Is cynicism about politics greater in W PA?

[Paint It Pink]

Originally Posted by h_curtis

I am bitter over pretty much all politicians. Just too many lies. That privatization of the liquor stores is such a great example. Corbett used privatization of liquor stores as an aid to get elected. I was hopeful, so I guess I still have hope sometimes when a double tongue speaks.
Talk about a flat out lie. Then the Allegheny reassessment. So many say Corbett is grandstanding with his opposition. I want to believe he would help in some way, so people's taxes can't go sky high overnight, but he won't. He probably is just grandstanding.

I think being pessimistic in our region is from experience and history. I am not impressed with how things are run. The last political position that I felt was run well was when Murphy was mayor. I felt his heart was really in it and he worked hard to get people to invest here. Other than that, wow! Hard to think of anyone I liked.

So when I see the topic, I just feel we are very justified in our feelings. Constant lies.

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up quite well.

Can't trust any of them, they're all liars and scumbags. Again, the election comes down to the less of two evils- doesn't mean that the "winner" of that one is any more decent or just by any means.

And, I would have loved to see Santorum get his junk handed to him but once again, he's denied me/us that guilty pleasure. Sigh.

[chielgirl]

Twice we voted against funding stadiums and got stuck with the cost of them.

[Craziaskowboi]

Originally Posted by chielgirl

Twice we voted against funding stadiums and got stuck with the cost of them.

But nobody can say that the Steelers don't provide a boost to the local economy anymore.

[squarian]

Of course, doing something about the open sewer which is Pennsylvania's district magistracy might help with the cynicism:

Ex-judge pleads guilty to indecent assault, official oppression

[ElijahAstin]

Originally Posted by Paint It Pink

Yeah, that pretty much sums it up quite well.

Can't trust any of them, they're all liars and scumbags. Again, the election comes down to the less of two evils- doesn't mean that the "winner" of that one is any more decent or just by any means.

And, I would have loved to see Santorum get his junk handed to him but once again, he's denied me/us that guilty pleasure. Sigh.

Having known a lot of politicians closely I can honestly say that the majority of them are good, honest public servants trying to do right by their constituents. Of course, politics does attract more than its fair share of corrupt players, and I certainly can't blame people for assuming most of them are bad, especially since all it takes is one bad politician to screw over a whole lot of innocent people.

[chielgirl]

Originally Posted by Gnutella

But nobody can say that the Steelers don't provide a boost to the local economy anymore.

Look at any study.
Sports teams and stadiums do not provide sustainable growth or income to an area.

Here you go: http://www.umbc.edu/economics/wpapers/wp_03_103.pdf

Oh goodie, oil to make money off of us and what do we get out of it?
Pollution, we pay for the "benefits" that Corbett gave them out of our tax dollars.
Doesn't seem like a win to me.

[BrianTH]

Originally Posted by chielgirl

Look at any study. Sports teams and stadiums do not provide sustainable growth or income to an area.

Yep, and in urban areas in particular, you could very likely get a lot more economic benefit from using that land and materials in other ways (offices, residences, and so forth).

[jimmyev]

People are cynical about politics everywhere, but Pennsylvania stands out - like much of the northeast - for the lack of opportunity for voter participation. No voter-initiated referendum voting, not even at the local level. Plus mysterious people pick the party candidates before the primary. No wonder people here feel like they don't have a say in anything.

[soniqV]

The more an electorate is willing to vote for the "lesser of two evils" the more corrupt politicians they're going to get. That is what the major parties bank on. It's how Obama gets away with breaking campaign promise after campaign promise, all this stuff that should be abhorrent to liberals, yet still retains their support.

No election of any significance has ever been decided by one vote. Vote your conscience, even if it means writing in a candidate. Even if it means turning in a blank ballot. Even if it means voting at the local tavern. Stop worrying about how much worse things would be if corrupt politician A gets in over corrupt politician B. It will always be more similar than different.

Ron Paul is speaking at Pitt next Friday. Many people have problems with his ideology. I'm not saying you have to agree with it. I'm not even saying you have to vote for him... Unless you're registered (R) it's too late for that anyway. But to everyone sitting at their computer complaining: listen to him, and reflect deeply on what he says, because it's the only way a lot of people in this thread/city/state/nation/earth are ever going to improve their political fortune.

The "lesser of two evils" game is a corrupt establishment's #1 tool in its arsenal, and as long as people fall for the "don't want to waste my vote" fallacy, they will get the politicians they deserve.