tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34249799.post269401793377623797..comments2024-03-29T07:15:02.402+13:00Comments on AmeriNZ Blog: Political failingsArthur Schenckhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10568299067544221996noreply@blogger.comBlogger3125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34249799.post-5274367642472934092010-09-23T23:22:55.886+12:002010-09-23T23:22:55.886+12:00toujoursdan: Yep, I agree. I don't think refor...<b>toujoursdan: </b>Yep, I agree. I don't think reform is likely, though, and it'll be impossible if the Republicans re-take Congress.<br /><br /><b>epilonious: </b>I agree that persuading <i>voters</i> from the other side is important to at least attempt, but I don't believe that in the current toxic atmosphere it's possible to convince Republicans to support Democratic positions—or even Republicans ones promoted by Democrats, as we've seen over the past two years.<br /><br />Stopping Republicans from blocking the majority isn't the same as mob rule, of course.<br /><br />I had no problem with the Log Cabin lawsuit from the very beginning, though some professional activists sure did. I applaud them for their efforts (and the courts the third branch of government, so turning to them is always a reasonable thing to do). But they LCR still do some <i>very</i> odd things.Arthur Schenckhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10568299067544221996noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34249799.post-35528118795964427832010-09-23T01:15:57.538+12:002010-09-23T01:15:57.538+12:00"We should stop going around babbling about h..."We should stop going around babbling about how we're the greatest democracy on earth, when we're not even a democracy. We are a sort of militarised republic. The founding fathers hated two things, one was monarchy and the other was democracy, they gave us a constitution that saw to it we will have neither. I don't know how wise they were."<br /><br />- Gore Vidal.<br /><br />The prevention of "Mob Rule" has been one of the biggest facets of the American Political system. It's not going away any time soon, nor or should it: having to convince at least some of the other side to support your cause is important.<br /><br />As for the whole DADT mess, I see a glimmer of hope in the Log Cabin Republicans of all things. They're being sneaky bastards filing in federal courts but they're doing it for the right reasons :)epilonioushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05532230027733099956noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-34249799.post-91963301875486567742010-09-23T00:26:59.483+12:002010-09-23T00:26:59.483+12:00I think the blame best be put on a political syste...I think the blame best be put on a political system whereby a minority party can block legislation from being debated and voted on. How is that democractic?<br /><br />The U.S. legislative system is set up to make it easy to throw a monkey wrench into the process and the Republicans, who have decided that power is more important than governance, have exploited it. But I put the blame on the process as much as the players. <br /><br />The system itself needs to be changed, but many Americans find it easier to blame people than admit this fact.toujoursdanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08106158181662408311noreply@blogger.com