Thursday, February 25, 2010

The problem with partisan politics

America has some issues and I believe partisan politics are the problem. Our system has degraded to the lowest common denominator, where to get elected, candidates simply promise things that can't (or, shouldn't!) be delivered. Once elected, both sides tow the party line (on nearly every issue), then spend the rest of their time pointing fingers at the other side of the aisle. Nothing gets accomplished (aside from additional pork legislation – must keep constituents happy) while We the People blindly believe our chosen party's PR spin and blame the other party entirely for all our woes. Overly simplistic? As the dunce from Alaska would say, "You betchya."

There's a reason it's become that simple: FOX news, CNN, MSNBC, etc.. The fact is we don't get news reported to us any longer. We get spin delivered, 24/7, in 2 minute chunks complete with fill-in-the-party analysis. That's what shapes (the majority of American's) views. Substantive evening (or morning) news is now non-existent. It's all entertainment. It's show biz. It's Glen Fucking Beck and Bill O'Reilly and Lou Dobbs and Chris Matthews... Our collective national attention span rivals Kramer after mainlining a six pack of Red Bull.


How else can pricks like Dan Burton (R), Indiana, get re-elected year after year with no intention of accomplishing anything other than voting himself pay raises and thumping his chest as a self-appointed morality cop (an army of one)? Unfortunately, he's in Congress for life, because his district is 80% Republican... and, as I believe, people vote party line regardless of competency because it's, well... simple.

For the record, I'm a social liberal and a fiscal conservative. Therefore, I get pissed off (a lot) following the happenings in Washington and what I believe to be misguided political pandering delivered with heavy doses of ineptitude.

We don't need a third party... we need a second one.