Politics

Fri, 20 Jul 2007 16:42:27 GMT

Politics really drive me crazy. I don't think I could even explain how much I care about them, but at the same time, just thinking about politics usually infuriates me.

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There are many men of principle in both parties in America, but there is no party of principle.
     ~Alexis de Tocqueville

We'd all like to vote for the best man, but he's never a candidate.
     ~Frank McKinney "Kin" Hubbard

Politicians are the same all over. They promise to build a bridge even where they is no river.
    ~Nikita Khrushchev

Some men change their party for the sake of their principles; others their principles for the sake of their party.
    ~Winston Churchill

When one may pay out over two million dollars to presidential and Congressional campaigns, the U.S. government is virtually up for sale.
    ~John Gardner

There was a time when I sat in a classroom and was told very clearly by my teacher that as Christians it was our duty to vote for Bush. Four years later, at the next election, there were a lot of Christians saying they can't remember why they ever elected him. I don't really understand the logic behind voting based on religion, but I guess it is as logical as most voters get.

There are so many things about our justice system that disgust me. Things like the electoral college, which has been set at the same number since 1964 and blatantly disproportionates the value of individual votes, will probably never change. As a democrat registered in Wayne County, I might as well not bother. Detroit will always vote Democratic, therefore, my vote is worth less then a Republicans - the minority needs every vote they can get. Additionally, 2000 was the first time in over one hundred years that the candidate with the popular vote - the system making every vote worth one point - did NOT win. How is that reasonable? The candidate that has the most people voting for them is clearly the winner in a democratic election, except when Bush ran.

And then there is the upcoming election. I can honestly say that I am dreading 2008. Really, it disgusts me seeing all of these news stories - sure Obama is getting huge financial backing and that will make him more likely to get the Democratic ticket - because every dollar they are given is one more corporation they have to endorse. If you don't want to put the logos on your race car you can't have the money. I loved Obama because he was politically green, and would be more likely to represent individuals over companies, but now that he's been given billions of dollars, he is in deep. It is very disheartening.

The president really does not have that much power. Voting for a president is considered the main point of elections, but if you look at it, most of the power resides in the congress. Of course, the president can appoint judges and veto bills, but really, they make many promises that they could NEVER follow up on. They cannot write legislation, therefore they cannot ban abortion, dictate funding, legalize gay marriage or create a federal health care system. Presidents can only support or oppose things through their judges - by ruling things just or constitutionally invalid - or just continuing to veto bills. Obviously Bush has been doing the second one a lot. And all these things do is just slow down the decision making and democratic process.

I would love to go into international relations, but our foreign policy is in shambles. I am completely overwhelmed by the idea of what our future interactions with other countries will be, god help us. I am going to try to study abroad next semester, just to get out of the US for a while, I think I need that.

Reading books and seeing documentaries just makes me realize how fucked up it all is, and really, nothing changes. Educating the people doesn't affect much. In the end, it all just disgusts me.

If voting changed anything they'd make it illegal.
    ~Emma Goldman

Well don't stop calling,

Politics