Thread: My rave about US politics

depiste the fact that many people are stupid, claim to support things they don't, flip flop positions left and right....

I'm getting a fuzzy warm feeling about US politics.
Look at the passion that politics engenders in this country. In no other country is there such a long process of choosing the leader - granted, this doesn't necessarily mean that a better leader is chosen, but I do think it is indicative about how much the American people care about politics. A look at any of the headlines or any of the media sources, shows that there is a unique appreciation of politics here in America.

Nice to see an OP not loaded with cynicism. I agree, Americans are typically balls passionate about politics. I think we turn that passion into angry extremism too often, but not all the time, and I'd like to think not even most of the time. But, yeah, three cheers to the millions of Americans who care.

Yes, absolutely. Fully agreed! "We" have a wonderful political system.

One of the most interesting things about it, I've been noticing lately, is this kind of tendency to "self-correct". It's like, when the pendulum swings too far in either direction, We the People get pissed and kinda pull it back the other way again. It's kinda interesting, some kinda "dynamic tension" or something.

And also, another observation, is that the candidate who's ultimately chosen (talkin' about the Prez now), kinda goes through this "filtering" process, it's like, right now for example, "issues" are hardly even an issue yet, right? What people kinda look at "first", is the "gestalt" of a candidate, how he "smells", right? I mean, everyone's got their "issues" they bring to the table, like Ron Paul's got his Constitutional thing, and Tancredo's got his immigration thing, and so on - but I mean, you kinda look at the "character" and "mindset" of a candidate at this early stage, right? So like, part of the reason Obama's doing so well right now, is 'cause his "message" is different, right? He talks about hope, he talks about "you", it's like, something different than you hear from most of these other clowns, right? And people are kinda responding to that -

So like, later on in the campaign, when "issues" start being discussed, everyone kinda knows that those "issues" have a lot more to do with the Parties than the specific candidate, right? 'Cause I mean, the parties go through this process where they create their "platforms", right? And so, it ends up saying "We stand for XYZ", while the particular "candidate", may or may not, but I mean, they usually try to set it up so the platform aligns with the candidate and vice-versa, right?

So I mean, the guy who ultimately gets chosen (or girl), gets filtered through personal attacks, ideological attacks, historical attacks, you know, third grade essays, all the rest - and I mean, anyone who can survive all that, I guess they figure they can survive "world leaders" too, right?

Yeah, this really is a marvelous process. This whole kinda debate that we're doing here, for instance, is great. This rapid exchange of ideas and perspectives on issues - this wouldn't have been possible ten years ago even This is good stuff.

Yeah the people got the right stuff to make this a huge time of our lives every 4 years. Next, politicians... if they can get it right it might give the people more and better choices of candidates.

Hell even this political season has got my wife involved and with the 1000s of things she already does its amazing she has the energy to make time for politics, but she does. Plus it gives me someone to talk to about it besides you schmucks. tee hee hee.

Good post, Bear. My biggest reservations about American political thought today are the media-driven agenda, and the tendency to polarize. But the level in American discussion tends to be high I think in terms of participation. I think we have a major lack of media coverage of foreign interests--what's happening in Japan, in Africa, in non-Iraq non-Israel Middle East, in China--a very sharp decline in news coverage over the past 20 or so years. It's like we live in a shrouded world, and I'm certain our ignorance is affecting policy and our perceptions and not in a good way. Maybe it's just a consequence of the internet and alternative news sources.

Originally Posted by Guyker

Good post, Bear. My biggest reservations about American political thought today are the media-driven agenda, and the tendency to polarize. But the level in American discussion tends to be high I think in terms of participation. I think we have a major lack of media coverage of foreign interests--what's happening in Japan, in Africa, in non-Iraq non-Israel Middle East, in China--a very sharp decline in news coverage over the past 20 or so years. It's like we live in a shrouded world, and I'm certain our ignorance is affecting policy and our perceptions and not in a good way. Maybe it's just a consequence of the internet and alternative news sources.

I agree that we do not keep up with World News like we should. In this way, America is still isolationistic.

Originally Posted by The_Bear

depiste the fact that many people are stupid, claim to support things they don't, flip flop positions left and right....

I'm getting a fuzzy warm feeling about US politics.
Look at the passion that politics engenders in this country. In no other country is there such a long process of choosing the leader - granted, this doesn't necessarily mean that a better leader is chosen, but I do think it is indicative about how much the American people care about politics. A look at any of the headlines or any of the media sources, shows that there is a unique appreciation of politics here in America.

Sorry, but I think Americans' "passion" for politics is about on par with their "passion" for football games and American Idol. It's nothing more than a horserace with humanoids. For the most part, people are dumb and ignorant, and would like to remain that way.

Originally Posted by Defensor

Sorry, but I think Americans' "passion" for politics is about on par with their "passion" for football games and American Idol. It's nothing more than a horserace with humanoids. For the most part, people are dumb and ignorant, and would like to remain that way.

On a beach, some talk about the shells and pearls and messages in bottles they find, some talk about the sand, grit, seaweed and dead fish. You're gonna find both. Your focus is what determines your discoveries and whether they excite you or not. (And just what's wrong with American Idol, Mr Elitist?--just kidding!)

Originally Posted by The_Bear

depiste the fact that many people are stupid, claim to support things they don't, flip flop positions left and right....

I'm getting a fuzzy warm feeling about US politics.
Look at the passion that politics engenders in this country. In no other country is there such a long process of choosing the leader - granted, this doesn't necessarily mean that a better leader is chosen, but I do think it is indicative about how much the American people care about politics. A look at any of the headlines or any of the media sources, shows that there is a unique appreciation of politics here in America.

I think about 25% of eligable voters vote. So while people may care about politics, they don't care enough to get off their couch & vote.

I wouldn't want people who don't care enough to vote to vote. Kind of truistic in a way.