In the last 6 years, what one thing have you learned about the American government?

Question

Jack: Thanks for your concern on this monumental detail. :-) Yes, the actual word is spelled with an "i", but not my name. (I would have thought that was apparent.) I wasn't using it in a sentence....*shrug*

Answer 1

It has confirmed my conviction that the repuglicans are of, by and for the rich. Everything that has been done in the last 6 years has benefited the rich.

Answer 2

Many things.

I didn't realize how many innocent people our country kills all over the world. It was wrong for Saddam to kill 5,000 Kurds, but why the US felt it needed to top that by killing 40,000 Iraqis in this invasion is beyond me.

Someone above mentioned, "Most people that complain about the government usually don't do anything about it. Voting is so easy." Yes, voting is easy (unless you're a black democrat in a swing state), but what else can be done? Millions poured into the streets in this country and others to protest this war. Writing congressmen does nothing*. Should we be violent vigilantes? Perhaps he is suggesting we start our own corporations to buy legislation like all the big companies.

*That it's really a one party country. Democrats are as spineless as republicans are ruthless. Technically, they are still a part of our government, but it sure doesn't feel that way. I can't even tell the difference. They're all rich.

Sadly, this administration has taught us that thinking for oneself is wrong. You cannot question your leaders. You can't question their ideas, or "you're not American." Hell, Chris Matthews disagreed with Zel Miller and the old guy challenged Matthews to a DUEL. Yes, a DUEL.

There's just too many more, this type of question invites a huge debate and a lot of ranting.

Answer 3

The past 6 years have proven a few things of note.
1) US foreign policy, even though is seems short sighted, is still very much based on the long term positioning of the USA as far as securing American Security and Energy resources (oil).
2) As the rest of the world has moved on from the Cold war, America is more entrenched in the that us vs. them mentality (Cold War = War on Terror).
3) As Countries look for Energy sustainability (for example Germany will be up to 25% energy from wind by 2010, Denmark is at 45% from renewable resources), American is still hooked on oil and like an addict will do what it takes to get its next hit.
4) US adminstration isn't about dealing with the longer term problems (global warming, education, immigration), it is instead a puppet to the corporate line of Globalization. It isn' about democracy freedom of the vote, but the vote to freely buy Nike or Addidas.. any where in the world.

If it was doing things like getting off the dependency on oil, would they be in Iraq? If it was focussed on the environment would the Sierra Club, Greenpeace etc. be fighting to have US sign Keto accord? If it was past Cold War thinking - would defense spending be far and away the largest industry in the USA, a country New Orleans is still a swamp, guns in the inner cities is epidemic, and more and more people don't know how to read?

Answer 4

Well, I personally have learned nothing profound from the American Government in the last 6 years. The government under the leadership of our current esteemed leader has not been any better than our last esteemed leader.

I think though that America needs to learn (eventually) that we need to just stay out of other peoples countries...let them fend for themselves. If they want a democracy, fine...but let them use their own people to fight their wars. Leave our people here to fight. The general American public knows this already, why can't the head honchos in the White House figure this out?

Most of the other countries we have helped over the years do not even want us there...so why go? Let's learn to help our own first. We have thousands of American families on the street because they are homeless. We have thousands of families without health care. We have thousands of children starving to death. How about fixing these things first Mr. Esteemed Leader??

Answer 5

We; as a people....U.S. citizens...
have very, very, little to do with what goes on in our country; and those who believe that we do are completely misguided and duped by the "powers that be".
G.W. is a puppet for those powers, and is regarded as such by any minimally intelligent, and remotely independent thinking adult individual.
I have also come to realize that sadly we are headed up by a group of war mongers, and are thus perceived by other nations as blood thirsty, ugly, greedy, self-centered Americans.

Answer 6

in the time of an economic recession, time to start a war.
Wag the Dog, people !

Also you can shoot whom ever you want and then make the guy apologize for being shot .

My neighbors to the south , y'all govt is crazy!

Answer 7

That there should be less of it, and that it should mind its own business. The government, especially on the federal level, is intrusive and overbearing. They spend OUR money like there is no tomorrow.

Answer 8

That there is no end to their greed even at the expense of the American Voter/Taxpayer.

Answer 9

That it cares nothing about the constitution or doing away with people's rights.

Answer 10

Idiots who need to be slapped and actually take the publics opinion.