What's wrong with our country, and how're you gonna fix it?

POSTED BY: Cuda
UPDATED: Thursday, December 11, 2025 19:41
VIEWED: 28394
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KURUKAMI

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 8:04 PM

I recall an article in the paper yesterday morning where a state congressman had proposed allowing teenagers a limited vote. That is, 16- and 17-year olds could receive a half-vote, and 14- and 15-year olds could receive a quarter vote. If that proposal were to be backed up with actual educational content about participating in society (before said kids developed the all-too-common view that their opinions don't really matter and can't really change anything), a renaissance of involved individuals could arise from the apathetic population.

The thing that irritated me was the comment I saw further down in the article, from a 16- or 17-year-old. She rambled on to the effect that she didn't want the responsibility because she had her own life to live, social life, too much to do already with regards to school, blah blah blah. These are excuses that any adult could still have -- but she seemed to be trotting them out as reasons why she shouldn't be bothered, or something to that effect.

What this country needs is an energized voting populace, one that's less involved in living vicariously through bad shows and worse writing and more involved in the events which go on in the world around them. More curious and willing to investigate things that are going on, to investigate issues and make an informed decision.

*sigh* Apathy sucks.

"Sir, I would like to gingerly point out that it is difficult for someone to be gently reassuring when they're holding three and a half feet of sharpened steel."

MERLINDREA

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 8:51 PM

I have lived in Belgium for one year and learned that they have a mandatory vote. If you are a belgian citizen over 18 and you do not vote, they can actually send you in prison for that (although in reality its a monetary penalty, I believe).

At first, I found this shocking (I am from Eastern Germany, where we had to vote and were told what to vote as well), but on second thought, I think this is a really good idea.

I mean, in a democratic country you have so much rights, so much freedom you can enjoy, but you actually don't have many duties. Shouldn't it be the duty of everyone to speak out and say who they want to govern them? Because without a duty to vote, extreme parties will always be overrepresented, because they usually can energize their members. And if you really don't know whom to vote for, you can always make your vote so that it does not count.

On a lighter note: somebody of my friends once proposed to only have the effects of a decision done to people who voted for the party making the decision (e.g. tax cuts/increases etc). Could be an interesting model

Merl

SCIFIDO

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 10:08 PM

Wow, there are interesting opinions here. I am thrilled to see an exchange of ideas without the flaming that usually crops up.

I believe that part of the problem in the United States is the fact that Free Market Ideals often conflict with democratic ones. The money in our system ensures that big business support political parties that will favor big business goals. It is in Big Business's goals to keep us buying no matter the personal cost. The stock market has to increase. And corporate wealth is tied to the markets. Our 401Ks are controlled by a select few, and the SEC does very little to slow the rampant profiteering, even when an Enron takes the money out of their investor's pockets. In my humble opinion, the Money train is what we need derail before a third party will work.

Oh, and removing most of the lawyers is also a good idea.

Eagles may soar, but weasels don't get sucked into jet engines.

AURAPTOR

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 10:18 PM

I just want freedom, dammit. Is that too much to ask for ?

You can't take the sky from me!

They don't like it when you shoot at 'em.

CROWLEY

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 10:39 PM

Let's see, some of my views about the US of A in general:

One thing that's pretty nasty is that USA is at the moment quite obviously the most powerful single nation in the whole world. And these days it seems like the basic thesis of their foreign politics is that the rest of the world should only exist to conform to their needs. And this tendency seems to be escalating rather rapidly.

Another unfortunate thing is that it appears that as a nation, the United States seems to be saturated with fear, or the potential thereof. This leads to huge overreactions when something unfortunate happens. Shortly after September 11th when USA had declared war on Afghanistan I read some downright sad testimonies about the kind of social pressure was applied to people who simply voiced their opinions that going to war wasn't the best option. Another example would be the zero-tolerance policies that were adopted in schools after school shootouts.

Now, there is one other thing that I think is a huge problem in politics pretty much all over the world, including USA and Finland, where I live in. That is that corporations these days have way too much power in politics, overshadowing the influence of voters. Much of this is probably due to the mobility of the economics these days. If a bunch of large corporations don't like for example the tax policies of the country they work in, nothing really stops them from relocating to some low-cost third world country.

I'm fully willing to debate these views and prepared to change them is someone gives valid counterarguments.

People are crazy and times are strange
I'm locked in tight, I'm out of range
I used to care, but things have changed
-Bob Dylan

KALATHENA

Wednesday, March 10, 2004 11:25 PM

What is wrong with the US?

It is fueled entirely by the concept that a short term increase is superior to long-term sustainance.

What will I do to fix it? Try to instill in the young children I teach that sustainable living is a superior way to live.

--Kala

KURUKAMI

Thursday, March 11, 2004 12:47 AM

Agreed. If the U.S. population thought more about long-term planning as a whole, and was willing to discipline themselves to stick to that planning rather than glomping onto the short term satisfaction, things would undoubtedly be different.

"Sir, I would like to gingerly point out that it is difficult for someone to be gently reassuring when they're holding three and a half feet of sharpened steel."

GINOBIFFARONI

Thursday, March 11, 2004 12:59 AM

What is wrong with the U.S. ?

Being from Canada, I am not well versed with your domestic agenda so I will use a foriegn policy example.

Haiti

At first glance it appears your government is trying to assist with the best intentions,

Then Aristide comes out with the claim that the US government were involved in overthrowing a democraticly elected government...

While unproven, with past examples like Chile... perhaps not far fetched.

Then I read further and find that by cancelling promised aid, embargoing their exports, and calling in loans much of the crisis which led to this civil war spun out of US policys.

Then I come across a Blog which quoted news sources which claimed the US state department actually funded the opposition to Aristide to the tune of 75 million dollars... sometime you do not allow in reguards to your own government.

So if true this is a crisis made in the USA, and now the good guys are riding in to save the day??

I am really starting to have concerns what the real agenda is ?

" Thats not fair !!!!
I didn't even have a soul when I did that!"

CUDA

Thursday, March 11, 2004 2:49 AM

Well so far 2 things have been mentioned that I found very interesting. Those would be 'Human Nature' and 'Long Term Planning'.

I am not at all a fan of welfare, or any kind of handouts. I know that it is not always the case, and there are those that legitimately want to work hard to get ahead, but I feel that it is human nature that if you are satisfied with your current state of living and you don't have to work hard to maintain that state, then you will never strive to do better. I feel that welfare simply enables many of its recipients to go through life without having to put forth any effort to make a life for themselves. Shouldn't people be held accountable for their own situations, regardless of wether they made good or bad choices?

Ok, well, it has been said many people are this way because they have a low level of education. We have a public school system (not to spectacular in some areas) that anybody can participate in, right? Well if a person decides they do not want to educate themselves, isn't it their own fault? We have scholarships for high performers, do we not? As I see it, anyone, anywhere in the country could get an Ivy League education if they wanted it badly enough. (yes, harder in some areas) I think people should take a little more responsibility for educating themselves.

I think we need to have some sort of policy of 'Tough Love' where people are allowed to fail so that they can see what they must do to succeed. This may require some sort of interim welfare to help those during their 'time of failure', but only for a limited time to help them get back on their feet.

Ok, well, this is where long term planning comes into play. Wouldn't it be better to dedicate more resources to the school system? The way I see it, free education is like the ultimate form of welfare. Education allows people to realize what is possible, and enables them to do whatever they want.

Obviously this isn't something that could be changed in a few short years. Even if the schools became instantly spectacular, it'd probably take at least a decade to see the results.

I await your criticism...

SERGEANTX

Thursday, March 11, 2004 3:05 AM

The most fundamental thing wrong with this country politically is plurality voting. The two party system has a stranglehold on government and there isn't a dimes worth of difference between them. When we finally say goodbye to the notion of voting for the 'other' of two evils we might see some real change for the better.

There are some realistic alternatives out there. Its not a hotly charged sexed up issue, but its probably the very best thing we could do to insure a more sane future for our country. Check out Approval Voting here:

" http://www.approvalvoting.org/"

or check out some other ideas here:

http://www.electionmethods.org

SergeantX

"..and here's to all the dreamers, may our open hearts find rest." -- Nanci Griffith

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