Quote Originally Posted by Lyle View Post
Quote Originally Posted by bcollins View Post
Just to be honest, the choices given in the average presidential election (at least the ones I've been old enough to remotely understand) have been tantamount to picking between a cheese grater to the scrotum or some quiet time with a cactus.

It would be nice if our country was led by someone who actually gave a damn about it - and more specifically, the people in it.

All of them.
...are you saying John McCain doesn't care about his country? Because that is blasphemy...he spent 5 years in the Hanoi Hilton because although he was offered a chance to leave early McCain turned down the offer of repatriation; he would only accept the offer if every man taken in before him was released as well.

To tell me that guy doesn't care about his country after he took beating after beating and was tortured for 5 years is fucking ridiculous
Blasphemy to you, maybe - but neither you nor I know what his reasons were for his actions there. It's easy to classify something like that under the broad spectrum of "patriotism", but I believe that heroics of that type have less to do with the way he felt about his country and more about the dedication he felt for his comrades - and the disdain for his captors. Does it show an incredible amount of character? Absolutely. Do I personally admire and respect that kind of man? Absolutely. Do I have any idea what he went through there? None whatsoever.

Does this mean he wants what's best for the average United States citizen? Not necessarily. Just because the man has qualities I admire does not mean that he will work to improve the quality of life for EVERYONE in the nation. This is where you don't understand me - I feel that the government has no respect for the people it supposedly governs. Our modern leadership is a front - we aren't governed by democracy, we're governed by capitalism. Greed. You can talk about everyone being successful just by working hard, but that's not the case. The American Dream is a lie - it takes a hell of a lot more than hard work to succeed.

OK - rant over. Damn Lyle, you always get me going on this stuff - remember that I do respect your opinions, and more importantly, your right to have them. I love this country, too - that's why I don't want to see it run into the ground by greed.