Political thoughts: I want to split up
Right now, there are two parties out there in America, with a few far left/far right groups. You've got your Republicans. Now, at its core, I agree with the idea: small, nimble government that focuses on providing basic services and protection of civil rights. The government stays out of people's lives, makes sure there's a level playing field for all, and after that, its up to the people to deal with their own problems.
But the problem with the Republicans is, well, they aren't. Or, at least not the ones in control. We have record deficits, we have more personal intrusion than ever before, civil rights being "well, it's just a piece of paper", torture (oh, excuse me, "renditioning to other countries where *they* torture you - we just water board) - it's far, *far* from the "conservative ideals".
On the other side, you have the Democratic Party. People who think that government can be used to raise all people up by using government services to provide basic care, to make sure that no one falls between the cracks. Standing up for the "little guy".
But the Democrats aren't doing that either. We have a group of people who whine about "oh, we don't have the votes to stop the war", when all they have to do is NOT FUCKING FUND IT. Their failures is not so much with ideas, but with courage and deciding to stick for their values instead of caving the first time someone accuses them of being "unpatriotic" for having the gall to say that maybe, just maybe, pouring water into people's faces until they feel they're dying might be wrong.
So, I propose that both the Republicans and the Democrats split. The Republicans who want to throw out the big business loving kooks who feel that "free markets come before free people", who want to throw out the theocrats who keep saying that "Well, this is a Christian nation, and if you don't like it, then you can be killed in the name of Jesus" - those guys can form a new party. Call it the Conservative Party. Then, the Democrats who are tired of spineless wimps can form a new party called the Progressive Party.
Then, we can get rid of the current round of idiots and traitors and panderers and chicken livered weaklings, and put some real politicians in. The first thing: publicly funded elections, with no one allowed to announce or run for office until 6 weeks before the election (or they forfeit their ability to be on the ballot - and that includes "whisper campaigns").
Once that happens, then we can have real discussions about military and health care and the environment and all the rest.
*Sigh* It's a nice dream, I guess. Instead, we'll just have to wait until each party implodes and we move on from there.
But the problem with the Republicans is, well, they aren't. Or, at least not the ones in control. We have record deficits, we have more personal intrusion than ever before, civil rights being "well, it's just a piece of paper", torture (oh, excuse me, "renditioning to other countries where *they* torture you - we just water board) - it's far, *far* from the "conservative ideals".
On the other side, you have the Democratic Party. People who think that government can be used to raise all people up by using government services to provide basic care, to make sure that no one falls between the cracks. Standing up for the "little guy".
But the Democrats aren't doing that either. We have a group of people who whine about "oh, we don't have the votes to stop the war", when all they have to do is NOT FUCKING FUND IT. Their failures is not so much with ideas, but with courage and deciding to stick for their values instead of caving the first time someone accuses them of being "unpatriotic" for having the gall to say that maybe, just maybe, pouring water into people's faces until they feel they're dying might be wrong.
So, I propose that both the Republicans and the Democrats split. The Republicans who want to throw out the big business loving kooks who feel that "free markets come before free people", who want to throw out the theocrats who keep saying that "Well, this is a Christian nation, and if you don't like it, then you can be killed in the name of Jesus" - those guys can form a new party. Call it the Conservative Party. Then, the Democrats who are tired of spineless wimps can form a new party called the Progressive Party.
Then, we can get rid of the current round of idiots and traitors and panderers and chicken livered weaklings, and put some real politicians in. The first thing: publicly funded elections, with no one allowed to announce or run for office until 6 weeks before the election (or they forfeit their ability to be on the ballot - and that includes "whisper campaigns").
Once that happens, then we can have real discussions about military and health care and the environment and all the rest.
*Sigh* It's a nice dream, I guess. Instead, we'll just have to wait until each party implodes and we move on from there.