Politics are Over
Posted October 29th, 2004 @ 01:01pm by Erik J. Barzeski
I'm sick enough of politics at this point that there simply won't be any more political posts on my blog for quite awhile. Questions asked of me about my vote (against Kerry) will be ignored and possibly deleted given their lame-duck status post-this-post.
I've talked with a few people older than me this week who said they simply miss the days when candidates would run on their record, their personality, and their policies (or ideas). It's all about negativity these days, and whether that negativity is founded or not seems to be unimportant.
It sickens me. The only people who run for any high office are those seeking power. I don't feel as though Bush or Kerry have much real "good" in them. I believe that nearly anyone running for higher offices these days has been corrupted. It's sickening.
I wish that voting for nobody had some purpose. Perhaps there should be another choice on the ballot: nobody. If "nobody" was elected President (hell, use the electoral college system we have now) then we'd have to scrap the current candidates and start all over again. It sickens me that some schmuck head of the DNC or RNC chooses who could or should run. The candidates for the Democrats this year: is John Kerry seriously the best, brightest, most worthy Democrat in the world? Were Bush and Gore, respectively, in 2000?
I hate the popularity contest that is politics. Play nice, look right, and don't upset too many people and your party may nominate you for President some day! Sure, "serving your constituents" plays into it a little, but in talking with the people that remember "the old days," it seems to influence things far less than it used to.
Why can't a candidate run on his record, his personality, and his policies without bashing the opponent? Why can't nominations for higher office be handled in a fashion that guarantees that good, honest, sincere people rise to the top? Why is the American public so easily swayed by negative ads? Sure, I can say "I'm going to vote for nobody" but our current system wouldn't support that, even if 99% of the eligible population voted for nobody. No sir: that remaining 1% would choose our president.
Fuck it all. I've got a lot more to say on this topic, but I'm becoming physically ill as I type more and more, so fuck it all. I'm done.
Comment on this post all you want, but anything having to do with "pro-anyone" or "against-anyone" is going to be edited or deleted. Stick to the generalities of "politics."
Donate Life
Posted 29 Oct 2004 at 1:18pm #
That must be pretty old, because I've been on this earth for almost a quarter century, and I sure don't remember an election that ran on the issues.
The past few weeks I have been so sickened by it, I have avoided all TV and radio programs that mention politics. That left with with Fox Sports and ESPN Radio during the day, and DVDs at night. I couldn't even watch the NLCS and World Series without seeing Bush and Kerry on it pushing their issues. ugh.
Posted 29 Oct 2004 at 1:23pm #
Justin, c'mon, I'm older than you. Clearly when I say "older" I certainly mean older than you. 😛 FWIW, the people I spoke with were about 50.
Posted 29 Oct 2004 at 2:40pm #
"I hate the popularity contest that is politics. Play nice, look right, and don't upset too many people and your party may..."
Well just make up your own mind based on information, your own political preferences and what feels good or fair. The more people ignore the superficial stuff one day it may become relevant again for politicians to discuss real topics in complete sentences.
Posted 29 Oct 2004 at 2:51pm #
Jeroen, that's kind of a silly comment, since I'm not the chairman of the DNC or the RNC. In other words, you can only vote for the person put in front of you by those two organizations. The popularity contest isn't with the American people, it's with the controlling powers of each party: the people you don't see or hear much about.
Posted 29 Oct 2004 at 3:20pm #
Don't you think these chairmen will put forward other figures once they discover a shift in the decision making process of the people? Otherwise please explain why not, being a European I may need some education on this topic.
Posted 29 Oct 2004 at 3:52pm #
Jeroen: meet my two pals, egg and chicken.
Posted 29 Oct 2004 at 5:09pm #
Yay! 🙂
Seriously, once again this election I'll be voting for the candidate I consider to be the lesser of two evils. I've never been actually excited about a candidate, which is a horrible way to feel about our democratic process.
Posted 29 Oct 2004 at 6:20pm #
I admire your bravery. It's a very lonely position to take, I know because I have taken it myself.
If you like Kerry, the Bush people hate you. If you like Bush, the Kerry people hate you.
If you choose not to participate, everyone hates you.
Just throwing some support in your direction. I hope all is well.
Posted 30 Oct 2004 at 2:09pm #
You should definetly make an effort to watch this week's episode of South Park.
Posted 30 Oct 2004 at 11:28pm #
I'm rather disappointed to read about your decision. While I'll admit that I often disagree with your points of view, I've always admired and respected that you put forth cogent arguments to support your position. It's unfortunate that the level of civic debate in both Canada and the U.S. has deteriorated to such an extent that it's become little more than name calling. Is it any wonder then that we get the calibre of public officials that we do?
I wish you would reconsider your decision. I'd much rather read and debate and consider an intelligent point of view as that which you've demonstrated on nslog than I would the usual flimsy rhetoric that masquerades as political commentary in our daily papers.
Posted 01 Nov 2004 at 9:45am #
"I will be able to live with a Kerry Presidency. But what tortures me is the thought that this country is no longer capable of doing hard, dirty work -- that we have reached the point where nothing difficult is attainable because the cost is something less than free." That's one big link/quote, by the way.