Current Events

[Tuesday]

I'm a coward, so it will take me a few days to actually post a topic here, but I'm curious about other folk's thoughts about what is happening in the world. I'm a strange mix of conservative and liberal. I'm very liberal when it comes to a lot of social and tolerance issues, but rather conservative when it comes to government. I tend to think that less government is better, when it comes to social and tolerance issues. I'm a huge fan of our founding fathers and they were rather vocal about the fact that our nation should not be a Democracy, but instead a Republic wherein power really is of the people. I only want to start a respectful conversation. I'm honestly interested in learning new things from new folks. I think everyone's opinion is valid.

 

[jan]

I'm really interested in this whole British Referendum thing - I can't imagine our congress doing it (most of them wouldn't even show up for the discussion

but look at how these online petitions work:
https://petition.parliament.uk/help

1. At 10,000 signatures you get a response from the government.
2. At 100,000 signatures your petition will be considered for a debate in Parliament.

I'm paying attention to the whole Brexit thing
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/131215

Anyway, I'd love to see our congress TRY to do this (if nothing else, it would be interesting!). I wonder if it could be implemented at the state level.............

 

[electrolyte]

I'm really interested in this whole British Referendum thing - I can't imagine our congress doing it (most of them wouldn't even show up for the discussion

but look at how these online petitions work:
https://petition.parliament.uk/help

1. At 10,000 signatures you get a response from the government.
2. At 100,000 signatures your petition will be considered for a debate in Parliament.

I'm paying attention to the whole Brexit thing
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/131215

Anyway, I'd love to see our congress TRY to do this (if nothing else, it would be interesting!). I wonder if it could be implemented at the state level.............

Our Congress does have an online petitions thing. It's not quite the same but it's something: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/

100,000 Signatures in 30 Days
Get an official update from the White House within 60 days

Vice President Biden responded to the recent one about a ban on AR-15s: https://petitions.whitehouse.gov/petition/ban-ar-15-civilian-ownership

 

[Tuesday]

I'm really interested in this whole British Referendum thing - I can't imagine our congress doing it (most of them wouldn't even show up for the discussion

but look at how these online petitions work:
https://petition.parliament.uk/help

1. At 10,000 signatures you get a response from the government.
2. At 100,000 signatures your petition will be considered for a debate in Parliament.

I'm paying attention to the whole Brexit thing
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/131215

Anyway, I'd love to see our congress TRY to do this (if nothing else, it would be interesting!). I wonder if it could be implemented at the state level.............

In my very humble and unlearned opinion I think that our congress will not take any action in regards to personal liberties because they simply aren't interested in that. I firmly believe that most politicians are more concerned about their salaries and their retirement plans. A lot of humans are, so no shame in that. Government should be more of a calling, a movement, rather than a job, and politicians should not (in my opinion) be allowed to sit for as long as many of them do. I feel that it corrupts the system.

 

[jan]

In my very humble and unlearned opinion I think that our congress will not take any action in regards to personal liberties because they simply aren't interested in that. I firmly believe that most politicians are more concerned about their salaries and their retirement plans. A lot of humans are, so no shame in that. Government should be more of a calling, a movement, rather than a job, and politicians should not (in my opinion) be allowed to sit for as long as many of them do. I feel that it corrupts the system.

IDK what the answer is. If they are inexperienced, well, they could be real buffoons. All of the leadership positions in Washington require quite a bit of skill and that takes more than a few years to develop.

OTOH, power perpetuates power (which might be part of your point) - and many of them, whether they want to or not, spend most of their day doing just that: fundraising, meeting and greeting the 'important people' - rather than what they should be doing.

I really don't have any answers.

I think this country is too big. Sadly, the South and the North and the West ARE that different. And I'm not sure how government can work with so many differences.
Maybe a Parliament would have been nice (those no confidence votes sure come in handy).

 

[jklmnop]

In my very humble and unlearned opinion I think that our congress will not take any action in regards to personal liberties because they simply aren't interested in that. I firmly believe that most politicians are more concerned about their salaries and their retirement plans. A lot of humans are, so no shame in that. Government should be more of a calling, a movement, rather than a job, and politicians should not (in my opinion) be allowed to sit for as long as many of them do. I feel that it corrupts the system.

Getting the money (both dark and light) out of politics, moreso than term limits, will accomplish most of that. Without the financial incentive, more people will run and serve who a) aren't just in it to get rich b) could not afford to otherwise and c) care more about enacting real, positive change than lining their own pockets as a legislator/book peddler/lobbyist/TV pundit/PAC associate (bears repeating).

 

[Tuesday]

IDK what the answer is. If they are inexperienced, well, they could be real buffoons. All of the leadership positions in Washington require quite a bit of skill and that takes more than a few years to develop.

OTOH, power perpetuates power (which might be part of your point) - and many of them, whether they want to or not, spend most of their day doing just that: fundraising, meeting and greeting the 'important people' - rather than what they should be doing.

I really don't have any answers.

I think this country is too big. Sadly, the South and the North and the West ARE that different. And I'm not sure how government can work with so many differences.
Maybe a Parliament would have been nice (those no confidence votes sure come in handy).

With all due respect, our founding fathers did not intend for our nation to be a democracy. The initial intention was that we would be a united republic. I agree that our government has become way to big.

 

[Tuesday]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=klE1Grdn5zA