Politics in the USA

[Kobuk]

For those who wish to keep up to date on election results, you can check here:
http://www.cnn.com/election/results

[Avan]

Well, our ballot was mailed in over a week ago, so no need to head to the polling place today.

[Old Rabbit]

I voted and there was quite a few others voting too. Even though I
am not proud about how the election came out. I was glad to see
so many people voting this year. I hope there is as much interest
in two years for the mid term election. But I have my doubts..

It's always puzzled me why people think the presidential election
cycle is more important. Perhaps they think of the president as  a
quasi dictator they elect.  They should be watching the legislators 
more since the president is only a leader, not a law maker.

The legislature tied the hands of Obama for six years, even shut
down the government, for good or bad  depending on how each
person felt. That should prove how little power the president has
over laws, and the legislature. He can declare how some laws are
to be executed, but the courts, and or the legislature can over ride
him at any time. 

I hope the next few years are calm and productive. I hope those
in government consider the rights and needs of the people over
their own ideals. Those we elect should never, I mean never make
laws based on their personal beliefs or needs, but to follow the
constitution and for the good of the country. Not based on Religion,
race, or culture alone.

[Kobuk]

It's always puzzled me why people think the presidential election
cycle is more important. Perhaps they think of the president as  a
quasi dictator they elect.  They should be watching the legislators
more since the president is only a leader, not a law maker.

The legislature tied the hands of Obama for six years, even shut
down the government, for good or bad  depending on how each
person felt. That should prove how little power the president has
over laws, and the legislature. He can declare how some laws are
to be executed, but the courts, and or the legislature can over ride
him at any time. 

Yeah, this has always puzzled me too from time to time. We need to spend more time looking at what the Legislators are doing and proposing. And not just them, but ALL levels of government, even down to the State Governors, Mayors, City Council, Aldermen, Police Chiefs, Fire Chiefs, and so much more.

[Old Rabbit]

As usual the GOP is claiming a mandate because they won. Not because they
won a majority, but because they won. If they have a mandate how come
Clinton won the popular vote?  I don't limit this to the GOP, but they
seem to make this claim pretty often.  Yes Trump is claiming it too.

I think the reason Trump managed to squeak out a win is because he spoke
to the little people as the elite of america call them. Those they fly over when
they go skiing or to each coast.

I have a friend. Yes he is still a friend. Who voted for Trump. We disscused
the election.  He liked the idea that Trump is rich enough that he can 't be
bought. He is a Rush Limbaugh fan so he told me about all the bad things
the Clintons were supposed to have done. Also he is a gun fancyer, and he
feels the democrates want to take peoples guns.

I think many of those who voted for Trump or against Clinton were much
the same as my friend. A guy who likes to talk about politics, but only listens
to talk show guys who are looking more for an audience than the truth.

Like many conservatives my friend doesn't like immigration, or welfare that
hands money to people who just sit and watch tv, and have kids. Welfare is
good, but when people on welfare live better than people working for minimum
wage can afford to there is something wrong. Also how can we expect someone
on welfare to  work when their life style would fall into the toliet.

If the democrats don't address the concerns of people like my friend they will
continue to loose. Not counting Jobs, not minimum wage ones, but good jobs.
We need to have afforadable higher education too. Ending up owing a huge
bill that is hard if not impossible to pay isn't working either.

If the people want change they must get involved, or nothing will.. Not just
during presidential elections but all of them.

[Kobuk]

Out of everything that happened during this year's Presidential Election, I have to say that what really bugged me the most was how "uninformed" people were about how government works, how the media works and how they report stuff, how uninformed they are about various issues like immigration and so forth.
This whole election was not about informing the people on how things worked or about what each candidate's policies would be, etc., but rather the entirety of this election was just to sow fear, hatred, and intimidation into the hearts and minds of the American people. And the Trump campaign seems to have done a pretty good job at it.   

What this country needs during a Presidential election is more "cooler heads" to prevail. We need more understanding and reasoning. But most of all, we need a public who is better informed of what their government does, the people who run it, how it operates, and so forth. I really don't think the American people knew what they were getting into during this election. They only heard what they wanted to hear. They voted more with their hearts, and didn't fully think things through and vote with their brains. In short, they let their emotions get the better of them and this is what they used to determine who they preferred and who they were going to vote for.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again: People don't think. They weren't "questioning" if Trump or Clinton were the right leaders for them. They weren't "questioning" whether the candidate's policies and proposals we're good or bad. Instead, people were just basing all their decisions on fear.

If we really want people to be informed about their government and what their leaders are up to, then I feel we need to start by having courses in Junior High School as well as High School on government education that start preparing students early for when it comes time for them to make the decisions and cast their votes for who should lead this country and how it should be run later in life. I'd like to see more schools teach government education. Whether it be a semester long course or a year long course, I don't care. Just so long as the students come away with a better understanding of how our government works and operates. When I went to Junior High and High School, we had classes on government history, we had mock trials, mock voting and elections, a mock congress, and so much more. And if I could go further, I think such classes should be required learning/passing for graduation.

The more informed and better prepared a person is, the better they will be later in life.

[Kobuk]

Something else to think about when it comes to politics in the USA.

Why do we have a Republican and Democratic sides?
Is it time to get rid of both of them? Are they outdated and old fashioned?
Why must we continue to give labels to ourselves like "Republican, Democrat, Liberal, Conservative, etc." ?

[GrayWolf448]

im not so sure if having all those labels is old fashion since im pretty sure when the country was first created it was against having political parties.

though in my opinion having all those labels kinda makes things a mess, and makes people turn on each other for no reason other than just being a supporter of a different party.

[Foxpup]

Why do we have a Republican and Democratic sides?

You don't. Just to clarify, "sides" are positions opposite of the centre. The moderate right wing (Democrats) and extremist right wing (Republicans) are not considered to be different sides by anyone outside of America.

[Varg the wanderer]

Why do we have a Republican and Democratic sides?

You don't. Just to clarify, "sides" are positions opposite of the centre. The moderate right wing (Democrats) and extremist right wing (Republicans) are not considered to be different sides by anyone outside of America.

If these are both right wing, what do you consider left wing? The People's Socialist Party? The Communist Party?

[Foxpup]

If these are both right wing, what do you consider left wing? The People's Socialist Party? The Communist Party?

I suppose a left-leaning or even centrist party would be considered "communist" in America, which is probably why America doesn't have a left wing. There's the Greens, of course, but they're more environmentalist than leftist.

[Old Rabbit]

Something else to think about when it comes to politics in the USA.

Why do we have a Republican and Democratic sides?
Is it time to get rid of both of them? Are they outdated and old fashioned?
Why must we continue to give labels to ourselves like "Republican, Democrat, Liberal, Conservative, etc." ?

In the past each party usually had a platform one could look at and decide which we
liked the best, or fit our needs.. Seems the major parties are merging to a degree. No
real definitioin ,but more about the person running for office.

People used to vote a streight ticket, for all those under the party name. People
felt they all would follow the party beliefs. Now that is being lost. There isn't
even a way to vote for the party any more. At least here in Missouri. Apparently
because there is so much ticket spitting they feel there isn't any need.

The democrats used to be the party of the worker, and GOP was more
for business people and rich, but as I said it's desolved to voting for
the individual more than the party. Many people who voted for Trump
had voted for Obama previously.

Time will tell if the party alliences continue to fall away or grow stronger
again. I think the democrats have moved too far to the right. Their leaders
are more from the richer class of people instead of the working class.. If
they don't move back I doubt if they do very well in the future.

Trump is a special case. He isn't for either of the major parties. He says he
is for the working class, but we will have to wait and see.. The fact he named
an alt right extremist for his cheif of staff isn't good. Will Trump let this man
lead him away from the common man or toward the nationalists..Those who
hate Gays, women, immigrants, and minorities. I hope not, but again we
have to wait and see.. Trump likes winners, and he probably feels this guy
fits the bill since his guidence apparently got Trump elected..

It's unfortuant, but many people don't take the time to educate themselves
before voting. Instead they listen to their friends, or advertisements which
usually only give half truths about each canadate.

[Old Rabbit]

The election is over and Trump appears to have won the electoria vote.  Sad thing is
he didn't win the popular vote. The electorial system which was created as a comprimise
at the founding of the USA has elected two over the popular vote in the last 20 years.

Seems the winning parties always claims to have some kind of mandate to move the
country in their direction. Even though many elections are very close. I wish they
would consider the wishes of the real majority of the population instead of trying
to push their own ideas on everyone.

Comprimise has been the hallmark of politics in the past. Agreeing to disagree keeps
most of us from fighting over ideas that usually don't affect the security of our country.

Within our country we should consider the inviroment, education, economy, security of the
people, and their health. As a people we should do all we can to keep our people healthy and
strong. Not dying due to lack of health care, food or shelter. This should be the priority
of our politicians, not protecting the pocket books of the rich.

Over the last several years some feel this should revert to the states. To make a smaller
central government. This would be fine, but we are not a collection of small countries as
some might like. So it takes a strong central government to keep all of our people working
as one. To see that all people are protected against those who would take advantage of
disadvataged people due to local radical groups or laws. We have seen some states trying
to prevent disadvantaged people from voting. I am sure they would do many other bad
things if their was no federal laws or egulations to stop them.

At the end of the civil war the states of the confederacy were controled by the military
during reconstruction. Local people complained the federal government was stepping on
their rights because they weren't allowed to govern themselves.  During the time the
military saw that laws were enforce. All people could vote. There were many black peple
in local  and state government. Finally when the states were free of military control they
immediatly prevented blacks from voting. The KKK worked to clear all blacks from
government by threats, killings, and terror tactics. We might want to think this is only a
thing of the past, but those kind of people are still around. All they need is a little control
and it will return.

This is why we must work to prevent all those who are driven by hate from gaining any
place in government.