What killed America? Was it two dominant political parties?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 28 Jun 2015 23:37:46 -0400

Was it two dominant political parties always in opposition and vying for power as the founders warned was a great threat to our Constitution? That is certainly as good a candidate as any. These men and women do doggoned little these days, if they ever did, to represent Americans. They instead court the money and the powerful quid pro quo. It pads their pockets and points them to insider deals that make them wealthy on a civil servants’ salary. My one man poll places the popularity and effectiveness of the United States Congress somewhere just below whale crap.

http://www.jdpendry.com

J. D. Pendry

Many believe God blessed you and because of that you became a great nation. In the history of mankind, you are arguably the greatest ever. Among your citizenry are people who firmly believe and are quite vociferous in their belief that God had nothing to do with it. In fact they do not believe in the existence of God and to that are too quite vocal. But that is part of your beauty. People can believe as they choose on such matters and express...

Response by PO3 David Fries made Jun 29 at 2015 6:41 AM

PO3 David Fries — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 06:41:39 -0400

I'd have to agree with SMSgt Minister Gerald A. Thomas . That is generally the downfall of every good human thing.

Response by Capt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 29 at 2015 7:17 AM

Capt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 07:17:35 -0400

It is the fighting for party rather than fighting for the right or best solution to issues.

We need people to follow JFK's advice. and not find the democratic or republican solution but the best solution.

Response by SrA Edward Vong made Jun 29 at 2015 11:55 AM

SrA Edward Vong — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 11:55:21 -0400

It's a combination of many things. I wouldn't necessarily say it killed America, but rather changed it.

Response by SGT Jeremiah B. made Jun 29 at 2015 1:00 PM

SGT Jeremiah B. — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:00:26 -0400

America. Is. Not. Dead.

That is all.

Response by LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow made Jun 29 at 2015 1:35 PM

LCDR Rabbah Rona Matlow — Mon, 29 Jun 2015 13:35:26 -0400

I don't think America is dead, maybe in its early death throes, but not dead. But yes, the polarization of only two political parties, with everyone going to extremes these days is what's killing us. There is no longer any desire to seek middle ground on many issues. Civil discourse in those hallowed halls is long gone. What is left is disparaging invective, bashing the other guy, without ever saying positively how you'd fix the issue...

With this current Presidential election cycle we will see over 2 dozen GOP pretenders to the throne, who will all bash Obama, but they will also all bash each other. So we will hear, for the next 18 months, why each and every GOP candidate in this circus is no good. Is it any wonder that Romney lost? (I was glad of that, I didn't trust him, but the principal is the same...)

So, as I have challenged already on other media - an open note to all Political candidates, from dog catcher to President: Run on YOUR OWN MERITS. If you run negative campaign tactic, you will LOSE my vote!!!

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 30 at 2015 12:36 AM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 30 Jun 2015 00:36:14 -0400

America is no where near dead.

Why do some think it is?
INFORMATION OVERLOAD

24 hour news networks that don't show more than 10 minutes of news. But they will shape minds through popular opinions before facts.

Social media news sources from unqualified 'experts' who should really be dubbed opinionaters.

Information saturation where people want a Big Bang- they want a flashy headline. But they won't delve further into a story.

Polarizing politics that play for campaigns instead of governance. Maneuvering through political office to sell information quickies & sound bites instead of doing actual good that takes time.

Music with four words, a beat & a chorus.

Movies that don't develop plot or characters because we all love the Big Bang.

Information always at our fingertips - so much so that we scroll catchy headlines instead of reading real information.

Being able to search, cut & paste the info we want - not reading the whole context (or the whole regulation!). . "We don't got no time for that." Big Bang or move on!

Video games where socializing is accomplished through headsets.

Information overload stopping us from digging deep into facts, because opinions need to be disseminated quickly so more information on a new topic can be put out.

We want to consume as much as possible - in doing so, we hear a sentence and form an opinion about it - not an informed opinion though - because we have to move on and consume a new story.

Information overload has replaced collective thought.

If the devil is in the details, what does it mean when we don't even pay attention to the details because we want more info about something else - info not based in fact, but based in opinion.