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Kajun Gal

(1,907 posts)
Sun Apr 29, 2018, 10:03 PM Apr 2018

In my old age I am realizing politics is a bore.

Nothing is going to change. It's always been like this. Politicians aren't rock stars. They cannot save the world. It's the same ole same ole and it's quite boring. There is life to live without these fool politicians! These bought and paid for people that "supposedly" speak for us. Hah. Why waste my time listening to the 24 hr bs that doesn't help or fix anything?

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In my old age I am realizing politics is a bore. (Original Post) Kajun Gal Apr 2018 OP
The thing is, its not supposed to be about being non-boring. nt BootinUp Apr 2018 #1
. Iggo Apr 2018 #2
Nice, that's a standard GOP line sharedvalues Apr 2018 #3
I can agree with the OP and respect the wisdom which comes with age. quartz007 Apr 2018 #9
No. Only the GOP is the party of billionaires. sharedvalues Apr 2018 #12
It has little to do with which party has richer politicians quartz007 Apr 2018 #16
No. Only the GOP is the party of billionaires. sharedvalues Apr 2018 #19
It's a mixed bag at best quartz007 Apr 2018 #22
what do you mean nothing gets done ? our country would be a mess if NOTHING got done as we see in JI7 Apr 2018 #23
Meaning of "nothing gets done" quartz007 Apr 2018 #25
tax cuts for the wealthy is getting something done . the middle and lower income people that voted JI7 Apr 2018 #26
Yes, 85%+ of tax cuts go to top 10% quartz007 Apr 2018 #37
The problem is not the politicians, it is the "bought and paid for" part. dameatball Apr 2018 #4
And GOP justices voted for Cit U. sharedvalues Apr 2018 #14
It was the norm even before citizens united, quartz007 Apr 2018 #38
All politics is frustrating as hell. democratisphere Apr 2018 #5
We disagree. S.E. TN Liberal Apr 2018 #6
In my old age, I've realized that politics is all that stands between my grandkids and annihilation Insightus Apr 2018 #7
Hay there! I'm in the fight. Dint expect these years to be what sprinkleeninow Apr 2018 #30
Well, how old are you? PJMcK Apr 2018 #8
And rather than stop listening to the bs you decided to share with us because... Xipe Totec Apr 2018 #10
When politics is life-threatening, as it is these days, I never find it boring. n/t pnwmom Apr 2018 #11
Then why are you here wasting our time? hatrack Apr 2018 #13
I think a lot of what's wrong with this country is because people are emotional and not analytical bettyellen Apr 2018 #15
it's supposed to be "boring" 0rganism Apr 2018 #17
I think we kind of struck out on that boring part for this round nolabels Apr 2018 #29
It's hard work. We tolerate some tedium to accomplish our goals struggle4progress Apr 2018 #18
The GOP thanks you. Adrahil Apr 2018 #20
Nope. They just won't do anything so all the talk seems for nothing. Kajun Gal May 2018 #39
Politics is Supposed to be Boring . but who is in office still matters and makes a HUGE Difference JI7 Apr 2018 #21
Superficial politics are a cult of personality ismnotwasm Apr 2018 #24
i love nerdy "boring" policy wonk politicians JI7 Apr 2018 #27
+1 ismnotwasm Apr 2018 #28
Things sure fucking changed November 2016. Exotica Apr 2018 #31
Very good advice Bradshaw3 Apr 2018 #32
It is as long as you wait for politicians to change things for you. meadowlander Apr 2018 #33
+1,000 Angry Dragon Apr 2018 #34
Agree Raine Apr 2018 #35
I'll differ, politics is not boring depending on the party you are supporting! akbacchus_BC Apr 2018 #36

sharedvalues

(6,916 posts)
3. Nice, that's a standard GOP line
Sun Apr 29, 2018, 10:08 PM
Apr 2018

And what you say is far from the truth.

Democrats care about people. They want government to work. They want people to have healthcare.

It's only the GOP that are bought and paid for by the Koch network. Only the GOP that is the party of billionaires. Only the GOP that puts party above country.

If you want to do something, get out the vote. Register voters. Vote. We will take the country back.

(Standard GOP and also now Russian propaganda lines are:
both sides do it. False, only the GOP does it.
your vote doesn't matter. False, GOP billionaires benefit when Dems don't vote, that's why they push this line.
Nothing will change. False. Look at the VA and AL elections. Dems turn out, and they win.)




edit: did I say too much?

 

quartz007

(1,216 posts)
9. I can agree with the OP and respect the wisdom which comes with age.
Sun Apr 29, 2018, 10:34 PM
Apr 2018

ALL career politicians depend on their rich donors. That is why nothing gets done in DC which goes against the interest of those rich donors.

All politicians give great sounding speeches, telling us how much they care about us. But they pass bills which serve the rich donor class (which includes large corporations, and special interests).

sharedvalues

(6,916 posts)
12. No. Only the GOP is the party of billionaires.
Sun Apr 29, 2018, 10:42 PM
Apr 2018

Only the GOP has run a multi-decade effort to legalize political bribery. Look who voted for Cit U legalized bribery: the Federalist society judges the Koch billionaires trained, selected, and got nominated.

So no. It's only the GOP that is at fault. Only the GOP that obstructs progress in DC. Only the GOP that uses their billionaire donors to emplace judges to legalize political bribery so billionaires can have more influence.

----

On a related note, I'm not calling you a troll. But I'm not sure you've seen, but trolls are often assigned to work in groups and reply to and support each other.

https://www.rferl.org/a/how-to-guide-russian-trolling-trolls/26919999.html


Our department commented on posts. Every city and village in Russia has its own municipal website with its own comments forum. People would write something on the forum -- some kind of news -- and our task was to comment on it. We did it by dividing into teams of three. One of us would be the "villain," the person who disagrees with the forum and criticizes the authorities, in order to bring a feeling of authenticity to what we're doing. The other two enter into a debate with him -- "No, you're not right; everything here is totally correct." One of them should provide some kind of graphic or image that fits in the context, and the other has to post a link to some content that supports his argument.
 

quartz007

(1,216 posts)
16. It has little to do with which party has richer politicians
Sun Apr 29, 2018, 10:56 PM
Apr 2018

It has much more to do with who are on the top donor list of politicians. Even the rich candidates do not fully fund their own campaigns.

Spend some time googling donor lists, and you will discover that majority of campaign funds for MOST CAREER politicians come from large corporations or Billionaires/multi-millionaires.

The ONLY SOLUTION to this problem is to remove all private funding for election campaigns, and all elections be subsidized strictly from government funding.

Otherwise we are stuck with a form of government under which the vast working class will never be favored.

On further edit, I have never heard of this OP, or ever recall responding to his posts. But this post today struck a chord in my brain. And I am 78, too old to bother with Russians or any trolling groups.

sharedvalues

(6,916 posts)
19. No. Only the GOP is the party of billionaires.
Sun Apr 29, 2018, 11:17 PM
Apr 2018

The best way to see the GOP is the party of billionaires is that the Dems RAISED taxes on the rich to increase healthcare for the middle and working class by passing Obamacare.
While the first thing the GOP did in power was to LOWER taxes on the rich and try to REDUCE healthcare for all and the social safety net.

It's true that donations to the Dems come from the wealthy. But only one party is the party of billonaires, and the GOP is not just out to help billionaires, its aim is to destroy government and the social safety net to cut taxes on the rich.

The ONLY SOLUTION to this problem is to remove all private funding for election campaigns, and all elections be subsidized strictly from government funding.

Otherwise we are stuck with a form of government under which the vast working class will never be favored.


I think you're right about this. The UK and Israel both have financing models for campaigns that could work for us (despite both countries having right-wing propaganda that has pushed their countries towards billionaires)
 

quartz007

(1,216 posts)
22. It's a mixed bag at best
Sun Apr 29, 2018, 11:53 PM
Apr 2018

Mark Warner (D-VA) was the wealthiest senator in 2012, with an estimated net worth of $257,481,658.

Top 10 Senators in 2012
Senator Average Net Worth
Mark Warner $257,481,658
Richard Blumenthal $103,803,192
Jay Rockefeller $101,290,514
Dianne Feinstein $68,446,578
James Risch $53,517,527
Bob Corker $49,114,509
John Hoeven $37,115,538
Ron Johnson $24,442,007
Kay Hagan $24,069,791
Mitch McConnell $22,841,026

JI7

(89,174 posts)
23. what do you mean nothing gets done ? our country would be a mess if NOTHING got done as we see in
Sun Apr 29, 2018, 11:53 PM
Apr 2018

countries wiht effective govt.

right now Trump is doing what the republians want in destroying the EPA and State dept .

democrats would not be doing that.

the economy improved under obama .

 

quartz007

(1,216 posts)
25. Meaning of "nothing gets done"
Mon Apr 30, 2018, 12:01 AM
Apr 2018

Top 10% get richer, middle 50% marching in place.

Healthcare, housing, education, nutrition etc all depend on what one is earning. Until the hard working "middle" can improve their standard of living, I call it nothing gets done.

JI7

(89,174 posts)
26. tax cuts for the wealthy is getting something done . the middle and lower income people that voted
Mon Apr 30, 2018, 12:02 AM
Apr 2018

for trump voted for the rich to get richer.

 

quartz007

(1,216 posts)
37. Yes, 85%+ of tax cuts go to top 10%
Mon Apr 30, 2018, 05:31 PM
Apr 2018

That simply is not fair to the hard working middle class.

dameatball

(7,380 posts)
4. The problem is not the politicians, it is the "bought and paid for" part.
Sun Apr 29, 2018, 10:11 PM
Apr 2018

We are supposed to have a representative government in which everyone has a voice. That has disappeared. Citizens United saw to that.

sharedvalues

(6,916 posts)
14. And GOP justices voted for Cit U.
Sun Apr 29, 2018, 10:44 PM
Apr 2018

The Democratic-appointed judges voted against it.

The Federalist society selected, trained, and promoted Roberts, Alito, Scalia, Gorsuch, and Thomas. GOP billionaires donate to the Federalist Society. The billionaires got the decision they wanted - legalizing bribery so their money would have more political influence.

 

quartz007

(1,216 posts)
38. It was the norm even before citizens united,
Mon Apr 30, 2018, 05:33 PM
Apr 2018

for at least 4 decades. Citizens united simply skewed it more towards the rich and powerful corporations.

S.E. TN Liberal

(508 posts)
6. We disagree.
Sun Apr 29, 2018, 10:14 PM
Apr 2018

There are three major groups of people on the planet who seek to control our lives; the wealthy, politicians and religious nuts.

They all need to be watched carefully.

When conservatives are in power, you have all three groups united to control your life. If you avoid paying attention to them, we all lose.

Insightus

(15 posts)
7. In my old age, I've realized that politics is all that stands between my grandkids and annihilation
Sun Apr 29, 2018, 10:21 PM
Apr 2018
Nothing is going to change.


Quite the contrary. Everything changes all the time; in your old age you should know that (if you've been paying attention for the last fifty years). If you're in the fight, you have some small influence over how it changes. If you're not, please at least keep your discouragement to yourself, for goodness sake.

sprinkleeninow

(20,133 posts)
30. Hay there! I'm in the fight. Dint expect these years to be what
Mon Apr 30, 2018, 12:38 AM
Apr 2018

they be.

I get tuckered out more easily now. The added stress from this maladministration at times nearly brings me to the brink of my endurance.

Then especially having nostalgic reminiscence of eight sane and peace-filled years thanks to Barack.

PJMcK

(21,921 posts)
8. Well, how old are you?
Sun Apr 29, 2018, 10:24 PM
Apr 2018

You've articulated your age as an influence on your perspective concerning politics. Please clarify your point of view.

Regarding your last sentence, you will not waste your time if you are informed. An educated and informed populace is a necessary component of a functional democracy.

Xipe Totec

(43,872 posts)
10. And rather than stop listening to the bs you decided to share with us because...
Sun Apr 29, 2018, 10:40 PM
Apr 2018

It's not enough for you to do it, but you also need us to validate your choice in some way?

If you truly feel that way then by all means stop watching and go gently into that good night.

 

bettyellen

(47,209 posts)
15. I think a lot of what's wrong with this country is because people are emotional and not analytical
Sun Apr 29, 2018, 10:50 PM
Apr 2018

About policies and governance- and make it about personalities that excite them. For the life of me, I don’t get it.

0rganism

(23,855 posts)
17. it's supposed to be "boring"
Sun Apr 29, 2018, 11:06 PM
Apr 2018

boring politics is a sign of a stable state capable of negotiating its difficulties through boring peaceful constitutional processes.
the last thing we want is "interesting" politics...

nolabels

(13,133 posts)
29. I think we kind of struck out on that boring part for this round
Mon Apr 30, 2018, 12:35 AM
Apr 2018

The Chinese curse of 'may you live in interesting times' seems to be in front of our face

The other one I often check up on when contemplating about how others view life is 'people are either busy living or busy dying' and this last one is an either-or that seems to always hold up if you look carefully

 

Adrahil

(13,340 posts)
20. The GOP thanks you.
Sun Apr 29, 2018, 11:38 PM
Apr 2018

They want people bored and frustrated with politics. They want you do go off an do other stuff and disengage. But they won't.

I'm guessing you are probably insulated enough by privilege that you'll be largely unaffected by what the GOP is doing. At least, not that you'd notice right away. Not until it's too late.

 

Kajun Gal

(1,907 posts)
39. Nope. They just won't do anything so all the talk seems for nothing.
Thu May 17, 2018, 10:22 PM
May 2018

Wish I WERE privileged! I'd spend my privileged life helping those who aren't.

JI7

(89,174 posts)
21. Politics is Supposed to be Boring . but who is in office still matters and makes a HUGE Difference
Sun Apr 29, 2018, 11:51 PM
Apr 2018

just look at Clinton, w Bush, Obama, and this shit.

there IS a difference . and it matters.

and what do you mean by fixing things ? our institutions are always doing things and Trump is destroying them. the state dept , epa etc is being destroyed by the shit . it wasn't destroyed under others.

ismnotwasm

(41,921 posts)
24. Superficial politics are a cult of personality
Sun Apr 29, 2018, 11:57 PM
Apr 2018

You want boring? Get deeply involved in what it takes to craft policies that lead to real positive change. It’s work, and not very sexy, and usually thankless.

JI7

(89,174 posts)
27. i love nerdy "boring" policy wonk politicians
Mon Apr 30, 2018, 12:07 AM
Apr 2018

complaining about getting stuff done and boring poiticians makes no sense. politics is supposed to be "boring" . especially if you are talking about getting things done.

repeating the same talking points on tv is not doing anything.

there is a reason why trump hasn't been able to get much done through legislation even with republicans controlling everything.

 

Exotica

(1,461 posts)
31. Things sure fucking changed November 2016.
Mon Apr 30, 2018, 12:46 AM
Apr 2018

I suggest you engage more in real life at local political levels. Shite is easier to get done and you CAN make a difference.

Bradshaw3

(7,455 posts)
32. Very good advice
Mon Apr 30, 2018, 01:10 AM
Apr 2018

"I'm bored" is for spoiled kids. Real political work involves boring things like making cold calls, stapling signs, going door-to-door. I'm older and this situation is not what I had in mind in the 60s and 70s. It's fucked up but the ONLY way to change it is to get out there and affect change mostly through the ballot box, and that is done as you write, at local political levels.

meadowlander

(4,358 posts)
33. It is as long as you wait for politicians to change things for you.
Mon Apr 30, 2018, 01:38 AM
Apr 2018

The people who get what they want are the people who show up.

If 2016 taught us anything, it's that things do change, sometimes rapidly and significantly for the worse, when the people who should show up don't.

akbacchus_BC

(5,700 posts)
36. I'll differ, politics is not boring depending on the party you are supporting!
Mon Apr 30, 2018, 02:57 AM
Apr 2018

Democrats fight for civil rights, republicans feel that no one should get a safety net when hard times hit. Not too difficult which party to support, I am democrat.

There is a show called 'Mysteries at the Museum'. A woman who was before her time and was very vocal when women earned the right to vote. She held a town hall to address women and how important it was for them to vote. A few men who did not like her were at the town hall and heckled her. Notwithstanding, she was not going anywhere. Now I will be paraphrasing -- the next day, those hecklers approached her and told her that her name was on the ballot for Mayor. She believed and she campaigned her heart out on voting day, guess what, she got elected. Politics is not boring, being involved to elect the person who will represent you, is exciting and you get to excise your civic rights.

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