Such an election we are faced with. How did we get into this position? How can we prevent it in the future?
I have been reluctant to write about this topic, but the situation the US faces demands discussion.
We face some major issues that most likely will not be addressed such as:
1) A declining educational system with kids poorly prepared for the jobs that will be available over the next decades, including opportunities in manufacturing.
2) A need for a reduction in government spending, which neither Biden or Trump seems to care about. We are swamped with Federal debt. Under Trump, we spent trillions over what we brought in, and even more so under Biden. They appear to calculate that the country does not care enough to throw them out for overspending. The world continues to buy our flood of debt. It will not always happen if the US economy no longer whistles along.
3) The problematic scenario many African Americans still seem to be stuck in that the welfare state was supposed to change. Democrats (Progressives) push new programs still thinking they will propel Blacks and the poor to rise up the economy and educational system, but they have not succeeded. Biden is an old congressional hack and still seems to buy into the failed programs. Trump does not seem to care either way.
4) How do we challenge a menacing Russia, China, and Iran in the world theater? I admire Biden for continuing to back Ukraine, but now the strategy appears to be playing for a standstill rather than Ukraine pushing Russia back.
Facing away from Iran’s movement toward a nuclear bomb is distressing because if Iran gets it the Saudis will acquire one, and Israel already has one. The world will be a lot more dangerous.
The inept Maoist leadership in China has been helpful for America, but they may eventually become more clearly belligerent.
What will billions be spent on as we move closer to the November election? The Republicans will stress 77-year-old Trump’s vigor compared to Joe Biden’s frailty and quite possibly failing mind. The Democrats need to show our Vice President as a viable potential President. How? I do not know, and it is a dangerous strategy.
The Democrats will stress Trump’s horrible moral character. It may stick, but Biden is no saint, and his son is now a felon. The Republicans will probably not press that too much because it is likely to rebound.
Biden pushes low unemployment and surprisingly modest inflation, but the American people do not seem to be terribly interested.
Here we are at the end of June, near an imminent presidential election with two old dogs limping to voting day.
Why can’t we do better?
Can we devise an election system that gets us the candidates we deserve?
Do you have ideas that will give us better than these two pathetic guys?
15 Comments
It’s not all on the presidents. Congress passes inane laws and nilly-willy is spending us into oblivion. Fighting wars half-way across the globe will get us nowhere, unless you hold shares of defense companies. Yes, the 2 choices we have as presidential candidates are pitiful. Kamala Harris as President? You must be kidding, but hey, as long as we are on a downward slope with candidates, why not? She fits the bill.
Personally, I fully expect Biden to pull a ‘Lyndon Johnson’ before the Democratic convention…
“Accordingly, I shall not seek, and I will not accept, the nomination of my party for another term as your President.”
Here’s a “like” to what Robert says above.
That would be great. Just need someone who isn’t a total bozo to take his place. I will be happy with mediocre, as long as I’m not scared of them.
Agree completely, Noah!
Congress has gotten the candidates it deserves. Our country suffers from “It’s not my Congressman, it’s yours” syndrome. They are all professional scumbags.
This is sadly accurate.
Robert,
Maybe you would have interest in the Job.
I would vote for you.
Lloyd
Ranked choice voting would give more moderate candidates better chances. Especially if we had ranked choice voting in open primaries. Alot of good moderate candidates get blown out because that don’t say the shocking statements that get their names in the headlines but deep down are just competent, experienced, leaders. Our voting system is rigged to get us the most polarizing candidates. Ranked choice voting would also force parties to back moderate candidates or lose elections. Look at the what happened in the Alaska senate election when Republicans ran Polarizing Palin vs a more moderate Petola in a Ranked choice vote. She lost. she would have won if it wasn’t a ranked choice vote.
Yes. But also randomly chosen might be better than what we have.
Anybody who wants these jobs is probably someone we don’t want.
Maybe we need an age limit on Congress, the Supreme Court and Presidents. If pilots have to retire at 65 maybe our politicians should too. Term limits would be awesome so all these people can’t milk the political system.
True shame that capable people can’t run for hardly any office if they aren’t rich or backed by the party funds. Country is in TROUBLE.
Term limits!
The forefathers could not imagined supreme court justices staying for 40 years! Or however long. You know what I’m saying.
Yes!
I share the same frustration. Looking back, I’m almost convinced that the entire political system is theatre in an effort to keep citizens thinking they have some influence. Could our government actually be controlled behind the scenes (as in the wizard of Oz?). The media has proven to be paid mouthpieces for someone. Maybe we are actually being fed what they want us to see in order to maintain enough control to keep their agenda moving. Maybe there is more to the old saying “How do you eat an Elephant…. and the conservative symbol being an Elephant and the Democrat an Ass. We somehow wind up with voting for the lesser of two evils, and it is always a close race…. how can that be? I keep voting just in case, but I have zero confidence America will return to the prosperous city on the hill.
I think we need to look beyond the person running for office and look at policies implemented during their tenure as president. One president’s policies helped America with sustained growth and economy and the other has implemented policies that has hurt American growth with high gas prices and never ending inflation. Our election process is not perfect, but we need to be cautious and stay away from processes that down play voting integrity.
I have thought about this question for years. The incentives to attract quality competent people are not sufficient to attract them. The people we do attract are driven by ego. Idealistic people with good intentions do not do well in these races.
Think about it. Why would a competent person, who can make hundreds of millions of dollars per year in business, without the stress of public life and its scrutiny, where half of the people don’t like you or what you have to say, want to venture into that life for $400,000 per year? Sure perks aren’t bad and expenses are paid, but that does not do it for me.
I believe that the people we attract based on a salary of $400,000 per year and a promise of power and a huge payday with book deals and speaking engagements down the road are driven more by ego than a desire to do well for the public.
Trump needs to win this election badly so he has an ability to solve many of his legal and financial problems that he caused. I don’t think that Biden needs it as badly as Trump and his life will probably be better if he does not win than if he does. The worst mistake Trump made for his and his family’s quality of life was to become president.
I also think that the American people have somewhat lost their way. We used to be more honorable and benevolent. We stood for what is right and fair. Equality was very important tenet of our existence, driving our behavior. But now, times have changed. As we feel the pressures of global competition, we turn to short cuts to achieve our goals. We seem to be reverting back to discrimination and prejudice in order to develop a sense of community for a cause. That is not the way we built this country, but if it continues, it certainly will be a carcinogenic environment.
I have only voted for one candidate, rather against the lesser of evils, since I have been old enough to vote in 1976. In my mind, the system has been broken for decades.