2008 Election Madness?

Question

I can't believe how crazed the media has already become with the with the 2008 election. Is there really anyone left in America with the gall to care about the outcome? Regardless of who the victor is, they will no doubt prove greedy, narcissistic, and plastic. Is there any way to escape this madness short of loading up on LSD, bennies, reds, grass, & rum, and heading off to prowl the demolition derby circuit?

Answer 1

I understand your frustration. The two major political parties have been reduced to money making machines that spinelessly pander to their particular constiuencies and rarely, if ever, seem to consider the genuine national interest or the long term effects of their actions.

But in saying this we should all recognize that it is not some "they" who is responsible but the American people.

We live in a democracy. And no matter how much we complain about big money special interests the fact is that the people have the power to change the situation at any given election.

That they do not is largely because first they choose to vote for their own narrow interests and not for the general good of the nation.

Next they are too lazy to bother exploring the issues and educating themselves and choose to depend on sound bites and sloganizing. If the average American chose to learn as much about economics as he knows about baseball he'd know that neither major party makes any sense.

Finally, they abdicate their responsiblity to be active participants in our democracy and leave the field to the fanatics of left and right. Only 17% of the American public fully agrees with the Pro-life positon but they dominate the Republican party because they are the ones who get out an do the scut work of manning the polls and stuffing envelopes. Raving socialist loonies are an even tinier minority but they dominate the economic thinking of the Democrat party because go to the meetings and dominate the party caucuses.

So while getting drunk, getting high, or just getting out seems an attractrive proposition, the fact is that all it takes is a tiny fraction of the people who express their dissatisfaction with the present situation to decide to change it to make change happen.

Answer 2

Yes, the way to escape the madness is to do your homework investigating the pool of potential candidates, identify the one whose views are nearest yours, and work like anything to get them for your representative. Until we quit criticizing and begin to take part in the political process, we're stuck with what we get and give up our right to complain. If you participate and don't get what you hope for, then complain like crazy and hold the elected official accountable.

Answer 3

I think you have made a great point. Well said.