Can someone please try to restore my faith in the political system?

[darkangel218]

Why should we care who wins the election? Does it even matter anymore?
Do you remember when Obama won his first term, how happy we were? I was crying and hugging strangers ! I was so happy that " the people" won, not the corporations and the war monging jerks. Tears of joy.. and hope.
Same thing in 2012. I hadn't lost my hope. Every day I woke up telling to myself, today you have to work harder. Make those phone calls. I had tears in my eyes every day I was watching President Obama speak..
...

And today, I sit here contemplating. Does anything even matter anymore? We are not the 1%.

And apparently we don't have a say in the big scheme of things.

[Gregorian]

1. Norm Solomon.

What I see now is mostly emotionally damaged children running our government. I think Obama is up against a brick wall. I imagined the day he walked into the Oval Office, and there were a group of old men who said "This is how it's going to be". Or else.

But there are Norm Solomons out there. Dennis Kucinich types. But we have to vote them in.

There's another way of looking at things. Shit is about to hit the fan. When the temps go up, and coastlines start getting submerged, suddenly the emotional crippled old white male politicians are going to stand there all silent while the real humans get to work.

I see hope, even if it's all hopeless.

[darkangel218]

42. Theyre not emotionally damaged children.

They get paid more than you and I ever will.

and they don't care about us, the people.

Proven fact.

[Gregorian]

56. Oh yeah. Look at George Bush. Linday Graham. John Boehner.

The majority of the men in Congress are emotionally damaged. I'm talking about child abuse. But this seems to go over people's heads here. Most children are abused, and it goes under the radar. It's why we have Zimmermans.

[frazzled]

2. Try this:

Move to Zimbabwe for 5 years or so.

If that sounds too harsh, please remember that all things change. The seemingly intractable division in this country that has stopped down Congress and prevented President Obama from making the changes he would desire ... this too will eventually subside. We are living in a crazy period, and you can make yourself crazy thinking about it.

Sorry I don't have any better advice than patience and continued efforts. This country has lived through even worse times than this during its several centuries of existence. It's not just the politics that divides us and hinders progress. We are divided culturally on so many fronts as well. We live in the nation of Honey Boo-boos and Kardashians, a vast cultural wasteland, while some of us still try to inject some semblance of dignity or interest into the culture. (And it exists on TV, too, in the rare Breaking Bads or documentaries that are popping up more frequently).

Technologies, from cable TV to the Internet, have changed the landscape in untold ways, dividing and confusing us--more so than the social, political, and cultural turbulence that arose from the Industrial Revolution. Somehow, at some point, it will settle down (though perhaps not before some unpleasant scenes unfold), and hopefully, a more rational era will come to prevail. At least for a while.

In the meantime, if you can't move to Zimbabwe ... maybe take up knitting for a while.

[darkangel218]

10. So in your opinion, its political system, equals the country? lol. nt

[frazzled]

36. It is most certainly a reflection of it.

Unless, of course, one is deluded enough to think that one's own perspectives are held by everyone else.

What an odd take you have on things. And why bother to ask a question if you're not willing to discuss responses? (I don't care if you agree or not, but at least attempt a cogent counter-argument. "Lol" is not an argument. I'll remember not to bother to comment any more.)

[darkangel218]

37. Whatever.

Good luck.

[PowerToThePeople]

3. You just need to choose the 3rd way, everything will be fine.

[L0oniX]

32. Right leaning centrist is all the rage ...under the title Democrat. n/t

[quinnox]

4. huh. well in my view, the recent developments are cause for some optimism

The Occupy movement was one sign, and that feeling has not dissipated, though it appears no longer physically around. And there was wiki leaks/Assange who started exposing crimes at the top, and while now quiet, this also still has echoes and ripples just like Occupy. And then we had Snowden come out with his revelations. Plus the people rising up in the Middle East against dictator types. So I think there is definitely things happening that give room for optimism.

[darkangel218]

11. Optimism, yes. But how much of our optimism/hope will come true?

so far is status quo. the very thing we fought against.

[Mojorabbit]

39. I hope you are right. I have lost all hope myself the past month or so

I really believed he was going to govern like he campaigned this past election. I thought that now that he did not have to worry about getting elected he would push hard for the average Joe. I hope people start to pay attention and soon. I am in mourning in a weird way at almost 60 years old.

[Cali_Democrat]

5. "I was crying and hugging strangers"

Sure you were.

I view your post as an attempt at voter suppression....implying it doesn't matter who is President because both parties are the same.

Go sell that somewhere else because I ain't buying. I'm not going to be distracted while the GOPers try to take the Senate in 2014.

[darkangel218]

9. LOL. im not going to fall for your obvious FLAMEBAIT.

I could care less what you think, cali_democrat.



I am not a liar, I speak my mind. But like I said, I could care less for the personal attacks coming from you and your ilk.

Have a nice day.

[L0oniX]

29. Clinton worship is the real voter suppression. n/t

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

6. "History has tried to teach us that we can't have good government under politicians.

"History has tried to teach us that we can't have good government under politicians. Now, to go and stick one at the very head of government couldn't be wise." Mark Twain

[liberal_at_heart]

7. don't look at me. I have no faith in it either.

I do however have faith in the fact that history always repeats itself and everytime in history when the rich have hoarded all the wealth the poor have risen up and taken it back. When that will happen, no one can tell but it will happen.

[darkangel218]

12. I hope youre right.

x

[RKP5637]

38. That is what keeps me going, and also that nothing lasts forever. I don't know if

I'll still be around for the change, but this will not go on forever and hopefully it will be for the better, for the majority poor.

[millennialmax]

8. I didn't vote for Obama in 2008. I did in 2012 because I was impressed with his performance.

And I still am.

[hfojvt]

13. it is certainly wrong to focus only on the White House

Our victory in 2008 was unfortunately followed by the backlash of 2010.

We would be in a different place today if Nancy Pelosi was still speaker of the House and if Democrats had 62 Senators instead of 53 going on 49.

Hell yes, those elections matter. You think there is no difference between Feingold and Johnson? Between Baldwin and Thompson? Between Scott Brown and Elizabeth Warren?

You think it would not have sent a huge message if Rob Zerban had defeated Paul Ryan in his Congressional District? If Vicki Hartzler could have been replaced?

One reason we are where we are is because too many representatives of the 1% have been winning elections.

The sad truth though, is that they seem likely to win again in 2014 and 2016.

[darkangel218]

15. So POTUS couldnt have repealed the Patriot act? stopped the drones from killing inocent people?

Make healthcare affordable? stopped environmental abuse? invest our surplus budget in schools, hospitals and roads, rather than military?

lol. nevermind.

[Motown_Johnny]

14. Vice President Palin, in her second term, the front runner for 2016

Think about it.

[darkangel218]

17. I thought about it.

"Chose the lesser evil", you mean.

[Motown_Johnny]

19. Always.. and if done consistently you might someday end up

with a choice that is not evil at all.



Maybe

[liberal_at_heart]

21. nope. I've done that for 19 years. Not doing it anymore.

[Motown_Johnny]

23. Ah.. so just let the more evil choices win. Great plan!

(For the sarcasm impaired)

[liberal_at_heart]

24. say what you will. I will vote my conscience.

[Motown_Johnny]

26. Good, because if you do that then the lesser evil is always what you will choose.

[liberal_at_heart]

31. you are wasting your time with me. Move on.

[CakeGrrl]

46. I've seen that suggested for real.

Some here are willing to burn everything down to "save" it.

I'm not sure how long they think things will recover. Certainly not in their lifetimes if they let the GOP have it all in 2016. There's a chance the GOP takes the Senate in 2014, so the GOP could have total control of the Legislature.

How motivated will the GOP/Tea Party be to have COMPLETE control in 2016 (with a 5-4 GOP SCOTUS) if that happens?

That's some scary shit. 'DLC Dems' don't have anything on the idea of a complete GOP takeover of the Government.

[darkangel218]

22. lol. that would work perheps if i was immortal. nt

[Motown_Johnny]

25. Really? You don't like anyone?

Al Franken ? Bernie Sanders? Alan Grayson? Elizabeth Warren? Anybody?


"Cause if you do, then there was someone out there who you could have voted for that was not a lesser of two evils choice. Maybe you don't live in the right place to have placed that specific vote, but the possibility existed.

Of course, if everyone had just let the evil choices win all the other elections, so that they have total control of government, then those non-evil choices would never have existed.


Sorry if this is harder than you would like it to be.. I think it is called "Life".

[darkangel218]

34. What are thew chances any of them will run/get elected except Warren?

Alan Grayson , no. I have lost faith in him. I PMed him once regarding an issue in his district, which I happen to live in. he never got back to me.

Im sorry for feeling hopeless. Trust me, is not how I would like to feel.

[tabasco]

16. Yeah, right.

Cool story.

[darkangel218]

18. Right back at ya!

[kentuck]

20. Sorry.

Can't help you.

[L0oniX]

27. Welcome to the world of the Dem zombie voter. n/t

[forestpath]

28. I see nothing to have faith in... Both parties are bought and paid for

by the 1% and that's who they answer to, not us. There may be a few Democrats in Congress we can count on but I can count them on the fingers of one hand.

Obama gives pretty speeches, but that's all they are, empty words. His actions are loud and clear as to whose side he's really on.

[darkangel218]

30. I feel the same, sadly.

[PD Turk]

33. Ok, here goes

Um, yeah...... eh..... I got nothing

[MindPilot]

35. But if we just elect one more Democrat, things WILL be wonderful.

The next time it will be different! You'll see! Just wait, the new guy will be so awesomely awesome!!

If we all just go vote, just one more time, we'll get it right this time. Promise!

Yeah...fuck that shit. It's over, the great American experiment has failed and all we are seeing now is the basic stages of grief. Many of you are still in denial, some of us have advanced to seething, barely controlled rage, and a few have entered acceptance.

[marions ghost]

43. I hope not many

will go in for "acceptance."

[RKP5637]

40. Given Congress now has about a 12% approval rating, eventually I think

things will change and hopefully for the better. I think a lot of people are really fed up with it all ... and when it comes to progress, I feel like the politics in this country are a constant domestic argument. Many I know are fed up with it all. There are some very good politicians, but they get overshadowed by the crud.

[Comrade Grumpy]

41. No. Sorry. n/t

[Zorra]

44. I can help.

Hi.


But you will have to help us



get this first...



The head is the main ingredient that makes Democracy Potion #9 work. There's no hope otherwise.

[darkangel218]

45. You forgot the magick fortune cookies.

[Zorra]

50. Those will be served after the bull is finished. nt

[AlinPA]

47. I'm not giving up, but I'll say the politics are the worst I have ever seen. I voted for Kennedy,

so I have seen a tot of dysfunction, but nothing like this. It is probably fair to say that there is nothing that congress would agree to except increases in their perks and salaries.

[Taitertots]

49. You should never have faith in a political system

You don't want to ever trust politicians in the absence of evidence.

If you think the government is bad now, just image what would happen if well meaning people like yourself stopped caring?

[marions ghost]

51. I don't have much faith in the current political system

--it needs a massive overhaul--but I hope that more Americans will wake up and pull together to reject the way the system has been gamed and the basically honest, hard working people of this nation have been abused. The system is broken.

Our interests are not represented in government whatsoever. You are right that it's owned and operated by the 1%. In the old lament, we owe our souls to the company store. And now they are data-mining us, ultimately to control and exploit, make no mistake. I don't blame Obama so much since I knew when he was elected that the system is rigged against us and he was not going to be able to accomplish miracles. I'm angry that he has been thwarted in some things he wanted to do, and disappointed that he has capitulated on others, but I never invested in him as our savior, tho god knows we need one. His ratings are slipping and Congress (with few exceptions) is downright detested. The people are not happy with this state of affairs. You are not alone. We need to keep sending them a strong message of No Confidence.

I understand what you are feeling darkangel218, considering what we are witnessing. But I just have to think that if more of us get completely fed up we will overcome those who would own and oppress us. I have to think that we still have some degree of power, pulling together. Pretending that things are OK will get us nowhere, so this stage of grief and letting go is necessary. And then, we must fight on. It is not time to give up.

[nadinbrzezinski]

53. At the hyper local level it still matters...a little

After that....

[nadinbrzezinski]

52. As I have said it before

We vote to keep in practice for when it matters. It no longer does.

I intend to vote my political values, not lesserism

[CrispyQ]

54. I no longer believe we will affect change through the ballot box.

The electoral process is too compromised what with redistricting, electronic voting, Citizens United & voter apathy. Hell, I can understand why they're apathetic. The politicians shift further & further to the right. I don't think America is as right wing as the media tells us. That's why they were so eager to amplify the teabaggers message, to make it sound & look like a huge portion of America is far right.

On economic issues, the two parties serve the 1% & they use social issues to keep the 99% divided.

Sorry, no hope here.

[roody]

55. No, I can't.

But it is what we have now so keep voting. If we can get the money out, we will get some hope for democracy. Your efforts are most effective at the local level.