An immutable law of American Politics: There is ALWAYS "an election coming up."

[Stinky The Clown]

That fact is often cited as a reason for not doing something.

So if that's the case, when DO we do something?

[Richardo]

1. And its corrollary: "It's the most important election of our lifetime!!"

Which is also a caution signal for the weak-willed.

[Xipe Totec]

5. Sadly, that's always true

and, sadly, we always seem to fuck it up.

Primarily because, by the time there's an election, all the candidates have been vetted by the ruling elite.

[old mark]

2. This along with the 2 party system is the great moderating force in US

politics - ALL politicians want to get reelected more than anything else, and there are only 2 candidates to choose from. Many times over my 4 decades as a voter, I was just amazed at the lack of any real difference between party A and party B - usually just a difference in degree rather than anything fundamental. Since the Gingrich "revolution" in the '90's, the choice is easily defined...the greed, "religious" delusion, overt bigotry and love of stupidity on the GOP side and the as least lip service to liberalism of the Democrats.

I can not imagine the Democratic Party proposing someone like Palin for a VP candidate. I can not imagine the GOP supporting a candidate for president who is actually qualified to hold that office.

To me, despite the manipulation inherent in the US system, there is now real difference between the parties...sadly, instead of the GOP moving left toward reality the Democrats have been moving right.


mark

[Subdivisions]

3. Major elections every two years. Takes one year of that for campaigning

and fundraising. That leaves a year of debating mostly useless or oppressive legislation, some of which is deferred until after the elections.

[leftstreet]

4. +1

Yep

[Stinky The Clown]

6. By Gosh, I bet public campaign financing would help with that, huh?

I've been on that one for a looooong time.

Millions to get elected to congress. Nearly a BILLION to get Obama into office.

Too much effort that takes away from work and too much paid influence on these jokers.

[grasswire]

7. I prefer the idea of one six year term for POTUS

No second term.

You are right. The first four years of a presidency are currently spent running for re-election. It's an insane system.

Six years. No second term.