While I'm not happy with the direction the Republican party has gone over the last few years (I am a recovering Republican without a party; I hold liberal views on too many controversial subjects to stay with them, and too many conservative views to fit with the Democrats), we need to be careful about blaming on party or the other.

I do believe that at present, most Republican politicians would rather court business and corporations and the rich, than common people. But what politician doesn't. The issue is they don't seem to understand the difference between a hand out and a hand up. For example they see Social Security as a hand out, but forget that most people who receive it have paid into it for most of their lives. The money they are receiving is money they have given the government to hold onto until their retirement. (Foolish, yes, but not everyone has 401Ks and other retirement account options).

The Democrats are not much better, they are just better at hiding it at the moment.

Obama has had his hands tied many times thanks to Congress. He is a good president. Is he a great one? Really only time will tell. Breaking the color barrier is a great thing, but not something to judge him as a president. Getting Bin Laden was a great thing, but not necessarily his accomplishment, but something that was accomplished under his command.

Both Bushes had great accomplishments while in office, but neither are considered great presidents.

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Perspective Alters Reality

Can I butt in here?

Off topic, but we have elections in Greece this Sunday!

Ok, sorry for butting in!

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They were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Naturally, they became heroes -- Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan.

Oh tons, tons more!

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They were in the wrong place at the wrong time. Naturally, they became heroes -- Princess Leia Organa of Alderaan.

The problem with party politics, politics in general, and representative forms of governments (Republics and Democracies -- note that there are very few true Democracies in the world. The US, for example, is a Republic based on Democratic principles), is that politicians and political parties tend to cater to two types of people: those with money, and those susceptible to mob-mentalities.

Politicians don't want constituents who think for themselves, those who question policies and decisions. They want constituents who are mushrooms. They want people to buy what they are selling and not ask why. They want people who are easily mislead and give in to fear.

A good example of this is look at the world pre-9/11 and the world since. What have we lost in the name of security? Some changes are good, some go to far.

The best political reform we can get, anywhere, is term limits all around. The president of the US is limited to 8 years, yet congress can be a life-time. The US constitution provides for only one life-time appointment: Supreme Court Justice, to keep politics out of the court. Perhaps it is time that we start limiting our Senators and Representatives to 10 to 12 years to keep career politicians to a minimum.

But the other thing we can do is let politicians know that we can think for ourselves and not cave into their fear mongering.

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Perspective Alters Reality