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comment by oyster
oyster  ·  2718 days ago  ·  link  ·    ·  parent  ·  post: The Most Important WikiLeaks Revelation Isn’t About Hillary Clinton

I think part of the problem with politics is just how different the two main parties are becoming. Having to get two sides to agree isn't always a bad thing but the two sides to American politics are getting more different as time goes on. Nobody ends up happy with that arrangement.

I mean I would really like if governments around the world cared about climate change a long time ago, but not enough people cared. Now it's going to be expensive to fix and society still pushes against that even though they have nobody to blame but themselves. I think politics just reflects all the problems with society, so I don't think politics is what needs fixing. I think politics being fixed is a happy by-product of society sucking less.





johnnyFive  ·  2718 days ago  ·  link  ·  

Just once I'd like to see someone who has the courage of their convictions (Bernie Sanders was the closest I've ever seen). But these people would rather get re-elected then lose for an idea, which means they have no principles. A principle isn't a principle if you're not willing to lose anything to support it.

Just once I'd like to see a leader actually lead, rather than trying to find out where the country is so they can go with the crowd and then act like it was their plan all along.

user-inactivated  ·  2718 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    Just once I'd like to see a leader actually lead, rather than trying to find out where the country is so they can go with the crowd and then act like it was their plan all along.

Well, that's a bit of a problem then, isn't it? Part of the job of our elected officials is to carry out the wills and desires of the people that they represent. If the people call for better roads, they're gonna try and get better roads. If people call to protect the environment, they're gonna try and protect the environment. I think what you're really trying to say is sometimes we need our elected officials to say "Okay people, shut up for a minute about that idea, cause it's stupid." The problem is, they often don't cause they wanna get reelected.

johnnyFive  ·  2717 days ago  ·  link  ·  

    Part of the job of our elected officials is to carry out the wills and desires of the people that they represent.

I don't believe this to be true, and is a reason we don't generally have direct democracy on most issues. The idea is that we choose the people who will then use their own judgment and knowledge to make decisions on our behalf.

    I think what you're really trying to say is sometimes we need our elected officials to say "Okay people, shut up for a minute about that idea, cause it's stupid." The problem is, they often don't cause they wanna get reelected.

This is the crux of it, yes. But I don't have any obligation to reward cowardice just because it's widespread.

oyster  ·  2718 days ago  ·  link  ·  

But if that person doesn't get re-elected is that a problem with politics or society ? That means that although they may stand for things you and I like they don't represent the majority. The government should represent society. It's not very democratic to lead a country by disregarding what the majority of people want.