I just don't understand...

[Gamingphreek]

So I don't know whether it happens with old age (I'm 21 ) or whether I have just spent more time reading up about what's going on in the nation, but I find myself in P&N and the News Channels more and more.

With that, the more I pay attention, the more I can't help but shake my head...

Every time I turn on the TV or surf to a given news channel, there is always one party bashing the other- claiming their way is wrong and that they are running the country into the ground with decisions.

Neither side seems to be genuine any more. It seems that both parties are out to fill their particular agenda just so afterwards, when the public gets bored with it, the other side can undo it. It just isn't about helping the people any more - it is all about staying in office the longest and making money. And that is sad.

All of this kills me because all the 'behind the scenes' footage of these people (I'll use Bush and Obama as examples) shows them to, despite what the media says, be human.

Bush being amongst his family and out working on his ranch. At my school, Virginia Tech, comforting random students back on April 16, 2007.

Yesterday, Obama attending the All-Star game. Shaking hands with each player. Joking around in the booth with Tim McCarver and Joe Buck. In this White House watching him just be a dad and play with his children.

Both of these Presidents, and all of those in that past, just seem forgotten as actual people and instead looked at as the face of things that are wrong. They are slandered at every turn of the road by both the American people and the media - doing a job that ironically enough is thankless. At the same time, they are both attempting to do what they think is best for this country and the rest of the world.

I have my opinions on Presidents of the past as well as President Obama right now - but there is no place in this thread for them as all have, I am sure, done everything they could for this country. I'm not naive enough to think that everything will be positive in the office, but just basic respect would go a long way...

I am not well versed in Politics, nor do I wish for it to come off that way, but something needs to change. I don't have that answer or any answers, perhaps someone out there does, but squabbling over our petty differences doesn't help this nation - it kills it...slowly.

Am I way out there on this or missing something?

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

There's no place for common sense here. This is P & N!

One of the best real live humans in our recent batch of Presidents was Jimmy Carter. He's a real humanitarian, giving and, thoughtful and, arguably, one of the worst Presidents in the last 50 years. Sadly, being a good person, father and, husband doesn't mean jack shit when it comes to being President.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
There's no place for common sense here. This is P & N!

One of the best real live humans in our recent batch of Presidents was Jimmy Carter. He's a real humanitarian, giving and, thoughtful and, arguably, one of the worst Presidents in the last 50 years. Sadly, being a good person, father and, husband doesn't mean jack shit when it comes to being President.

Haha yea

Well I don't mean to say that having those attributes will make you a good president, I merely intended to say that they seem to be left as an afterthought.

The President absolutely be strong, resilient, knowledgeable, diplomatic - but the good person, father, husband just seems to be left behind in the wake of everything else.

-Kevin

 

[Gonad the Barbarian]

Don't worry, give it some time. You'll get as callous and jaded as the rest of us.

 

[manowar821]

Originally posted by: Gonad the Barbarian
Don't worry, give it some time. You'll get as callous and jaded as the rest of us.

 

[StageLeft]

No, you aren't missing something. In fact, this is so well known that theonion has jumped on it on many occasions, the most recent one being this, a damn-near masterful parody of prime-time news "debates".

Watch this:

Link

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Skoorb
No, you aren't missing something. In fact, this is so well known that theonion has jumped on it on many occasions, the most recent one being this, a damn-near masterful parody of prime-time news "debates".

Watch this:

Link

I like the little ratings going around on the bottom. I think I have watched a sine/cosine wave move less than that

If people, when they sit back and put their differences aside, realize this - why isn't anything ever been done. I don't have any ideas, but I don't pretend to know much at all about politics.

It also seems that politicians are eager to represent people (for a short while) on certain issues, but issues like this, where their career is being reevaluated there is NO representation.

-Kevin

 

[StageLeft]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

Originally posted by: Skoorb
No, you aren't missing something. In fact, this is so well known that theonion has jumped on it on many occasions, the most recent one being this, a damn-near masterful parody of prime-time news "debates".

Watch this:

Link

I like the little ratings going around on the bottom. I think I have watched a sine/cosine wave move less than that

If people, when they sit back and put their differences aside, realize this - why isn't anything ever been done. I don't have any ideas, but I don't pretend to know much at all about politics.

It also seems that politicians are eager to represent people (for a short while) on certain issues, but issues like this, where their career is being reevaluated there is NO representation.

-Kevin

People today are the same who liked to see slaves hack themselves to death in the collosseum. We have the natural desire to fight and compete and we project that through sports and politics.

 

[Siddhartha]

The power Mr Obama and Mr Bush have and the large scale impact of their decisions polarize a lot of people.

Mr Bush's Iraq invasion and shifting of military resources from Afganistan to support this war was a big mistake which the US will be paying for a long time. The Patritic Act, his imcompetence in running the government, etc are and were hugh important issues.

Mr Obama being who he is and the fact he is stepping away from Reaganomics are huge issues. His foreign polices are huge issues.

 

[WhipperSnapper]

The American people have voted for the people that they want to represent them. Instead of having politicians who are willing to address the nation's real issues and actually do the job of governing, instead we have politicians who just give the people what they want, which is pretty soundbites.

 

[soulcougher73]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

Originally posted by: Skoorb
No, you aren't missing something. In fact, this is so well known that theonion has jumped on it on many occasions, the most recent one being this, a damn-near masterful parody of prime-time news "debates".

Watch this:

Link

I like the little ratings going around on the bottom. I think I have watched a sine/cosine wave move less than that

If people, when they sit back and put their differences aside, realize this - why isn't anything ever been done. I don't have any ideas, but I don't pretend to know much at all about politics.

It also seems that politicians are eager to represent people (for a short while) on certain issues, but issues like this, where their career is being reevaluated there is NO representation.

-Kevin

You should watch the movie Bulworth. While a comedy at its heart i think it really gives an inside look at what politicians do when running for a position.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

The American people have voted for the people that they want to represent them. Instead of having politicians who are willing to address the nation's real issues and actually do the job of governing, instead we have politicians who just give the people what they want, which is pretty soundbites.

So basically, until the American people become educated as a whole, we are going to be stuck in this never ending cycle of doing something and undoing it?

You should watch the movie Bulworth. While a comedy at its heart i think it really gives an inside look at what politicians do when running for a position.

I would venture a guess that 99% of politicians have a "Do whatever it takes to get there" mentality. After they get to the position it seems that the same percentage then adopt a "Do whatever it takes to stay there" mentality in addition to the "I'm doing everything my way even if it undoes everything my predecessors have done".

-Kevin

Edit: Its a shame that some of the people who post in this forum can't run for office.

For me personally, I feel like telling the truth concerning your stance on issues is the best policy. And when you get into office, instead of thinking only of getting reelected, thinking of what is best for the country and all people in it would be the way to go instead of merely appeasing every in a particular group/demographic/party.

Also, it seems to me that the Presidents all seem to have at least a part of that mentality but that Congress members are the ones who seem to be really, for lack of a better word, corrupted.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: Skoorb

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

Originally posted by: Skoorb
No, you aren't missing something. In fact, this is so well known that theonion has jumped on it on many occasions, the most recent one being this, a damn-near masterful parody of prime-time news "debates".

Watch this:

Link

I like the little ratings going around on the bottom. I think I have watched a sine/cosine wave move less than that

If people, when they sit back and put their differences aside, realize this - why isn't anything ever been done. I don't have any ideas, but I don't pretend to know much at all about politics.

It also seems that politicians are eager to represent people (for a short while) on certain issues, but issues like this, where their career is being reevaluated there is NO representation.

-Kevin

People today are the same who liked to see slaves hack themselves to death in the collosseum. We have the natural desire to fight and compete and we project that through sports and politics.

Skoorb knows this because it came in his post office box.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
So I don't know whether it happens with old age (I'm 21 ) or whether I have just spent more time reading up about what's going on in the nation, but I find myself in P&N and the News Channels more and more.

With that, the more I pay attention, the more I can't help but shake my head...

Every time I turn on the TV or surf to a given news channel, there is always one party bashing the other- claiming their way is wrong and that they are running the country into the ground with decisions.

Neither side seems to be genuine any more. It seems that both parties are out to fill their particular agenda just so afterwards, when the public gets bored with it, the other side can undo it. It just isn't about helping the people any more - it is all about staying in office the longest and making money. And that is sad.

All of this kills me because all the 'behind the scenes' footage of these people (I'll use Bush and Obama as examples) shows them to, despite what the media says, be human.

Bush being amongst his family and out working on his ranch. At my school, Virginia Tech, comforting random students back on April 16, 2007.

Yesterday, Obama attending the All-Star game. Shaking hands with each player. Joking around in the booth with Tim McCarver and Joe Buck. In this White House watching him just be a dad and play with his children.

Both of these Presidents, and all of those in that past, just seem forgotten as actual people and instead looked at as the face of things that are wrong. They are slandered at every turn of the road by both the American people and the media - doing a job that ironically enough is thankless. At the same time, they are both attempting to do what they think is best for this country and the rest of the world.

I have my opinions on Presidents of the past as well as President Obama right now - but there is no place in this thread for them as all have, I am sure, done everything they could for this country. I'm not naive enough to think that everything will be positive in the office, but just basic respect would go a long way...

I am not well versed in Politics, nor do I wish for it to come off that way, but something needs to change. I don't have that answer or any answers, perhaps someone out there does, but squabbling over our petty differences doesn't help this nation - it kills it...slowly.

Am I way out there on this or missing something?

I think what you are missing is something small but important. There is only one thing in the universe that you can really change and that is you. The world hurt us as children and we all now feel needs. We carry false guilt and false self blame. We were told we don't deserve love. So we are hungry and seeking and when we look at the world we see it has no time at all for us. We are nothing and our lives have no meaning. We want and need the world to be different, to care for what matters. And so we waste our lives seeking to change things out there.

But it doesn't work that way. All the love you were denied and are seeking, all the good in the universe, has been hidden away deep within your own heart. The universe fills up with meaning and love, not when you are loved as you imagine, but when you love. The kingdom of heaven is within you. God fills the universe with love by pouring it out through you from your own heart and if it's God or your own heart you won't know nor does it matter.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
So I don't know whether it happens with old age (I'm 21 ) or whether I have just spent more time reading up about what's going on in the nation, but I find myself in P&N and the News Channels more and more.

With that, the more I pay attention, the more I can't help but shake my head...

Every time I turn on the TV or surf to a given news channel, there is always one party bashing the other- claiming their way is wrong and that they are running the country into the ground with decisions.

Neither side seems to be genuine any more. It seems that both parties are out to fill their particular agenda just so afterwards, when the public gets bored with it, the other side can undo it. It just isn't about helping the people any more - it is all about staying in office the longest and making money. And that is sad.

All of this kills me because all the 'behind the scenes' footage of these people (I'll use Bush and Obama as examples) shows them to, despite what the media says, be human.

Bush being amongst his family and out working on his ranch. At my school, Virginia Tech, comforting random students back on April 16, 2007.

Yesterday, Obama attending the All-Star game. Shaking hands with each player. Joking around in the booth with Tim McCarver and Joe Buck. In this White House watching him just be a dad and play with his children.

Both of these Presidents, and all of those in that past, just seem forgotten as actual people and instead looked at as the face of things that are wrong. They are slandered at every turn of the road by both the American people and the media - doing a job that ironically enough is thankless. At the same time, they are both attempting to do what they think is best for this country and the rest of the world.

I have my opinions on Presidents of the past as well as President Obama right now - but there is no place in this thread for them as all have, I am sure, done everything they could for this country. I'm not naive enough to think that everything will be positive in the office, but just basic respect would go a long way...

I am not well versed in Politics, nor do I wish for it to come off that way, but something needs to change. I don't have that answer or any answers, perhaps someone out there does, but squabbling over our petty differences doesn't help this nation - it kills it...slowly.

Am I way out there on this or missing something?

I think what you are missing is something small but important. There is only one thing in the universe that you can really change and that is you. The world hurt us as children and we all now feel needs. We carry false guilt and false self blame. We were told we don't deserve love. So we are hungry and seeking and when we look at the world we see it has no time at all for us. We are nothing and our lives have no meaning. We want and need the world to be different, to care for what matters. And so we waste our lives seeking to change things out there.

But it doesn't work that way. All the love you were denied and are seeking, all the good in the universe, has been hidden away deep within your own heart. The universe fills up with meaning and love, not when you are loved as you imagine, but when you love. The kingdom of heaven is within you. God fills the universe with love by pouring it out through you from your own heart and if it's God or your own heart you won't know nor does it matter.

Well said sir. As a Christian I completely agree - its become more us trying to change everything to what we think is right, then simply caring for people and showing that love.

-Kevin

 

[microbial]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
So I don't know whether it happens with old age (I'm 21 ) or whether I have just spent more time reading up about what's going on in the nation, but I find myself in P&N and the News Channels more and more.

With that, the more I pay attention, the more I can't help but shake my head...

Every time I turn on the TV or surf to a given news channel, there is always one party bashing the other- claiming their way is wrong and that they are running the country into the ground with decisions.

Neither side seems to be genuine any more. It seems that both parties are out to fill their particular agenda just so afterwards, when the public gets bored with it, the other side can undo it. It just isn't about helping the people any more - it is all about staying in office the longest and making money. And that is sad.

All of this kills me because all the 'behind the scenes' footage of these people (I'll use Bush and Obama as examples) shows them to, despite what the media says, be human.

Bush being amongst his family and out working on his ranch. At my school, Virginia Tech, comforting random students back on April 16, 2007.

Yesterday, Obama attending the All-Star game. Shaking hands with each player. Joking around in the booth with Tim McCarver and Joe Buck. In this White House watching him just be a dad and play with his children.

Both of these Presidents, and all of those in that past, just seem forgotten as actual people and instead looked at as the face of things that are wrong. They are slandered at every turn of the road by both the American people and the media - doing a job that ironically enough is thankless. At the same time, they are both attempting to do what they think is best for this country and the rest of the world.

I have my opinions on Presidents of the past as well as President Obama right now - but there is no place in this thread for them as all have, I am sure, done everything they could for this country. I'm not naive enough to think that everything will be positive in the office, but just basic respect would go a long way...

I am not well versed in Politics, nor do I wish for it to come off that way, but something needs to change. I don't have that answer or any answers, perhaps someone out there does, but squabbling over our petty differences doesn't help this nation - it kills it...slowly.

Am I way out there on this or missing something?

The difference is Bush and GOP had 8 years to prove they were "running the Country into the ground"

Lots of facts and evidence to support the claim.

Obama has had 6 months plus...and in that time he has spent most of it trying to undue Bush + GOP f'ups.

That is the way I see it.

 

[bobsmith1492]

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
So I don't know whether it happens with old age (I'm 21 ) or whether I have just spent more time reading up about what's going on in the nation, but I find myself in P&N and the News Channels more and more.

With that, the more I pay attention, the more I can't help but shake my head...

Every time I turn on the TV or surf to a given news channel, there is always one party bashing the other- claiming their way is wrong and that they are running the country into the ground with decisions.

Neither side seems to be genuine any more. It seems that both parties are out to fill their particular agenda just so afterwards, when the public gets bored with it, the other side can undo it. It just isn't about helping the people any more - it is all about staying in office the longest and making money. And that is sad.

All of this kills me because all the 'behind the scenes' footage of these people (I'll use Bush and Obama as examples) shows them to, despite what the media says, be human.

Bush being amongst his family and out working on his ranch. At my school, Virginia Tech, comforting random students back on April 16, 2007.

Yesterday, Obama attending the All-Star game. Shaking hands with each player. Joking around in the booth with Tim McCarver and Joe Buck. In this White House watching him just be a dad and play with his children.

Both of these Presidents, and all of those in that past, just seem forgotten as actual people and instead looked at as the face of things that are wrong. They are slandered at every turn of the road by both the American people and the media - doing a job that ironically enough is thankless. At the same time, they are both attempting to do what they think is best for this country and the rest of the world.

I have my opinions on Presidents of the past as well as President Obama right now - but there is no place in this thread for them as all have, I am sure, done everything they could for this country. I'm not naive enough to think that everything will be positive in the office, but just basic respect would go a long way...

I am not well versed in Politics, nor do I wish for it to come off that way, but something needs to change. I don't have that answer or any answers, perhaps someone out there does, but squabbling over our petty differences doesn't help this nation - it kills it...slowly.

Am I way out there on this or missing something?

I think what you are missing is something small but important. There is only one thing in the universe that you can really change and that is you. The world hurt us as children and we all now feel needs. We carry false guilt and false self blame. We were told we don't deserve love. So we are hungry and seeking and when we look at the world we see it has no time at all for us. We are nothing and our lives have no meaning. We want and need the world to be different, to care for what matters. And so we waste our lives seeking to change things out there.

But it doesn't work that way. All the love you were denied and are seeking, all the good in the universe, has been hidden away deep within your own heart. The universe fills up with meaning and love, not when you are loved as you imagine, but when you love. The kingdom of heaven is within you. God fills the universe with love by pouring it out through you from your own heart and if it's God or your own heart you won't know nor does it matter.

Well said sir. As a Christian I completely agree - its become more us trying to change everything to what we think is right, then simply caring for people and showing that love.

-Kevin

People get the government they deserve. There's no doubt that people gravitate toward the bad until something drastic happens to jerk them back. So, as the people of the country go bad, the government goes with them. It is made up of the same people and reflects them.

There is no way to fix the government by laws and policy. In fact, that's why there are always more laws and new policies - to try to protect against people who are always looking for new ways to scam the system. It's a downward-spiraling circle of death.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: microbial

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
So I don't know whether it happens with old age (I'm 21 ) or whether I have just spent more time reading up about what's going on in the nation, but I find myself in P&N and the News Channels more and more.

With that, the more I pay attention, the more I can't help but shake my head...

Every time I turn on the TV or surf to a given news channel, there is always one party bashing the other- claiming their way is wrong and that they are running the country into the ground with decisions.

Neither side seems to be genuine any more. It seems that both parties are out to fill their particular agenda just so afterwards, when the public gets bored with it, the other side can undo it. It just isn't about helping the people any more - it is all about staying in office the longest and making money. And that is sad.

All of this kills me because all the 'behind the scenes' footage of these people (I'll use Bush and Obama as examples) shows them to, despite what the media says, be human.

Bush being amongst his family and out working on his ranch. At my school, Virginia Tech, comforting random students back on April 16, 2007.

Yesterday, Obama attending the All-Star game. Shaking hands with each player. Joking around in the booth with Tim McCarver and Joe Buck. In this White House watching him just be a dad and play with his children.

Both of these Presidents, and all of those in that past, just seem forgotten as actual people and instead looked at as the face of things that are wrong. They are slandered at every turn of the road by both the American people and the media - doing a job that ironically enough is thankless. At the same time, they are both attempting to do what they think is best for this country and the rest of the world.

I have my opinions on Presidents of the past as well as President Obama right now - but there is no place in this thread for them as all have, I am sure, done everything they could for this country. I'm not naive enough to think that everything will be positive in the office, but just basic respect would go a long way...

I am not well versed in Politics, nor do I wish for it to come off that way, but something needs to change. I don't have that answer or any answers, perhaps someone out there does, but squabbling over our petty differences doesn't help this nation - it kills it...slowly.

Am I way out there on this or missing something?

The difference is Bush and GOP had 8 years to prove they were "running the Country into the ground"

Lots of facts and evidence to support the claim.

Obama has had 6 months plus...and in that time he has spent most of it trying to undue Bush + GOP f'ups.

That is the way I see it.

Wow - way to play right into what I was making the thread into :roll: - Congratulations on fitting into the "Selfish American" stereotype we have all been discussing in this thread.

People get the government they deserve. There's no doubt that people gravitate toward the bad until something drastic happens to jerk them back. So, as the people of the country go bad, the government goes with them. It is made up of the same people and reflects them.

There is no way to fix the government by laws and policy. In fact, that's why there are always more laws and new policies - to try to protect against people who are always looking for new ways to scam the system. It's a downward-spiraling circle of death.

So is this an inherent problem with a Democracy then or is this a problem given the size and dynamics of the country?

-Kevin

 

[trooper11]

This is a great topic, kudos to the Op.

Ive been following this forum and other forums like it for a while and post here every so often. The points made in the OP are spot on. you have people that will angrily defend their position becuase they feel such a deep attachment to whatever policies they feel are for the good of the country.

I think this sentiment has been around for as along as there have been elections, but with the explosion of media today, we all get to see the hate and anger front and center. Instead of talking about issues, most people just argue with each other. Politicians seem to only fan the flames of this anger instead of just offering solutions to problems the country has. Then when they get into office, they either reverse their positions in order to keep power or are blocked from getting anything done by the opposing party. So even fi you elelct a 'good' president, he can get bogged down in the 'washington politics' and nothing good comes of it.

Congress just seems like a train wreck. When one party is in control, corruption can easily sneak in and yet when there is balance, little gets done becuase of party line bickering. either way, its really tough today to trust what our government does even if we elect someone that may talk the talk so to speak.

I certainly have my own beliefs about how the country should run, but I dont think that means you have to creat anger or fear in order to get things done. Politicians and the government in general seems to love using fear and anger as tool to drive support for what they want when they want it. I dont know how that will ever change.

 

[JayhaVVKU]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
So I don't know whether it happens with old age (I'm 21 ) or whether I have just spent more time reading up about what's going on in the nation, but I find myself in P&N and the News Channels more and more.

With that, the more I pay attention, the more I can't help but shake my head...

Every time I turn on the TV or surf to a given news channel, there is always one party bashing the other- claiming their way is wrong and that they are running the country into the ground with decisions.

Neither side seems to be genuine any more. It seems that both parties are out to fill their particular agenda just so afterwards, when the public gets bored with it, the other side can undo it. It just isn't about helping the people any more - it is all about staying in office the longest and making money. And that is sad.

All of this kills me because all the 'behind the scenes' footage of these people (I'll use Bush and Obama as examples) shows them to, despite what the media says, be human.

Bush being amongst his family and out working on his ranch. At my school, Virginia Tech, comforting random students back on April 16, 2007.

Yesterday, Obama attending the All-Star game. Shaking hands with each player. Joking around in the booth with Tim McCarver and Joe Buck. In this White House watching him just be a dad and play with his children.

Both of these Presidents, and all of those in that past, just seem forgotten as actual people and instead looked at as the face of things that are wrong. They are slandered at every turn of the road by both the American people and the media - doing a job that ironically enough is thankless. At the same time, they are both attempting to do what they think is best for this country and the rest of the world.

I have my opinions on Presidents of the past as well as President Obama right now - but there is no place in this thread for them as all have, I am sure, done everything they could for this country. I'm not naive enough to think that everything will be positive in the office, but just basic respect would go a long way...

I am not well versed in Politics, nor do I wish for it to come off that way, but something needs to change. I don't have that answer or any answers, perhaps someone out there does, but squabbling over our petty differences doesn't help this nation - it kills it...slowly.

Am I way out there on this or missing something?

I think what you are missing is something small but important. There is only one thing in the universe that you can really change and that is you. The world hurt us as children and we all now feel needs. We carry false guilt and false self blame. We were told we don't deserve love. So we are hungry and seeking and when we look at the world we see it has no time at all for us. We are nothing and our lives have no meaning. We want and need the world to be different, to care for what matters. And so we waste our lives seeking to change things out there.

But it doesn't work that way. All the love you were denied and are seeking, all the good in the universe, has been hidden away deep within your own heart. The universe fills up with meaning and love, not when you are loved as you imagine, but when you love. The kingdom of heaven is within you. God fills the universe with love by pouring it out through you from your own heart and if it's God or your own heart you won't know nor does it matter.

Is that quoted from somewhere? It sounds a little bit like Eckhart Tolle(amongst others).

 

[spittledip]

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

The American people have voted for the people that they want to represent them. Instead of having politicians who are willing to address the nation's real issues and actually do the job of governing, instead we have politicians who just give the people what they want, which is pretty soundbites.

I disagree with this notion b/c the truth is we only vote for the nominees we are presented with, some of whom are handpicked by other powers, be they political powers or otherwise. We really don't get that much of a choice which is bad when the only options are a bunch of bums.

 

[Gamingphreek]

Originally posted by: spittledip

Originally posted by: WhipperSnapper

The American people have voted for the people that they want to represent them. Instead of having politicians who are willing to address the nation's real issues and actually do the job of governing, instead we have politicians who just give the people what they want, which is pretty soundbites.

I disagree with this notion b/c the truth is we only vote for the nominees we are presented with, some of whom are handpicked by other powers, be they political powers or otherwise. We really don't get that much of a choice which is bad when the only options are a bunch of bums.

Ooh thats a good point - we can only vote on those that were nominated by the party. The party is, once again, comprised of people who are only looking out to their own well being and the party as opposed to the US and its people as a whole.

I think that boils down to us having to restructure how we elect people who nominate a candidate for us to then elect again. That has the added cost that we would inherently have to restructure how we elect the people who nominate as well.

-Kevin

 

[miketheidiot]

Originally posted by: MagnusTheBrewer
There's no place for common sense here. This is P & N!

One of the best real live humans in our recent batch of Presidents was Jimmy Carter. He's a real humanitarian, giving and, thoughtful and, arguably, one of the worst Presidents in the last 50 years. Sadly, being a good person, father and, husband doesn't mean jack shit when it comes to being President.

carter didn't really do that bad of a job, the only things people bring up over and over again are stagflation (which existed before he came into office, and ended up solved by his fed nominee, volcker) and the iranian revolution/hostage taking/botched rescue. pretty minor, compared to what came before and after.

 

[Moonbeam]

Originally posted by: JayhaVVKU

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
So I don't know whether it happens with old age (I'm 21 ) or whether I have just spent more time reading up about what's going on in the nation, but I find myself in P&N and the News Channels more and more.

With that, the more I pay attention, the more I can't help but shake my head...

Every time I turn on the TV or surf to a given news channel, there is always one party bashing the other- claiming their way is wrong and that they are running the country into the ground with decisions.

Neither side seems to be genuine any more. It seems that both parties are out to fill their particular agenda just so afterwards, when the public gets bored with it, the other side can undo it. It just isn't about helping the people any more - it is all about staying in office the longest and making money. And that is sad.

All of this kills me because all the 'behind the scenes' footage of these people (I'll use Bush and Obama as examples) shows them to, despite what the media says, be human.

Bush being amongst his family and out working on his ranch. At my school, Virginia Tech, comforting random students back on April 16, 2007.

Yesterday, Obama attending the All-Star game. Shaking hands with each player. Joking around in the booth with Tim McCarver and Joe Buck. In this White House watching him just be a dad and play with his children.

Both of these Presidents, and all of those in that past, just seem forgotten as actual people and instead looked at as the face of things that are wrong. They are slandered at every turn of the road by both the American people and the media - doing a job that ironically enough is thankless. At the same time, they are both attempting to do what they think is best for this country and the rest of the world.

I have my opinions on Presidents of the past as well as President Obama right now - but there is no place in this thread for them as all have, I am sure, done everything they could for this country. I'm not naive enough to think that everything will be positive in the office, but just basic respect would go a long way...

I am not well versed in Politics, nor do I wish for it to come off that way, but something needs to change. I don't have that answer or any answers, perhaps someone out there does, but squabbling over our petty differences doesn't help this nation - it kills it...slowly.

Am I way out there on this or missing something?

I think what you are missing is something small but important. There is only one thing in the universe that you can really change and that is you. The world hurt us as children and we all now feel needs. We carry false guilt and false self blame. We were told we don't deserve love. So we are hungry and seeking and when we look at the world we see it has no time at all for us. We are nothing and our lives have no meaning. We want and need the world to be different, to care for what matters. And so we waste our lives seeking to change things out there.

But it doesn't work that way. All the love you were denied and are seeking, all the good in the universe, has been hidden away deep within your own heart. The universe fills up with meaning and love, not when you are loved as you imagine, but when you love. The kingdom of heaven is within you. God fills the universe with love by pouring it out through you from your own heart and if it's God or your own heart you won't know nor does it matter.

Is that quoted from somewhere? It sounds a little bit like Eckhart Tolle(amongst others).

This is the first time I've ever heard of him. What I do know is that there is one truth and at least a couple of people know it. I don't have any CD's or a store that sells things though.

 

[JayhaVVKU]

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: JayhaVVKU

Originally posted by: Moonbeam

Originally posted by: Gamingphreek
So I don't know whether it happens with old age (I'm 21 ) or whether I have just spent more time reading up about what's going on in the nation, but I find myself in P&N and the News Channels more and more.

With that, the more I pay attention, the more I can't help but shake my head...

Every time I turn on the TV or surf to a given news channel, there is always one party bashing the other- claiming their way is wrong and that they are running the country into the ground with decisions.

Neither side seems to be genuine any more. It seems that both parties are out to fill their particular agenda just so afterwards, when the public gets bored with it, the other side can undo it. It just isn't about helping the people any more - it is all about staying in office the longest and making money. And that is sad.

All of this kills me because all the 'behind the scenes' footage of these people (I'll use Bush and Obama as examples) shows them to, despite what the media says, be human.

Bush being amongst his family and out working on his ranch. At my school, Virginia Tech, comforting random students back on April 16, 2007.

Yesterday, Obama attending the All-Star game. Shaking hands with each player. Joking around in the booth with Tim McCarver and Joe Buck. In this White House watching him just be a dad and play with his children.

Both of these Presidents, and all of those in that past, just seem forgotten as actual people and instead looked at as the face of things that are wrong. They are slandered at every turn of the road by both the American people and the media - doing a job that ironically enough is thankless. At the same time, they are both attempting to do what they think is best for this country and the rest of the world.

I have my opinions on Presidents of the past as well as President Obama right now - but there is no place in this thread for them as all have, I am sure, done everything they could for this country. I'm not naive enough to think that everything will be positive in the office, but just basic respect would go a long way...

I am not well versed in Politics, nor do I wish for it to come off that way, but something needs to change. I don't have that answer or any answers, perhaps someone out there does, but squabbling over our petty differences doesn't help this nation - it kills it...slowly.

Am I way out there on this or missing something?

I think what you are missing is something small but important. There is only one thing in the universe that you can really change and that is you. The world hurt us as children and we all now feel needs. We carry false guilt and false self blame. We were told we don't deserve love. So we are hungry and seeking and when we look at the world we see it has no time at all for us. We are nothing and our lives have no meaning. We want and need the world to be different, to care for what matters. And so we waste our lives seeking to change things out there.

But it doesn't work that way. All the love you were denied and are seeking, all the good in the universe, has been hidden away deep within your own heart. The universe fills up with meaning and love, not when you are loved as you imagine, but when you love. The kingdom of heaven is within you. God fills the universe with love by pouring it out through you from your own heart and if it's God or your own heart you won't know nor does it matter.

Is that quoted from somewhere? It sounds a little bit like Eckhart Tolle(amongst others).

This is the first time I've ever heard of him. What I do know is that there is one truth and at least a couple of people know it. I don't have any CD's or a store that sells things though.

Maybe you should, I'd buy an official "Thoughts of Moonbeam" motivational and spiritual CD.

Ok, maybe I wouldn't.