[quote="Wes Eargle
Hey, moran, how do you expect the Commerce Sec'y to answer that one? But I'll do it for you: until the third parties put up viable candidates in state/local elections and show success they'll never do it at the federal level. And why exactly should the two major parties cede power to johnny-come-latelies? What you are describing above isn't capitalism, it's quasisocialism in its redistribution of the power levels. With capitalism, you
earn it.[/quote]
Firstly, if your going to call me a moron, you should at least try to spell it correctly. It makes for a more convincing declaration of my stupidity.
I also would like to start by saying that "quasisocialism" is the last thing in the world that I want, my political leanings are quite the opposite. I kind of see your point, but not completely, socialism is about the redistribution of wealth, not power, of course if money = power than I guess its sort of the same thing but not exactly. Besides, I believe, perhaps naively, that given more choices, americans would not choose socialism. I would hope the roots of liberty that this country were founded on run deep enough to keep that from happening. Actually one of my biggest problems with the current status quo government, is our gradual creep closer and closer to socialism, this is what I personally am trying to avoid.
Admittedly, the commerce secretary is probably not the most qualified person to answer that question. However, there aren't many opportunities to ask a federal bureaucrat questions directly and that is the question I would most like answered by our federal government, the commerce secretary just so happens to be a representative of the federal government available for questioning. Just trying to make a point, didn't actually expect Chris to ask that quesiton.
Asking any of the other questions:
Quote:
What has been behind the economic downturn?
Trade, and the impact of trade policy on growth.
The linkages between education and jobs, competitiveness, etc.
Protection of intellectual property rights
Government incentives for greater technological innovation?
Possible upturn in the job market.
Will only result in typical predictable responses that simply repeat party mantras, be they democrat or republican.
Now I realize that capitalism is an economic system and not a political system, so it doesn't really apply to a government, but I was just trying to illustrate how applying some principles of capitalism may improve government. We have anti-trust laws in place to avoid situations in business exactly like we currently have and have had for a long long time in our government. Anti-trust laws are necessary to keep companies from joining together to the point where there is no longer any competition. With the two political parties which appear to be different, but in the end really aren't, we have a political cartel that serves only itself and crushes competition. Since they are in power, and they create the rules by which new parties can come to power, they can virtually guarantee that they will remain in power. The figureheads change, but the song remains the same.
I'm not sure how we came to have the current two-party system that we have, it happened well before my time, but I do believe it is well past time to change it and don't believe I'm alone in that belief. Unfortunatley a "catch-22" exists that makes it very difficult for that to ever change.
Because of the way the system has been established it is nearly impossible for an outsider to "earn" political power, even at the local level. We have all been convinced that using the only power we have to change this, voting, is wasted if we vote for someone outside the two party system. I can't count the number of people I've heard say that in my life. If every person that was worried about wasting their vote would just go ahead and waste it, it probably wouldn't be wasting it anymore, if that makes any sense.
The majority of americans are disillusioned with american politics and don't even vote, particularly at the local level. Why are they disillusioned? Because they feel like their only choices are democrat or republican, and choosing between them is just choosing the lesser of two evils, so why even bother. Few people know there are many other choices and best way to voice your dissatisfaction with the status quo is to vote for someone outside it.
Sorry to go on so long, but this is something that is very important, and a message I wish I could get out to everyone, but that is impossible. I just try to do my small part as much as I can. I doubt anyone has made it this far anyway.
Since this is in the "Lounge" I don't think it is too terribly inappropriate. I'm sure people will let me know if they think so though.
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