Epidemic Partisan Politics?

[Helium]

Do you think that partisanship is holding the USA back from progressing forward and dividing America? When I refer to partisanship, I am refering to among the general population, elected leaders and in the media.

[gunnut]

What do you mean by "progressing forward?"

[Blue]

It is most certainly dividing us. Some of us want to keep what we work for, want to be free in the sense that our founding fathers concieved, basically don't want to be socialist. Obama has already thrown any bi-partisanship out the window with his statement the other day. Something along the lines of "we won, so we get to write the bill". Gee whilligers this guys gonna be a great president.......................NOT!

[Helium]

What do you mean by "progressing forward?"

I mean that bills, laws etc are either watered down or stopped in its tracks due to partisan politics, making it so that no meaningful or effective laws can be passed becuase none can agree on the issue, this is especially true for the bigger issues. Which means that the big issues are not tackled or addressed at all, like the river is damned for the USA whilst other countries are flowing rivers.

For example, abortion issues that continue to fester for decades and divide. I am not saying that they should just pass a bill/law for or against abortion but to address and deal with the issue, but noone can agree.

[Blue]

Welcome to American politics. As efficient as a comb with no teeth.

[gunnut]

I mean that bills, laws etc are either watered down or stopped in its tracks due to partisan politics, making it so that no meaningful or effective laws can be passed becuase none can agree on the issue, this is especially true for the bigger issues. Which means that the big issues are not tackled or addressed at all, like the river is damned for the USA whilst other countries are flowing rivers.

For example, abortion issues that continue to fester for decades and divide. I am not saying that they should just pass a bill/law for or against abortion but to address and deal with the issue, but noone can agree.

Now hold on a second. Think about what you're saying or what you wish for. You want an efficient government. You want bills to become laws as they are. That can become very dangerous very quick.

Our government is designed to be inefficient. It's designed with checks and balances in mind. It's designed so we don't have things fasttracked into law.

Take California for example. We have a top rate of 9% state income tax, a 7.25% to 9.25% state sales tax, and of course we have property tax. The state is losing money at a rate of almost $100 million a day. The state legislature is dominated by democrats. What is the favored method of the democratic party to balance a budget? Tax increases. The minority republicans, to their credit, are holding the line on any tax increases. This is a good obstructionism. If we had what you said, the people of this state would be bankrupt by now. Those who can afford would have moved out along with any businesses that can leave.

The founding fathers designed our government to be small and very inefficient. This government has grown exponentially since FDR. The efficiency is about the same, probably worse. And that's where we are right now.

[pate]

Long gone are the days when one could ignore what is said and done in Washington DC and your main worry was which one on the ballot was the bigger thief running for mayor...

[astralis]

gunnut,

Now hold on a second. Think about what you're saying or what you wish for. You want an efficient government. You want bills to become laws as they are. That can become very dangerous very quick.

Our government is designed to be inefficient. It's designed with checks and balances in mind. It's designed so we don't have things fasttracked into law.

that's only if you associate speed of passing laws with efficiency. it seems clear to me that what the founding fathers had in mind was checks and balances along with plenty of deliberation beforehand, but had the government set up so that once this was done the processes could function fast...and efficiently.

that was why the US shifted from the articles of confederation to the constitution.