Why isn't Ron Paul doing better?

[Tir_na_nOg]

Why anybody would vote for Romney or Obama over Ron Paul is beyond me.

[Skiz]

Why anybody would vote for Romney or Obama over Ron Paul is beyond me.

I'd like to think it's because their beliefs better coincide with Romney or Obama. That they're educated voters, voting for the candidate that best represents them.

Unfortunately, it's really because the general voting populous are apathetic, bumper-sticker voters.

[mjmacky]

Why anybody would vote for X over Y is beyond me.

Because money controls politics. It's really easy. It won't get fixed until all of you decide to burn the whole fucking system down and rebuild it.

[zot]

Because money controls politics. It's really easy. It won't get fixed until all of you decide to burn the whole fucking system down and rebuild it.

Or citizens could instead commit themselves to vote for 3rd party candidates exclusively - as most of the people running as 3rd party are idealogues who are not in it for the money or power ... since if they were, they'd be in one of the two major parties (which in my opinion are essentially identical clones when it comes to virtually all major [i.e., money-related] issues)

But of course it will always be drummed into people's heads that they're "throwing away their vote" if they dare to prefer someone outside the system's anointed candidates.

I view US-style "democracy" as essentially a farce. People only think they are voting for their own choice of candidate, but in reality they're basically being given a choice between two people who have already been pre-approved (if not hand-picked) by the ruling establishment.

[mjmacky]

I view US-style "democracy" as essentially a farce.

It is a farce. Even if you got a significant number of people voting for "fringe" candidates, their support would still get washed out by the great unwashed. The mere notion that a 15-45 second commercial spot can sway votes is proof of that.

[zot]

^^^ For the people who lack the intellect to figure things out for themselves, Here's a simple rule they can follow: ALWAYS VOTE OUT THE INCUMBENT. That would go a long way to get rid of corruption, as it's the career politicians who are the worst.

A good example is Chris Dodd, who spent a lifetime in government taking bribes from the MPAA, and as a reward for such good service doing their bidding, they made him CEO, complete with a 7-figure salary. (We're supposed to completely forget the countless times that he swore he would never, ever work lobbying the government after leaving office) And this is the rule, not the exception. The people running the MPAA and RIAA, past and present, have previously worked in the government. (At least Dodd was honest enough to openly threaten recently that the politicians he personally bribes who are not following orders risk losing their bribe money.)

--- And vice-versa. So many of their lawyers and enforcers shift over to the FBI and "Justice" departments. It used to be called a "revolving door" -- but now there's hardly any door left anymore -- it's just one big smoke-filled room.

[mjmacky]

it's just one big smoke-filled room.

So am I winning you over, burn it all down right?

[zot]

^^^ No need to win me over. I'd like to see the federal government completely disbanded -- all of it, including the military -- and let the state/local governments run their own affairs.

It might seem crazy to a lot of people conditioned to think that way, but that's how the United States actually started out, and largely remained for a long time. It's only been since 1933 that the federal government -and taxation- has grown like a cancer. As well as the lobbies and corporations that get rich milking it. And it's only been since 1940 that this country has had a permanent standing army and military-industrial complex.

If a giant comet or asteroid were to come down directly on Washington DC, all I know is I'd have a great deal more money in my pocket and a lot more personal freedom. And I'm sure a renewed faith in God.

[Snee]

^^^ No need to win me over. I'd like to see the federal government completely disbanded -- all of it, including the military -- and let the state/local governments run their own affairs.

So basically, you'd rather have 50 smaller countries than your US of A?

If a giant comet or asteroid were to come down directly on Washington DC, all I know is I'd have a great deal more money in my pocket and a lot more personal freedom. And I'm sure a renewed faith in God.

Just to be clear here: If Washington was wiped out, you'd regard that as a good thing? Or would the strike have to be a tad more surgical?

[mjmacky]

Just to be clear here: If Washington was wiped out, you'd regard that as a good thing? Or would the strike have to be a tad more surgical?

I'm not sure if anyone of national significance lives in Washington.