So who's part of the 29%? (2 Viewers)

[Mr. Blue Sky]

“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.”
--Albert Einstein

+1...... I would hope that anyone who considers themselves an American and a patriot wouldn't just blindly follow what any President says or does just because he's in a position of "authority." In fact, the President of the United States is an employee of the American people- you and me- and as such we need to demand accountablity from him...

 

[St. Widge]

To me the best solution is to eliminate campaign finance from everyone, have public finance only, forbid any type of gifts (lunch, trips, etc) from lobbyists.

It might work, but of course the problem is that it would violate the First Amendment. Political speech is particularly protected for obvious reasons.

My solution is a different form of government. I could be wrong, but I really think that a Parliamentary System of Government would be better. The PM seems to be much more responsible to his people than the American President. So, if he is doing a good job, he keeps it and when he does a bad job, he is removed. It just seems to make sense to me. It also seems to promote a multi-party system and force compromise between the parties. Seldom could you end up with a PM that was as divisive as say Bush II or Clinton. The requirement of compromise seems to force real debate and less rhetoric.

Of course, as an old philosophy major, I agree with Plato that the best form of government is a benevolent dictatorship, but I'm not sure we could find someone who would remain benevolent.

 

[Saint Anthony]

+1...... I would hope that anyone who considers themselves an American and a patriot wouldn't just blindly follow what any President says or does just because he's in a position of "authority." In fact, the President of the United States is an employee of the American people- you and me- and as such we need to demand accountablity from him...

Demanding accountability is acceptable, we are not talking about that we are talking about respect. calling him stupid, un-Christian, etc. is hate speech and does nothing to solve problems. i didn't say "follow him blindly". i said it's ok to disagree with policy and principal, but respect the office. Do you call your boss, church leaders, parents, community leaders, etc names when you disagree with them. I hope not. It's about respect, not about being a blind patriot. If people would remember the Golden Rule- Treat others how you would want to be treated- we wouldn't be asking ourselves whats wrong with people in todays time. I'm not a person who loves everybody and see's the world through rosy glasses, but I respect authority and teach my child the same.

 

[Saint Anthony]

“Unthinking respect for authority is the greatest enemy of truth.”
--Albert Einstein

You only read what you wanted to read. Disagreeing with policy and principal but being respectful at the same time is not unthinking respect for authority.

 

[St. Widge]

You only read what you wanted to read. Disagreeing with policy and principal but being respectful at the same time is not unthinking respect for authority.

As I said on another thread here today: Respect is something earned. Neither one's age nor position means that they should automatically get respect. I'm not sure Bush has done anything to earn respect.

That being said, I'm not one to call Bush, or anyone else for that matter, names. However, I do think that he is dumb. And, there is really no other way to say it. Obviously he is well educated, but he is unable to apply that education. If saying the truth as I see it is disrespectful, then so be it.

 

[Saint Anthony]

As I said on another thread here today: Respect is something earned. Neither one's age nor position means that they should automatically get respect. I'm not sure Bush has done anything to earn respect.

That being said, I'm not one to call Bush, or anyone else for that matter, names. However, I do think that he is dumb. And, there is really no other way to say it. Obviously he is well educated, but he is unable to apply that education. If saying the truth as I see it is disrespectful, then so be it.

IMO, he earned respect by being elected to the Office of the Presidency. Twice. You and I may have not voted for him but a majority of Americans did and he is the leader of our country. Just because you beleive in something other than him, we are all entitled to our own opinions, you can be respectful about it.

 

[RebSaint]

However, I do think that he is dumb. And, there is really no other way to say it. Obviously he is well educated, but he is unable to apply that education. If saying the truth as I see it is disrespectful, then so be it.

I don't think he's dumb, Widge but I don't think he got much from his education. It's clear that he certainly doesn't think critically, analytically, or beyond the box--which isn't a bad thing necessarily when you're president; presidents in the past have relied on a good supporting cast to make up deficiencies of their own.

But Bush has surrounded himself mostly with poor, incompetent people and those who don't have the country's best interests. A good example was Mike Brown. Brown had no business at all heading an important agency such as FEMA. I think a majority of Bush's problems and weaknesses are directly attributed to the people who he has surrounded himself with.

 

[champ76]

I don't think he's dumb, Widge but I don't think he got much from his education. It's clear that he certainly doesn't think critically, analytically, or beyond the box--which isn't a bad thing necessarily when you're president; presidents in the past have relied on a good supporting cast to make up deficiencies of their own.

But Bush has surrounded himself mostly with poor, incompetent people and those who don't have the country's best interests. A good example was Mike Brown. Brown had no business at all heading an important agency such as FEMA. I think a majority of Bush's problems and weaknesses are directly attributed to the people who he has surrounded himself with.

I think his second term has been horrible and it has to do with the people who surround him. You have a good point. They have let him down. Bush has also failed to communicate directly with the American people to sell his policies. Thus his plummeting poll numbers.

 

[RebSaint]

Bush has also failed to communicate directly with the American people to sell his policies. Thus his plummeting poll numbers.

I think he's gotten the message across just fine. I think it mostly has to do with the war and the whole botched post-Katrina response. It's the people he's surrounded himself with who have the bad ideas and who have been incompetent.

 

[St. Widge]

I think he's gotten the message across just fine. I think it mostly has to do with the war and the whole botched post-Katrina response. It's the people he's surrounded himself with who have the bad ideas and who have been incompetent.

I agree Reb and maybe "dumb" is not the correct word for Bush. But, it seems that he is one that, to steal a Colbert phrase, uses his "gut" or "faith" to make decisions rather than good solid evidence, advice or logic. I'm not sure if calling that "dumb" is the right word, but whatever you call it, it's not desirable in a President.

 

[philipkw]

I don't know what's more disturbing, incompetence at the highest levels of government or RebSaint's avatar. Gawd!

 

[Taurus]

IMO, he earned respect by being elected to the Office of the Presidency. Twice. You and I may have not voted for him but a majority of Americans did and he is the leader of our country. Just because you beleive in something other than him, we are all entitled to our own opinions, you can be respectful about it.

IMO, he's earned every ounce of disrespect he gets.

 

[kevinh]

I think he's gotten the message across just fine. I think it mostly has to do with the war and the whole botched post-Katrina response. It's the people he's surrounded himself with who have the bad ideas and who have been incompetent.

If he picked the people he's surrounded with, and they've been incompetent, then who's fault is that?

 

[RebSaint]

If he picked the people he's surrounded with, and they've been incompetent, then who's fault is that?

Oho, I completely agree with you.

 

[Saint Anthony]

IMO, he's earned every ounce of disrespect he gets.

children learn how to be disrespectful from their parents