Elections are for suckers. This is becoming a powerful argument. As currently practiced political scientists should be revolted. Public policy in health care, jobs, budgetary policy, wars without end, “congressional gridlock” and many other issues that “Washington” is involved with are going nowhere fast.
Governing is governing. Politics is not necessarily governing. Too many in “Washington” spend more time raising money and gaming the system to continue their political careers than they do in governing and developing workable public policies that serve everybody.
The issue of campaign financing is seriously skewed. Incumbents short of criminal behavior which they are responsible for defining have the position to raise money to maintain their position. The other campaign financing issue of “super pacs” providing virtually unlimited funds and maintaining the legal fig leaf of not coordinating with candidates has unleashed negative campaigns that can drowned out any other dialogue.
Where is the average citizen to go? The democratic ideal has political proponents in name only. I wonder if Lincoln really meant it when he said “better we lose the election, than deceive the public”. This is a very sad state of affairs. Even when incumbents face changes due to redistricting, miracle of miracles very little changes.
This is not a republican or democratic issue. Both parties have resorted to the same play book. This is not pretty. Understanding and compromise can be as important a virtue as any an elected official can have.
The people in this country are very evenly divided on almost every issue of public policy and the level of governing has been lowered to the level where parties are unable to do what they were elected to do. Majorities are less important than perogative and divided government is ok as long as those in power continue to be reelected.
Rather than an honest discussion of issues and solutions, the reporting is of a horse race and campaigns that never seem to end.
I'm not surprised that most people hold our political institutions in such disdain.
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