WARNING...a rant...
By lilwonders
@lilwonders456 (8214)
United States
July 22, 2010 2:35pm CST
I can't hold it in any longer. I just can't. So bare with me. But I think there are somethings that need to be said. Or at least I need to say them. Some hard truths we need to all face. So hold on tight...here we go.
What is up with us Americans? There is something fundamentally wrong with us. There has to be. I can't find a different solution than that.
We are stuck in our "right" and "left" camps and our politicans are laughing all the way to the bank with it. they getting paid to do nothing.
I know lots of people from all different political walks of life. And I would say just about all of them are good people. With common sense most of the time. But when it comes to politics we loose our heads.
This country is in DEEP trouble. We can sit around pointing fingers or we can fix it. So far it has been pointing fingers...guess what...it's not working. it is not fixing a dang thing. It is not the republicans who are in trouble or the democrats...we are all in this screwed up boat together. It is time to deal with that fact. But what do we do? We allow a bunch of loons in government direct how we react. They finger point and act nuts...we follow suit. Because "our party" could never be wrong and "their" party could never be right. What is the end result...nothing gets done and the problems get worse. Who suffers? Not our politicans...they use the "us vs them" to get themselves re-elected. We the public do are the ones who suffer.
So lets look at a few things:
1. Money- both sides spent it like it is going out of style. The republicans love to use the words "fiscally responsible" but they sure don't practice it when they are in office. So republicans....hold them accountable for it. Also...I have yet to meet an average citizen Democrat who is for "fiscal irresponsibility". They don't think government waste is a good thing either.They want a government that is smart and careful with their money as well right? But Dems supporters...why aren't you holding your guys feet to the fire about it either?
THere is tons and tons of waste out there. Both sides need to buck up and tightened our belt and make our politicans do the same thing.
2. Debt- we can't spend what we don't have..or we shouldn't. I don't know a republican or a democrat who is happy about our national debt or deficit. I have yet to meet anyone who thinks it is a "good thing". Ok...so get together and once again hold your elected officials feet to the fire and make them come up with a plan on how they are going to fix it. I know it will take time. But we have to at least have a 5 or 10 year plan on how it is going to get fixed or it will never get fixed. Have you been preasuring your party on how they plan to fix this problem?
3. Jobs- What to do...what to do. Well without jobs we can't pay taxes can we or spend money in the stores to stimulate our economy..and we are currently spending billions on unemployement. Well last time I checked republicans don't like being unemployeed..well guess what democrats hate it when they loose their jobs too. So what are you guys doing to get your elected officials to fix it? Where is the plan? Economists saying it is going to get worse. Once again..why are we not holding their feet to the fire.
We sit around painting the "other side" as the problem. When if you took a real good hard look you would "both sides" are to blame. so why not call them out on it? Why support them? Why defend them? All you are doing is enabling the worsening of YOUR problems by not making them fix it. People are sooo scared of talking bad or holding accountable one of their elected officials from "their party" when they mess up because it would "help" the other side. Ya...but letting them get away with it sure does not help you. Infact it makes things worse because our elected officials realize you will not only call them out on it...but you will defend them if they get caught....which enboldened thems to even greater unethical behavior. Time to think about yourselves people...not your party. Why? Because they sure as heck are not thinking about you. They are only thinking about money, power, greed and fame. Did you see the average citizen listed in any of that? Ya...now you see the problem. Sure they pander to you when it comes to election time. Manipulate you into "sticking with the team" against the "other team". Like one side is "good" and the other is "evil". Which is complete BS. I have yet to meet an average citizen of their party who was "evil". And as things stand right now...neither party is the "good guy". Well guess what folks..its not football. This IS NOT A GAME. It is our lives. So stop the high school clique BS and pull up your big boy and girl pants and get out there and kick some a$$. Not just the other "teams" a$$...but your own too. Infact...start with your own team. that way if the republican public is kicking their party politicans butts...and the democratic public is kicking their party politicns butts..well it will split the job and it will get done faster.
Why are poeple too afraid to call out their own party when they are corrupt, unethical and just plain incompetant? What "loyalty" do you owe them? They sure as heck are not loyal to you. You are not a lobbyist, you are not a major party donator. the people we have right now are up for the to highest bidder and baby...that sure as heck is not you.
Ok...my rant is over. I had more to say...but I think I will have mercy on my fellow mylotters and leave it at that.
4 responses
@thegreatdebater (7316)
• United States
23 Jul 10
LIL, I agree with you 100%, the problem is doing something about it. Both parties have entrenched themselves so much that it is almost impossible to compete against them. Money is the root of all evil, and our government is all about money. Even the Supreme Court voted recently that corporations can be treated like citizens when it comes to donating money to politicians (but you still can't treat them like a citizen when it comes to killing someone, Can anyone explain this to me???). I hate to tell you this, but I really don't see how we can really change our country.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
23 Jul 10
They can spend all the money want...but if the american public has had enough and turns on them all...well that money won't do them very much good will it.
The supreme court are a bunch of idoits....they really messed that ruling up.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
23 Jul 10
Here is what I don't understand about their ruling. The constitution covers citizens of this country. Corporations are not citizens. They are not flesh and blood people. Therefore they are not covered by the constitution. Now the individuals within the company are covered by it....as citizens.
So as individuals they can donate. As individuals they can endorse a candidate or work on a campaign or all the other things PEOPLE do in an election year.
Does a corporation get to vote in elections? No...but individuals within the company get to vote.
So if they can't vote...they can't give money. Well I better becareful how I say that....next you know some company is going to sue for the right to actually let tehir "company" vote in our elections.
@dboman (457)
• United States
23 Jul 10
Whoa! "The supreme court are a bunch of idiots..." I had to respond to this. There are idiots on the Supreme Court, but not the ones who were in the majority on this case. The Supreme Court ruled that donating money to politicians is protected under the First Amendment. Donating money is political speech, and therefore is protected. TGD loves to hate "corporations" but seems to ignore the Constitution.
TGD, if this ruling would have included labor unions as well as "corporations" would you have felt the same way?
I don't like special interests as much as the next person, but we must adhere to the Constitution. It's like lil said "if the American public has had enough and turns on them all...well that money won't do them very much good will it." Don't be seduced by campaign promises and money, do some research. We don't need protection from "corporations", we need to start thinking for ourselves.
@sierras236 (2739)
• United States
23 Jul 10
Andrew Jackson would have been your President. He abhorred a debt and almost had the National debt paid off prior to his leaving the Presidency. As charismatic and controversial as he was, he did have some good traits.
@sierras236 (2739)
• United States
23 Jul 10
Aye, but going on record alone, Andrew Jackson is the champion of the non-debt era. He might have succeeded too had he another term but there was all of that other stuff.
Specifically, it is the House that needs the scrutiny. They are ones that hold the power on all the spending bills.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
23 Jul 10
I would settle for a decent Congress. they have more power than the president.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
22 Jul 10
**clap**clap**clap**
Very good Lil! I agree with everything you just posted. This country is too divided right now and all of the anger, frustration and hatred is making some folks very blind. Voting one party out because you assume that the other one will be better is unrealistic. We do need to hold our elected offical's feet to the fire NOW and vote for candidates who will look out for what's in our best interests...regardless of what letter is next to their name.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
22 Jul 10
the parties like to keep us divided. It is easier for them then to re-elected no matter what they do or do not do....no matter how horrible they are. But if poeple would stop and look they would realize we really want a lot of the same things...especially with the problems facing our country right now. We need to stop worrying about "scoring political points" against the other side and treating this whole thing like a game and get serious about making them do their jobs.
Which is exactly what they DON'T want us to do.
The REAL "us vs them" right now should be
All of the American public VS All of our elected officials. Not "republican" vs "democrat". Because both sides are the problem. Neither seems to want to be part of the solution.
I would love to see the american public turn on them all like rabbid dogs....but I won't hold my breath.
@spalladino (17891)
• United States
23 Jul 10
I wish more people would realize that politicians are human and some of them are better than others. We have a hot senate racing going on down here. Our governor is the Independent, Rubio is the Republican and I have finally had the opportunity to see and hear the Democrat in the race. He is interesting as well. I won't vote the Party, which in my case would be Rubio, if he's not the best man to represent the people of Florida. I wish more would take the time to learn...and to vote out anyone who does not do his job.
@dboman (457)
• United States
22 Jul 10
OK, I agree with you on nearly all points but I do want to point out something I think you're not considering here.
The reason for the fighting is not whether or not to fix the problems, but how to do so.
For instance:
Fiscal Responsibility: While neither party has done this for a long time, liberal Democrats view this as using money from the rich to give to the poor and not spending money on defense. True conservatives (notice I didn't say Republicans) believe in taking as little money as possible from everyone and giving as little money as possible to everyone.
Debt: The issue here is that many people who are not knowledgable in economics and credit markets (a large portion of the population, including most politicians) are unconvinced that the debt is a serious problem. A larger portion of this group seem to come from the Democratic Party. For a very long time, basic economic principles have been ignored in our school systems and I think this is the result (this also pertains to the "fiscal responsibility" aspect). People on the Left want to decrease the debt by raising taxes, while people on the Right want to do so by drastically reducing spending. Neither is willing to compromise (of which I am of the belief that we need drastic spending cuts AND tax increases).
Jobs: Once again, the problem is HOW to fix this. The Left believes we need more government spending and government jobs. The Right believes we need to stimulate the private industry by deregulating and lowering corporate taxes. Both *say* that they want to help small businesses, but increased tax rates and more paperwork/bureaucracy won't do this.
As far as you're analysis of politician's motives, you're absolutely right. Greed, money, power, etc. So many politicians do not have the best interests of the American people in mind. They've ALL had a part in our woes these days, and we need to set our standards higher for the people we elect. Both sides try to portray the other as "bad guys", and this works much more than you would expect. People of each party have a hard time identifying when their party does it, though.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
22 Jul 10
The problem is they pander and show boat instead of compromise. One side is trying to "force" their way down the throat of the other..same for the other side. there is NO spirit of good will or working together solve a problem. It is all about "scoring points" against the other side. Which leads to grid lock and nothing being done. Both sides are so guilty of that it is not funny and is why we are in the shape we are in today. I can not say that either side has even put forth a DECENT effort to try to compromise with the other. they may play at it...but they are serious about working together.
also when it comes to deals and bills...lobbyists hold more sway and corporate american than the average citizens. Want a bill written how you want? just open your check book. Got enough money...they will write whatever you want. Which means they are in teh control of the lobbyist and not the american public. The only time they consider us is when htey have to try and figure out a way to try sell a stupid rediculous bill to us as "going to help us" when it fact it is going to help them and hurt us.
@lilwonders456 (8214)
• United States
22 Jul 10
Well the real question is what are we going to do about it?
Instead of standing for a party...we need to stand up for ourselves. There is a BIG DIFFERENCE.
@dboman (457)
• United States
22 Jul 10
"when in fact it is going to help them and hurt us." The eternal paradox of government officials. Government increase=help the politicians. Government decrease=bad for politicians.
I would disagree with you that neither side has put forth a decent effort to try to compromise on certain issues, but I understand why you think this.
As far as the lobbyists go, you're absolutely right. Lobbyists, unions, special interests, etc. have way too much power.
