I've been considering this question since Nov. 4 2000 and its probably taken this long to put into words what has been bothering me. Up till 2000 I was a life long Republican but am not a libertarian (note the little "L") with leanings to the left. I think that there are 3 main areas that bother me. They can be divided thus:

1. The rise of the conservative Christian right.
2. The lack of values and direction as well as the political prostitution of the left
3. The general ignorant, solipsistic, ethno-centric nature of the average American

In detail, this is what bothers me about each.

1. The rise of the conservative Christian right:

Let's get one thing straight right off:

As the government of the United States of America is not in any sense founded on the Christian Religion.

This is article 11 of the Treat of Tripoli, signed and read on the Senat floor in 1796. Contrary to popular belief. This US was not founded by religious pilgrims. Many of America's first inhabitants were fleeing FROM religious persecution.

It is my belief that anyone in the US should be free to practice their understanding of God (or not if you are an athiest) provided you do not legislate your particular flavor so that I must follow it. There is a reason that "congress shall make not law respecting the establishment of religion". For example....abortion. However you feel about this subject, the choice to have or not have an abortion is only for the person/persons directly involved PERIOD. If, morally, abortion is a wrong, sinful decision, only God and the persons involved are morally responsible. If Jane has an abortion, that's between Jane and God and no one else. No one else has a say in the matter. It kills me when I see the extreem right protesters whipped up into a fury about abortion yet
-many of them are too old to get pregnant
-very few of them are willing to adopt
-almost none of them are willing to be socially responsible about alleviating the issues of poverty.
-they are against abortion but are ok with carpet bombing other countries
-they are willing to "free" other countries i.e. Afganistan, Iraq so long as they have oil. The conservative right has done NOTHING regarding the Sudan's mass rape, the Nazi like ethinic clensing in the Balkans or the mass exectutions and abuses in China....why, no oil there, no money to be made. Don't you dare preach to me about our moral imperative in Iraq. We've killed by the governments own estimates 30,000 civilians in Iraq. A country that did not, does not have WMDs, never attacked the US and didn't harbor terrorism.
Also, I'm greatly aggrieved at the hypocricy of the religious right. See..sexual abuse by the clergy, the rape of the planet that God intrusted to us and prostitution of American liberty to support big business. Lastly, is GWB really the best we could do? This is the "best and the brightest" we could come up with? I got so mad in the last election when I heard the right speaking about Kerry's war record. Specifically, he probably "didn't deserve" his Silver Star. Well, he may or may not. But I do know that he also had a Bronze Star and 3 Purple hearts and did 2 tours. GWB didn't even go. He was in a National Guard unit and couldn't even bother to show up for that and the right is going to critisize Kerry? I couldn't figure that one out.

2. The waffling left:

On the other side you have the Left. The problem with the left (of which I am now one) is that they are morally vague, weak and directionless. I would love to have the smartest person in the White House but I don't want someone so cerebral that they are nonfunctioning. Eventually, you have to act. Also, the left needs to start cutting off every splinter group that is in the party. I am for the environment, responsible business and the alleviation of poverty. But still, you need to cut off the radical tree spiking anarchists in the party. You don't have to pander to every fringe element out there. I'm for people having to right to exercise their sexuality, but when you get the homosexual in the buttless leather chaps, wearing a nun's habit and cloths pins in there nipples, you may not want to include him in your party. He's probably going to alienate some voters. The left needs to get a clear platform. It needs to be populist, centrist, responsible and economically viable. Everyone wants to make money but lets not whore ourselves in the process or rape the planet. I don't think that's too much to ask. All Americans should enjoy equality under the law and protection from interference from their government.

3. America and its culture (or lack there of)....

In a discussion I had with someone online about SUV's and there influence on the environment and gas prices someone actually said to me "I can afford one, I want one and I'm going to buy one and I don't care what it does to the price of gas or the environment". That to me pretty much sums up what is wrong with this country. We are an ignorant country. We think we are the center of the universe and we don't have to know or understand anything about the outside world. Well guess what folks, we ain't......Paris, London, Peking....all these cities are at least 2000 years old. They might have learned something in that time. We are great at preaching about how we have the best form of government and freedom in the world. Democracy (in the modern American sense) is a product of Europe. (see John Locke and Voltaire to name a few). Out educational system sucks, No Child Left Behind is one of the most dramatic, consumately complete failures in the history of the US. I think it even surpasses Prohibition for the amount of damage it has done to this country, for its amost Aristitilian perfection of its failure.....
We American's have to get over ourselves. I think a little humility would do us good. (along with opening a book once in a while for God's sake) We need to STOP EXPORTING DEMOCRACY. How arrogant are we to force our form of government on the rest of the world. Democracy will not work for every culture. Democracy was a failure in Greece. Not all cultures can support it. It has cost the US too much in terms of money and US lives and the angst of other countries. American has NEVER been successful in exporting democracy. We've backed every looser from 1900 on. See Chilie, Cuba, Iran, Viet Nam, Venezuela, Haiti, El Salvador just to name a few. I think we should get the hint buy now...

This country needs a lot of help. What should be taught is tolerance, personal responsibility, fiscal responsibility, governmental responsibiliy and the libertarian mentality of "your right to swing your arm ends at my elbow".

Sorry, I had to vent....

I think both of the main parties are too extreme. I've tended to support the Repubs most of the time, but undue influence on them by the religious right disturbs me to no end.

We're fighting religious extremism in the Middle East and cowtowing to it in our own country at the same time. Ironic, isn't it?

It seems to me the candidates who espouse more middle of the road values are winning most frequently in areas where ordinary, middle class Americans predominate. These are the people who keep things running in this democracy. It's real values, not rhetoric that makes our country great. Without that, we're lost.

No, I don't think Dubya is a particularly good example of "real values."

Oversimplification could come into play here.

If you want to reduce it to one thing it would have to be exploitation. If you are not exploiting something you are a poor dumb sucker. "Good people" like to pretend otherwise so they write laws to justify their wrongdoings.

I can't disagree with any of your points. I too used to be a Republican, before the attempted political coup during the Clinton administration. I will never forget the grandstanding and absurded grab for power that I witnessed. Perhaps Clinton did lie about his affair, but he should have never had to testify about the meaningsless and personally emabarrasing mistake he made.

America is being divided by the ever growing disparity amongst the wealthy and middle/lower classes. The wealthy are becoming much wealthier, the middle class is barely hanging on and slipping up to their necks in debt, and lower class is boraged with the competition from illegal immagration.

What can be done? Not much, it's almost to late. The country is heading towards a financial melt down. For those Americans with a little insight, the future looks bleak indeed. The people with financial strengh and/or political power are totally self indulgent, ignorant, and totally apathetic about everything that doesn't affect them personnally or financially. Soon, it will be apparant to all.

Just so I'm clear, I don't want to be on either radical side. I just want a populist/centrist government that only gets involved if there is a need. i.e. make sure our food, air and water are clean and that we aren't killing each other and if lucky pave the roads....

Each person must make his own choice about religion and their morality. I think we can all agree to a set of ethics that everyone should abide by.

As to a solution?

I think that we need exposure to other cultures, education, humility and a sense of civitas.....a sense of responibility to the common good without turning the country into a Nazi state.

I think the single biggest problem with this country is that we are a too full of ourselves and we are overly consumaristic. (sp?) I can't tell you how many people I've met that don't vote, couldn't name who their Senators are or couldn't explain how their government functions even in the most basic sense i.e. an excutive, legislative and judicial branch.

These same people are the ones driving SUVs that get 10 miles to the gallon but complain that gas is too expansive. They also say they don't car how irresponsible this choice in cars is, they can afford it and they are gonna have it regardless of the consequences.

Oh, and by the way, can anyone explain to me why we have 2 oil men in the presidency, we are in possession of one of the largest oil producing countries and gas is $3.00 a gallon?

quite an intelligent post and quite reasonable responses--so far , at least. i admire your ambition in even contemplating these ideas. to me it seems that democracy is dead and there is very little hope for the future. when real discourse fades and is replaced by name calling, nothing can change except the rate at which the culture deteriorates. i see no hope from the left or the right. a change in the current administration would certainly be helpful, but the possibility of real change, despite its urgent need, seems pretty dim.

Because we have 2 oil men in power.

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- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

Party on dude! Another ex-Repub disenfranchised by the hijacking. Just a few short years ago, I thought I was alone...

I used to think that the main problem with this country was GWB and crew, then realized the depth of my naivety when the American public actually re-elected him.

An interesting post. I agree with quite a bit of it but I dont see much about what can be done to fix it. Any more thoughts along that line?

- Peter.

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1971 108 280S

I feel that this countries biggest problem is that it lives for the here and now, not the future. The government spends now with no regard for who pays for it later. The people spend now with no forethought of how it will be paid for or what their future will hold. Look at consumer debt and spending trends. It’s pathetic. Uncle Sam just raised our debt ceiling to 9 trillion dollars. Does anyone here really believe the general public has the slightest idea what that means? Hell, they live their life the same the government conducts it’s life.

Look at the environment. People are debating the existence of global warming as if it does not really matter if they are wrong. The rub is this. Assume there is no global warming and humans have no impact on the climate. Fine, we spent all that money on emissions for nothing. OH well. Now, what if the scientists are right and we are approaching the point of no return. The point where mother earth says "OH well. You went to far and I cannot fix it." Then what? We just signed our death warrant because we do not worry about what our actions will do. I do not worry about winning the lottery. I worry about the bad crap that can happen to me on a daily basis. So if everyone won’t sign Kyoto we won’t do it either? If everyone won’t wear a seat belt neither will I? How stupid is that. How about we do our part for us? Maybe the other will follow suit.

No one looks at the root of the problem. They just stick their finger in the hole in the dyke and hope it works. Why not fix the damn dyke instead of putting a band aid on it which will not last. Sure, put up a wall on the US/MX border. That will fix it. Suuuuuuuuuuuureeeeeeeeee!!! Kind of like the new piracy soft ware Sony put on their DVD’s to prevent them from being copied. Hmmmm Wonder if they no about SlySoft? I guess the idea of finding out what is wrong in MX and helping them fix that problem is to simple and to far sighted. My guess is it will cost a hell of a lot less money to help them fix their problem than to try and seal a border that in all likelyhood will not work any way. And gee, if we help fix their country, maybe our wages and quality of life will go up as well.

Well, we need more prisons to hold all these criminals. We just keep getting more and more of these law breaking vermin. Build more prisons …… but not in my back yard please. Build it in the poor towns. They need the business. I guess the idea of providing an education system that provides the same opportunities to all. My idea is that the state gets all the education money. It gets divided up on a per student basis. The names of the students go into a pot. The names are picked as to what school your kid goes too with in a 20 or 30 (or what ever radius you decide). What do you want to bet that every kid will get a even shake? The kid in Beverly high will get the same education chances as the kids in South Central LA high. You give the kids an education they can get a good job and maybe raise a family and not be on the streets …. Blah blah blah.

Religion? Hell don’t get me started. You have these hammer heads who think they are being persecuted as christians here in the US. My mom and dad are german jews. They were in the camps in nazi Germany. I am pretty sure they christians in this country are not being persecuted. This country has more than christians in it. I must have missed the last jewish president we had. This country had a fit when a catholic ran for office. Give me a god damn break. You want the 10 commandments displayed. Put then in your house, your car. Hell you can tattoo then on your penis for all I care. I DON’T WANT TO SEE THEM IN PUBLIC!!!! Other wise I will put my pentagram and voodoo doll up right beside it. You don’t want an abortion? Fine. Don’t have one. My body, my decision. STAY THE F*&K OUT!!!!! Don’t like drugs. Fine Don’t smoke, don’t drink, do not shoot heroin, do not drop tabs. I like to have a shot of JD with my joint after I drop a few tabs and shoot a dose of heroin in my arm.

Anyway. I feel much better now. I’m at work and have some stuff that needs my attention. I’ll be back later.

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Sent from an agnostic abacus

2014 C250 21,XXX my new DD ** 2013 GLK 350 18,000 Wife's new DD**

- With out god, life is everything.
- God is an ever receding pocket of scientific ignorance that's getting smaller and smaller as time moves on..." Neil DeGrasse Tyson
- You can pray for me, I'll think for you.
- When you understand why you dismiss all the other possible gods, you will understand why I dismiss yours.

here here! a man after my own heart......I should start my own political party.

Didn't Gore Vidal point out that you were all voting for the same thing? I think the election went down to dodgy vote counting in Florida that time.

I can't find the quote, but I found some other good ones...

http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/authors/g/gore_vidal.html

If more Merkins took to heart some of the points Gore Vidal writes about, this country wouldn't be in half the blistering hot handbasket it's in these days.

Populist means doing what is popular at the moment--that which what most people want, whatever it is. Given the vast sweep of political possibilities, the two major parties represent a majoritarian and occaisionally populist political philosophy. I'll give you an example of why I say the majority parties are populist. Here goes, it's deep.

What do they stand for?--not what they say they stand for, but what they actually do.

Either party will do anything it can to satisfy the voting majority and excuse itself through clever language. A Republican will raise taxes and call it a businesslike fee for services while a Democrat will give a tax cut to business and call it a hiring incentive. people believe the story they want to hear and stick tenaciously. Those who put their faith in parties or men will always get the government they deserve.

I wish the political parties could read. If they could, I would suggest that they read the constitution, which they seem to consider an ill-conceived inconvenience to the greater goals of increased government power. Take for example the much-loved "Campaign Finance reform Law, " properly titled the "Encumbant Re-election Law" and subtitled, "Shut the F**k-up while I'm getting Myself Re-Elected." You wanted it little froggies, now bow to King Stork.

Bot

You make it sound so trivial and whimsical.

Populist means the people have the power to control the government and not the other way around. It means that the the government works in the best interests of the entire population and not just the monied and well connected elite. It means that government is not just a tool for the elite to keep the little people in their places.

Considering that most slaves throughout history could buy their freedom, many could own slaves and engage in commerce, it could easily be argued that we are all slaves under the current system. That would be the opposite of a populist government.