Is Voting in America a Hopeless exercise?

Question

The system is broken. Nothing positive happens for the American citizen and they certainly, voting doesn't seem make a difference.

Is there a way to make democracy work in America?

Answer 1

its not a hopeless exercise its a bad system but thats because of the electoral votes we should either make the popular vote count or make the popular vote nationally make the electoral votes

Answer 2

It seems that America has just been unlucky to have developed a two party system where the winner takes all.
I wonder if this was the intention of the heroes who fought for
America's independence at the time and drafted the declaration of independence and constitution.
I feel that they've been betrayed by history somehow.
For the people by the people seems to have been replaced by for the party by the party.
The choice of available political candidates at a higher level
appears to depend on the size of wallets and depth of pockets.
Half the people in the Senate is a millionaire, serving the people apparently is very lucrative in the U.S.A..
It is wrong whichever way you look at it, if they were rich before they got elected the system is corrupt for they can't
possibly claim to fairly represent the American population.
If they filled their pockets after they got elected it is even worse.
But the system is unlikely to change because both parties have cornered the market and have no intention to promote
an overhaul of the current system.
It may well be the only point in politics the Dems and Reps are totally in agreement about.
No other noses in our through !, So you just have to vote and hope for the best (and it hasn't been good lately) and you'll be ignored by the politicians till the next election comes along.
In a way it is almost a consolation prize if the party you didn't
vote for wins as in that way you avoid the bonus humiliation of
being sp*t and sh*t on by the ones you voted into power.
But this is all very very negative.
So I will give a few recommendations, with a ' snowball's chance in Hell's chance any will ever come to pass.

Proportional Representation - States with small populations
will never accept that one.

A cap on the amount of money a candidate can spend on
campaigns if he runs for a elected office.
( Leveling the playing field so to speak, someone might get
elected on the strenght of his ideas, on issues and God forbid
even because he's actually capable )

Outlaw blatant pork spending.

Curtail the excesses of political lobbying.

Shorter political terms for certain offices ( Senators for example ) so that accountability increases.

The Administration should be compelled to grant a few key
posts to the 'opposition' so that a certain amount of cooperation between the parties is necessary and communication lines stay open.
There are topics both Reps and Dems kind of agree on so that should not be as hard as it sounds.

There's more but this should be some start.

But most important is to get off your *ss and get involved in
politics yourself even if only at the lowest level.
The whingeing and whining from the safety of a comfy chair
has certainly never changed much.

Answer 3

I know how you feel. I've been getting into politics ever since Bush got elected and the whole Iraqi war thing. I've never liked politics and I know why now. It is dirty, disgusting, and most of all saddening. It incites hatred, violence, propaganda, and some serious crimes. I've been researching so much to find out the truth, but it just seems as if you will never be able to find it. Something out there wants to keep you subservient and stupid, and personally it has gotten me really jaded and saddened. I'll definitely vote, my choice is Ron Paul, but I won't be surprised if some war monger is elected instead. History repeats itself, and America as an empire is no exception when it comes to collapse and decline. We are following that pattern now.

In the end, do what you can and know that as a citizen, you have every right to defend the consitution. It isn't some paper, it contains HUMAN rights, what everybody is innately born with. Protect it with all your power, and whatever happens in the end is fate. Peace.

Answer 4

Don't vote, it only encourages them.

Right now, the difference between the parties relates to some social issues and not any substantial infrastructure possibilities. The system is heavilly in favor of those who already have power and wealth.

If you want freedom, democracy, and equal opportunity I'd be looking for some candidate other than a Democrat or Republican. Major media outlets are spouting propaganda rather than balanced and fair facts.

For now, we have an Internet that is unfettered.

Answer 5

Ah, yes. The sheep meekly trot to the voting booth to choose between Tweedledum and Tweedledee. And the cynical sheep sits idly by.

Both serve the purpose--to allow the wolves free access t opower. You play into their hands as surly as the most brainwashed voter.

GET OFF YOUR CYNICAL BUTT! E-mail yur representatives. Find a candidate--any candidate--you can respect and work your a~~ off to get him/her elected. IF you hear of a local townmeeting, public hearing, etc. SHOW UP.!

Our forefathers didn't sit around and whine--andthe little detail of taking on the worlds most powerful military in 1776 with no army and no navy didn't stop them. We've had it so easy for so long we've forgotten that "an active, involved citizenry" is the first--and last--line of defense of our liberty. Not" somebody else ought to do something" "Somebody" is YOU-and me--and any American citizen.

Answer 6

Voting in America would be broken, if we went to a popular vote. Think about, if you're running for president, all you need to do is hit Cali, Texas, New York, and one or two other states with a heavy population, and you can ignore the rest of the country-then the votes wouldn't count. The electoral college is not a secret group of people, you can go watch them vote-and after the election, their names are made public. The only reason you're hearing about this in the media is because the dems are afraid of losing another presidental race, and if we went to the popular vote Hillary would have a much better chance, already having Ca. and NY in her back pocket.

Answer 7

voting works! we voted for Gore, and now he's president and the environment is getting way better really fast.
and then we voted for Kerry and he won and now we have a democratic president.

and the media doesn't spin the news to serve elite political agendas either.

Answer 8

The system is broken just because the person you voted for didn't win? I take it you haven't been of voting age for very long. Sometimes your candidate wins and sometimes he doesn't.

I have been of voting age since 1980. Since then, regarding presidential candidates, my candidate has won 5 times (Reagan twice, Bush Sr., and Bush, Jr. twice) and lost twice (Clinton).

The system works fine. One group just whines more than the other...

Answer 9

Politics are far more complicated than they need to be. Even though you may THINK that voting doesn't change anything, not voting is a DEFINITE.

Answer 10

First we were never meant to be a democracy. We are a "Constitutional Representative Republic", or at least should be.