Ever get the feeling that your country is run by idiots?

[MrJohnson]

The current administration of the US seems to be doing everything it can to run the country into the ground, yet most people have no idea how damaging many of the policies are in the long run, and Obama still continues to have a bit of his 'rockstar' status among the 20-35 age group.

When it comes to which administration ran the US into the ground, I think you might want to focus on who was in the White House over the previous 8 years instead of who has been in it for two.

Things have been building towards a mess in the US for over a decade. You can't expect anyone to seriously believe that its been rainbows and sunshine until suddenly a Democratic black man was voted in as the U.S. President.

Anyway, I'd rather focus on productive ideas for fixing all of our problems world-wide rather than just pointing fingers... its easy to *****. How about working to fix things?

I never said it was rainbows and sunshine. I actually disagreed with Bush on several major issues. However Obama has been far worse for this country.

Obama's first action upon getting into office was to make good progress outspending the entire eight years of bush administration. Including the last year where Bush basically showed his true colors.

The current economic crises was set in motion by Clinton, it just happened to burst at the end of the Bush administration. The housing bubble was set off by the very humanitarian notion that everyone should be able to afford a home. To much sub par lending lead to the housing bubble, the policies that enabled that bubble where set in place while Clinton was in office. Since you are pointing fingers even through you said you didn't want to, I figured you should at least point them in the correct general direction.

Now don't get me wrong, I have nothing but contempt for the second term of the Bush administration. I also didn't agree with the war in Iraq when I was over there fighting and I still don't. I was okay with killing people in Afghanistan through.

And, what the hell does the color of his skin matter? It obviously matters to you since you decided to include it.

When I talk about Obama being bad for the country I mean that his spending (a viable tactic used in the past during economic crisis) seems to be out of control. He didn't close Gitmo, he has actually sent more troops to Iraq and Afghanistan after promising a workable exist strategy. ATCA, the ridiculous war on piracy, the push to move ISP's away from network neutrality, and disregarding a history of first sale doctrine. The 9th circuit court is pretty much humping his administration's leg, and if you want to see a bit of his policy in action just look at the ridiculous decisions by that court. He can still find $300 billion for the military, while pretty much closing NASA and other programs directed towards science and exploration, even worse he could find $800 billion to nationalize failing businesses, but can't find the $18 billion NASA needed to meet its current objectives.

Seriously does the man have to straight up gun down innocent people in the streets before his administration loses this crazed rockstar cult following status?

Yeah, Clinton obviously set in motion the economic crisis by putting the U.S. Government into it's first surplus for fucking 40 years. It's just a coincidence it all went to shit when Bush got in and started spending mind-blowing amounts of money at anything that was tossed his way.

The 2008 election had two shitty potential presidents, and it looks like 2012 will be ever worse.

 

[Red Albatross]

I have to spend three more weeks running circles around the court system to evict a waste of oxyg...I mean, a tenant that defaulted on the rent weeks ago. And I had to shell out $86 in court costs to do that. Absolute bullshit. What kind of idiot came up with this? Why should scumbags like this, and criminals, get "rights?"

Yes, I think my country is run by idiots. All the time.

 

[Will the Great]

Yes. I can't shrug the feeling that some people voted for Obama BECAUSE he is black. I'm all in for a black president, and when I first hear about Mr. Obama's racial ethnicity, I was excited. However, he's just not a good president. I don't think John McCain or Sarah Palin would've been too good either. Oh well. I'm pretty sure he's going to make a big mistake sometime and get impeached. Or assassinated, but I hope that doesn't happen. He shouldn't be in control of my country, but I don't think he deserves to die. He seems like a relatively nice guy who seemingly WANTS to do the right thing, but I don't think he's smart enough to do so.

So you think Hillary Clinton or Ralph Nader would have done better? Honestly I'm not sure what your point is. Are you complaining that Plato and his perfect philosopher-king weren't options on the ballot?

 

[gamepopper101]

I've always thought the Conservative Party was bad, only one member of my family ever votes for them (the rest vote Labour)

 

[spartandude]

the last time Britain was truely managed well was under Churchill during the greatest crisis Britian ever faced, and it was run ay better than it has been during my nearly 18 years of life

 

[monkey_man]

everyone who isn't me, or in a way like me, is considered BY me: an idiot.
that would mean 95% of everyone is an idiot. and i don't care about 4 %, and the other percent one is cake

 

[Will the Great]

the last tome Britain was truely managed well was under Churchill during the greatest crisis Britian ever faced, and it was run ay better than it has been during my nearly 18 years of life

Now, class, can anyone tell me what makes this post hilarious?

 

[Kenko]

I live in Sweden, so yes. Very yes. We only have corrupt greedy politicians who arent trying to do anything but remain in power and leech money. They talk alot about change and promise alot of things but none of the parties ever deliver. Too many "middle-aged and above" politicians = politics and government becomes stagnant and corrupt and slowly crumbles from within.

 

[spartandude]

the last tome Britain was truely managed well was under Churchill during the greatest crisis Britian ever faced, and it was run ay better than it has been during my nearly 18 years of life

Now, class, can anyone tell me what makes this post hilarious?

the fact ive had about 5 shots of vodka before reaching for my keyboard and failing to spell?

 

[manaman]

Yeah, Clinton obviously set in motion the economic crisis by putting the U.S. Government into it's first surplus for fucking 40 years. It's just a coincidence it all went to shit when Bush got in and started spending mind-blowing amounts of money at anything that was tossed his way.

The 2008 election had two shitty potential presidents, and it looks like 2012 will be ever worse.

I even took the time to mention the intent behind the actions. Anywhere here is a quote from later in the thread.

Still running with the lie about how poor people forced banks to securitize mortgages, slap fake AAA ratings on them, create fake insurance in the form of CDS and sell them to investors?

What's a lie about it? Don't bastardize what I said. The intent was to make it easier for the poorer, and younger to get homes, those that traditionally carried to much risk to loan to. A noble goal, and one that was abused. People bought beyond their means, and bought multiple houses, out of control investments during the bubble periods, all worked towards the bubble bursting. You can start getting into weather or not the bubble would have burst without later policy changes, but securitization of the sub prime market opened up the can of worms.

I want to say the same thing, you can argue about what eventually lead to it failing in that time and place, but there where already rumblings about an unsustainable bubble early on in Bushes administration. All that started while Clinton was in office, but do I think the guy was up on some throne dictating rules and regulations that cause the whole problem? No, that's a foolish notion. I was correcting another users error with that part.

Overall there is to much "all or none" mentality in this thread. You seem to assume that I believe Clinton to be the only party responsible for the economic crisis, never said that. Everyone else seems to assume that I support everything Bush did because I don't support Obama and frankly think he is a worse president discounting some of the really disturbing crap Bush did in his final two years. I don't think Bush was a good president, but I think Obama is a horrible one.

This isn't specific to you, but I am really getting tired of having to clarify that I am not in support of some opposing view, or that I don't support some topic in the slightest because I am commenting about a part of it. I don't like high taxes, doesn't mean I don't see the necessity for taxes.

As for the 2012 election, it could only be that shitty if it comes down to Palin and Obama.

 

[The_root_of_all_evil]

So, does anyone have similar problems with their government?

It's rare I have any faith in any government.

 

[Kortney]

We're the idiots. Not them.

 

[Hgame]

the last tome Britain was truely managed well was under Churchill during the greatest crisis Britian ever faced, and it was run ay better than it has been during my nearly 18 years of life

The last time Britain was truly managed well was either in Tony Blairs FIRST TERM(Before Iraq) or in Attlee's term, 1945-1950. Two great reforms- The NHS and the Minimum wage.

I've always thought the Conservative Party was bad, only one member of my family ever votes for them (the rest vote Labour)

Ia bsolutely agree with you. Conservatives are the worst thing that could ever possibly happen to the UK. Unfortunately they've happened again.

 

[Hgame]

Hello fellow Escapists, prepare for a rant. I was watching the local news yesterday and there is a man with cancer that has been refused treatment on the NHS for his cancer because the government says it is too expensive. He will die without those drugs. Also, both of my parents are disabled but have to pay £300+ for prescriptions a year. Meanwhile, the NHS is funding surf lessons (£250 per person) for people with ADHD.

So, does anyone have similar problems with their government?

Oh wow $300+ a year!! THAT IS DEVASTATING!!! My GF's father had to pay $500 a MONTH for his diabetes and other medications.....

The NHS isn't perfect. That's why there is private health care. If you cant afford private health care you will always have coverage up to a certain level.

If that guy was in the states they would give him the drugs he needs, sure. But as he is obviously broke and poor he would have to sell his house for them.

No health care system is perfect. But there are MANY different factors in determining the state of health care services. In the US I paid $70k when my appendicitis went septic, all covered by insurance. In the UK the same service would have cost A LOT less and I still would have ended up as healthy. In the UK we allow immigrants to enter this country while being really ill and offer to keep them and administer them aid, read up on third stage renal failures of immigrants who arrive and then claim status because of it.

No system is perfect, but get over it and move on. There is a perfect answer to all of this, GET PRIVATE HEALTH CARE AND STOP BITCHING ABOUT IT!!!

If you are that worried about it $50-$100/month isn't actually anything at all...

Erm... for a start, it is £300, not dollars and they pay that each out of benifits. I wasn't saying that it is bad, all I was saying is that the NHS need to sort out their priorities.

If 300pounds is all they have to worry about then they are doing pretty well. The NHS's priorities are in the right place, you just aren't spending the time, like most of my countrymen, in actually seeing how good you got it.

£300+ a year or £50-100 is a lot when your on about £50-£60 a week for everything. Just checked online. Disability benefits are way too low.

 

[Serenegoose]

Well, the tories are in power in the UK, so... do I think the country is run by idiots? Oh yes.

"argh, all the money is falling out of the system, what are we going to do now?! TAKE MORE MONEY OUT, ALL PUBLIC SPENDING HAS TO STOP."

Wait.


....what?

What's worse? They weren't even elected. Come to the UK, where you can run the country for 36% of the vote!

 

[Retardinator]

In Croatia? It's not just a feeling, I'll tell you.

 

[Caligulove]

Not entirely, no.

Theres always some hope out there.
At the same time, though, it's become more and more clear that 9 years haven't taught anything to this nation as we though it did.
That and we have a media that's given INTERNATIONAL attention to some extremist christian asshole pastor in some backwater church with a congregation of 40-50 people! A man who doesn't seem to have matured past his teenage years and now appears to think hes some kind of ambassador on religious matters, when any sane person would take one look at the man and his ridiculous moustache and gone to find some REAL NEWS, and let the little prat go on and shout his retarded, bigoted beliefs in a vaccuum until he was blue in the face, suffocated, and died.

 

[Serenegoose]

£300+ a year or £50-100 is a lot when your on about £50-£60 a week for everything. Just checked online. Disability benefits are way too low.

Yeah, tell me about it *is on them*. But apparently we're such a burden that the government is going to hire people to follow us around (electronically) watching everything we buy. If we have nice things, we're able to work!

Think about that for a second. If I somehow manage to save up a couple of hundred pounds and buy a new, nice television, I am -able to work-. That I am specifically to be denied nice things for having the temerity to be ill.

 

[tehweave]

Is USA (my country) run by idiots...

My answer: While there is a massive number of very very stupid people in our country, for the most part, the everyman or everywoman seems to be a rather intelligent person. Pull them to the side, ask a few basic questions or engage in a conversation (WITHOUT a camera shoved in their face... Cameras add 10 pounds and detract 20 IQ points.) and they'll come up with some rather well-thought answers.

The honest truth: Is the USA run by idiots? YES. Why? BECAUSE MY COUNTRY CAN'T THINK FOR ITSELF. The individual is smart, people are dumb and follow the masses waaaaaay to easily. Like I said, get in front of a camera and your IQ dives with your waistline. Somebody says something oppressive or dumb, relates it to our constitution, then everyone falls in line. Nobody questions it, and those who do get shunned.
We are truly a united country... United in fucking stupidity.

But... Could I say this in any other country? Doubtful... Of course we hold our "We can say anything we want to and our government can't stop us" amendment above all else.