I admit I'm a pessimist

[Dissipate]

I admit right now that I'm a pessimist, at least when it comes to politics. What I am sick and tired of are people who say 'Yeah things are bad now but we can't be pessimistic.' And I ask them: why not? If the future looks bleak it looks bleak. There is no sense in trying to white wash the situation.

I've seen some postings on here off and on about the dismal situation regarding politicians. I think some people here are aware that Congress is totally corrupt and controlled entirely by special interest groups. But then inevitably someone comes up with some 'magical' solution to the problem. The most ridiculous suggestion I have seen is to write your congressman. That one is always good for a laugh. The people who suggest this big waste of time appear as if they are completely unaware of how entrenched the demagoguery is in the political system. They actually believe that sending their Congressman a letter of 'good common sense' will magically get them to stop their disgusting behavior.

Promise after promise is broken and yet people continue to put their full faith and credit in the politicians. They can't even look back 5 years ago and notice all the promises that have been broken since then. I have come to the conclusion that the cycle will continue ad infinitum. You may care about politics and you may get upset when some politician doesn't fulfill their promise but in the end 80% of the population couldn't care less about politics. The extent of their involvement is pretty much just voting, paying their taxes and obeying the government's regulations. They really do not care about what politicians do on a day to day basis. When a scandal breaks out they are disgusted right up until the time they turn on Wheel of Fortune.

My point? Stop talking about how corrupt the politicians are and asking how to change it. It isn't going to change, period. As long as there are politicians there will always be corruption (overt or covert).

 

[Proletariat]

You just need a girlfriend.

 

[Dissipate]

Originally posted by: Proletariat
You just need a girlfriend.

I already have one.

 

[theeedude]

I am not sick of the optimism, I am sick of these "solutions" that don't actually solve the problem but oftentimes make it worse, and ultimately just distract and take away resources from solving any problems. Iraq is just the biggest example. Then there is the medicare prescription drug benefit, which is just making the problem worse. No child left behind, which means not child gets ahead. Or the drilling in ANWR which does nothing to address the root cause, which is our addiction to oil, but instead looks for more drug to feed it.

 

[aidanjm]

well, what's the solution apart from armed struggle? anything at all?

 

[1prophet]

Originally posted by: Dissipate
I admit right now that I'm a pessimist, at least when it comes to politics. What I am sick and tired of are people who say 'Yeah things are bad now but we can't be pessimistic.' And I ask them: why not? If the future looks bleak it looks bleak. There is no sense in trying to white wash the situation.

I've seen some postings on here off and on about the dismal situation regarding politicians. I think some people here are aware that Congress is totally corrupt and controlled entirely by special interest groups. But then inevitably someone comes up with some 'magical' solution to the problem. The most ridiculous suggestion I have seen is to write your congressman. That one is always good for a laugh. The people who suggest this big waste of time appear as if they are completely unaware of how entrenched the demagoguery is in the political system. They actually believe that sending their Congressman a letter of 'good common sense' will magically get them to stop their disgusting behavior.

Promise after promise is broken and yet people continue to put their full faith and credit in the politicians. They can't even look back 5 years ago and notice all the promises that have been broken since then. I have come to the conclusion that the cycle will continue ad infinitum. You may care about politics and you may get upset when some politician doesn't fulfill their promise but in the end 80% of the population couldn't care less about politics. The extent of their involvement is pretty much just voting, paying their taxes and obeying the government's regulations. They really do not care about what politicians do on a day to day basis. When a scandal breaks out they are disgusted right up until the time they turn on Wheel of Fortune.

My point? Stop talking about how corrupt the politicians are and asking how to change it. It isn't going to change, period. As long as there are politicians there will always been corruption.

Maybe if people stop looking at washington and start spending more time getting involved in their local politics where most of the state and federal politicians learn their ways and stop the corruption there.

But then again what if the people are corrupt?

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Dissipate
My point?
Stop talking about how corrupt the politicians are and asking how to change it.

It's very simple, vote for me and the status quo will undoubtably be broken. :thumbsup:

 

[Dissipate]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Dissipate
My point?
Stop talking about how corrupt the politicians are and asking how to change it.

It's very simple, vote for me and the status quo will undoubtably be broken. :thumbsup:

Riiiiight. Funny thing, that was the running platform of everyone in the current establishment.

 

[Moonbeam]

Optimism and pessimism are the dual horns of a dilemma that is resolved only in the realization that both are totally without meaning.

As soon as we have an emotional preference for the positive over the negative we create the roller coaster of mood swing, the seeking and striving for change. It is this need to change that we destroy the world with, this insistence on the satisfaction of the ego. The only imperfection in this infinite Heaven we live in is the fact that we are sick. You can't fix the insanity of others, you can only cure your own.

 

[Polish3d]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
Optimism and pessimism are the dual horns of a dilemma that is resolved only in the realization that both are totally without meaning.

As soon as we have an emotional preference for the positive over the negative we create the roller coaster of mood swing, the seeking and striving for change. It is this need to change that we destroy the world with, this insistence on the satisfaction of the ego. The only imperfection in this infinite Heaven we live in is the fact that we are sick. You can't fix the insanity of others, you can only cure your own.

These are the worst posts

 

[dmcowen674]

Originally posted by: Dissipate

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Dissipate
My point?
Stop talking about how corrupt the politicians are and asking how to change it.

It's very simple, vote for me and the status quo will undoubtably be broken. :thumbsup:

Riiiiight. Funny thing, that was the running platform of everyone in the current establishment.

You talking about the "Contract for America" that Newt Gingrinch introduced for the Republican party in 1998?

 

[Darkhawk28]

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Dissipate

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Dissipate
My point?
Stop talking about how corrupt the politicians are and asking how to change it.

It's very simple, vote for me and the status quo will undoubtably be broken. :thumbsup:

Riiiiight. Funny thing, that was the running platform of everyone in the current establishment.

You talking about the "Contract for America" that Newt Gingrinch introduced for the Republican party in 1998?

1994 actually.

 

[Dissipate]

Originally posted by: Darkhawk28

1994 actually.

Yep. Although that is a good example, that is not only what I am talking about.

A lot of the Republicans that were elected in the '94 Gingrich Revolution campaigned on promises to roll back big government. If you look at their voting records though they all sold out. Every single one.

 

[catnap1972]

Originally posted by: Darkhawk28

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Dissipate

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Dissipate
My point?
Stop talking about how corrupt the politicians are and asking how to change it.

It's very simple, vote for me and the status quo will undoubtably be broken. :thumbsup:

Riiiiight. Funny thing, that was the running platform of everyone in the current establishment.

You talking about the "Contract on America" that Newt Gingrinch introduced for the Republican party in 1998?

1994 actually.

Name fixed for accuracy

 

[zephyrprime]

Originally posted by: Dissipate

Originally posted by: Darkhawk28

1994 actually.

Yep. Although that is a good example, that is not only what I am talking about.

A lot of the Republicans that were elected in the '94 Gingrich Revolution campaigned on promises to roll back big government. If you look at their voting records though they all sold out. Every single one.

No politician will ever roll back government. Why would they choose to disempower themselves? The problem is our whole system. It elects the worst sort of people who are seeking elected office to aggrandize their own egos and are willing to sell out as much as it takes to win. There's fault in the electorates shallow decision making process and short memory span but I can't fault them too much when the system sucks so much.

I say just randomly select people for public office. Even if this doesn't solve corruption, at least it would be an entertaining spectacle

 

[judasmachine]

I agree with the OP for the most part, however, I would still like to see a positive election on TV w/o all the smear tactics.

 

[slash196]

Originally posted by: aidanjm
well, what's the solution apart from armed struggle? anything at all?

Actually, armed struggle is looking better every day.

 

[feralkid]

Originally posted by: Dissipate

Originally posted by: dmcowen674

Originally posted by: Dissipate
My point?
Stop talking about how corrupt the politicians are and asking how to change it.

It's very simple, vote for me and the status quo will undoubtably be broken. :thumbsup:

Riiiiight. Funny thing, that was the running platform of everyone in the current
establishment.

I thought that the slogan of the GOP was "Government is wasteful, inefficient and corrupt; elect us and we'll prove it."

 

[sandorski]

The Ballot Box is where real change happens. This outside observer sees a 2 Party system that takes for granted that one or the other will always win, no matter how corrupt either is. It's time to throw them both out and bring in fresh blood. That would bring new perspective to Politics and cause the 2 Parties to look long and hard at their situations forcing reform within their own ranks as well.

Though here in Canada there is essentially only 2 Parties as well, there's enough Third Parties established in Politics to keep those 2 Parties constantly looking over their shoulders and constantly reassessing their Policies and Actions. That's what the US needs, the 2 Parties to always think they could be tossed in favour of lesser Parties.

Easier said then done I know, for you must convince your neighbours to join with you in such an endeavour, but until someone chooses to pick up the cause it will surely never get done.

 

[Jaskalas]

It was supposed to be a government of the people, by the people. Now it is merely its own entity, feeding itself off the tax dollars of all Americans. The congressmen we send up there are not your average charismatic farmer, knowing how normal people live. They all become bloody stinking rich before heading to DC to become richer and more distant from the people.

I blame the political career and the vast millions it takes to do anything in Washington for all the sellouts on all sides. I would be happier with the Reps if government were to be cut back, but now many of them sold out and sing the Dem?s song of bigger government. Bush sold out to that, yet any of his rivals in the elections would have done the same thing and grown government.

Then you have all the workers under the government. Would they send people up there to reduce its size and cut their own jobs? Hell no. Government is now its own untouchable entity and will continue to desire more of our life blood for its own growth. They?ll chant more and more how it is the absolute solution for all things. Then a hundred years from now you?ll wonder what happened to those historic freedoms we used to have before we fed the beast.

If you think it?ll merely ride on the coattails of the rich. What do you think your employer does to balance his budget after getting it slashed with new taxes? Then consider how in the past sixty years wages have lowered compared to inflation of the cost of living. If you connect those dots, then you hopefully realize that any taxes to anyone will be felt by everyone and undermine the wealth of Americans as a whole.

I urge you to sit back and enjoy the ride, because there?s nothing that will change the feeling that government should be made bigger in this country. The wrong of that choice will be marked the day when our country falls to itself.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: Frackal

Originally posted by: Moonbeam
Optimism and pessimism are the dual horns of a dilemma that is resolved only in the realization that both are totally without meaning.

As soon as we have an emotional preference for the positive over the negative we create the roller coaster of mood swing, the seeking and striving for change. It is this need to change that we destroy the world with, this insistence on the satisfaction of the ego. The only imperfection in this infinite Heaven we live in is the fact that we are sick. You can't fix the insanity of others, you can only cure your own.

These are the worst posts

Remember that pearls before swine only makes sense to those who are not themselves swine. For swine most everything reconstructs into, mud, slop, and pig poop.

Owing to that fact I would ask you to support your assertion.

 

[azazyel]

An optimist thinks that this is the best possible world, a pessimest fears that this is true.

 

[daniel49]

Originally posted by: Dissipate
I admit right now that I'm a pessimist, at least when it comes to politics. What I am sick and tired of are people who say 'Yeah things are bad now but we can't be pessimistic.' And I ask them: why not? If the future looks bleak it looks bleak. There is no sense in trying to white wash the situation.

I've seen some postings on here off and on about the dismal situation regarding politicians. I think some people here are aware that Congress is totally corrupt and controlled entirely by special interest groups. But then inevitably someone comes up with some 'magical' solution to the problem. The most ridiculous suggestion I have seen is to write your congressman. That one is always good for a laugh. The people who suggest this big waste of time appear as if they are completely unaware of how entrenched the demagoguery is in the political system. They actually believe that sending their Congressman a letter of 'good common sense' will magically get them to stop their disgusting behavior.

Promise after promise is broken and yet people continue to put their full faith and credit in the politicians. They can't even look back 5 years ago and notice all the promises that have been broken since then. I have come to the conclusion that the cycle will continue ad infinitum. You may care about politics and you may get upset when some politician doesn't fulfill their promise but in the end 80% of the population couldn't care less about politics. The extent of their involvement is pretty much just voting, paying their taxes and obeying the government's regulations. They really do not care about what politicians do on a day to day basis. When a scandal breaks out they are disgusted right up until the time they turn on Wheel of Fortune.

My point? Stop talking about how corrupt the politicians are and asking how to change it. It isn't going to change, period. As long as there are politicians there will always been corruption.

Your right. I think I'll just get down on the floor in the fetal position and give up:disgust:

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: daniel49

Originally posted by: Dissipate
I admit right now that I'm a pessimist, at least when it comes to politics. What I am sick and tired of are people who say 'Yeah things are bad now but we can't be pessimistic.' And I ask them: why not? If the future looks bleak it looks bleak. There is no sense in trying to white wash the situation.

I've seen some postings on here off and on about the dismal situation regarding politicians. I think some people here are aware that Congress is totally corrupt and controlled entirely by special interest groups. But then inevitably someone comes up with some 'magical' solution to the problem. The most ridiculous suggestion I have seen is to write your congressman. That one is always good for a laugh. The people who suggest this big waste of time appear as if they are completely unaware of how entrenched the demagoguery is in the political system. They actually believe that sending their Congressman a letter of 'good common sense' will magically get them to stop their disgusting behavior.

Promise after promise is broken and yet people continue to put their full faith and credit in the politicians. They can't even look back 5 years ago and notice all the promises that have been broken since then. I have come to the conclusion that the cycle will continue ad infinitum. You may care about politics and you may get upset when some politician doesn't fulfill their promise but in the end 80% of the population couldn't care less about politics. The extent of their involvement is pretty much just voting, paying their taxes and obeying the government's regulations. They really do not care about what politicians do on a day to day basis. When a scandal breaks out they are disgusted right up until the time they turn on Wheel of Fortune.

My point? Stop talking about how corrupt the politicians are and asking how to change it. It isn't going to change, period. As long as there are politicians there will always been corruption.

Your right. I think I'll just get down on the floor in the fetal position and give up:disgust:

Hehe, the wisdom of age..........also, there's nothing like, say a bullet zinging past your ear, to perk one's optimism up. The asshole puckers and suddenly you want to live.

 

[Dissipate]

Originally posted by: daniel49

Your right. I think I'll just get down on the floor in the fetal position and give up:disgust:

No, might as well forget about changing anything in politics and pursue goals that are actually attainable. Who said anything about going into fetal positions?