What is happening to American Politics is breaking my heart

Hello ATS,

I am Canadian but I am heartbroken today, I am heartbroken because I can see how your elections process is broken. I cannot believe that Ron Paul did not get a nomination from the floor due to a last minute rule changes.

How this can happen to Americans without revolt is beyond me. Some of your people kill someone for an iPhone or because they said something disrespectful but will just sit back and let this happen. Why at a convention that is suppose to pick a leader, they cannot nominate 2 people is beyond me. Looking at videos and live feeds of the convention makes me sick.....its clear all is picked al ready and they are reading from scripts. : (

Competition has always been good for the strength of parties because in the end the winner of the competition is the best candidate, and the best candidate has the best real support of the people has the best chances to win the election and direct a country based on the values of the people .

Can you imagine you are a baseball fan and your team is the underdog that is not suppose to win but due to hard work and honest play they end up in the championship game vr the #1 ranked team. Now all the experts and TV stations state that the #1 team will win and the underdog has no chance. Now it’s the 9th inning there are 2 outs and the underdog has a chance to win the game with the batter on deck and the bases loaded. All of a sudden the Commissioner announces a last minute rule change….only 2 outs are now needed and the #1 ranked team wins the game. and since it was told and told 1000 times that the #1 ranked team would win then not big deal right?

LMAO Not for the #1 team anyways but fans would go crazy!!!! Break windows, fights, burn cars, AND PROBABLY NEVER WATCH BASEBALL AGAIN cause they would all say….we were cheated I cannot believe this happened to America’s game!!!!!.

Well folks this is not a baseball game it’s your rights and freedoms and what happens……..nothing!!!!!! Wow America is broken…… America is weak and afraid of competition, America is dying. I will miss America of old, the great nation of free people showing the world not forcing the world how to live in a free and profitable society. Rest in Piece America!

Your Always,

Heartbroken Canadian Friend!

reply to post by CanadianBlueTrue


I agree with your pain. But I understand where and why the disconnect happened. We are a society mired in information overload and instant gratification. We've lost our ability to really pay attention to anything really. Even when we try to, the distractions of life as such that it's hard to even devote two hours to a movie. Bills, kids, work, friends, a social life, Facebook - and even ATS.... there's always something tugging at us. This leaves us with a sense that we'll take care of what we absolutely have to and we'll trust someone else to take care of that which is not in our immediate sphere of control.

With politics? We say "I'll vote when the polls are open, but that's all I can really do." So we set aside a bit of time to do that and then trust that the system will police itself. After all, we're told that this is the way the machine works.

And then there's apathy. Most Americans know the game is rigged. We are aware of corruption, lobbying, and the Electoral college - so we feel disempowered and resentful. This fosters a sense of apathy and of defeatism. "What difference can I possibly make?" we ask ourselves.

That is the question that will lead to change because some folks are fed up and are beginning to answer it. We are, right now, beginning to learn exactly what differences we can make. The system is corrupt and broken - but it's not beyond repair. We'll get it straight eventually. Until then? Do not lose hope.

~Heff

reply to post by CanadianBlueTrue


What has happened to American politics is the public's fault.

We have reduced the world into a set of ridiculous binary choices, divorced from any meaningful path for positive change.

We have permitted our institutions to erode and have adopted a world view that government is the solution to ALL of our problems, paving the way for repeated and increased inequity, fraud and abuse everywhere you look.

Some of the founding fathers warned of this peril and predicted our ultimate demise.

Now we will learn they were right.

Sad. So very sad.

I hope for some miracle, but I doubt it will come.

Good luck everyone. We will all need it.

If you were truly paying attention...Your heart would have been broken A LONG TIME AGO.

reply to post by CanadianBlueTrue


The Republican Party is a private organization...being a member is the same as being a member of a country club, a book club, or a priavte gym.

In this case, the Republican Party has told it's members that they are going to allow the members to nominate the person they are going to put forward to represent their club in the election. This person will get the public backing of the party, it will get funding from the party, and it is expected that all members of the party will support this person.

Now with what happened with Ron Paul is not illegal...it is just the club being dishonest to it's members. There were no freedoms lost, not rights taken away from them...they simply just got screwed over by the people who are in control of the club.

There is only one recourse members of a club can take if they don't like how it is being run...you leave the club.

If you are part of a book club that says they will vote on what book will be read next, but in reality the club is controlled by 3-4 people. When it is time to vote on a book to read, if one of those 3-4 people have a book they really realy want to read, and they say that in the interest of the book club, they are going to read this book even if the majority of the members don't want to. So the 3-4 people change the rules...they make the rules so that their votes count more...and you are left with a situation that you as a member still have a vote...as long as you agree with the 3-4 controlling people. So you then have a choice...you either stay in the book club because you have always been in that book club, or you leave.

In the case of Ron Paul supporters...staying with my book club analogy...they had a book that they thought everyone should read...they thought it was the best book ever...but it was in a genre that this book club isn't very interested in. Now, these people have their own book club, but it is very small compared to the book club they are trying to get into...and if they can get that large book club to read that book...their book will become very popular. So the Ron Paul supporters looked over their rules and found some loopholes and attempted to exploit those in order to get their book on the top of the list. The people in control of this large book club see what they are doing...and they aren't going to let their book club be hijacked by these outsiders...so they change the rules. They through these members a few scraps to keep them in the book club, because numbers are power, but mostly they just laugh at them.

A simple question to the Ron Paul supporters should be...why in the hell do you want to stay in that book club???

Thanks for your thoughts, OP. Many of us here in America are heartbroken as well. Our system has been hijacked, and is now nothing but a dog and pony show to give people the impression that they have an actual choice, an actual voice, and an opportunity to change things.

As you pointed out, there is no more choice. Any attempt at change is thwarted and swept under the rug. I am one of those disenfranchised Americans who refuses to play the rigged game on the rigged computer on election day.

I can't wait for this election to be over....Not because I care about which sock puppet wins, but because I am tired of the lies, the idiotic rhetoric, and the bullcrap. I just don't believe it matters who wins. It's all smoke and mirrors. Both candidates are bought and paid for, both will do exactly as they are told by their masters, and both make me utterly sick.

The time to fix things via the ballot box is long over. While we were asleep and dreaming, criminals took over our system. The casino is rigged. My only sane choice is not to play, while I wait for the inevitable downfall that comes to all corrupt regimes.

I am saddened as well my fellow Canadian.(from Ottawa as well)

I called the Obama/Mcain numbers.
I told people it would be 49 to 51 and it happened.
How did I predict that?
It is theater and to me that proved it was.

Next election regardless of who wins,it will be 49 to 51.
I am calling it now so remember.

I call it the false finish.

The fact that Ron Paul is made to look like a kook and the other guys who really are kooks get called leaders astounds me.
From an outsider looking in....you guys are screwed no matter who you vote for...the game is rigged.
Watch...49 to 51.

Originally posted by CanadianBlueTrue
I cannot believe that Ron Paul did not get a nomination from the floor due to a last minute rule changes.
How this can happen to Americans without revolt is beyond me.

How a party manages their business is up to them. If you don't like the party for that, you don't have to vote for them.
I cannot understand why people would revolt because they have problems with a specific party. That wouldn't be very democratic.

Originally posted by FissionSurplus
As you pointed out, there is no more choice. Any attempt at change is thwarted and swept under the rug. I am one of those disenfranchised Americans who refuses to play the rigged game on the rigged computer on election day.

Why is there no choice? If you don't like the republicans because of the way they choose their candidates, don't vote for them?
Don't like any other party? Create your own. That's how democracy is supposed to work. If you are too lazy to do anything about it, it's not the existing parties' fault.

one thing to consider,just up rising wont do it.look in other countrys how they are forced back down,in the mean time the gov. gets bigger and bigger.and if people think our gov. wont go to the extreme to push people back into submision,think again.with the examples already given like ows,and others alike.i think the door is closed for any change,lets face it,our pride of bigger and better created the monster in our back yard witch most people are so afraid of now.they have the know how to keep it that way,not to mention the weapons and communication lines. any one dreaming in a better world better sit and have a good look into the past.this world is doomed to opression of tptb when we have so many idiots that cant see or take advantage of the games. floride at its best.

reply to post by Consequence


In my opinion comments like this is part of the problem, just my opinion and that’s ok if that this is your educated choice, The way I see it differs from yours, it does not matter who wins or loses you see if they did not break or change the rules, nominated both Romney and Paul and Romney won fair then all good. Just the fact that they are trying to control, manipulate, and gag potential competition and who Americans choose or would like to hear speak is beyond me and very dishonest. When last minute rule changes affect the outcome of today to the advantage of the favorite then all is lost.

You do not see that?

How is that a choice? How is that a democracy? The parties is not a club, it’s not intended to be a club, read the constitution, dam I am Canadian and I read it. Its intended to provide Americans with a choice and what you are explaining is a private 2 party dictatorship. And when the choice is chosen for you then it’s all over. Seriously think about it. I am not saying Romney will end up a bad president if he wins I am just saying why be afraid of competition? Why not just choose who wins the competition? When there is a fair competition then the winner is honored and supported by the party. Pretty simple to me. As soon as you are afraid of competition you are on the downfall because competition is the only way to chose a leader to a free country period. So what you are saying is that America now is a private club and not a free country? Yep people like you are the problem and again just my opinion and you are entitled to your own choices just pretty sure you would react different if this happened in any other setting!!!! That’s all!

reply to post by OutKast Searcher

A simple question to the Ron Paul supporters should be...why in the hell do you want to stay in that book club???

Why do you assume that Ron Paul supporters are part of the "Republican" club? I support Ron Paul, but I sure as hell do not agree with the right half OR left half of our faux two party system!

If you believe that Ron Paul supporters are believers in the two party system, you are delusional....

reply to post by Consequence


Sure it is....ok now why does it take 300 million $ to run for president?

reply to post by CanadianBlueTrue


and by the fruit you know what kind of tree it is.he is already cheating his way in so lets not be surprised in the future of events.or the party for that matter. lets wake up some time and realise whats on the window.

reply to post by seeker1963

Why do you assume that Ron Paul supporters are part of the "Republican" club? I support Ron Paul, but I sure as hell do not agree with the right half OR left half of our faux two party system!

If you believe that Ron Paul supporters are believers in the two party system, you are delusional....

Ummm...Ron Paul was running for the Republican nomination.

Did you not know that was his planned strategy??? To attempt to infiltrate the GOP to get some of his ideas in the platform???

You may not believe in the two party system...but Ron Paul apparently does.

reply to post by Consequence


communications and propaganda control is the answer to your question.is that democratic? in cuba fidel has a tight lid on this very same thing,why would that be?think, think, think!

Just for reference, America is not a Democracy. It's a Democratic Representative Republic. I think that some of the angst and frustration that people have comes from not understanding the nuanced differences between the two forms of Government.

~Heff

reply to post by CanadianBlueTrue


Ask Red-Green for some duct tape to fix that broken heart.

I know we all have different opinions but I think we can all agree that the U.S.S. Unitied States is sinking and we're not only forgetting to bail the water out, we are adding more cargo.

There is no miracle cure for the failing economy. The ones we put in charge to fix it are the types who broke it in the first place. Dems and Reps alike are to blame.

We the people are to blame for our complacency as this is happening. It is us who is left to fix it. Not a politician.

reply to post by Hefficide
was,past,finito. evaluating the system will picture another senario. its not half what it was,only by word of mouth maybe.means nothing.