Then why in the hell do we elect such people as we do?
Then why in the hell do we elect such people as we do?
For about 49% of the voters? OPM (other peoples money)
the other 51% or so.. I have no flipping clue.
Might it be that most of that 51% line up behind the lesser of two evils served up to us by elite party members who think they know a winner when they see one regardless of said “winners” views matching the other party? (Mitt comes to mind)
Vote fraud.
It is endemic.
Because if we don't we'll just get the other guy who is even worse. (motto stolen from Romney 2012.)
” - - - Then why in the hell do we elect such people as we do?”
In 2008 we were allowed to choose between Tweedle Dumb and Tweedle Dumber.
In 2012 we probably will be allowed to choose between Obama and Obamalite.
BTW, if you choose, you lose: a hell of a way to run a Country!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Largely because in too many people's eyes "the individual" tends to refer to me, and not to the other guy. The best example I can think of is the liberal demand for unlimited free speech whose object is to crack down on someone else's free speech, in the form of "hate speech" laws.
Old-school liberals weren't like that - Nat Hentoff comes to mind. These days, though, it's all about power over the other tribe. Politics has devolved into brutality and I don't see it coming back anytime soon.
“Then why in the hell do we elect such people as we do?”
Benjamen Franklin to the Constitutional Convention 2nd June 1787;
“Sir, there are two passions which have a powerful influence on the affairs of men. These are ambition and avarice; the love of power, and the love of money. Separately each of these has great force in prompting men to action; but when united in view of the same object, they have in many minds the most violent effects. Place before the eyes of such men, a post of honour that shall be at the same time a place of profit, and they will move heaven and earth to obtain it. The vast number of such places it is that renders the British Government so tempestuous. The struggles for them are the true sources of all those factions which are perpetually dividing the Nation, distracting its Councils, hurrying sometimes into fruitless & mischievous wars, and often compelling a submission to dishonorable terms of peace. And of what kind are the men that will strive for this profitable pre- eminence, through all the bustle of cabal, the heat of contention, the infinite mutual abuse of parties, tearing to pieces the best of characters? It will not be the wise and moderate; the lovers of peace and good order, the men fittest for the trust. It will be the bold and the violent, the men of strong passions and indefatigable activity in their selfish pursuits. These will thrust themselves into your Government and be your rulers. -And these too will be mistaken in the expected happiness of their situation: For their vanquished competitors of the same spirit, and from the same motives will perpetually be endeavouring to distress their administration, thwart their measures, and render them odious to the people.”
A million other competing and more prominent issues usurped by the Federal government, general ignorance, and a total lack of alternatives.
For the same reason people badmouth Congress while reëlecting over 90% of them every year - it's always “the OTHER guy's” representative that's bad, not MINE!
Limit gov’t to protect MY rights, you bet - but “the OTHER guy” over there needs to be watched, you know...