Originally posted by uzlessWhen there is more US vs. Them, partisan politics works to keep both sides honest (relatively speaking).
More US vs THEM
You yanks will never get your country back together until you realize you are all Americans and that this constant hate you have for each other is mostly responsible for the shiiitstorm you find yourselves in now
When any jurisdiction has no opposition party, the people have no choice and the pretense of Democracy is a farce. The recently jailed Mayor of Detroit, MI is a perfect example. One party politics breeds contempt for the electorate, and arrogance in the politicians.
Originally posted by normbenignpffft.
When there is more US vs. Them, partisan politics works to keep both sides honest (relatively speaking).
When any jurisdiction has no opposition party, the people have no choice and the pretense of Democracy is a farce. The recently jailed Mayor of Detroit, MI is a perfect example. One party politics breeds contempt for the electorate, and arrogance in the politicians.
Never in history has the electorate been more distanced from the political parties that pretend to represent them.
Democracy today can best be described as "the freedom to discuss an issue without having the power to influence the outcome".
Originally posted by uzlessUnlike all the influece a populace has under a dictatorship.
pffft.
Never in history has the electorate been more distanced from the political parties that pretend to represent them.
Democracy today can best be described as "the freedom to discuss an issue without having the power to influence the outcome".
Originally posted by no1marauderNot really. They got a warrant and most state law enforcement agencies are utterly incompetent. (As opposed to the national ones, who are just somewhat incompetent)
Does anyone else have a problem with the Federal Government tapping the phones (including official Illinois ones) of a State Governor?
1 edit
Originally posted by randolphThat's not the point. The point is that under our Constitution the State governments are separate entities with clearly defined areas of power. I see no authorization for the Feds to maintain long running wiretaps of State officials in the hope of turning up some dirt which doesn't seem to be illegal.
Not really. They got a warrant and most state law enforcement agencies are utterly incompetent. (As opposed to the national ones, who are just somewhat incompetent)
For example, this a serious allegation of criminal activity?
Defendants ROD BLAGOJEVICH and JOHN HARRIS, together with others, attempted to use ROD BLAGOJEVICH’s authority to appoint a United States Senator for the purpose of obtaining personal benefits for ROD BLAGOJEVICH, including, among other things, appointment as Secretary of Health & Human Services in the President-elect’s administration, and alternatively, a lucrative job which they schemed to induce a union to provide to ROD BLAGOJEVICH in exchange for appointing as senator an individual whom ROD BLAGOJEVICH and JOHN HARRIS believed to be favored by union officials and their associates.
Essentially, Blagojevich was using his legal authority to appoint the Senator to replace Obama as a bargaining chip to gain things he wanted. Isn't that what politics is all about?
1 edit
Does this sound like a crime?
Ata, subsequently and by prior arrangement with
Rezko, brought a check in this amount to Rezko’s offices on Elston Avenue in Chicago.
After he arrived at Rezko’s offices, Ata was greeted by Rezko to whom he handed the check
in an envelope. Rezko, carrying the check, ushered Ata into a conference room where he met
with Rezko and ROD BLAGOJEVICH. Rezko placed the envelope containing Ata’s
$25,000 check to ROD BLAGOJEVICH’s campaign on the conference room table between
himself and ROD BLAGOJEVICH and stated to ROD BLAGOJEVICH that Ata had been
a good supporter and a team player and that Ata would be willing to join ROD
BLAGOJEVICH’s administration. ROD BLAGOJEVICH expressed his pleasure and
acknowledged that Ata had been a good supporter and good friend. ROD BLAGOJEVICH,
in Ata’s presence, asked Rezko if he (Rezko) had talked to Ata about positions in the
administration, and Rezko responded that he had.4
If so, every politician in the US should be in prison. Of course, those who support and contribute to a campaign have a greater chance of being named to State jobs if the candidate they support wins then those who support the losing candidate.
Originally posted by no1marauderYeah, it does. In the Church it was called 'simony' -- the selling of offices, and it was a grave sin.
Does this sound like a crime?
Ata, subsequently and by prior arrangement with
Rezko, brought a check in this amount to Rezko’s offices on Elston Avenue in Chicago.
After he arrived at Rezko’s offices, Ata was greeted by Rezko to whom he handed the check
in an envelope. Rezko, carrying the check, ushered Ata into a conference room wh ...[text shortened]... ed to State jobs if the candidate they support wins then those who support the losing candidate.
Originally posted by no1marauderBut is that what politics is supposed to be about?
That's not the point. The point is that under our Constitution the State governments are separate entities with clearly defined areas of power. I see no authorization for the Feds to maintain long running wiretaps of State officials in the hope of turning up some dirt which doesn't seem to be illegal.
For example, this a serious allegat ...[text shortened]... e Obama as a bargaining chip to gain things he wanted. Isn't that what politics is all about?
Originally posted by MerkNo one said anything about a dictorship.
Unlike all the influece a populace has under a dictatorship.
your curent 2 party system doesn't ensure "honesty"
Instead, you have both parties looking out for their own interest, rather some moral high ground upon which they can show they are the party that looks after the interest of the entire country.
It's all just "gotcha" politics where one side waits for the other side to get into some kind of scandal so they can yell out, "look look, those guys did this bad thing so you should vote for us next time!!"
😕