A posting in another thread reminded of this classic scene from the movie Network with Peter Finch. He plays a network anchor who “loses it” during a broadcast. I think he won an Oscar for the role.
Sadly, he mentions some of the same problems we still have today and the movie was made in 1976.
I’m going to my window now…
I just joined you.
I’m with you baby. I’m going to be a pimple on their asses.
I am tired of complaining and not doing anything about it. Seriously, what can we do? No matter where any of us are politically, most of us agree that Washington as an institution is broken and that they aren’t going to fix it themselves.
That is brilliant and scary. I need to see the movie again, it’s been a long time.
It will be difficult because our leaders are becoming more authoritarian and way less transparent.
I truly think we need a revolution of some kind. I think there is a groundswell of sorts building in this direction. Our political party system is broken.
I admit I wasted my vote on McCain. I should have voted my gut and heart for Ron Paul. That is the direction we need to go, a viable third party.
I will be working the phones, blogs, emails in an effort to let them know what I think. I will definitely be looking for a viable third party to support with my time and money.
Although I am not a fan of terms limits, I do think we need something to get entrenched deadbeats out.
Although I am not a fan of terms limits, I do think we need something to get entrenched deadbeats out.
Agree with all of your above post (except for I did vote 3rd party)…but especially this piece. I used to be of the mindset that the voters could decide the term length. However, the politicians have figured out how to make their constituents dependent on all their pork, which then gets them re-elected every time.
Definitely need the term limits, and definitely need the viable 3rd party!
I am tired of complaining and not doing anything about it. Seriously, what can we do? No matter where any of us are politically, most of us agree that Washington as an institution is broken and that they aren’t going to fix it themselves.
I don’t mean to single you out but do you ever get involved with an issue? Have you ever sent your congressman an email or called them or attended a town meeting? I hear people bitch all the time and probably 20% of them aren’t even registered voters. If you don’t do anything to make a difference, why should anything change?
The first time I wrote to my Senators and Congressman was last fall as they passed the TARP bill, which had absolutely no real plan on how to spend the $700B and no oversight. Turns out for the most part it was a big waste of money after all. Even though it passed, I am still glad I wrote them (and encouraged many others to do so as well).
I plan to do this more often, but while the letters are important, they don’t change the way Washington operates.
My biggest issues with Washington are on campaign finance reform and the influence of big money and the need for Term Limits for Congress. I am starting with a website, have purchased the domain name and am hiring a web developer and hosting company.
It may go no where, but I will feel better for trying to do something instead of just complaining here on ST and to my friends and family.
My turning point was when I found out the the Finance, Real Estate and Insurance industry sent $2.1B to Washington from 2000-2008 to candidates of both parties, then got a huge, seemingly never ending bailout with very few questions asked.
.
I used too write and call back in the day but I noticed something. They don’t care. The mythical swing voter is not what matters it’s the base that matters. When a party knows that their base will vote for them because people involved in parties vote against the other guy they don’t have to do anything.
Right now the Republicans are playing lip service to the idea that they have left their roots. They have but they know don’t have to go back to them. The Big Kahunas and ajfrankes of the world will vote for them no matter what.
The system is not broken because people are getting what they want.
The system is not broken because people are getting what they want.
That is true for some people. But most people aren’t getting what they want. They finally are starting to wake the fuck up and pay attention, which is a good thing.
I am all for 3rd parties, because having to choose between just two is getting old.