NationStates Jolt Archive

It's sorta getting on my nerves - a major point of democracy (yes, I know our country is technically a Republic) is that one can run for office regardless of economic status.

Now I don't mind self-made persons who made a success out of being born in lower economic status running, but it seems lately that most of our politicians are people just born into money, and while I don't think those types of people are all terrible, well . . . you know what I'm getting at here.

well,I never really like your united states two party system anyway,but let e ask you something here?How could they not be elitists?

It's sorta getting on my nerves - a major point of democracy (yes, I know our country is technically a Republic) is that one can run for office regardless of economic status.

Now I don't mind self-made persons who made a success out of being born in lower economic status running, but it seems lately that most of our politicians are people just born into money, and while I don't think those types of people are all terrible, well . . . you know what I'm getting at here.


Perhaps you would prefer the local refuse collector having a go?

I am tired of having the same bland rich old white guys with completely opposite thoughts on every subject.

You know what I want to see? I want to see a crossdressing candidate that has a crush on the other candidate. That'd be great.

or Big Bird running against Barney (I'm not sure which one would be the democrat and who the republican, but who cares? they're both muppets now anyway?)

Perhaps you would prefer the local refuse collector having a go?

I wouldn't mind. As long as they have a well thought out manifesto which addresses the issues adequately enough for me to make a decision.

Yes, I am. And that is why I, a simple middle class commoner, intend to run for the office of president once I have turned 35, which I am not yet.

http://www.freewebs.com/crossman4america

or Big Bird running against Barney (I'm not sure which one would be the democrat and who the republican, but who cares? they're both muppets now anyway?)

Barney would DEFINTELY be the republican. And Barney is NOT a muppet, just some guy in a purple dinosaur suit. (Jim Henson is turning over in his grave right now)

Yes I'm pretty tired of it. The constitution does not mention parties anywhere, but I do not think that the two-party "system" is the problem. The problem is everything from the way elections are carried out to the compulsory school system. Things will only get worse if we allow another "soft money" ban or so-called "campaign finance reform" bill to pass, it will only get worse. These bills, while having nice titles and politicians telling us what they are going to do (while not telling us how) are little more than attempts to make it even harder for a non-elite person to run for an office. Even on the state level, it is getting harder for an ordinary person to get elected and make some real changes. Although it sounds nice, not having pressure groups or big companies financing politicians, it means that you pretty much already have to have money to be elected. Bill Moyers, in a rare instance of showing what good investigative journalism can do, has been crashing parties thrown by special interests and companies, showing how they get around the laws.
Our miseducation system has been doing a great job at creating a caste system in this country. If you are poor, you most likely live in a poor neighbourhood and go to a poor school where there are few opportunities to truly improve yourself and never rise up. If you are poor, but live around rich people or are bussed into a rich area, you will feel inferior to them, perform poorly and have just as much of a chance as if you went to a poor school. If you are especially rich, you can go to a French boarding school like John Kerry, or a New England boarding school, like Dubya. Even with many educational opportunities that I, as a graduate of mediocre middle-class public schools would have killed for, you may only come out with a fourth-grade reading level, or repeating words like "strength" and "strong" with no meaning behind them, but hey, education in most of the world has nothing to do with learning. It's all about keeping you in your place and making sure that YOU don't become president.

well,I never really like your united states two party system anyway,but let e ask you something here?How could they not be elitists?

Well, Abraham Lincoln was born into an *extremely* poor family - I'm not sure if he was elitist by the time he was elected, however he is that exception of the self-made person I made in my post.

ever seen the classic movie "mr. smith goes to washington"? that's the type of person i want running my government. i don't care if it's a he, a she, or both/neither. i don't care what race you identify with, what religion you follow (if one at all), or what your last name is. if you're willing to listen to and represent the people who elected you, and go to bat on their behalf in the world arena, then i say more power to you.

ever seen the classic movie "mr. smith goes to washington"? that's the type of person i want running my government. i don't care if it's a he, a she, or both/neither. i don't care what race you identify with, what religion you follow (if one at all), or what your last name is. if you're willing to listen to and represent the people who elected you, and go to bat on their behalf in the world arena, then i say more power to you.
Good luck finding any politician like that. Mr.Smith was an idealistic person, and if you notice he was being crushed until he learnt to play the game. It's only a matter of time til the realm of politics gets to each politician's head.

Good luck finding any politician like that. Mr.Smith was an idealistic person, and if you notice he was being crushed until he learnt to play the game. It's only a matter of time til the realm of politics gets to each politician's head.


Good point. I believe that in order to get known enough to make the run, politicians must compromise here and there on their morality; once they are a viable candidate, the idealistic young person has long since been crushed and jaded.

What about ( no Im not kidding) OPrah Winfrey? shes a billionare with nhigh moral standards ( imagine someone who cant be bought and owes no favours) a strong leader and popular liberal, and shes a black woman! All hail Oprah Bitches!

no, it doesn't bother me.

This is kind of echoing what Dagnia said: Quite a few people probably wouldn't vote for a person with a "lower-class" background. You have to admit that an "upper-class" person has access to a better education then someone from a lower economic class and all of our modern day Presidents have had an extensive academic career. I don't think class has as much to do with it as the education.