I live in a banana republic with buses.

[Are_grits_groceries]

SC has a governmental structure which is that of a republic. The people who run it are bananas.

We do vote for our 'representatives.' Then they head out and do what they want. If it matches the will of the people, it is probably happenstance except once. That goes for Dems and Republicans.

They will make sure to pick a hot button issue that does match their constituents' ideas. They vote for it, and when they run for re-election, they point to that vote and scream loudly about their conservative or liberal bonafides. It will be such an emotional topic that it engages their electorate completely and dwarfs other stances on other issues.

Sometimes we vote for the same people again thinking surely they mean it this time. We have calmed down from the election and realize overall that they aren't so hot. But no, off they go with their own agendas after once again pushing a very sore spot that will get the reaction they want.

After a while, we may vote for somebody else. However, they too are up to the same tricks. We acknowledge the one ideological position we feel strongly about and extrapolate it to their entire agenda.

When this has gone on long enough, we give all of them the skank eye. They may be for us one time, but stab us the next. If we could herd most of their votes into a decent theme, it would be easier. However, just when we think we know what is going on, they vote sideways again.

Since most of them are like this, it's six of one and half dozen of the other. We know on some really important issue we will be screwn. The other votes they wander into that we like may help, but under the bus we go. Getting run over like that even once will tend to make you wary.

The state is really a mishmash. However, on the national level it seems to be somewhat the same. Apparently though the Conservative Elephant Teapots have gotten several major points downpat, and will not budge from any of them. This is reassuring to the 15% or so who like those ideas. It is a solid 15%.

Meanwhile the Dems are all over the map, and nobody trusts anybody for long. They're jumpy because they keep looking for the bus.

[raccoon]

1. Much of what you said, especially the 2nd and 3rd paragraph, is true of the US as well.

edited for grammar

[Are_grits_groceries]

2. Probably true.

Scary huh?

[Javaman]

3. That is why, as I get older and more insane, that elections should be done away with in favor of...

a national lottery for office.

Any moron could be "elected" if they one. They get only one term to serve.

Just talk about the variety! One term you could have a right wing nut mother of 4 from Ohio, the very next term you could have a Gay man who is extreme left leaning. It would be fascinating. People would get a direct voice in how our government would run.

My other idea is just like the 12th man at Texas A&M. We have all our usually elected morons, but then we have a lottery for the "extra" representative who would actually rep the people. This person, again, would be selected via lottery. And be done every 2 to 4 years.

That would be wonderful. Yeah yeah, I know, it opens the door to possible joe the plumber types, but it also opens the door to Rachel Maddow types as well. :) They would get equal standing and their vote would count as any other rep or senator would count.

I know, I'm crazy.

[Are_grits_groceries]

4. It couldn't hurt.

Things here couldn't be much loonier.