[quote=zk][quote=Djshakes]Let me rant once and a while damn it. It makes me feel manly. I’ll kiss and make up with you in a bit…sexy.[/quote]
It’s unfortunate that the noisiest participants in the American debate today are the least thoughtful. Generally those on either far end of the political spectrum lack the ability to appreciate the complexity, difficulty, subtlety and nuance required to actually make a country or a state work. They have a mantra (“Small Government!” or “We need to help the underprivileged! It’s not their fault!” or whatever) and nothing that doesn’t fit squarely with that motto is accepted, whether it’s what’s required or not. And it’s easy for them to rant and rave because it’s easy to shout slogans and to insult people. But doing what it takes to actually make something work? Leave those hard decisions to the few good politicians we have and then insult them when they try.
I expect it (or at least I should) from participants on a web forum. What’s really unfortunate is that, in far too many cases, our politicians are the same way.[/quote]
zk: I would offer two thoughts for consideration. First, and specific to California and more generally the US as a whole: We’re now seeing the fallout from several decades of vote buying, and by both parties. The GOP has focused on Big Business, Big Money and Big Oil and the Dems have focused on unions and organized labor and minorities. Both parties have pandered to their base and have been co-opted by their more reactionary and radicalized elements, thus the parlous state of dialogue and discourse in this country.
The other thought is that our politicians are venal, corrupt and fairly worthless, and what does that say about us as a populace?
This thread illustrates what Rich was referring to when he decried “Left versus Right slapfighting”. We’ve become so used to ad hominem and demonizing our “opponents”, that we’ve lost sight of the bigger picture and the ability to work as a consensus. Look at landmark legislation like the Civil Rights Act and the number of Republicans and Democrats that supported it. Then look at Obamacare. Night and day.
