Why nothing will improve in the US
FiveB247x
Posts: 2,330
If you want to know why nothing will change for the better in the US it all boils down to these 4 major issues below. Whether it's immigration, foreign policy, economy, environment or similar... in no order:
- Poor government oversight backed by policies which are exclusionary to make necessary changes which are wanted and needed by all.
- No participation by citizens to keep the government and big business in check
- Big business's control over policy, lobbying and government
- Government not giving a crap about the citizens (self-interest)
- Media being owned and run by big business so people are ill-informed and become more polar in beliefs. Less educated, shorter attention spans and the similar.
Time and time again our society has shown to sit on its hands and just become too complacent and comfortable. We live in the height of the technology and information age but it's used for the most destructive things compared to improve the world around us. People have become more polarized and taught to be less accepting of others ideas and beliefs. I certainly always hope things will get better, but to be honest,I have zero faith in my fellow man...and the quicker people wake up to realize these core problems, the sooner they'll get fixed, but no one really wants to bother or be bothered.
- Poor government oversight backed by policies which are exclusionary to make necessary changes which are wanted and needed by all.
- No participation by citizens to keep the government and big business in check
- Big business's control over policy, lobbying and government
- Government not giving a crap about the citizens (self-interest)
- Media being owned and run by big business so people are ill-informed and become more polar in beliefs. Less educated, shorter attention spans and the similar.
Time and time again our society has shown to sit on its hands and just become too complacent and comfortable. We live in the height of the technology and information age but it's used for the most destructive things compared to improve the world around us. People have become more polarized and taught to be less accepting of others ideas and beliefs. I certainly always hope things will get better, but to be honest,I have zero faith in my fellow man...and the quicker people wake up to realize these core problems, the sooner they'll get fixed, but no one really wants to bother or be bothered.
CONservative governMENt
Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
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Apathy.
We've had it so good for so long, really, that we as a people really won't get to the bottom of all these issues until it is so bad that we have no other choice. We are just one big "functioning alcoholic" of a nation, living in denial, that hasn't hit rock bottom yet.
"With our thoughts we make the world"
How does one define "big business"? Anyhow, it's MORE and BIGGER government which scares me.
Free enterprise is not without it's responsibilites, but when left in the hands of the disciplined, it produces abundance. You want the opposite (Soviet Union)?
But therein lies the problem... While more government hasn't really been the answer, but we've seen time and again discipline in the business world (especially the bigger it gets) always seems to take a back seat to profit.
The same can be said for completely free markets... it sounds great, until pollution runs rampant, worker safety/rights are gone, product safety is ignored, etc...
was like a picture
of a sunny day
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
"Becoming a Bruce fan is like hitting puberty as a musical fan. It's inevitable." - dcfaithful
Remember that capitalism didn't by itself put us in this mess. The government placed on the banks the burden of financing EVERYONE for homes. Most of these people had no business borrowing fortunes they could never pay back. Meanwhile, Freddie Mac and Fannie Mae insured the mortgages, and you have the situation we're in.
Every system has flaws, but capitalism is a damn sight better than all of us fighting for the last sausage downtown, which is what we would have under the alternative. It's easy to sit back and criticize our system while we're soaking up the freedom it produces.
Also, one of the main issues when it comes to free enterprise is the idea that it's free. The common man is f'ed in most areas of society - the cards are stacked against them, it's why we see the shrinking of the middle class for decades and the greatest separation of wealth in our nation since the time of robber barons. We don't live in a free market society, we live in an oligarchy which is incorporated with government...and solely because some do succeed doesn't make our system fair, just, equal or viably successful as a whole. In fact, when it comes to development of 2nd and 3rd world nations, we don't employ all the ways we became powerful and successful, we install methods we have never used in order to make others reliable on our ways, not their own well-being and stability.
Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
Just remember, the goal of pure unadulterated capitalism is to acquire everything and the more you have, the more advantage you have in the system. We need enough capitalism to incentivise but we also need some regulation here and there, too, don't you think?
"With our thoughts we make the world"
Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
while I don't agree with your pessimistic approach that nothing will ever improve, I do agree that some changes need to be made to the current system in order to further thrive as a country. The most important of which is term limits.
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
I'm not opposed to some regulation, it's absolutely needed. However, the line between regulation and communism is at times a bit thin.
:?:
"Becoming a Bruce fan is like hitting puberty as a musical fan. It's inevitable." - dcfaithful
Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
Isn't the problem though is that everyone's thin line is in a different place? One person might think that much more regulation is needed in an industry to keep the public safe, but someone else will say that just about any regulation is too much government intervention.
was like a picture
of a sunny day
“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.”
― Abraham Lincoln
I doubt Senator Rangel left the Korean War with his eyes set on taking bribes and bilking the American public. But 40 years later after he first took office, we find a man with tremendous influence and his hand is caught in the cookie jar.
I'll have to do some research to see what the average term served by senate committee chairmen.
Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
Ag, Nutrition, Forestry - Blanche Lincoln – 12 years (1998)
Appropriations – Dan Inouye – 48 years (1962)
Armed Services – Carl Levin - 32 years (1978)
Banking, Housing, Urban Affairs – Chris Dodd - 30 years (1980)
Budget – Kent Conrad – 24 years (1986)
Commerce, Science, Transportation – Jay Rockefeller – 26 years (1984)
Energy & Natural Resources – Jeff Bingaman – 28 years (1982)
Environment & Public Works – Barb Boxer – 18 years (1992)
Finance – Max Baucus – 32 years (1978)
Foreign Relations – John Kerry – 26 years (1984)
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions – Tom Harkin – 26 years (1984)
Homeland Security – Joe Lieberman – 22 years (1988)
Judiciary – Patrick Leahy – 36 years (1974)
Rules and Admin – Chuck Schumer – 12 years (1998)
Small Business and Entrepreneurship – Mary Landrieu - 14 years (1996)
Veterans’ Affairs – Daniel Akaka – 20 years (1990)
Average years spent in office by the chairperson of the 16 standing senate committees = 25.375 years.
What is the average age of a college graduate? 22 years?
I think amending the term limits would be a wonderful start to improving our system.
being in the senate for 60 years is way too long...Once you become a career politician you are more worried about getting re-elected than doing the job you need to do. You lose touch with the reality of what is happening to your constituency. You develop relationships with lobbiests, other politicians, and big business leaders. the higher turn over would ensure that no one particular person becomes entrenched in the system. If you are only able to work for 6 years at the job, you just might be more motivated to get your work done for all six years, rather than only working for 4 years and campaigning for the other two for yourself, and constantly for other people. ** also because you are going to have to go back and live in the world you have helped shape**
It isn't the system of democracy that is the problem, it is the current career politicians that are keeping the outsiders out. It wouldn't be perfect, but it would be much better than it is now.
Term limits is an answer, certainly better than letting the same jackasses keep their jobs for far too long
A lot of the lobbying and special interest groups gain their influence because of relationships forged over years, klobuchar probably isn't too influenced at the moment, but 4 more terms would change that for sure.
edit**
It is terrifying when you are too stupid to know who is dumb
- Joe Rogan
And lobbying doesn't rely solely on a specific person or party, but more importantly the long term continued relationship between private business interests and policy - and no matter who the party or the leader, 99.9% of our leaders have shown to be willing to participate to play in these games which keep them in office and the money machine running. Our system is corrupted from the inside out and outside in... garbage in and garbage out.. not solely outside forces pulling strings like lobbying. It takes all of their combined efforts to keep it flowing and changing just one doesn't work.. the only one thing that could or would change this system is the people's voice and constant participation.. which is also what the government and private interests count on.. our lack of effort which we continually reinforce.
Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
As for the lack of interest by citizens, it's tough to think that your vote counts when you witness the games that are played in Washington by these career politicians. It makes me sick each year when I watch the State of the Union and see our elected officials acting like a bunch of school children at a popularity contest.
Some Americans have given up on their vote counting for anything. Why vote when your Representative doesn't actually represent you. I still vote, but I only really think my local and state choices are making a difference at this point.
Wouldn't it be nice to have fresh candidates to choose from?
Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis
BUT... Lobbyists become the only continuity in the legislative process as Senators and Representatives come and go... the same old veteran lobbyists remain. So, what you get are Representatives and Senators with less experience making the same political deals with seasoned lobbyists. And it is not personal connections... it is money.
Ask California how great Term Limits are. We have a Merry-Go-Round of the same people jumping from Lt. Govenor to Treausuer to Insurance Secretary to State Controller... Assemblymen and State Senators who don't know the correct processes and procedures required by law in order to pass legislation and the same lobbyists that have been there for decades are the offereing the same deals.
Make no mistake... politicians are rich people. And rich people like money.
Be careful what you wish for.
Hail, Hail!!!
Why does this apply to politicians... and not other public offices. What about District Attorneys?
And what if the person is really good for his constituents... looks after their needs.
The American Political sytem already HAS Term Limits... it's called THE BALLOT BOX. Maybe, if we weren't so damn apathetic... we wouldn't get the governement someone else voted in. Maybe, if we understood that the (R) or the (D) next to the name was no guarantee that this person is the best qualified.
We are stupid people and we get the governemt we deserve. We allow radio and television to decide which team we should be on and condemn the other side as 'The Enemy'.
Term Limits is what the lobbyists want. That makes their job easiser and their clients won't have to spend as much. If we were truely an informed electorate... instead of a partisan one... we wouldn't need to be limited on who we can vote for... we would decide... not the Republican or Democratic Parties.
Nothing will improve until WE improve.
Hail, Hail!!!
I don't really call that second part apathy. I think it would take too much work and coordination over a long time period to see anything significant happen.
...are those who've helped us.
Right 'round the corner could be bigger than ourselves.
I think that corporatism is the evil form of capitalism- Huge companies with so much power that they dictate government policies, etc.
Capitalism itself is very healthy: Small businesses, family farms, local mom 'n pop shops are all capitalistic. These empower people and strengthen local economies.
I wonder how we would live day-to-day without capitalism? Just barter of one item for another? A government dole giving us rations? Perhaps I have a very small imagination, but I'm not seeing a utopia without selling things for profit.
Our government is the potent, the omnipresent teacher. For good or for ill, it teaches the whole people by its example. Crime is contagious. If the government becomes a law-breaker, it breeds contempt for law; it invites every man to become a law unto himself; it invites anarchy. - Louis Brandeis