Perhaps at least some of the blame that @Bruce describes above for America's current woes can be traced back to the successive election of unrepresentative governments due in the main because of your country's low participation on election day - maybe (just a vague supposition)?
Totally agree with you Don (
@DV52). Despite the fact that I feel my vote has not really made a difference, I know not participating and becoming one of the 91 million who did not state their choice, is worse. Our system is built on participation of the people. When we disengage, our apathy gives the elite exactly what they prefer: the freedom to ignore the people.
The President does not matter to me as much as the Representatives and Senators mater. The ones making the decisions that most affect my life are the ones in the lesser positions. Congress is supposed make the law. The President is supposed to guide an agenda and implement the law Congress writes. In recent years, Congress spends its time fighting between political agendas and they do not enact law. Presidents have taken it upon themselves to use Executive Order to enact legislation and control. The Presidents have been frustrated that the Congress cannot make decisions so they began doing the Congressional job. Congress fails to exercise their check and balance calling Executive Orders into question and challenging these through the courts. (Many EOs seem to me, a non-lawyer, to be unconstitutional over-reaching, and moving the Presidency closer and closer to a dictatorship.) My Point? The system is broken!
What stops a President from declaring elections unnecessary? Invalid? We did not get there this time.. but we came close -no?
I have stated that impeaching Trump serves no purpose. As I think more about that, perhaps it serves the purpose that Congress is using it's check on the Presidency - letting future Presidents know they will not be above or beyond the law; that they will be and are held accountable for their actions and their words. We can argue about the witch hunt and all the rhetorical issues as to who is right or who is wrong... but perhaps the value of the impeachment process is that it exists and is in place to stop any who think they can do whatever they please. Perhaps making an example is good?
The problem is that the process has been abused also... the process has been invoked for political gain. More mess....
I agree with your summation Don (
@DV52), if we do not participate in the process, no matter how flawed, then we do not have a chance to implement change, no matter how minimal that chance may seem. It is this belief that has me at the polls often... not always every year.. but usually every 2 years. Often in our area, the local election for those who govern our towns and townships, the candidates run un-opposed. In those elections, where there is little or no choice, I may opt to sit it out. I have missed elections owing to travel. For major elections where travel has me away from home, I have participated via a mail in ballot.
Don, participation in riots, insurrections, coups - violent actions - also can bring about change. When so many feel dis-enfranchised, when so many decide it is not worth their time to vote, to be in the political process, there is the alternative that they can choose to act and to overthrow. Many of us believe the "right to bear arms" comes from the founding fathers of this country so that if our governing leaders are taking the direction of our nation down a path we do not believe is right, then the right to bear arms gives those citizens a right to say enough! Some of us believe that right is one of the checks we have on the governing leaders. It is a last resort. It is a very final and harsh means to implement change. The outcome is anything but certain.
Our leaders must know and understand - the American people are not happy. Trillions of dollars being handed out is not fixing the problems. People are not stupid. We all know who pays the bill.
I mentioned in my earlier post that many Americans are buying weapons for the first time. While I do not advocate violent change and I do not plan to participate in violent change, people are afraid. People are becoming highly motivated. They are no longer apathetic - the position the politicians would like to keep Joe Average American. Politicians have decided to wear bullet resistant vests.. this morning on the news, several congressional members spoke to news media that they are now wearing vests. Such fear is not good.
Do any think maybe Congress is hearing the dissatisfaction of the population now? The riots earlier this year did not touch the Congress members.. in the majority, they didn't really care about the riots except for the political gains they could make being on one side or the other. Is it possible as they wear their vests that maybe they are beginning to hear that the American people are frustrated and heavily divided? Will they listen in time to make change and quell the angst?
I remain in the mind set of my previous post: Civil War - Civil Unrest - is on the horizon. No matter how many protections the government takes, if the people rise up, they (the government) do not have the resources to stop it. For the good of all, we better find a leader who will work with both sides and with those who do not participate to bring this country back together. I fear time is running out. Do you think Mr. Biden is the one?
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