The biggest problem in American politics?

[Rationalist]

In my view, it is that both sides want to have their cake and eat it, too. For the past 12 years, Democrats have gotten their way on social programs, and Republicans have gotten their way on taxes and the military. Bush was the grand architect of this scheme with his tax cuts and big spending, such as the prescription drug law. The result is the mess we're in now: out-of-control spending and low revenues.

Taxation is one area I sharply disagree with Romney (and Republicans in general). My hope is that if Obama is reelected, he will allow the Bush tax cuts to expire in their entirety - not only for the wealthiest Americans, but across the board.

Unfortunately, Democrats don't seem too willing to tackle entitlement reform.

Where will this ultimately lead? At what point with both sides be forced to come together and work out a compromise?

 

[Rationalist]

The title of this thread should have been, "Let’s just say it: both parties are the problem."

 

[Billy the Great Khan]

the biggest problem is proles and pandering to them.

 

[Rationalist]

the biggest problem is proles and pandering to them.

Pretty much.

 

[Billy the Great Khan]

Oh, and the Boomers. Worst thing to ever happen to this country.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

In my view, it is that both sides want to have their cake and eat it, too. For the past 12 years, Democrats have gotten their way on social programs, and Republicans have gotten their way on taxes and the military. Bush was the grand architect of this scheme with his tax cuts and big spending, such as the prescription drug law. The result is the mess we're in now: out-of-control spending and low revenues.

Taxation is one area I sharply disagree with Romney (and Republicans in general). My hope is that if Obama is reelected, he will allow the Bush tax cuts to expire in their entirety - not only for the wealthiest Americans, but across the board.

Unfortunately, Democrats don't seem too willing to tackle entitlement reform.

Where will this ultimately lead? At what point with both sides be forced to come together and work out a compromise?

I think you're close to hitting on the real problem. I believe it's the primary system. I believe that it's polarized our political system into extremes. You've probably noticed that general elections don't mean shit anymore. That districts have been gerrymandered with such precision that the real elections are in the primaries. This gives party loyalist and partisans, those who are called the base, influence far disproportionate to their numbers. They are the ones who are really deciding elections and they tend towards the extremes. This is a real problem and I don't have a constructive alternative.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

Oh, and the Boomers. Worst thing to ever happen to this country.

Yea right. What have the gen Xers ever done? Nothing. They're the most self absorbed, fat, lazy, unskilled, unproductive, entitled generation this nation has ever produced.

 

[Billy the Great Khan]

Yea right. What have the gen Xers ever done? Nothing. They're the most self absorbed, fat, lazy, unskilled, unproductive, entitled generation this nation has ever produced.

Xers are 1 step above the Boomers. Luckily MY generation will resue this nation after the last of the Boomers is buried.

 

[Rationalist]

I think you're close to hitting on the real problem. I believe it's the primary system. I believe that it's polarized our political system into extremes. You've probably noticed that general elections don't mean shit anymore. That districts have been gerrymandered with such precision that the real elections are in the primaries. This gives party loyalist and partisans, those who are called the base, influence far disproportionate to their numbers. They are the ones who are really deciding elections and they tend towards the extremes. This is a real problem and I don't have a constructive alternative.

I think publicly funded elections would help, as would increasing the size of the House and electing half of it proportionately. This would eliminate corporate and labor interests from the process, and effectively put an end to the two party system.

 

[Billy the Great Khan]

I think publicly funded elections would help, as would increasing the size of the House and electing half of it proportionately. This would eliminate corporate and labor interests from the process, and effectively put an end to the two party system.

I think proportionality elections aren't that bad of an idea, as well as term limits on total years as a national politician. A lottery may also be a useful tool.

 

[Rationalist]

I think proportionality elections aren't that bad of an idea, as well as term limits on total years as a national politician.

Term limits would be a good thing. I'd say six terms for House, two terms for Senate.

A lottery may also be a useful tool.

Lottery?

 

[Billy the Great Khan]

Term limits would be a good thing. I'd say six terms for House, two terms for Senate.



Lottery?

Say for the House. Instead of elections, a person is chosen at random to serve from each district.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

I think publicly funded elections would help, as would increasing the size of the House and electing half of it proportionately. This would eliminate corporate and labor interests from the process, and effectively put an end to the two party system.

I think those are interesting ideas.

 

[Mott the Hoople]

I think proportionality elections aren't that bad of an idea, as well as term limits on total years as a national politician. A lottery may also be a useful tool.

I'm not for term limits. We all ready have them. They're called "elections".

 

[SmarterthanYou]

I think you're close to hitting on the real problem. I believe it's the primary system. I believe that it's polarized our political system into extremes. You've probably noticed that general elections don't mean shit anymore. That districts have been gerrymandered with such precision that the real elections are in the primaries. This gives party loyalist and partisans, those who are called the base, influence far disproportionate to their numbers. They are the ones who are really deciding elections and they tend towards the extremes. This is a real problem and I don't have a constructive alternative.

you don't because you have no ability to think in any other way. you've been fully brainwashed in to thinking that there's only two possibilties, democrat and republican. you've been brainwashed in to believing that any 3rd party is useless or worthless until they can garner the same numbers and power as the major two, something you really don't want anyway as shown by your reticence to even consider voting for anybody that doesn't have an R or D to their name. I guess that makes you one of the GenXers.

 

[Guns Guns Guns]

LOL at the rightwingers who want to throw the Founder's vision of government overboard because they can't legally kill Social Security and Medicare...

 

[Billy the Great Khan]

I'm not for term limits. We all ready have them. They're called "elections".

Yeah, real big 'limit' there. That's how people like Thrumond and Levin haven't been able to make fucking careers as politicians. Clearly, that system that favors incumbants so heavily, obviously limits their ability to serve and be reelected.

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

In my view, it is that both sides want to have their cake and eat it, too. For the past 12 years, Democrats have gotten their way on social programs, and Republicans have gotten their way on taxes and the military. Bush was the grand architect of this scheme with his tax cuts and big spending, such as the prescription drug law. The result is the mess we're in now: out-of-control spending and low revenues.

Taxation is one area I sharply disagree with Romney (and Republicans in general). My hope is that if Obama is reelected, he will allow the Bush tax cuts to expire in their entirety - not only for the wealthiest Americans, but across the board.

Unfortunately, Democrats don't seem too willing to tackle entitlement reform.

Where will this ultimately lead? At what point with both sides be forced to come together and work out a compromise?

The shorter version...

The biggest problem in American politics... Republicans and Democrats.

 

[Don Quixote]

Yeah, real big 'limit' there. That's how people like Thrumond and Levin haven't been able to make fucking careers as politicians. Clearly, that system that favors incumbants so heavily, obviously limits their ability to serve and be reelected.

plus with unlimited campaign contributions once elected it is even harder to get rid of the trash

still i am not in favor or term limits, it is a solution that makes for more problems than it cures - at least for now

 

[Cancel 2016.2]

I think you're close to hitting on the real problem. I believe it's the primary system. I believe that it's polarized our political system into extremes. You've probably noticed that general elections don't mean shit anymore. That districts have been gerrymandered with such precision that the real elections are in the primaries. This gives party loyalist and partisans, those who are called the base, influence far disproportionate to their numbers. They are the ones who are really deciding elections and they tend towards the extremes. This is a real problem and I don't have a constructive alternative.

I agree, the House races are a joke in most cases as the two parties have made the bulk of their districts 'safe'. Which has led to extremists taking control. I think the other problem is that 'leadership' positions in DC tend to go to career politicians with seniority. That combination spells disaster.

It is time for the people to step up and end all the 'safe' districts. Divide each state up into squares. Each square gets 1/x of the population. So some may cover larger geographic areas, but the population representation will be about equal. No more crazy ass lines trying to make sure they have a guaranteed seat.