Politics

Posted on October 6, 2008
Filed Under Politics |

I had a bunch of political posts I wanted to get to (in addition to commenting on Blake’s book) However I’ve reached the stage where I just want the election to be over with. The current stock fall isn’t helping my spirits. Unlike many I don’t think the leader has a huge impact on the world beyond making some big mistakes. I think most changes are structural and come more from the bottom up. Especially in a Democracy. Still, a big part of me thinks that there will be some big psychological benefit to having a new President. If only to reset people’s hopes.

Comments

9 Responses to “Politics”

I’ve never had election fatigue so bad myself either.

I feel the same way. The hardest part for me has been people telling me I am not doing by civic duty, etc. When I say I am agnostic towards politics, don’t vote much, etc. (Mind you , I do vote, I just don’t vote much. I typically check the “don’t know”,”undecided” box)

My biggest problem is that I don’t care for any of the people up for election across the board. (President, congress, etc.) It’s pretty hard to be motivated to vote for a lesser of two evils everywhere. Plus realistically in terms of the Presidential race unless you live in one of the swing states things are decided. They certainly are here.

While I think there’s a certain responsibility we, as people, have for our leaders when so few good ones are running then it’s discouraging. I’m sure both McCain and Obama are nice people but it’s pretty hard for me to feel much about either. (I felt nearly the same back in ‘04, ‘00, and ‘96) I think the political climate and nature of the media makes it such that most people don’t want to run for office anymore. So you get people who you might not wish to be running.

Anyway, color me cynical.

4 Gerald Smith on October 7th, 2008 10:29 am

From someone who voted for Ross Perot, I know what you mean. Of the candidates, I sorta like Sarah Palin, but not inspired by any of them.

I don’t think either one of them understands economics. When Obama is still insisting on pushing forward health care during a period of economic crisis, I just don’t have a good feeling about it. And when John McCain, the “maverick”, signs on to the bloated piece of bailout legislation that only a liberal Democrat should love, I’m a little bewildered on who to vote for.

I ponder if we’re getting to the point that Isaiah foretold:

Isa. 3: 6-7
6 When a man shall take hold of his brother of the house of his father, saying, Thou hast clothing, be thou our ruler, and let this ruin be under thy hand:
7 In that day shall he swear, saying, I will not be an healer; for in my house is neither bread nor clothing: make me not a ruler of the people.

Except for a few less-than-desirable people, who wants to be president anymore? I know I’ll vote, just not sure for whom. And I think we’ll get whatever we, as a nation, deserve…

Ditto to #2 and #3. What drives me nuts about politics is not so much how politicians lie, exaggerate, self-inflate, etc (these things are despicable, but to be expected of politicians); I go really crazy hearing supporters on both sides ceasing to think when their candidate is the subject of conversation. Such blatant willingness to dismiss all criticism of a candidate is both astonishing and appalling. I think this goes on ad nauseum in both major camps (liberals and conservatives) but in the liberal camp especially this election. I was too young to remember the Reagan elections; it wouldn’t surprise me to learn that conservatives worshipped at the feet of Reagan during that time in the same way liberals are prostrating themselves before the divine throne of Obama. In a way, John McCain is somewhat of an “intellectual” blessing for those who lean conservative: many conservatives do not like him and do not believe he represents true conservatism. But, because he falls somewhat in the conservative camp, is not as liberal as Obama, and is now the only option for conservative voters, many conservatives can vote for McCain while being able to lob real concerns and criticisms in his direction, and can actually stop being pure ideologues and step back and strain the eyes a little further. I have rarely seen many liberals able to do this with Obama. Those that have originally were Hillary supporters, but those former Hillary supporters that I am acquainted with are now nearly as entrenched in Obama worship as original supporters are. Obama supporters are the current instantiation of this, but conservatives have been guilty of this as well, particularly in that many conservatives refuse to consider any criticism of Sarah Palin. An inability to find ANYTHING substantially wrong with either candidate is extremely unfortunate and not intellectually honest, and this is what I detest most about politics.

Obama is actually backing off a fair bit from health care and many of his spending projects. Realistically given all the other issues facing the country none are likely to pass. (He’d have to do it in his “grace period” and frankly Iraq, Iran, the economic crisis, oil etc. are all going to be his focus)

I’m surprised your positive about Palin. I was hoping McCain would pick her prior to the convention. However to say she has disappointed me in her command of the issues is to really understate it.

I tend to agree that on economics both are scary. Obama ends up being better except that he makes a lot of scary protectionist moves. (Not as much now as in the spring and winter - but still) Most economists are going with Obama but that’s partially because McCain is just so plain ignorant on the economy I suspect.

Jacob, yeah the “confirmation bias” that goes on in politics is scary. The whole “team spirit” move bugs me. Too many people do this. It’s bad enough when it is activists or people passionate about politics. But it’s inexcusable when the press does it. (The ‘horse race’ mentality)

As I said, I’ll be glad when it’s over. If only to be a breath of new life into the crisis (much of which are psychological in nature)

Whether you like the blog or not it’s hard to argue with this comment .

The unseriousness is partly our, the voters’, fault, because although we say we want “straight talk,” and although we say we hate negativity and personal attacks, we tend to rebel against politicians who tell us unpleasant truths, and we tend to make decisions based on the trivialities that attack ads generally focus on. But it’s the politicians’ fault, too (to say nothing of their political consultants), because they’re catering to our worst impulses. Above all, what we need right now is leadership, which sometimes requires taking real political risks (not phony, stunt-like risks, a la McCain, but real risks, like telling voters things they don’t want to hear) — and there seems to be a total dearth of political leadership in this country right now, on both sides of the aisle. It isn’t just that McCain and Obama are flawed candidates; it’s that there aren’t really any better alternatives. Who would you rather see up there? Hillary Clinton? Mitt Romney? John Edwards? Mike Huckabee? Joe Biden? Sarah Palin? Nancy Pelosi? John Boehner? Harry Reid? Mitch McConnell? George W. Bush? John Kerry? Dick Cheney? Al Gore? Please. Our political class is totally failing us, almost as much as we’re failing ourselves.

For those that are tired of the direction that both major parties are leading us, why not vote for a third party candidate? It matters little that none of them have any chance of victory in this election, the point is to vote for the person that represents your interests and viewpoints.

D&C 134:3 says “We believe that all governments necessarily require civil officers and magistrates to enforce the laws of the same; and that such as will administer the law in equity and justice should be sought for and upheld by the voice of the people if a republic, or the will of the sovereign.”

There is nothing in this verse that condones the practice of voting for the lesser of two evils. We are instructed to vote for those that will administer the law in equity and justice.

John Quincy Adams said, “Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”

Supporting politicians that continue to fail us will never end the corruption in the political system. On the contrary, every time we cast a vote that does not represent our principles, we are encouraging the very corruption we complain about.

I invite you all to look at Chuck Baldwin. He will not win, but he is the best conservative candidate out there, and as such, will get my vote. We do have a choice, and we as voters can take back our republic if we educate ourselves and others.

Structurally the way the US political system is configured it’s pointless to vote 3rd party. Look, I’m all for an instant runoff amendment to the constitution to force States to have instant run offs. (You basically put your 1st, 2cd and 3rd choice picks - when counting votes if people don’t have enough votes to win you then go to the next pick so you could vote for both Ralph Nader and John McCain if you wanted) That would avoid the situations of Bill Clinton defeating Bush Sr. even though he’d have lost without Perot or Bush Jr winning even though Nader probably cost Gore the election.

Without instant runoff voting you’re just wasting your vote or worse.

And frankly “protest votes” in the current system are meaningless.

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