If this administration has opened my eyes to one thing...

[Nexus2]

Its how much our system of governance is dependent on, often individuals, not behaving like childish, even apparently delusional and/or sociopathic jackasses.

[Sherman A1]

1. Agreed

I believe that the system of checks and balances need some updating.

[BlueTsunami2018]

2. I never thought the foundations were so paper thin.

Most of this stuff is based on tradition and honor. Gentleman’s agreements. It’s rather shocking that most of it doesn’t have to be followed at all and that there’s no one to really enforce any of it.

[LuvNewcastle]

9. And without gentlemen, it all falls apart.

One rude bastard can come along and bring the whole thing down, nearly. That desperately needs to be fixed. This shit can't be allowed to happen again.

[ananda]

12. I know.

Our system of checks and balances is
so broken right now...

[Buckeyeblue]

3. Agreed. With a little more cooperation Trump could have wrecked the whole damn country.

I think McConnell has demonstrated how a majority can put party politics ahead of the good of the nation. He does it with that damn chinless smirk. It's as if he is punishing the country because he has had to go through life looking so damn ugly.

[genxlib]

7. I agree with you except I would not use the term "majority"

A President who loses the popular vote by 3 million and a Senate party that represent 40% of the voters is not a majority. But the warped structure of our Senate and Electoral College means that a minority party can exert power like they are a majority. Making your statement even that much more critical.

[KarenS]

4. I am understanding more & more about

Individualism & making your mark versus what is done in the name of the 'greater good' no matter how it impacts you.

I was raised by staunch Libertarians,,,, Now I see them as selfish and petty.

I hate having everything legislated but with this 'administration' I see that gentleman's agreements & tradition no longer work.

[handmade34]

5. something

I posted in another thread that applies... a quote by Wendall Berry

"We have lived our lives by the assumption that what was good for us would be good for the world. We have been wrong. We must change our lives so that it will be possible to live by the contrary assumption, that what is good for the world will be good for us. And that requires that we make the effort to know the world and learn what is good for it."

[KarenS]

8. Thank you.

I've not heard this quote before,,,, I will be sharing it!!

[Chainfire]

6. I have learned that our Democracy

Is like a fine crystal vase. It can be a object of beauty and functionality for hundreds of years without people realizing how fragile it really is.

[Nexus2]

10. That is an excellent description.

And imagine giving that fine vase to a spoiled toddler that thinks there's candy inside.

[moondust]

11. It needs work.

Too much in government depends on "norms" honored by people of "good character" with good intentions. Tonight I heard that point made by both Lawrence Tribe on MSNBC and by Amanda Carpenter, former Ted Cruz staffer, on CNN. Maybe after the 4-year Dumpster fire of lawlessness and ignoring norms some improvements can be made to codify what's permissible and what's not.

[radius777]

13. Agree, more of this has to be hardcoded into law,

with real consequences.

Saw Lawrence Tribe on about the GSA stuff today and he said there's no legal consequence for her holding up the transition.

[Nexus2]

14. Something that aggravates the issue of the loosey goosey nature of our government is how some

of the honor and ethical folks treat these agreements, bargains and handshake deals as essentially suicide pacts, holding to them when they're inappropriate, being abuse or even used against them.

Its what lead to this insane situation we find ourselves in. There's pathological lair amoral sociopathic grifter threatening to undo the nation in a fit of childish pique. Ans hundreds, even millions are going along with or enabling it out fear, hero worship or other reason that make even less sense and are less sane.

And apparently there is almost nothing to stop him/them from the coup and other crimes they're just planning and enacting right in the open. Yes, fortunately it has a snowball's chance, but highly unlikely isn't the same as impossible and its really illustrated weakness and openings for the would be Demagogue, who may be smarter and more stable.

Can't anyone take the pistol away from the meth addled monkey, get sugar rushing toddler away from the driver's wheel just as an act of common sense and self/all preservation without waiting for authorization or the proper papers to be filled out?