What is Digg?316 Comments
- wholly2b, on 10/10/2007, -9/+56I wrote this to hopefully polarize and mobilize those who read it, but also to try to start some intelligent, non-partisan discussion. I hope you enjoy reading it but I also hope it pisses you off.
- miriclaire, on 10/10/2007, -0/+29Ignoring the people in control is why you are where you are. Not only is it NOT the best thing to do--it is the WORST thing.
- UltraPenguinX, on 10/10/2007, -0/+28If people would act on what they think is right for society instead of what their political affiliation thinks is right, then perhaps we'd have a saner society.
- kindrobot, on 10/10/2007, -0/+17True insanity is when the rational are called extreme. Of course it's all relative, but we have been doing the same things in this country over and over expecting different results. Some of that has to change, and unfortunately many consider those who want those changes extremists. Until that point of view is reconsidered, we can expect more and more of the same.
That said, I must say that your article was well written, well thought out and is an example of GOOD blogging. Kudos. - chubbybubba, on 10/10/2007, -2/+19The media generally lives on the extremes of issues and thrives on partisanship. The media loves a good fight. Your outlook seems sad in that you tend to forget that the majority of people are and have always been in the middle. The majority of people who live, work and love regardless of political affiliation. Maybe in your world everyone is partisan but in the real world most people don't care. Everyone wants the same thing for themselves and their families. Look around. We have ALWAYS been more the same than different.
- Bayman, on 10/10/2007, -5/+21I agree. we need another revolution, maybe even a slight bit of anarchy. The government should be afraid of it's citizens, remember? Not the other way around...But the sad thing is, no one listens to middle-class, lower or upper. The government will only listen to people with big money. We need to use force, this is OUR country goddamnit.
- L33tmaster, on 10/10/2007, -0/+14We must be united as one!
"Two gin-scented tears trickled down the sides of his nose. But it was all right, everything was all right, the struggle was finished. He had won the victory over himself. He loved Big Brother." - zevgreen, on 10/10/2007, -1/+15THE problem with America? Wow... if only we had ONE problem.
- RanIntoTheDevil, on 10/10/2007, -0/+13But I saw on the TV that liberals hate America and that Conservatives are stupid fear mongers!
- gfair, on 10/10/2007, -3/+13The biggest problem in America today is the lack of separation of business & state. All of the political corruption talked about in the US these days seems to revolve around business.
What America needs is a separation of business & state, just like religion & state. The lack of separation is causing rampant corruption, it allows things like lobbying and kickbacks to go on, and it corrupts the basic purpose of government - to serve the people, instead turning government into a protection racket for business.
Look at things like IP rights in the US - massive changes to protect businesses, and remove rights from citizens. Without a business lobby, that would have never happened.
Separate business & state! - Alegoo92, on 10/10/2007, -3/+12If you read articles like the Federalist papers, our founders did NOT want partisanship and parties. It just happened, and seemed unavoidable.
Partisanship does tear the country apart: it causes hate and prejudice as well.. One thing I don't agree with is that "George Bush gives it a face." I'll say that right now (which is NOT UNUSUAL giving that we've had 8 years of Conservative rule)- the left wing has the most obviously abrasive partisanship. - Gaki, on 10/10/2007, -4/+13I don't think the radicals on the left have grown as much as you think they have. Much of the ire you see a) isn't from the left and b) will disappear when the Bush Administration ends. From a relative perspective, the radical left is far, far less organized (perhaps by nature) than the radical right. There is nothing, for example, to compare on the left for things like Jesus Camp, preachers/pastors telling their flock how to vote, etc. The Republicans swept the three houses in 2000 more out of sheer will and organization than anything.
Besides, we are a LOT closer to corporatization than Socialism or Communism at this point (unionism is at an all time low), so I really don't think the left is in its ascendancy. - MacEnvy, on 10/10/2007, -0/+8Yes. You generally shouldn't ignore them either.
Now go clean your room, Jimmy. - neoblaque, on 10/10/2007, -1/+8Excellent article!
I agree with all of your points, but would like to add one additional point. The two current major political parties have dug themselves so deeply into the pork barrel, that we are the ones who suffer. It seems their attitude is, "If I don't find someway to spend it, then someone else will".
Our budget is so completely out of control, that it will take more than a generation to get out of this swill.
Both parties are to blame, they financed billions of dollars to destroy Iraq, and now we must spend trillions more to rebuild it.
The only people that are winning are the military industrial complex and all of their minions.
The American people are forced to pay taxes based on all of these poor decisions by both parties, and smile as we write the check.
We must make both parties practice fiscal responsibility, or vote them both out, replace them with create thinkers and representatives willing to say no when led to the pork barrel. - SiSePuede, on 10/10/2007, -2/+9Sadly, I think the problem with America is that Americans are ignorant, lazy, and uninformed. There is no care to vote and Americans are doing their children no favors with regards to education as a society. I'm getting out of this country because for all the tax dollars I pay, I'm in the top 5% of earners, I don't see any of it going to anything I find remarkably worth putting money into.
I live in NY and riding the subway is like a glimpse into what's wrong with America. In one of the most expensive and one would think educated cities in the world, there are people who know nothing about history, politics, current events, government policy, or even anything outside of NY. Americans put themselves in a bubble and often that leads to less intelligent and caring beings. It makes me sad to have grown up to learn what a great country this is and see it eroding the way it is...but strangely I have no allegiance because this is nothing of what the creators of the country wanted it to be and it almost seems appropriate that a people who elect someone like George Bush deserve what they get...unfortunately, the rest of us have to make a decision as to what we want to do and my decision is likely to be "cut and run" becuase there is little that I see here worth saving that I can't happily find elsewhere in a place where society, as a majority, actually shares similar values about who they are and what they want. - Egoist, on 10/10/2007, -2/+9The purpose of a revolution is to change a government's political structure and constitution. The US has a brilliant system of checks and balances, but as long as there are humans, loopholes will be found and corruption will exist. It has been tried, but no revolution will solve that.
Want to change the US government? Run for political office and fight from the inside. - Brndon, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7Change of this magnitude requires a fundamental shift in the perceptions people have of themselves and society as a whole.
For the majority, as long as they aren't being directly inconvenienced of affected, it is difficult to visualize that freedoms are being stripped away or actions carried out on them. It's enough that they have food to eat, a home of their own, a television to watch, and health care (if they're lucky) and as a result see no need to rock the boat.
It is a heartfelt sentiment though and I applaud your efforts. By each of us doing a little, we can maybe someday hope to achieve a lot. - DavidYeah, on 10/10/2007, -0/+7What needs to happen is corporations need to have their rights revoked, and have them returned to entities with privileges instead of those rights like they were in days long past. Until then, they will containue to claim that putting piles of cash on the desks of campaign groups is somehow "free speech."
- soxxfan, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6You said you wrote this to polarize people... Which would mean further dividing people. That's not what I got out of the article. Nonetheless, I agree with a lot of what you said. When I was studying political science I was being taught that the polarization of elites in politics did not resignate with the majority of people, but this seems to be the case now. If the political elites successfully divide the masses and ignite a constant stream of bickering, then they will be able to do whatever they want, with people too divided to stand up together and oppose their tyranny.
- wholly2b, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6That's exactly what I'm saying: we are more the same than different. The people are in the middle, but the politicians are at the extremes. Does the president represent you, as an average American? Who is he serving if not the average American citizen? There are bad things happening in our government, and we're all looking the other way.
- bigtizzle, on 10/10/2007, -0/+6Why am I not surprised that your name is "1337d0Od"?
- ArtificialAnus, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6"I'm a unificater and not a divider upper"
- epsilona01, on 10/10/2007, -3/+8Impeaching anyone who deserves it is always worth it. I don't care if they're re-pugnant-cans or demo-craps.
I'm sorry the article is down, it sounds interesting. Here's my take anyway.
We have two 800lb gorillas fighting in our government. Neither one is willing to give, and neither is willing to compromise.. at least thats what they say. No matter which side, they're both after the same thing. Money and power. They're both corrupt (with a few exceptions.. kuinich, paul, gravel?) and neither side really cares about the people. Democrats say they want to help people, and give them money. Republicans say they want to better the economy. What they all do is take money from corporations, pad bills with self-interests, vote self-pay raises, and generally prolong a process that should be far more swift and decisive.
People say that impeachment will bring the govt. to a standstill. Why? Because it'll be a us vs. them argument for 6 months. They're not interested in what we want. They're interested in what their party leaders (i.e. rich white people.. and we're talking old money, and lots of it) want.
This is why NOTHING has changed now that we have a "democratic majority". They still approve Chimpy's illegal wiretapping. They still give an attorney general, who CAN'T EVEN ANSWER IMPORTANT, VALID QUESTIONS, more powers.
There are very few people in government on OUR side. The ones that are, are obviously outvoted, and usually they're not as supported by their 'party line', so it's harder for them to get elected. They really have to work at it. And they do, because they care about all of us.
How many candidates voted for the war? A war that is illegal, unprovoked, and solely about money. How many voted for the Patriot Act? An evil document that takes away our rights and freedoms, which were given to us by the Founding Fathers in the Bill of Rights.
The major parties want sheep. They want you to listen to what they say, and follow blindly. If you're a Democrat, you must disagree with Republicans. But the douche bags in office vote either for their mandated party line, or for their corporate sponsors.
They don't care about you. They have money. They want more money. They want you to follow and do what they say. Work in your wal-mart job, since they ran everyone else out of business. Take your lower paying service job, because the politicians have allowed all our manufacturing capabilities to go overseas.
Our economy is being destroyed, as is our government.
THE ONLY THING WE CAN DO IS VOTE. People must actually understand what they're voting for, instead of listening to talking heads prattle on. VOTE DAMNIT PEOPLE, VOTE.
VOTE, IMPEACH, and get our country back.
I support Ron Paul. I have a campaign sign in my front yard. There are other worthy candidates as well, both Kuinich and Gravel seem to actually be responsible politicians, though I haven't looked at them as much. If we start voting people in who really care about the people and this country, things will change. If not, we're all *****. - WorldBuilder, on 10/10/2007, -1/+6There's only one problem?
- wholly2b, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5I misused polarized, good call. Wish i could edit the comment. I posted it so there'd be something to reply to. From the rest of your comment, I can see that you definitely got the message I was trying to send.
- IHaveIssues, on 10/10/2007, -3/+8How about this for a change for the better:
maybe americans should stop trying so hard to appear wealthy at the expense of loving caring parenting. Sure you have your two large SUVs, 52" plasma HDTV in your McMansion, you got your crushing debt because of it and you have to work longer hours - who suffers? Your kids. The last couple of generation of kids are antisocial goth and cutters due to your neglect.
Wake up and rearrange your priorities. - miriclaire, on 10/10/2007, -0/+5I am, frankly, baffled by partisanship. How could en entire group of people all think the same thing? When you associate with a political party, do you just unplug your brain? Wait to be told what to think? Lose your voice altogether and let your leader represent you? Can you imagine how many individuals give up their integrity due to a perceived necessity to toe a party line? Makes no sense to me. The voting system should elect individuals--not mindless talking heads.
- wholly2b, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4That's not what I'm saying. I'm saying that we're so focused on being mad at each other for being who we are that we're letting the Bush admin get away with murder. We need to put aside our political differences for as long as it takes to repair our government. I don't think partisanship is an absolute bad thing, but it is in the current political climate where our leaders do whatever they want and we're too busy arguing to notice.
- DavidYeah, on 10/10/2007, -1/+5There seems to be this element of society that believes that if you say something is good, and that later turns out to be consdiered bad, but you stick with saying it's good, it's a positive trait. It's consdiered resilience, that no matter what the facts may say, you stick to your basic guiding principles. Otherwise you're a flip flopper that puts his finger in the air and sways to the changing winds of public opinion. To disregard the democratic elements of our society is the worst in unAmerican acts.
- DanNZN, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4If you look at most protests, what ever topic they are protecting is represented by around half the people and are generally controversial. I mean pro-choice vs. pro-life, Peace vs. Support the Troops, etc. When viewing such protests you are either with them or generally discard them as whackos. I think these are kind of no win causes for either side.
Now what we should protest is non controversial things like government spending, politicians on the take from whatever big business. Basically stuff that are big problems AND things that most people would agree with. I mean if 80-90% of the population is rallying over fixing the budget the politicians better listen. These are battles we can win.
You fix all the non partisan issues and hopefully the rest fall more into place because we would have a government that is now used to listening to its people. This post was no where near as eloquent as i was intending but hopefully you get my point. - atheinostic, on 10/10/2007, -5/+9Actually, Bush is the problem. Karl Rove's strategy over the past 6 years has been to "appeal to the base" and win elections by a 51% majority, and the Bush Administration has done this by pushing a far-right agenda while smearing the other side as "unpatriotic, "weak on terror" etc., which had the effect of deeply polarizing the electorate.
And the notion that people despise both parties equally is totally false. Polls have been showing that more Americans support the Democratic Party than the Republican Party by a 10% margin consistantly for over a year now. http://realclearpolitics.com/polls/ - VictoryGin, on 10/10/2007, -0/+41984 should be required reading.... although our government conformity factories(schools) would never administer that... also, i got my user name from it :)
- NOCTech, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4The problem with America is apathy
- NOCTech, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4The biggest problem with America is apathy.
- sonofdy1, on 10/10/2007, -8/+12The majority despise both parties equally. The radicals on the ends endlessly scream at each other. The real danger here is if one of the radical groups begins violent actions. It doesn't matter which. This has a very real chance of dragging the majority into a violent situation. What is the solution to this? A strong third party that is not radical. Bush isn't the major problem here, you could have just as easily inserted McCain into that spot and got the same result. It is the division between the radicals and the increase of the radials size, which has mainly grown on the left in the last few years. The radicals on the right could grow dramatically with Clinton winning in 2008. None of the left seem to be willing to heal the division, they simply want to destroy anyone with an (r) after their name and that will only increase the problem, polarizing more and more people. Is impeaching Republicans really worth the division and hatred it will garner?
- SquigglyP, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4Yes, i agree completely, and i am generally the first person to bitch about the blog spam around here. It's nice to see a few people are still writing original content for their blogs.
Either side of the political spectrum has only one window through which they can see if members of the other party agree with them, and that window is generally the media. The problem is that they will disagree with a good idea just because it's coming from 'the enemy' and because that's where the so-called leaders of their party stand, then that's where they will stand as well. They are given all the tools and phrases to make arguments and back claims, they believe these blindly and willingly. It's not because they think they're right, or the best way... just simply because their 'team' says it is so. The leaders will stick to their guns through this sort of crap because being 'wrong' is worse than being a flip-flopper. It is apparently unamerican to admit one's own humanity.
Bottom line: The two party system is an abortion of politics, and has served only to divide the country into two seperate nations: Washington DC and the rest of the country. The politico's only give a ***** about their little District and what's happening there. They genuinely do not care about the larger country they are supposed to be leading. There are a few exceptions, but overall this is the way things have been for decades or longer. It's been like this throughout my lifetime... 30 years or so... - robisfunky, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4 And you really believe the Dems plan to scale things back if/when they get into power? Hillary has some big surprises for you.....
- DiggsOnlyJew, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4I despise people in general who believe in unity, there has never been a period in history where humans have been at peace. We will, no matter what, find something different about a group of people and expand on it. Even today, for example, if one race of people destroyed all other races and was capable of surviving, that leftover race would find differences within it's group and eventually breed nations/clans/etc through their slight differences and the cycle would continue. The problem with America is the same problem humans have had for thousands of years... if you can't accept this, then of course we won't survive as a country, idea or as a people.
- ToadLeg, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4duggmirror got it:
http://www.duggmirror.com/political_opinion/The_Problem_With_America/ - robisfunky, on 10/10/2007, -0/+4 That's lovely. To which Utopia do you plan to flitter your gossamer wings and alight on?
- orlyfactor, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Yeah, because providing healthcare and education would make this country suck ass!
- inactive, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3The only problem with your theaory is generally speaking smart, moral people without potential for corruption through power generally don't want to be in politics. They shun the idiocracy of those they would be forced to work with and against.
- robisfunky, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Excellent point, Jon. Dugg. 'we all need to come together' is much like saying 'everyone needs to come around to MY way of thinking" partisanship is natural. It's not going anywhere.
- SquigglyP, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Partisan thinking = brainwashing. The two party system is basically a template for holy war. It's not really politics anymore, it's religion. People will believe what they are told, and they will avoid information that says they are wrong. It's why so many Christians will only read christian books, listen to christian music. it's why Democrats want to listen to Air America, why they watch certain tv and bash Fox. it's why Republicans watch Fox and listen to Rush Limbaugh. It's ceased to be the people thinking for themselves, and has turned into simply making as many little brainwashed pawns to vote for you as possible.
Sir, if all you do is find the little D's on the ballot and vote for them, then congratulations for being the problem with this country. You would vote for Hitler or Stalin, were they only to be alive and running for the democrats. For all you know about the people you're voting for they very well could be as bad as either of them. The two parties may have differences in their policies, but the PEOPLE running them are cut from exactly the same cloth. You vote blindly for Democrats, others vote blindly for Republicans. Congratulations on being nothing more than a pawn in the little war going on in Washington. - wholly2b, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4I agree with you; that's part of why I wrote this.
- miriclaire, on 10/10/2007, -2/+5Excellent point--and let's not forget religion and state. When political yahoos start promoting their own religious agendas, science goes out the window and the US gets closer and closer to becoming one of the countries they hate! Business, religion and state--what an awful mix for a country.
- Impetus, on 10/10/2007, -0/+3Yeah sure lets just trust our politicians to do everything ethically, honestly, and intelligently with no oversight of the people.
- AbsurdParadox, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4I think the real problem with America is the "sheep-factor". Millions have been made slaves by Big Government, and they're none-the-wiser. People have been brainwashed into thinking that the way our country is now is "just the way it is". On a daily basis, I see people both lambaste things such as taxation and our abusive police force, and then turn around and praise government programs and the 'protection' provided by the police force. And, this is from people that I would say are "intelligent".
You know, the Revolution was started by a small group of people, and even throughout, I've heard that only 1/3rd of Americans supported it (1/3 supported British control, and 1/3 didn't care -- nothing to back that up, just have I've 'heard') - BohicaTwentyTwo, on 10/10/2007, -1/+4I wouldn't say this is a non-partsian article. His hate for both parties might be equal, but the reason he hates Democrats is for their inablility to do anything about the evil republicans.
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