Is it arrogant for average every day people to have an opinion on leading politicians of our day?

Question

How many of us can honestly say we have been close to power, are familiar with its use, the management of government, and the skill required to do so?

Answer 1

In the US we are a representitive democracy. Those people work for us and thus we have the right to evaluate their performances. It is not arrogant in any way. In fact it was popular to criticize politicicians in the British Empire even before the US existed. Why do you think we broke away from England? We were unhappy with the government who would not listen to the residents of the wealthiest colonies England had and so we in those colonies made the English pay attention. The cost to them was heavy.

Democracy thrives on dissent and difference of opinion. Without them we might as well have a totalitarian government where no one dares have an opinon, or at least not express it openly, without retribution by goons of fearless leader.

Answer 2

It isn't arrogant. People show their opinions every 2, 4 or 6 years during elections when they vote so everybody needs to have some sort of opinion. I think normal people realize that politicians are also humans and will make mistakes and have biases or opinions. Also, people realize that in every situation there is probably a right way a wrong way and alternatives in between and for the most part (not all the time) government operates somewhere in between.

Answer 3

I don't think its arrogant, but it is incumbent upon one who is so critical that they look at all the facts and not base their wimpy gripes on TV comedians, a political partisan, or here-say. How many times a day on YA, or at the office, do you hear people express this or that regarding politics without a clue about which they speak? Shortly after 9/11, Rosie O'Donald explained that she had always thought that if a democrat said something it was probably true and if a republican said something it probably wasn't. She admitted that she needed to re-think that attitude. Its the fairest thing I've ever heard her say. One may be the absolute best democrat or republican because they strictly adhere to the party line without question, but that person is the sorriest possible American because that attitude serves only their party and not the country. We're not rooting for our favorite football team here, its about having the best possible country.

Answer 4

No.

What's arrogant is for people to decide they believe one set of rhetoric over the other and what's pathological is for people to so closely identify with one image of Right or Left that they "believe" whatever "facts" support one side or the other.

For example on the economy and incomes, wealth and poverty, economic mobility, any objective observer who does the research really can't come to any conclusion other than that the paradigm shift from Keynes to Friedman et al in 1980 has benefited everyone, and many of us greatly. In fact, any intellectually rigorous and honest Lib who actually does the research would change sides at least on that issue - that's what happened with me. I was as socialist as they come but also intellectually curious, and I did the research and quickly found out that the whole Krugman/Dobbs class warfare thing is completely bogus, a shell-game.

Why most people start with a side, then adopt its conclusions, then decide to believe or make up whatever 'facts' support those conclusions, I have no clue.

It's pathological.

But that's what most people, at least on this board, seem to do.

Answer 5

We may be average but that doesn't mean we're stupid. We have every right to have an opinion on the politicians that we elect to run our country. The most powerful country in the world. Made up of average people. But, if you feel unqualified then be all means, don't contribute.

Answer 6

My dad is a State Rep. and I frequent the Capital.

I also work for lobbyists (they are good ones.. lobby for child care)

I'd say I have a pretty good clue.



Educated people usually get it right.. and if they don't they can at least explain their reasoning... it's the ignorant masses that are educated from Fox or ABC or wherever .. .and that source alone.. that bother me...the thing is.. they are no different than the people running the show.

Most politicians are just good ole boys when they are out of the office.. remember.. they aren't any different than you or I.

Answer 7

The thing I find interesting is that Faux News has conditioned millions of working class Americans to accept the notion that "liberal" means something bad without ever defining what the word means.

Is it liberal to believe that someone who works 40 hours per week ought to be able to afford a comfortable life (a small decent house, a car every 10 years, a week's vacation once a year, etc.).

Is it liberal to believe that the founding father's fears of a church/state should be respected?

Is it liberal to think that 30 Americans a day killed with guns might be too many?

Is it liberal to think that someone making a million dollars a year should pay a higher tax rate than someone making ten thousand dollars a year?

Is it liberal to think that making basic health care available to everyone might be a higher priority than ensuring that multi-millionaires are not deprived of owning their own yachts?

Answer 8

I've been pretty close and I don't think its arrogant whether you've been on a presidents staff or grandma down on the farm. It is our right as a citizen of this country. We are still a government Of the people.

Answer 9

The worse thing you can do is to put these people up on a pedestal. The whole idea was to have one of our "neighbors" represent us in Congress. We have an absolute responsibility to hold these Reps accountable for everything they do. If I ever hear a Rep say this is too difficult for you to understand, I will do everything in my power to ensure they are not reelected. And I don't care what party they represent.

Answer 10

Each person is the sole authority on his own life. Ordinary people are arrogant when they vote for politicians and laws that tell other people how to run their lives.