The current state of things

[Steve 1]

Thank A Democrat for this pestilence cast upon us!

 

[cuda]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zn2JFlteeJ0
When lawyers are making the laws, the general public can bend over and take it.

 

[hotjava66]

The thing that really bothers me is that if you know your history, this is what happened to the origional democracies in Greece and Rome. The government over the centuries became more powerful, more corrupt, and took more and more in taxes in the guise of providing services, to support an ever larger beuracracy until they couldnt tax anymore and they imploded. We should learn from this and not allow or country to go down the same path. Yes this is a bit simplified but i believe pretty true to what happened.

 

[2112]

The press is in bed with the system to the core. I believe that ties in with campaign finance reform, the press should have to equally advertise/cover all candidates, not just those who have all the $, should be part of their charter to operate.

This is key.

The media is the direct beneficiary of the current campaign system. This is of course why they support candidates that promote the status quo.

Next is the legal society and there direct influence on maintaining the current lottery style tort system.

.

 

[catastrophe]

:lurk5:

 

[Let 'Er Rip Cig]

I love it when Obama *****es about "special interest" groups. I believe the SEIU would be considered one. :smash:

 

[cuda]

The thing that really bothers me is that if you know your history, this is what happened to the origional democracies in Greece and Rome. The government over the centuries became more powerful, more corrupt, and took more and more in taxes in the guise of providing services, to support an ever larger beuracracy until they couldnt tax anymore and they imploded. We should learn from this and not allow or country to go down the same path. Yes this is a bit simplified but i believe pretty true to what happened.

The only job of a beauracracy is to enlarge the scope and influnce of their beauracracy. Everyone wants piece of the pie, until the country is several billion pies behind.

 

[MARK BENTLEY]

Here is my experience. I have had several customers run for various local, state and national positions. Ranging from mayor, state senate/assembly and even congress. The ones that come to mind were extremely successful in business etc. Basically, they were financially set for life and wanted to give somthing back. Well, the typical voter thinks that they are all out to take advantage of the position. The average voter likes an inexperienced person. They love these political science majors with no real world experience. Not someone to take a cust cutting, fiscal conservative position.

 

[cuda]

Here is my experience. I have had several customers run for various local, state and national positions. Ranging from mayor, state senate/assembly and even congress. The ones that come to mind were extremely successful in business etc. Basically, they were financially set for life and wanted to give somthing back. Well, the typical voter thinks that they are all out to take advantage of the position. The average voter likes an inexperienced person. They love these political science majors with no real world experience. Not someone to take a cust cutting, fiscal conservative position.

An honest politician is quite as unthinkable as an honest burglar.

 

[Tommy Gun]

Excellent kneejerk reaction to a complex problem. Stupid solutions. If you cut pay to elected officials you will end up with less qualified people running everything. Not suggesting any better solution at this point, because I'm typing on my phone. Just pointing that out.

How qulaified to you have to be to vote for a bill you don't even bother to read...I.e stimulus.

 

[cuda]

Excellent kneejerk reaction to a complex problem. Stupid solutions. If you cut pay to elected officials you will end up with less qualified people running everything. Not suggesting any better solution at this point, because I'm typing on my phone. Just pointing that out.

I'm more qualified to run this country the Obama. I've run a company for 25 years. As long as I can get elected then dismiss all questions about me, I'd make a helluvan emperor.

 

[MarylandMark]

Good post Mark Bentley!

I know a few politions as well. The problem I see is that they start our meaning well but once they get in, they realize doing good in the world is all a fairy tale. To get a vote for their bill, they have to whore their vote/support for another bill. So say they need 51 votes; that is 51 votes they have to give to some other project. Instead of schmoozing over 51 people, they shmooze over one person who will get 50 of his buddies to vote with them. Well that big wig figures he has some bills to pass so instead of writing their own they will just stuff it in with the original persons- now we have pork. So while voting on if $1M is needed to study the effects of powerboaters on 7 winged butterflies in Miami (Cashbars fav!), they are also voting on to honor Micheal Jackson with a moment of silence or not.

Scratch my back, I'll scratch yours or you get nothing to include not getting re-elected because you didn't do sh1t for your district while in office. Now it becomes they don't care what they vote for - "not in my backyard"- as long as what they wanted to get done is able to get done.

 

[MARK BENTLEY]

I had to shoot over to the West Coast of Florida Today. During this, I was thinking about this post. I'm not a big poster and don't like political debate. It's easy now days as anyone I associate with seems to all agree 100% about the current situation! Now days, it seems that if you can't make it in the private sector... get a government job.
I always thought that the best leaders (business and political) always had military experience. Not to stage wars but purely the dicipline and thought process. A large portion of the population think they will be trigger happy. I always looked up to leaders that were ex fighter pilots. Quick thinking and excellent situational awareness. Look at these guys in the corporate world or even a few in politics. They make things happen and there aren't many left. I would trust someone who flew missions over SE Asia in the 70's vs a community organizer from the south side of Chicago!
Just look at a few that the group may know. Jack Rousch and Roger Penske come to mind. F Lee Bailey was involved with Chris Craft in the early 80's. Another one that I really admired and was tied to the marine business was Dick Genth. Even at 70 yrs old, you could listen to him speak and leave the room charged. He was one of the few guys in the marine biz that understood building boats and the business side. He did make some waves with dealers and consumers but he also made money at his companies. Most dealers also did well with him. No teleprompters etc. required. It seems like they don't make leaders like these anymore. Note: they are all ex military.

 

[Dude! Sweet!]

I guess what I'm getting at with my last post is what are the actual steps to get the country back on course? I vote. I contribute to political action comittees that support my interests... I don't see anything changing.

Seems like we all beat around the problem and never really point ourselves at the solution. How much do any of us do beyond complaining about societies ills on a boating web site?

 

[hotjava66]

[QUOTE I vote. I contribute to political action comittees that support my interests... I don't see anything changing.



Here is part of the problem in my opinion, you have to pay for political access, i know from experience, but it isnt supposed to be this way.

 

[hotjava66]

.

Seems like we all beat around the problem and never really point ourselves at the solution. How much do any of us do beyond complaining about societies ills on a boating web site?

We all seem to realize there is a problem but we are too busy trying to get ahead to work at fixing it. I agree, i started this thread, but i feel like we all need to do something.