Sure, there were arguments, some hard feelings now and then, but ultimately, there was respect. Always.
Respect seems to be sorely lacking in our politics today. Politics has become a blame game, our two political parties acting like petulant children, each whining that the other started it. Politicians get elected by blaming their opponent for everything that's wrong, not for actually having any good ideas for how to deal with problems.
WHY?
Because I'm not him/her.
That just isn't good enough.
I was a political science major at the University of Wisconsin, but my interest in politics has been steadily waning since my ivory tower days. Civil political debate is essentially gone, modern politics nothing more than party hacks accusing the other side of trying to destroy the country. As far as I'm concerned, there's plenty of blame to go around. Party hardliners would like us to believe that their party is the one to get us out of our current mess, but it's getting harder and harder for me to see a real difference between the parties. As far I can tell, Wall Street bankers are calling the shots these days.
Now having said all this, I'm sure I will put my cynicism aside to follow the politics of an election year. Republicans and Democrats will try to convince me that this is the most important election in the country's history. Obama and Romney will use scare tactics to win votes, all the while hiding behind negative super PAC ads.
We'll elect our next President this year. One side will celebrate, their hope renewed, while the other will bemoan the end of civilization as we know it.
Politics as usual.
You are so right, Tim. Politics is a game I also used to enjoy but lately I just think it's stupid. There are so many important issues to be dealt with and the fact that these meatheads can't get along is insane.
ReplyDeleteI also grew up in a home where my parents had opposite politics - my dad was blue collar railroad union man and thus voted for the New Democratic Party (I'm Canadian) and my mom's father was a Conservative politician so she was a staunch Conservative. I used to claim Liberal just to get the pot stirring... heheheh... those were the daze...
I had plenty of those pot-stirring moments growing up. What does that say about us?
DeleteI'm the complete opposite. I have never liked politics, and the reason why is because as far as I can see, there is no such thing as an ethical/moral politician. Hypocrisy is one attribute that irritates me more than anything else, and our political parties are filled with hypocrisy. I'm going to leave it at that because political discussions usually just make me mad. Oh, and for the record I'm a "fence-sitter" (a.k.a an independent unaffiliated voter). I'm not a fan of our two party system. It reminds me too much of high school where all the cool kids vote for each other for prom king and queen and everyone else gets to deal with the drama-filled aftermath. See, this is why I don't like to get started because I come off as an angry cynical person LOL.
ReplyDeleteFull disclosure, I'm a registered independent. I would love a legitimate third party candidate to emerge, but if there's one thing the Democrats and Republicans can agree on, it's that they don't want anyone else in the game. Their combined forces will make it hard for third parties in the US.
Deleteyay for the Tom Riley factor - I can concur. I used to be a lot more interested in politics than I am now. It always seems that whatever party gets into power it's pretty much the same and not particularly visionary
ReplyDeleteI know there are plenty of people out there who insist it does matter which party is running the show, but at this point I remain unconvinced. Republicans and Democrats are stil wheeling out the same old ideas, and as far as I can tell, they aren't working. We need some 21st century solutions to 21st century problems.
DeleteI'm so sick of politics in this country right now. I wish we could just flush them all out and start over. Did someone pass a law that says you can't agree on something for the better good once in awhile? Geesh.
ReplyDeleteBipartisanship is a dirty word these days.
DeleteUgh! I am sooo not interested in politics. Mainly for the reason you said - all they do is trash their opponents. And even when there is someone who might be a teeny bit environmental or inspirational, they throw enough dirt until something sticks.
ReplyDeleteI blame the media for that. Instead of reporting news, they make the news, looking for anything they can use to vilify someone with a recognizable name.
DeleteI agree completely. I grew up in a very political family, all rock-solid Democrats in a Republican stronghold city, and continued the tradition when I was in college and through the 90s. But now my enthusiasm has completely gone away, I really have no use for either party and mostly just tune them all out. I feel like when I vote it will just be for the lesser of two evils, and I think it's a shame that's what politics has degenerated into in this country.
ReplyDeleteLesser of two evils, that's how I often feel about voting.
DeleteI'm a democrat, and I think about the issues. I support Obama because I like Obamacare (I think all people should have access to affordable health insurance), I support taxing the 1% so that their capital gains contribute more toward paying off our debt, I support women and their choice to have free contraception as a part of health coverage, I do not support religion being a determining factor in social , political, and educational issues. I'm an atheist and I think that religion needs to stay in Sunday schools or seminaries or wizard schools like Harry Potter. I support equal marriage rights for all people (I think that hurricanes are caused by barometric pressure and not by gay marriage). Basically...I think that the Republicans are a group of wealthy, religious people who are trying to rule based off of the Bible instead of based upon actual science. It's a push to return the United States to the 1800s while the rest of the world progresses into the 21st century and beyond.
ReplyDeleteGreat comment Michael, love the passion. I agree with much of what you're saying. I do know a good number of Republicans, most of them neither rich nor particularly religious. It's interesting for me to hear them defend the Republican platform. We disagree on a lot of things, but I apprecite their point of view.
DeleteSometimes, that is the question that I ask of politicians: If I could vote, explain to me why I should vote for you. I've never been that interested in politics, but my dad has a PhD in political science, so I'm pretty politically informed.
ReplyDeletewww.modernworld4.blogspot.com
I think things are pretty similar here in the UK. There is not much differentiation between the parties any more, and yes they do spend a lot of time slagging each other off. The lines got blurred when New Labour came in and now we're back to Tories again only now with their Lib Dem sidekicks. Tories are despised in Scotland, and a lot of people up here are pushing to break away and look after our own interests. I'm starting to come round to that viewpoint.
ReplyDelete