Welcome to City-Data.com Forum!
U.S. CitiesCity-Data Forum Index
Go Back   City-Data Forum > General Forums > Politics and Other Controversies
 [Register]
Please register to participate in our discussions with 2 million other members - it's free and quick! Some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your account, you'll be able to customize options and access all our 15,000 new posts/day with fewer ads.
View detailed profile (Advanced) or search
site with Google Custom Search

Search Forums  (Advanced)
View Poll Results: Do you believe America's political system is underachieving?
Yeah... 13 81.25%
Naw.... 2 12.50%
Not sure.... 0 0%
Don't care either way... 1 6.25%
Voters: 16. You may not vote on this poll

Reply Start New Thread
 
Old 01-19-2009, 12:19 PM
 
Location: Thumb of Michigan
4,494 posts, read 7,469,358 times
Reputation: 2541

Advertisements

Thought i'd ask this question - Do you tend to agree that America's political system is underachieving its society?

There always seems to be stalemates and debates that linger for years with no swift conclusion and/or direction. Take lead gas for example, it's taken some twenty odd years to finally phase out the use of lead in gas.

In helping our political system act more swiftly, what do you recommend?

Getting rid of political state borders? Make the U.S. a one-size-fits-all nation? Make lobbying illegal? Pay legislators millions in hopes to avert corruption? Longer terms so the government officials can make/think long-term plans and not be distracted/occupied with elections? (etc.)

I'm not an advocate for "more government" in general, but i can see the governing apparatus being more instrumental in shaping/reforming the standard of living for the U.S. Just need to hone/fine-tune certain aspects of it. (IMHO)

What do you think?...

Last edited by Blue Grass Fever; 01-19-2009 at 12:38 PM..
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message

 
Old 01-19-2009, 12:55 PM
 
42,732 posts, read 29,808,044 times
Reputation: 14345
Our government was designed to act slowly. Something about the tyranny of the majority.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 01-19-2009, 01:06 PM
 
6,205 posts, read 7,441,432 times
Reputation: 3563
Try looking at that this way:
There are 300 millions America, in 50 states. People with different backgrounds, religions, different opinions, conflicting interests. Extremely rich vs extremely poor, rural settlements and huge metropolitan centers.
How do you expect such a diverse society to be able to run, without dictatorship?
Many don't realize that democracy in ancient Greece was applied to small city /states. Applying democracy to hundreds of millions is absolutely a new social experiment.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 01-19-2009, 01:31 PM
 
11,135 posts, read 14,169,690 times
Reputation: 3696
Actually our government can if it so chooses, can act quite quickly. Remember CFC's? By the time evidence was presented showing the destruction of the Ozone layer around earth, it was almost overnight that every fridge, auto and home AC, and freezer were phased out.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 01-19-2009, 01:38 PM
 
Location: Thumb of Michigan
4,494 posts, read 7,469,358 times
Reputation: 2541
Quote:
Originally Posted by TnHilltopper View Post
Actually our government can if it so chooses, can act quite quickly. Remember CFC's? By the time evidence was presented showing the destruction of the Ozone layer around earth, it was almost overnight that every fridge, auto and home AC, and freezer were phased out.
If only our government can act with some urgency when it comes to mass-transit for individual cities and connections with major cities.

These things are near impossible to implement due to our governing structure as it now stands.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 01-19-2009, 01:40 PM
 
42,732 posts, read 29,808,044 times
Reputation: 14345
Quote:
Originally Posted by TnHilltopper View Post
Actually our government can if it so chooses, can act quite quickly. Remember CFC's? By the time evidence was presented showing the destruction of the Ozone layer around earth, it was almost overnight that every fridge, auto and home AC, and freezer were phased out.
It can act quickly, but in many of those cases when it's done so, it's actions and related legislation have been problematic.

In an emergency it has the power and even obligation to swiftly act. But in the big picture, Americans have been better-served by the government not taking shortcuts and instead battling it out, in the legislature, and then between the branches of government.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 01-19-2009, 01:43 PM
 
11,135 posts, read 14,169,690 times
Reputation: 3696
Quote:
Originally Posted by DC at the Ridge View Post
It can act quickly, but in many of those cases when it's done so, it's actions and related legislation have been problematic.

In an emergency it has the power and even obligation to swiftly act. But in the big picture, Americans have been better-served by the government not taking shortcuts and instead battling it out, in the legislature, and then between the branches of government.
Hummm... NAFTA and the Patriot Act come to mind. Amazing how quickly these came about, I mean it seems they drafted the 340+ pages of the Patriot Act literally in a matter of a couple of days. (or so they say)
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 01-19-2009, 01:43 PM
 
42,732 posts, read 29,808,044 times
Reputation: 14345
Quote:
Originally Posted by oberon_1 View Post
Try looking at that this way:
There are 300 millions America, in 50 states. People with different backgrounds, religions, different opinions, conflicting interests. Extremely rich vs extremely poor, rural settlements and huge metropolitan centers.
How do you expect such a diverse society to be able to run, without dictatorship?
Many don't realize that democracy in ancient Greece was applied to small city /states. Applying democracy to hundreds of millions is absolutely a new social experiment.
That's why we aren't a democracy. We're a democratic republic. The representative system breaks it down into the smaller city/states to make it effective. While Lincoln and FDR's administrations sometimes acted like dictatorships, the transition to new administrations redressed the situation.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 01-19-2009, 01:46 PM
 
42,732 posts, read 29,808,044 times
Reputation: 14345
Quote:
Originally Posted by Blue Grass Fever View Post
If only our government can act with some urgency when it comes to mass-transit for individual cities and connections with major cities.

These things are near impossible to implement due to our governing structure as it now stands.
This issue is complicated. To expect swift and simple answers ignores the complexities involved.
Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
 
Old 01-19-2009, 01:47 PM
 
42,732 posts, read 29,808,044 times
Reputation: 14345
Quote:
Originally Posted by TnHilltopper View Post
Hummm... NAFTA and the Patriot Act come to mind. Amazing how quickly these came about, I mean it seems they drafted the 340+ pages of the Patriot Act literally in a matter of a couple of days. (or so they say)

Are you arguing with me or are you trying to make my point for me???

Reply With Quote Quick reply to this message
Please register to post and access all features of our very popular forum. It is free and quick. Over $68,000 in prizes has already been given out to active posters on our forum. Additional giveaways are planned.

Detailed information about all U.S. cities, counties, and zip codes on our site: City-data.com.


Reply
Please update this thread with any new information or opinions. This open thread is still read by thousands of people, so we encourage all additional points of view.

Quick Reply
Message:

Over $104,000 in prizes was already given out to active posters on our forum and additional giveaways are planned!

Go Back   City-Data Forum > General Forums > Politics and Other Controversies
Similar Threads

All times are GMT -6. The time now is 11:32 AM.

© 2005-2024, Advameg, Inc. · Please obey Forum Rules · Terms of Use and Privacy Policy · Bug Bounty

City-Data.com - Contact Us - Archive 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37 - Top