Signs of the Times

[walrus]

Big Government is very bad. I'm not keen on drones reading citizens for any reason at 200 ft. Just wonder who will be the first arrested for shooting 1 out of the sky . Sadly we've become polarized bands who thrive of political divisions and consider all needed answers and solutions to fall therein. We judge, ridicule and close down on nothing more than catch phrases, dumb hats or banners and single policy stances. For many we go no further than the capital letter on a voter registration to disagree. Mass social media literally with every step now sees large swaths not seek out 'truths or facts' and cross reference points we may disagree with..but simply seek out like minds and narratives agreed with and bunker down like immovable objects. I'll never understand it. We're free thinkers in a beautiful land. Politicians are not teen idols or team sports, they all equally have not earned that freely given adoration. It is healthy to be skeptical but don't be sheep.

Term limits. We need term limits in Congress. Congress is not a forward looking body. They see only the best way to maintain their power and influence much of what involved creating massive programs and piling on the debt. If these idiots had 2 terms politics could be a lot different. A line item veto would be nice but I understand the Supreme Court saying it gives too much power to the executive. Still, it’s the only way to get rid of some of the pork in these bills

if politicians were unpaid or on a type of minimum wage without benefits i think we would have much better people in control

The founding fathers just figured as time progressed real people would serve in government for a short period of time and return to regular life. They didn’t figure it would be a lifelong appointment although there were a movement to elevate Washington to a monarch like figure. It was quite a gesture Washington made walking away from power. Now we have senators who won’t even step down when senile or terminally ill. If the people wanted to revolt in this country it would be easy. Vote out every sitting senator and congressmen. Make them know we are fed up instead of automatically pulling the lever for the incumbent. We had some real radicals at the constitutional convention. I don’t think Jefferson was all that but Jeffersonian democracy is a cool structure. When you read the federalist papers or other writings which included Madison’s ideas you get a feel for what they really wanted. John Adams was already pissed when his son was in office and created several “federal bureaus of”. He figured we were losing the plot then.

[ruthless rocco]

The USA is not a democracy. Once you accept that, you can start to have a real discussion of how to go about changing the way it's run.

[walrus]

The USA is not a democracy. Once you accept that, you can start to have a real discussion of how to go about changing the way it's run.

You are learning Flaco. The US was never a a democracy we were a republic the day the constitution was signed.

[ruthless rocco]

The American myth is that it is the greatest democracy in the world. The country does everything in the name of democracy; invasions, wars, puppet dictators, McDonald’s.