NationStates Jolt Archive

I think one problem with our political system as a whole is that we are, more and more, seeing elections to executive offices as referendums on issues or programs the candidates support.

The general election for president, for instance, is seen by many as a referendum on Abortion, gay marriage (or at least civil unions), regulation on healthcare, ect. Rather than look at both candidates in regards to their ability to do the job well. While there is some degree of that, it seems that more and more we focus on "issues" rather than a candidates' ability to do the job competently.

I think one problem with our political system as a whole is that we are, more and more, seeing elections to executive offices as referendums on issues or programs the candidates support.

The general election for president, for instance, is seen by many as a referendum on Abortion, gay marriage (or at least civil unions), regulation on healthcare, ect. Rather than look at both candidates in regards to their ability to do the job well. While there is some degree of that, it seems that more and more we focus on "issues" rather than a candidates' ability to do the job competently.

I agree. I think George W. Bush has shown the importance of competence. One could almost(but not quite) forgive him the manipulations that led us into the Iraq War if it had been handled competently from the beginning instead of taking 4 years of ass-scratching before anything remotely productive was done.

Say what you want about Clinton, Bush Sr or Reagan, but at least they were competent.

I have to say, it encouraged me that this was at least slowing down when certain catholic politicians decided that Mccain was a greater evil than abortion.

I agree. I think George W. Bush has shown the importance of competence. One could almost(but not quite) forgive him the manipulations that led us into the Iraq War if it had been handled competently from the beginning instead of taking 4 years of ass-scratching before anything remotely productive was done.

Say what you want about Clinton, Bush Sr or Reagan, but at least they were competent.
That's why I'm optimistic about this coming election. First of all, it looks like the candidate I favor is going to win. If he doesn't, the one who does is ideologically very similar to Bush, but unlike Bush, he actually knows what he's doing. Things will almost certainly get better.

That's why I'm optimistic about this coming election. First of all, it looks like the candidate I favor is going to win. If he doesn't, the one who does is ideologically very similar to Bush, but unlike Bush, he actually knows what he's doing. Things will almost certainly get better.

If McCain wins, the only way in which things will get 'better' is if you support the kind of politics the Republican party is running for right now, and don't care if things like the healthcare model implodes.

If McCain wins, and no one can stop him pushing the heathcare agenda he's talking about, things are going to get a lot worse, for a lot of people. The only thing that can make it okay, is if enough Republicans AND Democrats opposehim, to kill anything he tries to do.

I think one problem with our political system as a whole is that we are, more and more, seeing elections to executive offices as referendums on issues or programs the candidates support.

The general election for president, for instance, is seen by many as a referendum on Abortion, gay marriage (or at least civil unions), regulation on healthcare, ect. Rather than look at both candidates in regards to their ability to do the job well. While there is some degree of that, it seems that more and more we focus on "issues" rather than a candidates' ability to do the job competently.

Their views on the issues have great bearing on whether they will do what I consider a good job. One of the issues, of course, being foreign policy and their approach to it. McCain I think is likely to alienate even more people abroad and weaken our position in the world. Obama, on the other hand, by stressing the need for international cooperation and in general not being a dick to the world, I think will work to reverse some of the alienation we've seen over the last few years and therefore strengthen our international standing.

So, the issues do affect how well they can do the job. I'm not voting for a guy just because "Oh, I think he's a good man," or "He seems like a guy I could have a beer with."

I agree. I think George W. Bush has shown the importance of competence. One could almost(but not quite) forgive him the manipulations that led us into the Iraq War if it had been handled competently from the beginning instead of taking 4 years of ass-scratching before anything remotely productive was done.

Say what you want about Clinton, Bush Sr or Reagan, but at least they were competent.

Reagan ran my state into the ground.

If McCain wins, the only way in which things will get 'better' is if you support the kind of politics the Republican party is running for right now, and don't care if things like the healthcare model implodes.
The current healthcare model should have imploded decades ago. It's more trouble than it's worth. It has proven to have the efficiency of a XIX century steam engine.

US should have a working healthcare system, be it a commie one or a competitive non-insurance-based private healthcare, but not this crap.

Abraham Lincoln was first elected on what was basically a one-issue platform (though it was by far the most important issue of his day.) He's been rather well thought-of as a President, so I don't think elections becoming referenda on issues is necessarily either a new or a bad development, as long as the issues themselves aren't trivial.

The current healthcare model should have imploded decades ago. It's more trouble than it's worth. It has proven to have the efficiency of a XIX century steam engine.

US should have a working healthcare system, be it a commie one or a competitive non-insurance-based private healthcare, but not this crap.

I agree. Specifically, I agree that the US needs to move a lot closer to what you refer to as the 'commie' alternative.

But, what the US 'should' do is rather irrelevent. What the US has done, and what McCain has proposed... and the expert opinions on what McCain's proposition would culminate in... THAT's what it relevent.

I agree. I think George W. Bush has shown the importance of competence. One could almost(but not quite) forgive him the manipulations that led us into the Iraq War if it had been handled competently from the beginning instead of taking 4 years of ass-scratching before anything remotely productive was done.I have to agree. Nobody would care about the lies if we were winning the war.

I really hope McCain loses so heavily that we never, ever see another GWB or those kind of inane politics in general. But then again Palin still has supporters these days.

If McCain wins, the only way in which things will get 'better' is if you support the kind of politics the Republican party is running for right now, and don't care if things like the healthcare model implodes.

If McCain wins, and no one can stop him pushing the heathcare agenda he's talking about, things are going to get a lot worse, for a lot of people. The only thing that can make it okay, is if enough Republicans AND Democrats opposehim, to kill anything he tries to do.
Better in that the rate at which things will get worse will be less than it has been for the past eight years. McCain will be better than Bush is my main point.