San Francisco Blooze

[Colleen Thomas]

This is nothing new, Colly. How do you think Jimmy Carter got elected after the Nixon mess? Voters in California are reacting to something neither they nor the Governor understand. So you end up with a complet outsider with no skills what-so-ever.

There was a time when a man with force of will and a public mandate could enter office and make a difference in this country. Sadly, those days are gone now and a total political novice entering high office is likely to be overwhelmed very quickly despite his convictions or intentions.

The two party system in this country has gone from giving the majority of us a significant variety in platform to giving us a simple and stark choice IMHO. You may vote Republican, in which case you can be asured of at least some fiscal responsibility, but they will make anything fun illegal. Or you can vote democrat, whereby they will zealously guard your right to do whatver it is you wish to have fun, but they will tax you so heavily to support their near socialist agenda that you won't have any money to do anything thats fun.

In either case the result of your vote is having no fun (Unless sitting at home reading the bible by candle light grabs you as a keen way to spend an evening,).

A republican candidate, reguardless of his personal opinion or the power of his convictions, is going to be a prisoner of the religious right, who seem to have hijacked the party. A democratic candidate will be just as hamstrung by the ultra liberal socialistic elements that have hijacked that party. An independent will find himself unable to get anything through the legislature because there are not enough moderates in either party who are willing to vote across party lines to make up a "center" majority. The reason you cannot put a coalition of moderates together in a bi-partisan majority is because elections have become so expensive it is practically impossible for anyone not backed by a major party to win. No one is willing to vote across party lines too often and risk loosing funding for next term's reelection.

The era of the election being about the man is over. It's now about his party. You don't vote for the man who is best for the job, you vote for the party line that is less odious to you personally. The best man for the job will never run anyway, because he wouldn't be willing to prostitute himself in the manner now required to win major elections. The Bill Clinton's and G.W. Bush's are the wave of the future. Career politician's with nothing new, innovative or personal to offer.

Arnie is an abberation, in that he tapped into voter discontent with career politicians and displaced Davis. However, the very thing that got him elected, being a political novice almost guarentee's that he won't be able to accomplish anything while in the office. Its not a movie, you cannot barge into the statehouse with an M-16 and make lawmakers act right (as amusing as it would be if you could). I think at the end of this term Arnie will happily go back to Hollywood and leave the governing of California to the same clique of incompetant buffons who were there before he got there.

The American landscape needs an action hero, but robbed of his guns, one liners and an identifiable bad guy I don't think Arnie will do much if anything. California's governemnt will continue to gind along with bussiness as usual. Represenatives will continue to push the special interest that got them elected, reguardless of the consequences for the state as a whole. Republicans will continue to blame Democrats, immigrants, Liberals, homosexuals and the media. Democrats will continue to blame Republicans, conservatives, the Church and Big Brother. The people will continue to get it from both ends. And Arnie will make not a bit of difference.

You are not a cynic Perdita. You actually believe that the man sitting in the govenor's seat can accomplish something. Arnie being elected and Al Gore failing to steal the election in florida actually trouble you. What you really are is a tarnished romantic. Don't rush to join our ranks. An honest belief that good things can be accomplished, if only the right man or woman wins the job is far better than the Cynical view that no matter who is there, nothing will change. We cynic's have exchanged a faith that things can get better for a doctrine that nothing can be done better, the situation is as it is. The Cynic trades hope for safety, faith for comfort and the will to change things for the ability to say I told you so. We are a pretty sorry, pessimistic lot.

-Colly

 

[raphy]

Plus ca change la plus ca meme chose...

Apologies to any actual french speakers out there, it's been years and I'm sure my grammar is terrible

Raph, tentatively.

 

[gauchecritic]

Apart from the truism that you get the government you deserve, to all those who think the people they elect are running the country. I'm not talking about conspiracy theory here.

Tony Benn, a well respected socialist politician over here in Britland tells the story of ministers who take their position and first meet the unelected, unaccountable Civil Service that do the everyday mundane work. The minister presents them with a manifesto of promises he's already made and work that needs doing in order to fulfill his party's objectives. Then the Civil Servants present the minister (who you voted for) with their manifesto. They then argue the details and it's compromise all round.

So what's the point?

Gauche

 

[Colleen Thomas]

The only real point I see to it is the moral/ethical grounds neccesary to bitch and moan

If you didn't vote, you have, IMO forfieted your right to complain. As long as you voted, then you are entitled to spew vitriol at one and all in the public arena. My vote makes no difference in the overall decision, but by voting I allow myslef to rant and rave about how bad the nimrods we elected are doing.

Representative democracy really only means we have the right to complain. Any real say in what is done in our names by our government went out the window when we agreed to let represenatives speak for us rather than demanding that each of us be able to speak for ourselves.

-Colly

 

[oggbashan]

Tony Benn, a well respected socialist politician over here in Britland tells the story of ministers who take their position and first meet the unelected, unaccountable Civil Service that do the everyday mundane work. The minister presents them with a manifesto of promises he's already made and work that needs doing in order to fulfill his party's objectives. Then the Civil Servants present the minister (who you voted for) with their manifesto. They then argue the details and it's compromise all round.

So what's the point?

Gauche

As a fellow UK citizen who votes and a former very junior Civil Servant - the point is that the promises made in the manifesto are based on what the party thinks is possible. Once elected into government the party has to govern on the basis of what is actually possible given the true economic state of the country that the previous government has concealed. The previous government has probably made changes that they hoped would please the electorate but which have a significant cost in future years (mortgaging the future).

The new government either has to dismantle all the goodies the previous lot set up and become unpopular very quickly, or adapt their policies set out in their manifesto to what is actually possible given what the new government now knows. The Civil Servants' task is to show the reality and work with the new minister to achieve what he wants to do - IF it is still possible.

Unfortunately some of the best attributes of politicians are:
- not to face reality
- to vote as his/her party wants
- to believe two mutually incompatible things at once
- not to be unpopular
- to want to be re-elected.

The Civil Servants' task is impossible. So are the manifesto's promises but no one will admit it.

Og

 

[gauchecritic]

I didn't mean to denigrate the Civil Service Og. I was pointing up the short comings of the political status quo. Democracy is unworkable in present day contexts without it catching up with the speed of modern communications.

Gauche

 

[Guest]

Colly: I appreciate your very thoughtful and informative posts. I thank you sincerely for your address to me, made me smile and think, and I'm grateful to know I'm not a true cynic. Actually I knew it was more emotional than philosophical, I know I am incapable of true cynicism (some comfort, haha).

I tend to see the bigger picture from within the frames of the rather ideal environs in which I live and work. I am surrounded by people who do make a difference in the lives of others but no one notices except for those in small circles. I will try not to project my faith and hope beyond my reach and understanding.

Anyway, I thank you for a good lesson, which even applies to my personal life.

best to you, glad you're about,

Perdita

 

[raphy]

If you didn't vote, you have, IMO forfieted your right to complain. As long as you voted, then you are entitled to spew vitriol at one and all in the public arena.

That'll be okay then - I don't bitch about politicians. Certainly not specific ones. I reserve my vitriol for all and sundry

Oh and 'dita - Colly's like that. Known her for years. She rocks =) You guys should get on like a house on fire.

Raph

 

[oggbashan]

I didn't mean to denigrate the Civil Service Og. I was pointing up the short comings of the political status quo. Democracy is unworkable in present day contexts without it catching up with the speed of modern communications.

Gauche

I agree the present system has shortcomings but politics is the art of compromise.

I like Sir Winston Churchill's words about it:

"It has been said that Democracy is the worst form of government except all those other forms that have been tried from time to time."

or Nehru's:

"Democracy is good. I say this because other systems are worse."

Democracy allows for a change of government without bloodshed. That is probably its best feature.

Og

 

[Colleen Thomas]

Dita,

You stirke me from your posts as being fun loving and concerned about all manner of things. Keep hopeing, believeing and trying to change things. You will never really appreciate how much good comes from such things. Cynisism is that last refuge of the idealist who has seen one to many ideals compromised. The best way to avoid it is not to compromise your ideals

Thanks for the welcome, I am kinda new to the boards and still feeling my way around.

take care,

Colly