patrick.net

Patrick says

https://washingtonsblog.com/2012/08/roosevelt-to-dissolve-the-unholy-alliance-between-corrupt-business-and-corrupt-politics-is-the-first-task-of-the-statesmanship-of-the-day.html

But both liberals and conservatives are inspired by the wise, non-partisan words of the supreme ass-kicker Teddy Roosevelt:

"Political parties exist to secure responsible government and to execute the will of the people. From these great tasks both of the old parties have turned aside. Instead of instruments to promote the general welfare they have become the tools of corrupt interests, which use them impartially to serve their selfish purposes. Behind the ostensible government sits enthroned an invisible government owing no allegiance and acknowledging no responsibility to the people. To d...

Pretty much. Which is why its super looney tunes how much people attack President Trump, who along with Rand Paul seem to be the only independent politicians who are free to enact legislation based on their own conscience.

I don't like Krysten Sinema's stated political leanings, but I applaud her efforts to stand up for her own conscience during the state of the union speech. I wish every politician did that. If they did, what we would have is a lot of compromises rather than gridlock. Senators and Congress members would have to work together to get things passed.

Patrick says

It is the unholy alliance between corrupt business and corrupt politicians which is the core problem

Agreed that it's definitely a huge part of the problem.

I think there are deeper problems - we are relatively unsophisticated and unevolved in comparison to the importance and magnitude of the decisions and problems we face, not just in the U.S, but as humanity. Given we are 7 billion people now and growing, with huge inequality, and the proliferation of means to destroy the world, with difficult questions of how to protect the environment for the future. Meanwhile we're worried about nonsensical political theater.

You're probably right that the corrupt system itself isn't sufficient capable to address all the very real problems. But it also seems as if as individuals we are too easy to manipulate and too selfish to seek solutions that are sustainable or that are good for the whole world - even though the time is fast approaching when that will be necessary. I'm not excluding myself from this.

Teddy Roosevelt, now there's a warmongering imperialist we can all admire!