Thoughts on this presidential campaign
I'm curious if others feel this way. To frame where I'm coming from...I have spent some time over the past few years dealing face-to-face with politicians in some of my work and in some of my personal time (fighting a law). I have confirmed the reports that they are shallow, narcissistic whack jobs for the most part.
So...I have come to the conclusion that political campaigns are just a form of entertainment. None of these candidates seem very special, very intelligent, for the most part. I do love Rand Paul's position on liberty and smaller government. But, he's not electable due to lack of connection with the average mouth-breather voter (my editorial, sorry). But...really...this is just entertainment. The President is just a puppet, for the most part. Seriously...do any of these candidates even remotely appear presidential to you? Rubio? Hillary? Christie? Trump? Bernie the socialist? It's surreal to me that they've all made it this far. This is the best we can do? LOL
I'll cut this self-indulgent rant off. But, I'd appreciate your thoughts. And, have a great Christmas, everybody. You are a great group of thinkers. Nice to visit with you all.
So...I have come to the conclusion that political campaigns are just a form of entertainment. None of these candidates seem very special, very intelligent, for the most part. I do love Rand Paul's position on liberty and smaller government. But, he's not electable due to lack of connection with the average mouth-breather voter (my editorial, sorry). But...really...this is just entertainment. The President is just a puppet, for the most part. Seriously...do any of these candidates even remotely appear presidential to you? Rubio? Hillary? Christie? Trump? Bernie the socialist? It's surreal to me that they've all made it this far. This is the best we can do? LOL
I'll cut this self-indulgent rant off. But, I'd appreciate your thoughts. And, have a great Christmas, everybody. You are a great group of thinkers. Nice to visit with you all.
I'm convinced that politics and the election process has never been a place for statesmen or citizens, Politicians, for the most part are no more intelligent or able than any of the rest of us, they are just better trained and experienced at making themselves liked. Then the parties set up an election and press/media coverage like a football season with a big play-off. Then after the election, the winner becomes the spokesman/talking-heads for those that make the real decisions.
please rethink "no more intelligent or able than any of the rest of us". I personally do not believe these people who chose politics as a way of life have the intelligence that I hake in my pinky toe.
And i think none has your intelligence either or that of almost all who chose not to be politicians.
Abaco you observation is very accurate.
1. The ability to dumb yourself down.
2. Develop a skin of Armadillo.
I have long thought the skill set needed to play the entertainment game that is the election process is completely different from the skills needed to be legislator or a executive of any organization.
Election requires you to pander to the masses. Leading requires you to do things the masses will not like until you show them the way and show the success. Only then will those following like the leader.
A person making laws has to think about the impact and the legality of those laws. If they are pandering to the masses they will make laws which are bad, bad being defined as laws which protect a collective rather than an individual.
So yes I share the frustration.
Elections should be limited to stock holders in the country voting, and that would make it much better as the "Useful Idiots" would not come into play. I do not understand why someone would expect to vote in a company without being a stock holder, or in a country. It is not the only cause but it does add to the nonsense.
With today's system of catering to the masses the declaration would be impossible to make happen. As a republic where voting has some qualification and is a privilege it would still be possible. As a democracy where voting is a right, I do not believe it is.
In order to have a successful society those that vote must have shown some form of success in there lives. Those that have not, that have lived off others do not know what is needed for success and therefor can only propitiate more failure by giving them a voice.
In order to propagate some form of success to others you must first be able to have that form of success yourself.
I do not understand how a person voting that is 18-209 years old, but has not yet owned a home, bought a stock, ran something successful and/or could not tell you one idea of how to solve an issue, or even what the issues of the time are can possible help the country if allowed to vote.
I understand why it was only property owners voting and also why women were not included since most property owners were men during that era. Seems to me that 30 would be a good voting age but that would have the same issues as the 21 year old drinking age. Old enough to die for our country but not drink, or vote. Tough one to get through.
I think if we, at the local level did a better job of educating the next generation, we likely would not have the issues we have. Progressives run the education system and we need Objectivists to do it. But that is the hard part.
Yes on the other with commissions restricted to combat veterans and high public offices restricted to combat veterans. They are the least likely group to start wars and the most likely to win wars started against us.
Government is a group of people. If they are independent and free the outlook is far different than those who are just part of an all powerful collective. That's invariably caused by the collective entity becoming the only entity with former citizens as atoms, molecules, cells or other, replaceable parts
But if government is controlled by individuals who recognize rights and responsibilities go hand in hand and put that knowledge to use by voluntarily opting to serve a certain period of time as part of whatever system is set up they have in doing so proved or disproved their capabilities to be allowed or selected for higher responsibilities by the individual citizens.
One of the times when acting as a group is necessary but also recognizing it is fraught with danger.
Long winded way of saying voluntary military AND other form so of service.
Heinlein's one phrase was not restricted to military service only.
The other phrase put an automatic penalty on bad voting habits.
The skin in the game when voting for war was the one the voter lives in...not the amount they could pay.
I really want to lift people up.
No, you can't vote until you understand what the issues are, and you can't vote unless you have EARNED the priviledge through hard work and a vested interest in a voluntary peaceful industrious society, free markets, and by defending all of rights in the Bill of Rights without any reservations or restrictions. If you take any benefit from government, you are compromised and cannot vote. This includes all employees (or companies) providing service under contracts to government, all consultants, all government employees, and those receiving government retirement payments. Voting priviledge should also be voluntary, by consent of the prospective voter.
In this case the saying when you have the citizens by the balls their hearts and minds will follow is only half true. The only thing that follows is what government steals at the point of a gun. Ergo some income taxis the favorite caliber of the left.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0zb1q...
Utah Phillops was a union organizer and I could not disagree with most of what he said or did much more than I do, but this song bit was applicable and really funny.
It illustrates the reason why we ate the pie rather well.
Unfortunately, that doesn't seem to have worked out very well in practice. Partially, perhaps, because a LOT of people have been brought up on Strange Ideas of what "Better" means...
http://www.usdebtclock.org/
Hopefully, citizens will have guns to defend themselves from rioting and looting home invaders that will require long term martial law (dictatorship) to control.
So goes old dino's gut hunch of how things will go down in the future.
That reminds me, I really need to stock up on ammo.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NgyxL...
Where are they going to get all that pickled herring?
Hold it -- wrong century.
Look at Paul Ryan. He acted as if he didn't want the Speaker job. He's started out on the wrong foot and there's little indication the he'll get it right.
Everything published about this is nothing but a smokescreen. The annointed "leader" just wanted it to appear that he was reluctant to take the position.
I think they thought it would give him more credence if he acted as if taking the job was a hardship.
It doesn’t matter if the man or woman is a stupid peacock in real life. The ship must sail anyway.
I try to see the humor in everything. Look at the bright side if Trump is elected:
At least we know he won’t be out fundraising while we are getting our heads chopped off.
Yea, it's ridiculous. The only two I would consider are Cruz and Rand. However, in the true spirit of our forefathers, (willing to risk one's fortune, one's sacred honor and one's very life if necessary.) the only one that just might buck the system of the kakistocracy is Ted Cruz.
The "Shadows" are more foreboding than we might even imagine.
Just my impressions at this time.
DIVIDE AND CONQUER is what they do.
Vote veteran someone that puts America before ANY party.
No double standards put DC politicians on Obamacare and SS.Thanks for your support and vote.Pass the word. mrpresident2016.com
... my fear, too, and I've been voting for scores of years!
Good Luck!
I meant that, if the right kind of 'crisis' develops, Obama (or Hillary) will use it as an excuse to turn the US into the semblance of any other country with a despotic leader who confiscates guns and essentially rigs, fixes or flat-out stops ALL future 'elections.'
For me and a few others, the good news is that I just turned 70 and in my lifetime have experienced some of the best possible things that any country could offer me. If those idiots and the morons who vote for them push us over the cliff, I will still die knowing what Good Life was and the shitty times will be but a small fraction of my lifetime.
My pity and sorrow to everyone younger than me.
This election makes me want to Shrug more than any other.
also, sir! . the entertainer-in-chief job has one wrinkle
which bothers me -- force. . if they would abdicate that
provision and mind their manners, I'd like 'em all. -- j
.
Have a great Christmas, also!
I agree that politicians have to be entertainers and salesman first and foremost. I also agree that few if any have any real business savvy which should be an absolute requirement along with some military leadership experience. I fully understand how many refuse to vote so as not to promote this insanity. However, we are living in an insane world and honestly believe that a non vote is a vote for the winner because all of those non votes could easily have changed the outcome.
Political parties are one in the same with the identical agenda, do what ever must be done to remain in the power seats. If the minions must live within their means or suffer the consequences so too should the power brokers. We have allowed the cold hard truth to elude us and you will not get it from the Gov, media or any other source centered around the government. I don't care who wins this upcoming election, thing will not get better but will be spun in a more palatable way according to the party you stand with. Our debt will continue to rise until it chokes us to death at which point the government will fall. There is lots of history in that! As much as I would love to see an honest politician those two words have no business being together in a sentence.
I will absolutely vote and at this point I would much prefer to see a successful businessman pulling the strings over some other who's turn it is to do the steering. Note that I never said that might make things any better but it sure as hell can't make things any worse!
I always do. I don't even think Money still belongs on that list.
:)
Still, I'm active with people all over the world, and I can affirm that for the most part, Gulchers are better responders by and large than even scientific groups and yes, believe it or not, Mensa people. As an aside, if you're not talking in terms of games, Mensa persons often seem dense.
As for density in general, yep, no group has avoided having an adequate supply of dense members... on all sides of every 'discussion.'
It took me many decades to realize that 'everyone's brain/mind is "wired differently" and there are some (many) for whom the phrase "I can explain it to you, but I can't Understand It for you" ' is completely appropriate.
A very bright (otherwise) friend complained that my wife has low "situational awareness." Yep, in some areas, that's true. I always seem to be pulling her out of the way of pedestrian traffic around her... But when the Friend is Driving, she almost always needs me to remind her of what the actual speed limit is on the road we're on, and hugs the white line so well that I, in the passenger's seat, always feel like I'm centered in the driving lane. I close my eyes a lot.
Such is life, and it's one reason I prefer to do my own driving. Live, Love, Laugh...
And then reached Driving Age in the Wonderful 1960s when cars and engines were really Fun!
My current ride is an '04 Prius, which is actually a computer with wheels. There's no physical connection between the gas pedal and the engine compartment. You step on the gas and computers decide how much battery or gas engine (or both) to send to the front suspension to move the car. Step on the brakes gently and it uses regenerative braking to slow the car. I've got nearly 70k on the car and still don't even need the front brake pads replaced.
A far cry from the Old Days. But it still handles like a son of a bitch and out-corners many other cars on the road (and long freeway entrance ramps!) The fun isn't gone yet!
Happy Motoring!
With the recent and ongoing cuts guaranteed they will be the bulk of those retained. Not a good thing as they do not uphold their oath of office. Might's well count them as part of the protective echelon.
I still vote because I was raised in an era when voting was a badge of honor and I feel compelled to do so. But I am aware, at least, that I'm participating in a charade. I do get the satisfaction of saying, "I told ya so" no matter who wins or loses. I used to think that when a candidate enters the beltway their I.Q. drops by 50%. But because of the present slate, I think their I.Q. is that low going in. By the way, self indulgent rants are found in The Gulch very often. I am one of the guiltiest posters.
Jim Webb still considering independent run
posted at 8:31 am on December 28, 2015 by Taylor Millard
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Jim Webb may be considering trying to become the next Ralph Nader by running as an independent. Webb has been pretty active on social media, going after both President Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton for their policies. He’s tapping into the populist anger that those who are turned off by both Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, and Ted Cruz might have, but Webb is probably counting on their support too. Ben Brody at Bloomberg Politics thinks Webb is going to hop back into the presidential fray. continued in full at hotair.com
Just one possibility.....other than going to the extreme left.
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