to a more prosperous and fair society.