4 ms·

They also put out a lot of propaganda and false information out to get their way. It's not like they just take advantage of an opportunity. They create that opp

They also put out a lot of propaganda and false information out to get their way. It's not like they just take advantage of an opportunity. They create that opportunity with a lot of questionable practices. And in addition voters are stupid. Spending a million on a swimming pool for kids is waste but half a billion for a sports stadium is a must.

slg 8y ago
>They also put out a lot of propaganda and false information out to get their way. It's not like they just take advantage of an opportunity. They create that opportunity with a lot of questionable practices. If a politician believes a single report prepared by a sports team over the literally dozens of peer reviewed academic studies that say the exact opposite, I blame the politician. >And in addition voters are stupid. Spending a million on a swimming pool for kids is waste but half a billion for a sports stadium is a must. That is democracy in action. More people want the sports stadium than the swimming pool. You might disagree with them, but that doesn't make them wrong.
- killaken2000 8y ago
  > More people want the sports stadium than the swimming pool. You might disagree with them, but that doesn't make them wrong. Is this true? Was there a vote on this? The politicians make the decisions and if people don't like it they can vote for someone else but I would bet in some deeply partisan districts they'd vote for anyone on their side. There's a lot of things the majority of the public want but the power that be say no.
  - slg 8y ago
    In many jurisdictions a referendum is required to spend that type of money. That is one of the reasons that a sibling thread is discussing the Chargers move from San Diego to Los Angeles. A vote was required in San Diego and the Chargers knew it would not go in their way. You are free to lobby your own local government to make a similar requirement for a referendum.
- patrickthebold 8y ago
  You can't blame the politician, they were the voter's choice! You can't blame the voters, they are free to choose whoever they want! You can't blame the lobbyists or the PACs, they just try to persuade voters! You can't blame corporations for contributing to campaigns, they are just trying to create the most politically favorable environment to maximize profits! You can't blame the shareholders, they just want a return on their investment!
  - wolco 8y ago
    The system is to blame. It ulimately is the public's responsibility. The voters can't change the system without leaders within their ranks forming special interest groups that help elect politicians who will push forward this cause above all other causes. It's no wonder that the entire concept of a modern democracy is a shame. You never really had control as a voter. I like to think of it as going out to eat. In a modern democracy you get a choice of ketchup or mustard. Some may choose not to pick (not vote) or some may be able to even get a third choice like hot pepper added at one location. During pre-election everyone is shouting back why ketchup is better than mustard. News anchors going on and on about how important you making a choice because your life will be better or worse with or without mustard. Money that could be better spent goes into advertising that blankets the air putting down ketchup by carefully leaking a photoshopped ketchup bottle at a murder scene. No one asks why are we eating a hotdog in the first place.
    - Mirioron 8y ago
      Even in countries that haven't devolved into a two party system you have the same problem. The political parties are trying to appeal to a similar voter base and they simply go off on just a few issues during campaigns. When they actually get into power they tend to have to make decisions about things that are completely different than what was talked about during the campaign. If none of the political parties talk about increasing internet connectivity, but that's a very important issue for me, then I'm basically picking at random.
  - pmoriarty 8y ago
    You can't blame the voters because they are the products of a shitty education system and misled by biased media. You can't blame the media because they're just giving the voters what they want. You can't blame the education system because it was put in place by the politicians.

slg 8y ago

>They also put out a lot of propaganda and false information out to get their way. It's not like they just take advantage of an opportunity. They create that opportunity with a lot of questionable practices. If a politician believes a single report prepared by a sports team over the literally dozens of peer reviewed academic studies that say the exact opposite, I blame the politician. >And in addition voters are stupid. Spending a million on a swimming pool for kids is waste but half a billion for a sports stadium is a must. That is democracy in action. More people want the sports stadium than the swimming pool. You might disagree with them, but that doesn't make them wrong.

killaken2000 8y ago
> More people want the sports stadium than the swimming pool. You might disagree with them, but that doesn't make them wrong. Is this true? Was there a vote on this? The politicians make the decisions and if people don't like it they can vote for someone else but I would bet in some deeply partisan districts they'd vote for anyone on their side. There's a lot of things the majority of the public want but the power that be say no.
- slg 8y ago
  In many jurisdictions a referendum is required to spend that type of money. That is one of the reasons that a sibling thread is discussing the Chargers move from San Diego to Los Angeles. A vote was required in San Diego and the Chargers knew it would not go in their way. You are free to lobby your own local government to make a similar requirement for a referendum.
patrickthebold 8y ago
You can't blame the politician, they were the voter's choice! You can't blame the voters, they are free to choose whoever they want! You can't blame the lobbyists or the PACs, they just try to persuade voters! You can't blame corporations for contributing to campaigns, they are just trying to create the most politically favorable environment to maximize profits! You can't blame the shareholders, they just want a return on their investment!
- wolco 8y ago
  The system is to blame. It ulimately is the public's responsibility. The voters can't change the system without leaders within their ranks forming special interest groups that help elect politicians who will push forward this cause above all other causes. It's no wonder that the entire concept of a modern democracy is a shame. You never really had control as a voter. I like to think of it as going out to eat. In a modern democracy you get a choice of ketchup or mustard. Some may choose not to pick (not vote) or some may be able to even get a third choice like hot pepper added at one location. During pre-election everyone is shouting back why ketchup is better than mustard. News anchors going on and on about how important you making a choice because your life will be better or worse with or without mustard. Money that could be better spent goes into advertising that blankets the air putting down ketchup by carefully leaking a photoshopped ketchup bottle at a murder scene. No one asks why are we eating a hotdog in the first place.
  - Mirioron 8y ago
    Even in countries that haven't devolved into a two party system you have the same problem. The political parties are trying to appeal to a similar voter base and they simply go off on just a few issues during campaigns. When they actually get into power they tend to have to make decisions about things that are completely different than what was talked about during the campaign. If none of the political parties talk about increasing internet connectivity, but that's a very important issue for me, then I'm basically picking at random.
- pmoriarty 8y ago
  You can't blame the voters because they are the products of a shitty education system and misled by biased media. You can't blame the media because they're just giving the voters what they want. You can't blame the education system because it was put in place by the politicians.