Do you think partisan politics is hurting the United States?

Question

Many issues are not resolved in government because of the ongoing feuds between Republicans and Democrats. They'll stop important legislation by filibusters and not allowing enough for quorums. What do you thinks?

Answer 1

Yes, it is. I believe that a lot of our problems are caused by the limitations of a two party system. Politics in the US is like going clothes shopping, and all the stores only carry Small and XXL. Most people are under-represented and nothing is accomplished because the only thing one party is capable of is trying to block all the moves of the other.

Answer 2

No.  I think that the extreme Republican right-wing agenda is hurting America.  We need to have equal access for public raidio/TV and we need to balance the hate that the Republicans love so much.

Answer 3

I agree with Zenith and George Washington.  We have some very real and very dangerious situaitons we are hardly dealing with: Global Warming, our humungouus debt and the mistrust of government and both parties are more interested in propagandizing agains tht other party that dealing with the problem.

I think Obama is wanting to change that, but it will be seen if he can keep from it and still win.  I thknk many politicinas indulge in the general negaitvity thinking once they get in office they will do the right things - but loose themselves between that thought and being sworn in.

Answer 4

I think that helps explain congress's record low approval rating.  What are they at now?  12%?

Answer 5

"All obstructions to the execution of the Laws, all combinations and associations, under whatever plausible character, with the real design to direct, control, counteract, or awe the regular deliberation and action of the constituted authorities, are destructive of this fundamental principle, and of fatal tendency. They serve to organize faction, to give it an artificial and extraordinary force; to put, in the place of the delegated will of the nation, the will of a party, often a small but artful and enterprising minority of the community; and, according to the alternate triumphs of different parties, to make the public administration the mirror of the ill-concerted and incongruous projects of faction, rather than the organ of consistent and wholesome plans digested by common counsels, and modified by mutual interests."

"Let me now take a more comprehensive view, and warn you in the most solemn manner against the baneful effects of the spirit of party, generally. This spirit, unfortunately, is inseparable from our nature, having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind. It exists under different shapes in all governments, more or less stifled, controlled, or repressed; but, in those of the popular form, it is seen in its greatest rankness, and is truly their worst enemy. The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries, which result, gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of Public Liberty. Without looking forward to an extremity of this kind, (which nevertheless ought not to be entirely out of sight,) the common and continual mischiefs of the spirit of party are sufficient to make it the interest and duty of a wise people to discourage and restrain it. It serves always to distract the Public Councils, and enfeeble the Public Administration. It agitates the Community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms; kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which find a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another. There is an opinion, that parties in free countries are useful checks upon the administration of the Government, and serve to keep alive the spirit of Liberty. This within certain limits is probably true; and in Governments of a Monarchical cast, Patriotism may look with indulgence, if not with favor, upon the spirit of party. But in those of the popular character, in Governments purely elective, it is a spirit not to be encouraged. From their natural tendency, it is certain there will always be enough of that spirit for every salutary purpose. And, there being constant danger of excess, the effort ought to be, by force of public opinion, to mitigate and assuage it. A fire not to be quenched, it demands a uniform vigilance to prevent its bursting into a flame, lest, instead of warming, it should consume."

-George Washington, in his farewell address

over 200 years ago....George Washington....totally called it...