Some Think Politics Is Just So Easy And Straightforward. Oh Yeah? Well Why Not Put Up Or Shut Up?

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

So many constantly complaining about everything, constantly critiquing everything, and constantly trying to decimate the dems for every damn thing they do. So concerned about everything.

So to those types I say this:

Do you really think politics is that easy? Do you really think your idealism would hold up in reality? Do you think you're just so smart and could do so much better than the dems you skewer? Ok, why not put up or shut up?

Know what I'd love to see? I'd love to see a whole bunch of you actually RUN for public office. I mean, you seem to know politics so perfectly right? You seem to think politics is so easy and straightforward right? Well then how come there are almost ZERO elected officials on this site? Should be so easy right? So I'll tell ya what: Next election that comes up, why not run for some elected position while holding steadfast to your idealistic platform? How bout putting your money where your mouth is? Wouldn't that be great? I'd love to see how it works out for you. Might be a good lesson in that!

So how bout it? Any of you willing to put up or shut up, and run for political office? Give it a go!

[cobalt1999]

1. Reminds me of armchair QB's & Coaches.

Folks screaming at every incomplete pass or failed play, because "they" would have done MUCH better.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

2. Exactly What I've Been Thinking.

[bigtree]

30. you are under the delusion that we're just spectators in this democracy

WE are an integral part of the team. We may well just be 'screaming' here at DU, but that isn't the full extent of most of the participation of most folks here, I believe. This notion that we're just subjects of the ruling class is a defeatist one. Our government is a reflection of that participation, that dissent and feedback, or lack of.

[arcadian]

3. I'm fine with the status quo.

I know that path leads to deterioration of the system. After the break up new systems can be forged. May take time.

[Oregone]

4. I will run only if everyone here donates the maximum amount of money to me

So as they say, "Put Up Or Shut Up".

Yeah, like its easy or even plausible to compete on this playing field without being rich and having political stage parents from birth.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

5. I'm Not Talking About For The Senate. Hell, Just A Local Race Even. Any Political Race!

I mean, politics is so easy, so how hard could it possibly be to get elected and keep people happy with this idealistic platform so many spew?

C'mon! Go for it!

[Oregone]

17. I actually cant....

Im not a US resident anymore...so, kind of rules that one out. But most people here aren't bitching about their city hall now, are they? My point is still clear...it takes a lot of backing/support/money, etc, to be involved in higher levels of politics (as a rule, and I don't need exceptions thrown out there to prove the "reality").

[eleny]

7. I'll donate - but your positions have to please me

That's how it goes, right? You don't expect me to donate otherwise, hmmmmm?

[Oregone]

16. No, I expect you to. If you vote/give to anyone else, like Nader, then he is stealing you from me.

I'm pro mandatory abortions, I want to make every marriage a gay-marriage, and I want "deffirmative action" (only the hiring of African Americans is legal).

[SteppingRazor]

6. Until Kucinich is SecDef, Ron Kuby is AG, and Noam Chomsky is the Sec. of State, there is no justice

:crazy:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

10. !

:spray:

[AtomicKitten]

8. I'm wondering who appointed you hall monitor.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

11. Ummmmmm, What A Horrible Usage Of That Cliche.

:dunce:

[AtomicKitten]

12. maybe you should consider another line of work then

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

14. Are You Drunk?

You seem drunk. You're making no sense.

:crazy:

[AtomicKitten]

19. I have an aversion to self-appointed cat-herders.

:eyes:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

21. I'll Wait For You To Sober Up.

[AtomicKitten]

22. Your edit ^ proves my point exactly: You're a poseur.

((OP shakes fist at dissent as vital part of democracy.))

:eyes:

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

29. This Isn't About Dissent.

It's about irrational idealism and melodramatic decimation of Democrats. There's a difference ya know.

[Luminous Animal]

9. What the hell are you talking about?

We are the government! Our elected officials represent us! To be engaged citizens, we need voice our opinions so our representatives can do the best job that they can to address the needs and desires of their constituencies.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

13. Voicing Opinions Is One Thing.

Throwing irrational and melodramatic tantrums every single time one doesn't get their way, coupled with mudslinging and attempts to decimate Democrats every chance they get our of irrational anger, is quite another.

[Demit]

15. So you'd like to see a DU with threads that look something like this—?

Our elected officials are wonderful!
I agree!
Me too!
Me too!
Me too!
Me too!
Me too!
Me too!
Me too!
Me too!
Me too!
Me too!




LOL! I for one wouldn't like that at all.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

20. How Cute That You Think The World Is Black And White.

It's not though, btw.

See, constructive criticism along with rational argument and critical thinking is mandatory to a good democratic process and should be encouraged. Do you think this post is really going after those types?

You make seem as if the two choices are either lockstepping agreement or sheer all out irrational anger, melodramatic declarations, and ignorant vitriol. Not quite so cut and dried though. There's a WHOLE lot in between those two ends. :hi:

[Demit]

42. How cute that you think an opposing point of view

always has to be phrased in 'rational argument' terms or else it's not constructive. I got you to demonstrate you don't know the difference between something that's mandatory and something that should be merely encouraged, didn't I?

You are characterizing some DU posts as irrational & melodramatic & vitriol, but those are value judgments, and perhaps other DU members don't see it your way. I propose that it would be more in the spirit of democracy to just keep your mouth shut when people write posts you disapprove of—or speak up and tell them why you do! Either way is better than coming on here and sniffily judging unspecified posters who just don't measure up to your lofty ideals of proper discourse.

[TahitiNut]

18. I guess it's called "democracy." Who's the boss? We're the boss.

:shrug:

[Oregone]

23. You are a battery with the defects of emotions and hunger

We're the boss?!? Come on now. We're alive for the purpose of generating capital and wealth, in which the upper class gets disproportional share of. As for the rich man, his challenge is keeping you content and well, while keeping his coffers full.

[TahitiNut]

28. Well, I'll be getting a 5.8% "raise" in January. With health care.

"Retired" is the second easiest job I've had. :silly:

[bigtree]

24. the ONLY problem you have with all of that is they don't agree with YOU

. . . and whatever you're selling at the time.

Lay off of the complainers. Engage them, debate them, but don't you dare try and stifle them. That dissent is part of what a discussion board is for. That dissent is an integral and expected function of our democracy.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

26. Dissent Does Not Equal Irrational Rage And Idealistic Ignorance.

Some seem to think politicians should just be so perfect, and that politics is just so easy. Well let's see them run! Let's see how far their idealistic platform takes them! I mean, it should be so easy according to them, right?

[bigtree]

32. OH yes it does! Folks have a right to whatever expectation they can manage

And, they have a perfect right to pursue the change they want to see in our government, as you are to oppose them. But just telling them to shut up (which is in essence what you're doing here) isn't a debate. It's an attempt at suppression.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

33. No, It Doesn't. What You're Describing Is Called Ignorance, Not Dissent.

[bigtree]

35. That's just your own biased opinion

. . .which is not far from the ignorance you decry here.

[Evoman]

25. What I think is funny is that wanting a clean enivironment, good health care, non-corrupt

politicians in office, and not wanting to get ass-raped by union-busting corporations is called idealism.

[OPERATIONMINDCRIME]

27. Such Things Are Not Idealistic Whatsoever.

In fact, such concepts are largely what just got Obama elected.

To equate the idealism reference with those sorts of concepts is just quite silly, and not even close to what the OP is about.

[Evoman]

37. Well, that's what most people on DU want.

If they attack the dems for taking actions that are against many of the things the people need or believe, then can you blame them for getting mad?

It didn't seem very hard for the republicans to get what they want. People are naturally curious why it's so hard for the dems.

[gravity]

31. If it was easy to get that, it would have already be done

[Evoman]

39. It's not easy, but it can be done. Other countries have universal health care.

Other countries have better protection from corruption and corporate interests. Other countries have better environmental regulations.

Why is it so much harder for the united states to get this stuff?

[gravity]

41. Politics

We tried to rush in health care in the early 90s and it ended up hurting the Democrats in Congress.

We have to be smart about doing it again the second time around so that we can get the political support needed to get it done. We also have to make sure that the specifics of the health care plans will offer the best coverage while taking into account the costs on government. This could mean we have to raise taxes or cut spending somewhere else, which will cause more political problems and pissing off certain constituents.

These things are never that straightforward in practice, but luckily we finally have the leadership with Obama who is smart enough to tackle them.

[Evoman]

43. It's not the politics, as much as it is the people.

The difference between the United States and places with good health care and regulations (like France) are that the people don't take bullshit. They are willing to go as far as they have to to get what they want, even when their party is in power.

They do exactly the opposite of what people like the OP want us to do....stay quiet and trust our politicians.

[pitohui]

34. most of us can't afford to run for public office

i know well, in personal life, only one person who was successful in attaining to state office

his father was a very wealthy, close to neo-nazi who left him a lot of money, and in his turn, he was able to use father's influence, cash, and right-wing cred to basically buy him the office he holds

meanwhile under the table and behind the barn, this guy makes larry craig and the msp airport bathroom look like a harmless walk in the park, yet there is no media outcry, believe me, if *i* ran for any important state office, as a liberal, *my* private sex life would be described for the masses and my personal life destroyed -- so, the option does not exist for me, as i was born on the wrong side of the game

it is much easier for an evil-doer to run for public office -- the media protects right wing interests and right wing sexual experimentation, whereas on the left even a simple blowjob is enough to get you hammered (hence even a person of minimal healthy sex drive is screwed by definition and starts way behind the 8 ball)

on our side we have to be pretty much perfect and with money behind us to boot

i'm sure there are many people here on DU w. wonderful ideas, talent, and energy, who will NEVER have the opportunity to run for public office, for these reasons, and you are just kidding yourself if you think most of us can take your challenge -- if that road were open to us, we'd already be on it and have no time for hanging out on internet discussion forums

what office did you run for? did you win it? how much did it cost you to win it? what did your enemies say about your personal life? were they able to get it in the paper and in the local news?

[prostock69]

36. If anyone actually did have the guts to run for office

and got elected, they would only be torn down, second guessed, and critized by much of the same people on this site and on others. You CAN'T make everyone happy. You can only do what you FEEL is right. I trust Obama to do what he feels is right. We are on the outside looking in (wishing we were in seeing and hearing everything he is). We are making judgments about his decisions based on very little information that we are given. So everyone needs to chill and trust that we finally have a President who has OUR best interests at heart, not the oil companies, not Wall Street, but US Americans and that he will do right by us.

[KamaAina]

38. Are you sure there are "almost ZERO elected officials on this site"?

If I were an elected official with a progressive bent, I'd most likely be lurking, lest my remarks become a big, fat target for future oppo research. Indeed, the Obama transition team is asking applicants what handles they use on the Internet, and if they might have made any remarks online that would embarrass the Administration. (There go my future plans...)

edit: clarity

[Two Americas]

40. irony here OMC

Your post is "complaining about everything, constantly critiquing everything, and constantly trying to decimate the dems for every damn thing they do." Can you see that? You just have a different group of Dems that you attack.

We have duties as citizens. It is not all about running for office.

The politicians represent us, we don't represent them. It is their responsibility to give us a break, not for us to give them a break. This is a representative democracy.

This suggestion that the choice is to run for office or else shut up is suppressive.