Faith in government

[SocialistLez]

I read so much about the f-ed up things about our government.

I try to have faith and some days it seems pointless.

Would electing better people solve the problem...or would it be the same shi* and a different shoveler?

I just want to hear your thoughts on this issue.
Do you have faith in government?
If not, what would restore your faith/trust in government?

[leftstreet]

1. 'Faith' has no place in politics n/t

[xchrom]

2. 'faith'? No absolutely not.

Therein lies the problem.

Government is or can extremely effective.
But it is subject to the informed will of those who continuously
create it.

Goverent without oversight and review is harmful.
As any institution is.

It must always come under scrutiny and be reinvented.

The difference is that government is one of the few places
where that can actually happen.

And this 'faith' is where that comes from.

[OhioChick]

5. Agree and Well Said. n/t

[RKP5637]

3. What would restore your faith/trust in government? For me, public financing would

go a long way. I'm tired of a gov. bought by corporate money.

I would also like to see term limits in congress and a cap on election spending, as well as the length of time spent on campaigning. I would also like to see term limits on the Supreme Court. Additionally, I would like to see the Electoral College gone. I would also like to see redistricting eliminated. I would also like to see the salary/benefit package for congress voted on by the people.

The way the gov is today, I have little faith that it fairly represents the majority of the people.

[SocialistLez]

4. I'm not in favor of term limits but everything else, I like

I think the people should be informed enough to decide if their representative is working for them or corporations.
Even with mainstream media, it isn't that hard to figure out who your "representative" is working for,

As far as term limits on the Supreme Court...I could get on board with that.

Ever since I learned about the electoral college as a kid, I hated it.

[RKP5637]

6. Good point, if we had all the other stuff term limits would not be necessary to me either other

than for the SC.

[caledesi]

7. Faith? You are not in freeperville! nt

[annabanana]

8. It's not our job to "have faith" in government.

It is our job to influence it, as citizens, to do what we want it to do.

[SocialistLez]

9. Okay. I can see that.

Excuse my naivete.
I'm just 19 and I've ALWAYS been into politics.

I always knew things were dirty, even when I was 5 talking to my parents about what I'd do to make our government work for the common people.

As I'm finding out more and more, it's hard NOT to be disillusioned and not have faith.

I hope I'm making sense.

[annabanana]

11. I have tremendous faith in the American PEOPLE.

I believe to my very core that, given good information, most Americans will make wise choices. It's getting good information to the people that is our biggest stumbling block, and there are many reasons for this big trip-up.

NEVER GIVE UP!

[bobbolink]

10. It seems like I am repeating this over and over today -- WE are the government.

Its true that there are now a lot more barriers for us to get past in the job of governing than there used to be, but it ain't going to get any easier.

WE have abdicated a lot of our power.

Here is one small example... we complain about the lack of understanding on the part of so many of our citizens. Yet, what do we do about it? I contend that there are many, many things that we haven't tried.

So, what would be more satisfying... to look down on people we consider "stupid" and get our jollies posting about how stupid so many people are, or coming together to figure out how to affect that, and begin putting together some plans?

What would you find more fulfilling?

[SocialistLez]

13. Educating people, definitely

I tend to do that.
A lot of my friends consider me the go-to person in politics and many of them will vote for whoever I endorse.
I'm 19 BTW and some of the people I influence are twice my age.

I post all sorts of links on my Facebook and try to educate people, especially those my age who I feel definitely need to be interested in politics now or else we just lose them forever.

[ThomWV]

12. "Government" is we the people, it is our wishes, our desires, and our competence in action

and if you do not trust in Government at heart what you are saying is you do not trust your fellow human beings.

There is not Government other than that it is us - we the people - it is not some amorphous blob that takes control of our lives independent of our wishes, it is you and it is me and it is both of our neighbors and in its aggregate it is everyone we know and don't know but it is not something from the outside.