Quote:
Originally Posted by Villages Kahuna
Is it any wonder that little has gotten done, or is getting done, in Congress? For one I'm really tiring of the political backbiting and sniping going on in Congress on a daily basis. If something is the other party's idea, it's dumb and awful and I won't vote for it. Those elected by the public continue to try to incite their "base" followers to feel the same. Much the same is evident even in this forum. Only occasionally are there productive discussions of issues. More often, it's more of the partisan mud-throwing.
The result is that little is accomplished in Washington that isn't the proposal of one party or the other, depending on which one has the political power. The idea of a bi-partisan approach to solutions simply isn't happening...and hasn't happened in years. Where have all the statesmen gone?
The scary thing is that the politicians are reflecting the feelings of the country. Maybe vice versa, but in a democracy you have to conclude that it starts with the people.
Normally, you would think that public opinion on almost any subject or idea would center on something "in the middle", with a distribution of thoughts, ideas and feelings surrounding some average. But the recent CNN Report Card on the President, the administration and even the media doesn't show any sort of "bell shaped curve". It is a startling bi-modal distribution. It's like the population of the U.S. is becoming in terms of income--lots of people at the ends and fewer in the middle, near the average.
Here's the overall results of the recent CNN poll. I'm sure the participants weren't scientifically selected, but there sure were enough participants (over 300,000 people submitted their votes) to make the results statistically reliable.
I ask this question...
What does it mean when 37% of the people grade what's going on politically with and A or B grade while 36% grade what's going on as F (failed)? If the public is that polarized--and I can't think of an argument that it is not--then what really can we expect from those we elect to represent us?
Is this the way a democracy is supposed to work?
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VK...I agree with your post !!!
However, I also agree with CABO !!!
I believe what I believe about the current President, but it has absolutely nothing to do with party politics in anyway !
There has always been a sort of divide, but in my opinion, the election of 2000 simply pushed the divide and partisianship "over the top"
Now, combine that with the way we are presented with "news" in this country due to the electronic age in which we live. If you watch our so called "news channels" that influence the thinking of the public it is SPIN and not news. It is predictable to a chilling degree what you will find on the cable "news" channels and the press which used to be an estate we could believe in seems to have taken sides to a degree so you KNOW in advance what you will hear depending on where you tune ! This applies to right and left in equal parts ! "Stars" of the cable channels openly campaign, and many folks believe it to be news !
Our elected officials have learned how to use the electronice medium and there are thousands of people who flood the internet hourly or even sooner with SPIN for whatever side has enlisted them with no regard to facts. This flooding of SPIN is all we know.
STEVE is correct that the voter is the culprit and the old adage of "the leadership you have is a direct reflection of those electing them applies" but in defense of the voters, they have no access to simple facts !
We are weakening ourselves so badly with what is happening, not only domestically but internationallly.
I am sad that I agree with the notion of simply voting against an incumbent.
That flies in the face of every principal I have and it is unfair I am sure but it is like we need a cleansing of all new people and give them a chance to do it right.
There are serious distortions about the health care plan (on both sides)....there were serious distortions about the stimulus (on both sides)...there were serious distortions about the Iraq war (on both sides), etc. It is so sad and scary that on such serious issues we are reduced to plain and simple partisan politics.
I am now so worried about this country, and from the WH to Congress we do not have the "parts" to fix it in anyway.
Sorry for the rant....I do not do well in this medium but suffice to say as a young man (I am 70) I never ever could have imagined my country being reduced to what it has become the last few years !