General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIs there an elected politician that you agree with 100% of the time?
Preferably at the national level.. Say a senator, a congressman, a president. Maybe even a governor?
I haven't found one yet. I like Grayson, but I know he's a demagogue. I like Merkley, but he's been wrong a time or two. I like Obama, but he's been very wrong on some important things. Kucinich has his alien thing and much as I love the concept, I think his department of peace idea is lacking recognition of some basic drive to conflict in human beings. Warren is newish, but I am certain I will find flaws once I go looking. Boxer opposed filibuster reform. Even Good ol Bernie isnt perfect, though Im hard pressed to come up with a good example at the present instant.
I suppose you can see from my list where my overall preferences in a politician lie. But not one of them is 100% in my book. I'd be shocked to find one that was, and It would probably cause me to reexamine myself. If nothing else, they probably like mushrooms, and those are absolutely disgusting.
I started this post because it bothers me that we would allow ourselves to be separated by the mere mention of Rand Paul. My intended point was that just as there are no 100% agrees' there are no 100% disagrees either. I had a clever point about how Rand Paul, despite being a horrible human being, probably agrees with my "no whacking schoolchildren in the face with croquet mallets on tuesdays" policy.
But on writing and rewriting, with added reflection, It seems to me there is a more important concept. I think the idea that politics should be local, and that each rep should likely have a unique view, based on the needs, desires, and beliefs of his individual constituent base has largely been lost. Instead conforming to a national party ideal has become more important in many, maybe most races. I could be wrong, but it seems to me that this is especially prevalent on the other side of the isle.
So, really, what it comes down to, is our party system sucks. Instead of ever shifting coalitions, different groups voting different ways to represent the needs of varied constituent groups, we have a system where party loyalty overwhelms the wants or needs of the people.
morningfog
(18,115 posts)Raine
(30,540 posts)Marie Marie
(9,999 posts)CurtEastPoint
(18,652 posts)Paulie
(8,462 posts)abelenkpe
(9,933 posts)He'd be my choice
NRaleighLiberal
(60,015 posts)tokenlib
(4,186 posts)..along with Grayson. I love Grayson's thorn in the side quality...
CaliforniaPeggy
(149,645 posts)mythology
(9,527 posts)so I certainly don't come close to agreeing with a politician or anybody else all the time.
virgogal
(10,178 posts)stillcool
(32,626 posts)My congressman has not, to my knowledge ever voted in a way that I felt was wrong. I do not know him the way so many here know people they can't possibly know, but I am certain he has flaws. Warren is now my senator, and I am amazed at how people have put her on a pedestal from which she will certainly fall. She too is human. What a shame.
russspeakeasy
(6,539 posts)alp227
(32,037 posts)BainsBane
(53,035 posts)I don't agree with myself 100% of the time. Seriously though, I don't think it's possible for two people to think alike on everything.